But previous to the Narrative, it will be expedient to give a concise Account of the Inhabitants, and the State of the Government in that Country, where this surprizing Political Catastrophe fell out; and without being well acquainted with which, these succinct Memoirs would not only be less intelligible, but, which is yet worse, would become also very liable to be misunderstood. The Nature of Things depends on their Properties, alike discernable by all who will examine them with equal Care, and with the same Degree of Attention. But the Nature of Facts is determined by the Circumstances that attend them; and if these be not fairly and fully represented, they must be falsely, or at least imperfectly apprehended. In Cases relative to the Alteration of States, a bare Recital of Events establishes only what Alteration they produced, and does not at all inform us to what the Change was owing; gives us no Grounds to conclude, as to the Advantages or Disadvantages flowing from such a Mutation, and does not furnish us with the Means of framing any probable Conjecture as to the Stability or Instability of the New Government. The two great Nations, inhabiting this Part of the _Indies_, differ widely from each other in their Complexions, Language, Manners, Disposition, and Religion. The _Moguls_ (_Moghuls_) who are commonly called _Moors_ or _Moormen_, are a robust, stately, and, in respect to the original Natives, a fair People. They speak what the _English_ in _India_ commonly call the _Moors_ Tongue, which is in truth the _Persian_, or at least a Dialect of the _Persian_. They are naturally vain, affect Shew and Pomp in every thing, are much addicted to Luxury, fierce, oppressive, and, for the most part, very rapacious. In respect to Religion, they are _Mohammedans_; the common Sort of the Sect of _Omar_ (in which they agree with the _Turks_), but those of Superior Rank are mostly of the Sect of _Ali_ (which is followed by the _Persians_), and some affect to be very devout. These have the Dominion, and are possessed of all the Offices of Trust and Power, in virtue of their Descent from the _Moguls_, whose Empire was established by _Timûr_, commonly called _Tamerlane_ in this Country; but they are now a very mixed People, composed of _Tartars_, _Arabs_, and _Persians_; more especially of the last mentioned Nation; who for various Reasons have quitted their own Country, but chiefly for the Sake of that Favour and Preferment, which for many Ages they have met with at the Court of (_Dehli_) _Delly_. The _Gentoows_, or Native _Indians_, are of a swarthy Aspect, as their proper Appellation _Hindu_ implies; less warlike but more active and industrious than the _Moors_. They are a mild, subtle, frugal Race of Men, exceedingly superstitious, submissive in appearance, but naturally jealous, suspicious, and perfidious; which is principally owing to that abject Slavery they are kept in by the _Moors_; and their