The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Travels in India and Kashmir. By the Baron
Erich von Schonberg. 2 vols. Hurst and
Blackett. •
There is something very superior in the style and
arrangement of these volumes. The author seems
to endeavour, with his whole power and persuasion,
to lay before his readers a true picture of the re-
markable lands through which he passed. Not that
he cast a mere cursory glance at their peculiar won-
ders and ornaments—he dwelt for a considerable
period in various parts of the East. He gives us a
most minute account of minor details of a journey,
which furnish a very agreeable background , to
the gorgeous tableau of an Oriental pilgri-
mage. Among other things which cast a shade
of annoyance even over the land that was once
an Eden, are the extremely troublesome ser-
vants and agents who are indispensable to
all travellers, particularly in. such an overpowering
climate. Their demands are exorbitant, and no
one can be sure that the most necessary attendant
will not run away without a moment's warning.
The description of the Valley of Kashmir, called
the Happy Valley is very interesting ; it is observed
that nothing can excel the purity and balmy fresh-
ness of .the air. It is this ambrosial air, un-
doubtedly, that has won for Kashmir the reputation
of having been the earthly paradise. We likewise
meet with some details of the confused governments
that exist in India; which require no little atten-
tion to be able to comprehend. Some frightful mur-
ders wore committed during the author's residence
abroad. He visited Lahore, and was most kindly
received by the Maha-Rajah. A few weeks after-
wards, while further on his travels, he learned the
news of his assassination, with that of several
others of his family. General Avitabelli is a very
remarkable character ; some very singular anec-
dotes are given of him—the following, for instance
showing his inflexibility :—Once his troops re-
volted ; the Government-house was strong enough
to resist them for some time. The rebels insisted
on his coming to terms with them ; but not to be
daunted, he went into the gaols and invited the
prisonem to join him and become free. The result,
as might be anticipated, was, that the mutiny was
instantly quelled. The temples of India are very
well described; but after paying a just tribute
to their beauty and grandeur, the author
gives it as his decided opinion that they are
' inferior to those of Egypt. Altogether, those
who wish for an insight into the present
state and actual affairs of India and Kashmir will
meet with every advantage in these records of a
foreign tour. The following is a specimen of the
sketches introduced illustrative of the peculiar race,
and demonstrative of the remarkable customs of
the Orients :

"A certain Nabob of Murschedabad proposed a ques-
tion, and whoever should give a satisfactory answer was
to receive a reward. The inquiry proposed was this,
What is it that did not happen last year, has not hap-
pened this year, and will not occur next year.' Learned
men came from all parts of the kingdom to the Nabob's
court, for the prize to be awarded was a large one.
Many an old gentleman rubbed his forehead and knitted
his brows, and many a young man went farther, and
slapped his head forcibly, as if he hoped by this concus-
sion to excite greater activity in his brain. But
all was in vain, the problem remained unsolved. At
length, a military officer stepped before the Na-
bob, and greeting him with profound reverence
said, Oh King ! may you live a thousand years
as long as your father the sun, and as your mother the
earth. • You, oh King, did not pay your troops last
year, you have not paid them this year, nor do you in-
tend to pay them next."'
This answer was deemed satisfactory, and the
sepoy received the prize. In conclusion, the author
offers these remarks as a 'reason for publishing his
travels :
"My object was to give to Europeans unacquainted
with the countries through which I passed, a picture of
the character and customs of the natives of these foreign
lands. A long residence in India, and an intercourse
with the various classes of society there, gave me oppor-
tunities of studying the national character. That men
and women are essentially the same in every region of
the globe, is undeniably true. The same passions and
propensities lurk in the bosom of the inhabitant of India
and of Europe, modified by a difference in social circum-
stances, and the contrast existing on many points in the
moral code of the various nations. Viewing the matter
in this light, it must be admitted that the European
often judges his Asiatic brother with undue severity.
We should remember that theirs is a different civilisa-
tion from ours, a different morality, and, above all, that
they are under a different system of religious teaching.
Is there not injustice as well as bigotry in applying to
their actions the same test by which oar own should be
tried ?"

The Second Burmese War.

