capital, and will treat them with firmness, judgment, and due consideration, then the two crops of tea and coffee may be grown to an enormous profit. Excellent roads cross the district; irrigating canals are already numerous; there is an extensive demand at Landour, Mussoorie and Dehra; and the Ganges Canal, whose head at Hurdwar is only twenty-five miles from Dehra, conveys goods to Cawnpore at a rupee per maund, a little more than fifty shillings a ton, so that even if the markets here were glutted, a profitable sale could still be commanded down-country.

It remains to consider the question of salubrity. The climate is temperate for India, as will be seen in the annexed thermometrical and meteorological statements; but there is a widespread and somewhat substantial suspicion as to the healthiness of the district as a place of residence either for natives or Europeans. The failure of several of the grants has been partly traced above, to disease and mortality; and certainly no race of men, either workmen or masters, will long remain engaged in an unequal combat with bad" air and water."

Now Dehra and its environs, standing on a well drained ridge, are not by any means unhealthy. When cholera was raging in the N. W. Provinces two years ago, there were only 230 deaths in the town-possibly two per cent. ; but the mortality in the Goorkha lines, which were ill-drained and out of repair, was five per cent., while only one man in the Civil jail was attacked and he recovered. The total proportion of reported deaths in the district to the total population was exactly one per cent. In the Allygurh district at the same time the per centage was 1.6.

The healthiness or otherwise of any part of the Doon will be found to depend chiefly on simple sanitary precautions. Undrained marshes, intercepted ventilation, and bad drinkingwater, are common in forest countries; and in those parts of the valley where it does not pay to remove them, human habittation is almost impossible; the villages are deserted; the elephant and the tiger alone disturb the solitude. In more open spots a light breeze is constantly blowing. Ice forms in winter, and man and his business prosper well. There is nothing then, in this department of the question, to set aside the views already advanced, and which are now recapitulated. First, that about three quarters of the total area is to be viewed as perpetual forest, and to be preserved, for the public benefit, as timber-ground; second, that of the remainder, about one-half is available for the occupation of speculators and offers peculiar attraction to Europeans; third, that the Government is likely to lend a favorable ear to applications for a permanent settlement at low rates; fourth, that works of irrigation are either in existence, or could be easily made.

To these may be added the mention of one or two other facts of considerable importance. This district alone, of all the sub-presidency of Agra, or the North-Western Provinces, was totally undisturbed by the political hurricane of 1857. A slight scarcity of funds was felt, which was promptly supplied by the issue of a local and temporary paper currency; otherwise nothing occurred to shew that the whole country was convulsed, and a prey to fire and sword. Farther, at Mussoorie there are admirable schools for children of either sex, and the shops furnish every comfort of life at moderate prices. A small convalescent depôt of European troops adds to the sense of security, and to the "Home" air which is so pleasant to the exile.

The temperature, as found by comparison of observations for many years, is as shewn below

In

The average rain-fall for the last fifteen years, 'for the station of Dehra is little, if anything, below eighty inches. April and May, and in October, November and December, rain scarcely ever falls; the greatest fall being usually in July and August. From about 20th September to 20th October, the drying of the soil sometimes generates malaria, and the climate is then most relaxing.

No mention has been made of the Government tea-plantation at Kaolageer. It was begun as an experiment, under the orders of the Supreme Government, and no expense has been spared upon its organization. It would not, therefore, furnish correct data for our purpose. A full report is expected soon to issue from the press, and to that the reader may be referred. We would only submit that the plantation having led the way and proved the suitableness of the Doon for tea, should now be made over to any Company which can give proof of stability, and of a disposition to supply seed, and to shew that consideration for the public welfare which has always characterized the Government garden.

Nor has anything been said of the interesting experiments on the rearing of silk worms, in which Captain Hutton has been so long engaged, and to which the Government has lately given support. These, being conducted at Mussoorie, are beyond our present province; as is likewise the fertile hill tract of Jownsar, where turmeric, red pepper, ginger, walnuts, honey, potatoes, cassia, and opium, are produced in abundance.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES,

AND

LIST OF WORKS ON INDIA AND THE EAST, PUBLISHED DURING THE QUARTER.

Personal Adventures during the Indian Rebellion in Rohilcund, Futteghur, and Oude, by William Edwards, Esq., B. C. S. London. Smith, Elder and Co. 1858.

THE great Indian rebellion of 1857 will certainly not cease to be remembered, from any want of chronicles of its details. Publications representing this memorable event in every phase of its development and progress, have issued from the press. Historical narratives, political treatises and pamphlets, tales of personal suffering and adventure, are already before the public, and "the cry is still they come." Amongst the latter class of records, excepting the tale of Lucknow and its siege, perhaps none will be read with more genuine sympathy than the book now before us-the "personal adventures" of Mr. Edwards, formerly magistrate of Budaon. The title is unambitious, but the events related, though of a purely personal nature, are, as the author modestly hopes, "not without interest." Decked by no labored garniture of words, disfigured by no improbable exaggerations, the tale is told with that simple and unaffected pathos, which carries conviction to, and awakens commiseration in, the heart of every reader. We find nothing of the "blood and thunder" school, to excite or rather pervert astonishment, but every event is so graphically related, every emotion so vividly yet naturally portrayed, that, irresistibly carried along by the narrative, we feel alternately elated or depressed with the author himself. We see stamped on every page the mark of the Englishman and the Christian, the undaunted fortitude of the one sustained and elevated by the humble faith of the other. "I thought it my duty," he says, "not to desert my post, but stick to the ship as long as she floated. I went into my room and prayed earnestly that God would protect and guide me, and enable me to do my duty." With men animated by such a spirit, we need never fear the worst for India.

