Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books (University of Michigan) Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: http://books.google.com/books?id=swpuAAAAMAAJ (University of Michigan) 2. The letter "y" with circumflex is [^y]. 3. Map images are incomplete and are not provided here. [Map: India to the Present Day.] INDIA THROUGH THE AGES A POPULAR AND PICTURESQUE HISTORY OF HINDUSTAN BY FLORA ANNIE STEEL AUTHOR OF "ON THE FACE OF THE WATERS," ETC. WITH 7 MAPS THIRD EDITION LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, LIMITED NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. 1911 PREFACE A history, above all one which claims to hold no original research, but simply to be a compilation of the work of others, needs no introduction save the compiler's thanks to many who have been consulted. One word, however, may be said regarding the only accent used--the circumflex. This is put always on the tone of stress; that is to say, on the syllable to be accented. Thus Mâlwa, Ambêr, Jeysulmêr, Himâlya, Vizigapatâm. Where no accent appears the syllables are of equal value. F. A. STEEL. Talgarth, Machynlleth. LIST OF MAPS INDIA TO B.C. 231. INDIA TO A.D. 1000. INDIA TO A.D. 1483. INDIA TO A.D. 1556. INDIA TO A.D. 1707. INDIA TO A.D. 1757. INDIA AT THE PRESENT DAY. CONTENTS PART I THE ANCIENT AGE CHAPTER I The Ancient Age--When it began--Earliest hymns--The Black people--The White people-Was there a third tribe? CHAPTER II The Vedic times--Extent of India--Rig-Veda--Seven rivers--Agriculture--Aryan gods--Aryan features--Hymns to the Dawn. CHAPTER III Days of the Epics--Larger extent of India known--Two great epics--The Brahmânas--The Mâhâbhârata--Story of Bhishma --A golden age--Bhishma's vow and its results--The Princess Drâupadi--Bhishma's death--The Râmâyana. CHAPTER IV The marvellous millennium--Its literature--The Ûpanishads--Kapîla's philosophy--Vedanta teaching--Religious atmosphere--Gâutama Buddha--Yoga, and other philosophies--Megasthenes' accounts. CHAPTER V The Sesu-nâga and other kings--Actual history--Scythians--First breath of reality--History of parricides--Nanda dynasty. CHAPTER VI