By W. Laurie, Lie

;enantt Artillery, author of " Orisst
Madras _ _

and "The Temple of Jagannath." Smith, Elder,
and Co.
A work on a subject which has lately engaged so
much of public attention by one who must neces-
sarily have so many opportunities of observation
and information, cannot fail to prove an object of
attraction to all interested in the military opera-
tions at Burmah. The author is already favour-
ably known as the writer of some useful and instruc-
tive accounts of the curious and comparatively
unknown history of Hindoo Mythology. I.ae
present volume is on a subject of still greater gene-
ral interest, and its concise sketch of the causes of
the war is a valuable memorandum of events likely
to be forgotten or incorrectly stated at this lapse of
time, but which, being clearly set forth by one
present at the scene of action, form a most useful
accessory to all considerations or decisions on the
subject. It contains six illustrations by officers of
the force serving in Burmah. Part of the contents
is in the form of a diary, on which, being written
coeval with the incidents narrated, the author con-
siders more reliance can be paced. The following
description of the great Pagoda is interesting :
" We had now a good opportunity of beholding the
vastness of this Gaudama s ' solemn temple.' The
canopied staircases, grotesque with red and gold, seemed
not in keeping with the dignified grandeur of Shod
Dagooa and his associates. They served as excellent
quarters for the European troops. The great temple, on
its gorgeous summit being viewed through a telescope,
suggests to the fancy some enchanted hill, on the top of
which a band of fairies have found an abode, where they
might for ever dwell undisturbed far away from the
haunts of men. Waving golden leaves attached to tink-
ling bells, rich gold work, all so snugly protected by the
golden tee, draw forth admiration. Carrying the eye
downwards, the gilding becomes far less bright ; the
spectator is then astonished by immensity, as, gazing on
the beautifully waving lines and rectangular stones, ex-
tending to a sort of enormous pedestal, on which
the temple seems to stand, and huge monsters which
look not of this world, and small windows set
in golden array, he approaches the mighty base.
From this to the summit measures three hundred and
twenty-one feet ; and yet, from its graceful proportions,
it is difficult to believe the height so great. Shod
Dagoon is encircled at some distance by smaller pagodas.
all possessing more or less beauty. One situated to the
north-east of it is larger than the others—its body, black
with age, and the bright golden summit forming a strik-
ing contrast. But all sink into insignificance before
the great fane, built in an age long passed away, in
honour of the representative of Buddha, whose followers
are more numerous than those of any other creed among
the human race !"

An appendix is added, which gives some interesting
information and extracts from accounts of the first
Burmese War.

Handley Cross ; or, Mr. Jorrocks's Hunt. By
the Author of " Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour."
Bradbury and Evans.

The new work of Mr. Sponge's biographer pro-
mises to resemble his other writings in many re-
spects. Mr. Jorrocks has not as yet been presented
to us, but the characters who compose the Hunt
are much of the same class as Mr. Sponge met at
Laverick Wells, only that the fascinating Mr.
Waffles is wanting. The first chapter commences
with these words :—" When Michael Hardy died,
great was the difficulty in the vale of Sheepwash
to devise how the farmers' hunt was to be carried
on ;" then follows the history of Michael Hardy, a
thoroughgoing sportsman, an analysis of the locality
and its inhabitants, its rival doctors, and rival
great people. The author seems certainly to have
had a pretty good insight into the mysteries of
private life, and he does full justice to the influence
of the 'fair sex in whatever is going forward, and he
has taken advantage of his peeps behind the scenes
to describe-r-

'.alfgemelnilt
•
"Les pet it es miens de la vie Ituraamai
um
re
management
with all the zest of a spinster of a cede
age. When the committee of
has at length been formed, the
ssi mifeetteher srcualitnaneutiltnoso,i insist mattersg
tffuteashnel antot
haani is gtegohaloalifrembnir seleacgoollro;:ileir decided
sebefociteekdthti ni
neehioacl
memberstfgiuthuhpoveneednhnes.lu.iteni
ntTTo
ohahfhfenoeatdnnhwocefooui
ovturuchenooseotr a
in,wryf
half of the remainder.
hAi
Young
oun hairg at three, for,,tyleaf ru ri i
beganv e
dyeing
had it as black as Warr
ton did not rise until en
8 blacking. Hrs. Barning-
quiet walks in the fields ee, and by five
atfto er the latter hour, having
breakfasted in bed ; and
ladies having taken
. .
get up complexion and re:
eel ve instructions whom to repress and whom to en
courage sat witho -sh
ut be or work for fear of tarn' s,_
ing the lustre of th • dan
eidr eyes. Night drew on--a
the ocea-
like stillness rei
sional joke of a statfine
of a messenger from the baker
" The lower rooms of
became deserted, and light glimmered
the upper storeys ionarounfld, broken only
plssing jibe
tailor, 'ler, or. wininnetr. length
all a°. houses
only in
; 1i2111.11t8 of Handley
as though the .n- b
.1 . Again as if
Cross were retiring to early respe.sce-nded ; and. in 'draw_
by general consent, the lights
ing-roomslwhere the blinds d
in
Wm; closed, ewe Rho /No h not been drawn or cur-
the litreet might leo ele.