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Placed as magistrate and collector of Budaon, "the sole European 'officer in charge of a district, with a lawless population of 1,100,000 'souls," Mr. Edwards had good reason to be alarmed when the fatal storm of mutiny burst in May at Meerut. After having done all in his power to quiet the district, but in vain, he felt that his "work was over, that the ship had sunk under him, and that it was high

SEPT., 1858.

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'time to provide for his own safety." Obliged to flee, he threw himself on the protection of those he had formerly befriended. But times had changed. A faithful Seikh peon, indeed, Uzeer Singh by name, adhered throughout with admirable constancy to his master; but with few exceptions, Zemindars, who nominally remained faithful to the British rule, seemed in doubt whether to receive or repulse the fugitive. The British "raj" apparently was over, the Mussulmans were triumphant, the Feringhee therefore might be slain with impunity; on the other hand, a lingering doubt still remained in the hearts of these time-servers, that our prestige had suffered but a temporary eclipse, in which case hospitality and treachery would soon meet with their due reward. Some therefore with feigned hospitality received the unwelcome guest, others coldly repulsed him; a third party treacherously betrayed him. The people too, taking the cue from their leaders, were by turns favorable or adverse to his escape; but in spite of all these obstacles, Mr. Edwards contrived to reach, as he thought, a place of safety in the British station of Futtehghur. There he found the Collector, Mr. Probyn, still at his post, endeavoring to weather the storm, though conscious that mutiny was rife around him. The fearful events which took place at Futtehghur are now well-known. "The two Collectors" escaped in time, and in company with Mrs. Probyn and four children, became again fugitives.

This part of the journey was, if possible, fraught with more danger and distress, than had attended Mr. Edwards in his previous wanderings. The presence of Mrs. Probyn and her children naturally caused deep anxiety, the increased number of the party too more easily aroused suspicion, and diminished the facility of escape. Many trials did this little band pass through, and many an affecting incident might be quoted illustrating the sufferings they experienced. We select one, told with a touching simplicity befitting the melancholy subjectthe death of one of Mrs. Probyn's children :

"The poor little baby was by this time much exhausted and 'breathing very hard. His mother, whose unceasing care and devotion had been the means of keeping him alive hitherto, procured after 'much difficulty some hot water for a warm bath for him, which seemed to restore him; she then laid him down on a charpoy, and lay down beside him. She was perfectly exhausted, having had no rest 'for several nights previously, during which she had to keep him in her arms, and she soon fell asleep. I was lying down at some little 'distance, and suddenly missing the heavy breathing, went up to the bed to look at the child; all was still, and the little spirit had fled. I woke up the parents, who, although in deep grief at losing their 'sweet child, felt thankful that its death had been natural, and not by the hands of assassins. We all knelt down and prayed beside the little body, and then I went out with Uzeer Singh about two o'clock in the morning, to look for a dry spot where we might dig a grave for him. This was a matter of some difficulty, but at last we found a spot under some trees, which was not inundated, nor likely to be so.

When all was prepared, the poor father took the little body wrapped in a sheet in his arms, and Mrs. Probyn followed leaning on my

arm.

"We had some difficulty in getting through the cattle which were 'penned in the enclosure. I read a few sentences of the burial service over him. There was no time for more, as day was fast breaking, ' and we dare not be seen beyond the village in the day-light, so we laid him in his little resting place, " dust to dust, ashes to ashes, in sure and certain hope," and hastily covered him in. I almost envied him his quiet rest." Such a narrative needs no comment.

Still the fugitives held on their weary way, at one time protected from their enemies by the inundated state of the country; at another by the ready wit of some friendly escort, till at length all their troubles were ended at Cawnpore, where they arrived shortly after the tragedy of the Well, and received the shelter of the bayonets of their countrymen. How they were welcomed, and with what feelings they found themselves at peace after such sufferings and trials, may best be described in Mr. Edwards' concluding words :

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"We landed about two P. M. of the 31st August, just twenty-seven hours after we started, during which time we had run the gauntlet for more than 150 miles of river way through the midst of the enemies' country. A picket of her Majesty's 84th regiment was on duty at the ghaut. The men congregated around us, and even our own flesh ' and blood could not have more repeatedly or warmly congratulated us on our safety than they did; they were very tender of poor Mrs. Probyn, and insisted on carrying the children and our little baggage to wherever we wished to go. On learning that the magistrate's tent was a few yards off at the top of the bank, I immediately went there and found Sherer of our service. On announcing myself (for being in native dress, he could not recognize me), he was as much sur'prised as if he had seen an apparition, for I had long been reported among the killed at Futtehghur. I can never forget his hearty 'welcome.

"Sherer got rooms prepared for us in a house fitted up as an hotel 'close to his tents, and just beyond the entrenchment occupied by our troops. To get to this place we were obliged to pass the house in which the slaughter had been perpetrated, and the well where so 'many of these dear friends lie, whom we had so lately parted with ' in full strength and vigor.

"When we found ourselves in a house again, for the first time for 'three months, and in a position of comparative security, we felt quite awe-struck; and with hearts overflowing with thankfulness, we knelt ' down together to bless our God, who had so wonderfully delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and from those who lay in wait for us by the way.""

Such is the conclusion to one of the many tales of suffering which might be related of the Indian mutiny. We have no desire to make heroes of Mr. Edwards and his companions beyond their due or to