Originally published in 1898. PREFACE: In essaying to set forth a connected history of India from such evidences as I have selected from its literature, I have been obliged to evade, and not emphasise, difficulties everywhere patent to the scholar or specialist. In most cases, however, I have accepted the conclusions of those who are recognised authorities. In those cases where scholors still disagree I have indicated in footnotes the evidences on which I had to form conclusions of my own. On many points, especially those relating to the significance of the early, sacrifical systems, to the origin and purport of the Epics, and to the Graeco-Roman influence on the form of the Indian Drama, it was manifestly impossible, in a work such as this, to enter on any prolonged discussion. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, mod