public service, and performing such offices as every
master of a family may discharge. As Mohammedanism acknowledges no
sacrifices, it appoints no priests; the duties performed by the
ministers of religion being seemingly devolved on them more as a matter
of convenience than on account of any sacredness attaching to their
order.

The vast country to which the general name of {280} Tartary has been
given, is that from whence Mohammedanism has gone forth to the East,
the West, and the South. In Thibet, the Grand Lama and various
national idols hold divided empire with the Prophet; and in the
inhospitable regions of Siberia, the churches of Greece and Russia have
successfully promulgated the Christian doctrines; while the
Circassians, with some other Tartar races, are almost without religion.
In the Crimea, the people are Mussulmans, as rigid and devoted as the
Turks; and over the vast tract called by modern geographers Independent
Tartary, the crescent triumphantly waves. From these regions sprung,
in the earlier ages of Mohammedan conquest, those vast empires which,
in the East, comprise so large a number of the professors of the faith
of Islam. The first sovereign of this country, to whom the title of
sultan was awarded early in the tenth century, conducted several
expeditions into Hindustan, and secured the homage of many of the
cities. The ancient Indian superstition was in a great measure
overturned by his victorious arms. Long and fierce contests ensued:
the princes of the subdued provinces, often throwing off their forced
allegiance, endeavoured to regain their independence and re-establish
their ancient faith, till, at length, the great Timurlane, having
overrun the country with his legions, received at Agra the title {281}
of Emperor of Hindustan. Scarcely, however, had two centuries and a
half rolled away, when his successors fell in their turn under the
Persian power; and the empire he established was weakened, and
ultimately destroyed. As the result of these conquests, Mohammedanism
prevailed to a great extent, but rather nominally than really, among
the millions of India: it was the religion of the court and government;
but, either from indifference or timidity in the Moslem conquerors, the
ancient idols still held extensive influence, and were at length
gradually restored. In the twelfth century, Benares, the ancient seat
of Brahminical learning and of Hindu idolatry, fell into the hands of
the con