122 ANCIENT AND MODERN IMPERIALISM
of the kind. In the last census1 no less than 147 distinct languages were recorded as vernacular, and I find on examining the detail that, if account be taken only of the languages spoken by communities of more than a million people, 276 million speak twenty-three different tongues.
If now we turn to the question of diversity of religions, we find that, besides a sprinkling of Parsees, Christians, and Buddhists, there are 62J million Mohammedans, of whom some, though their creed is that of Mohammed, have adopted Hindoo forms and ceremonials.2 Two hundred and seven millions are classed as Hindoos, who are split up into an infinite number of sects.3 To quote the words of the very able compiler of the census: " Within the enormous range of beliefs and practices which are included in the term * Hinduism' there are comprised two entirely different sets of ideas, or, one may say, two widely different
cates the adoption of a " Creed of India/' with a view to amalgamating all the diverse Indian races. The idea would appear to be quite incapable of realization.
1 " Indian Census/' p. 248.
2 Ibid., p. 375. 3 Ibid., p. 360.