A Discovery of Two Forreigne Sects in the East-Indies, viz. the Sect of the Banians, the Ancient Natives of India, and the Sect of the Persees, the Ancient Inhabitants of Persia: Together with the Religion and Manners of each Sect. by LORD, Henry - 1752

London: Lintot and Osborn, 1752. Detailed analysis of Banian and Parsi creationist beliefs, including the first humans, the first and second age of the world, God's communication to the world through Bremaw's book (Banian), ceremonial law, order of government, the derivation and meaning of 'Banian,' and 'Persee,' and more. This is the first printed summary of Hindu doctrines and practices to appear in Europe. Topics examined include idolatry, fire worship, immortality, rapture, vegetarianism, the Indian caste system and Hindu theory of world cycles - specifically Satya Yuga and Treta Yuga, as well as Persian migration to the East Indies, the prophet Zerdusht (Zarthusthra, Zarthost), so forth. A fascinating early treatise. Henry Lord's book was the first in English to be entirely devoted to discussion of Indian religions, and represents the first serious attempt to go beyond reports by travellers of the strange religious beliefs and practices that they had observed in India. Initially publishing his account in 1630, Lord was a chaplain, rather than a missionary, and made a serious attempt to understand the religions rather than condemn them. The display was used as a source by later European writers on Indian religions, most notably François Bernier. "Lord was sometime resident in India at Surat and Preacher to the Honourable Company of Merchants trading to East India (Cox I p.270)." Folio, measuring approximately 13.5 inches x 9 inches. 42 pages, numbered from 315 to 356, plus title page. In itself complete, this account is from Churchill's eight-volume work which contained numerous travel narratives, and was titled "A Collection of Voyages and Travels, Some Now First Printed from Original Manuscripts. Others Now First Published in English." These are the original pages printed in 1752. Mild foxing, otherwise in very good condition, clean and bright with wide margins, a lovely example of early printing. Attractively bound in recent green cardstock covers with label. .