BEJAPOUR. The great peninsula of India is di ' vided into several extensive kingdoms, which are par titioned into subordinate states of different denomina tions. Some were powerful sovereignties, enjoying a distinguished rank in the scale of nations, and subsist ing during many centuries in splendour, as the empire of the Moguls; while others, as the Mysore, consti tuting the dominions of Hyder Ali, and his son Tip poo Saib, were of more recent formation, and owed their aggrandizement to the weakness of their neigh bours. Bejapour is a large province in that part of India =lied the Deccan, extending from the 15th to the 19th degree of north latitude, and inter sected by the 75th degree of east longitude, passing nearly through its centre. It is calculated to be MO miles in length, by at least 200 in breadth, and thus is about equivalent to England in size. This province is bounded on the north and east by the -provinces of Arungabad and Beeder, on the south by North Canara and the river Toombudra, and on the west by the sea. The western coast, for the space of 200 miles, is denominated Concan, forming a subordinate district, which has been long noted for the piracy of its inhabitants, who find secure retreats in the numerous bays and inlets on the shore, and a ready market for their plunder.
Bejapour is watered by many fine rivers, of which the principal are the Toombudra, Krishna, Beemah, and Gutpurba. The last exhibits a tremendous ca taract, perpendicularly precipitated from a rock 174 feet high ; where the river, during the rains, is 507 feet wide. A great range of mountains, being the continuation of the western Ghauts, traverses the province 40 or 60 miles from the sea, through which are several passes of long and painful ascent, leading to the more level parts of the country. Their
height intercepts the passage of the clouds, and numerous streams pour down from them, which, in the wet season, are swelled into irresistible torrents, spreading over the plains; but where low and smooth, they are crossed by travellers in large round baskets, covered with hides, as a substitute for boats.
The fertility of the soil is various ; but except in the rocky and mountainous places it is in general suf ficient to afford an ample subsistence to the inhabi tants. Nevertheless, they are sometimes visited by famine. resulting as much from the injuries of war fare as the effects of •dimate. Provisions are both cheap and plentiful. The horses reared on the banks of the river Beemah are highly esteemed, and constitute the best cavalry of the Mahrattas, who are eminently distinguished for that kind of military force. . The population of the province is calculated at 7,000,000 ; of which, about a twentieth part is supposed to consist of Mahoinetans ; the -great body follow the doctrines of Brahma. They affect ob servance of their religious customs in the utmost purity ; they totally abstain from animal food, and some of them even scruple to subsist on roots. But they are said, notwithstanding, to be rather in disrepute among their own tribes in different parts of India. It is undoubted, however, that there are some devotees in the peninsula, who, far from crediting that all things are created for the use of mankind, reject every species. of subsistence but