第16部分(第2/7 頁)

stitution　which　is　enshrined　in　its　rational　laws　and　customs；　is　an

imperfect　Present；　and　cannot　be　thoroughly　understood　without　a　knowledge　of　the　past。

§　69

The　periods　—　whether　we　suppose　them　to　be　centuries　or　millennia　—　that　were　passed　by

nations　before　history　was　written　among　them；　—　and　which　may　have　been　filled　with

revolutions；　nomadic　wanderings；　and　the　strangest　mutations；　—　are　on　that　very　account　destitute

of　objective　history；　because　they　present　no　subjective　history；　no　annals。　We　need　not　suppose

that　the　records　of　such　periods　have　accidentally　perished；　rather；　because　they　were　not

possible；　do　we　find　them　wanting。　Only　in　a　State　cognisant　of　Laws；　can　distinct　transactions

take　place；　acpanied　by　such　a　clear　consciousness　of　them　as　supplies　the　ability　and

suggests　the　necessity　of　an　enduring　record。　It　strikes　every　one；　in　beginning　to　form　an

acquaintance　with　the　treasures　of　Indian　literature；　that　a　land　so　rich　in　intellectual　products；　and

those　of　the　profoundest　order　of　thought；　has　no　History；　and　in　this　respect　contrasts　most

strongly　with　China　—　an　empire　possessing　one　so　remarkable；　one　going　back　to　the　most

ancient　times。　India　has　not　only　ancient　books　relating　to　religion；　and　splendid　poetical

productions；　but　also　ancient　codes；　the　existence　of　which　latter　kind　of　literature　has　been

mentioned　as　a　condition　necessary　to　the　origination　of　History　—　and　yet　History　itself　is　not

found。　But　in　that　country　the　impulse　of　organisation；　in　beginning　to　develop　social　distinctions；

was　immediately　petrified　in　the　merely　natural　classification　according　to　castes；　so　that　although