The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

A GAZETTEER of the COUNTRIES adjacent to
INDIA on the NORTH WEST; including
Sinde, Afghanistati, the Punjab, and the Neighbouring
States. By EDWARD THORN TON, Esq.
Author of " The History of the British Empire in
India." 2 Vole. London, W. H. Allen and Co.
This is an excellent work, and does great credit to the
skill, judgment, and research of the compiler. It has
been produced, too, at a very seasonable period, when
England has obtained the unrestricted navigation of the
Indus, occupied Sinde and Beloochistan, and is watching
every movement in the Punjab, as well as in the hos-
tile regions to the west of this vast river. Mr. Thorn-
ton has gone about the work with a determination to
supply a great deficiency, and render the history, statis-
tics, and present state of these vast countries both inte-
resting and useful. " Every published book," he says,
"known or supposed to contain information relating to the
countries treated of has been consulted. The examina-
tion has not been confined to English works, it
has been extended to those written in the languages
of the Continent, works never translated, and in
this country comparatively unknown." He has also
contrived to embody some interesting details of
the ancient state of these countries, taken from
Greek and Roman writers. As a proof of his praise-
worthy research, we may state that he has consulted at
least one hundred and fifty writers, from the time of
Marco Polo to the present, including the latest publica-
tions, such as those of Pottinger, Kerinedy, and Postans.
It is just the book that was wanted, and will be found of
infinite service, not only to those who inhabit our Indian
possessions, but to the great body of readers in this
country. It is accompanied by a large and excellent
map. We give the following extract as a specimen of
the careful manner and comprehensive plan in which the
work has been got up :
" Hyderabad, in Sinde, is generally considered the chief
town of that country, in consequence of its having been se-
lected as the residence of the chief Ameers, or those ruling the
southern and principal part of the country. It is situate four
miles east of the eastern bank of the Indus, on an eminence of
the low rocky range called the Gunjah hills, and in an island in-
closed between the Indus and the Fulailee, a branch which,
leaving the main stream about twelve miles above the town,
communicates with it about fifteen miles below. The Fulailee
flows about a thousand yards east of the town, the base of
the rampart being washed by a creek from it in the season
of inundation, though the whole branch is dry when the
river is low. This fortress, which is esteemed very strong
by the Sindians, and would no doubt prove so in their mode
of warfare, was built nearly on the site of the ancient Ne-
runkot, by Futteh Ali, the first Ameer. The outline is ir-
regular, corresponding with the winding shape of the hill's
brow, on the very edge of which the walls, for the greater
part of their extent, rise to the height of from fifteen to thirty
feet. They are built of burnt bricks, and are thick and solid
at the base, but taper so much, and are so greatly weakened
by embrasures and loop-holes with which they are pierced,
that a few well-directed shot would demolish any part, and
expose the defenders. to the fire of the assailants. The ram-
parts are flanked by round towers or lofty bastions, at in-
tervals of three or four hundred paces, which, combined with
the height of the hill, give the place an imposing appearance.
Where the walls do not rise immediately from the edge of
the declivity, the defence is strengthened by a ditch of ten
feet wide and eight deep. The rock is too soft to admit of
being scarped, and slopes so gently, that if the wall were
breached, the rubbish would rest on the face of the hill, and
afford footing for a storming party. The plateau of the hill
on which Hyderabad is built is a mile and a half long and
seven hundred yards broad; the height is about eighty feet,
and en the southern part are the fortress and the suburbs or
Pettah. There are about five thousand houses, meanly con-
structed of mud, one half of that number being within the
fortress, the rest in the Pettah. The fortress contains the
residence of the Ameers, and a massive tower, built as the
repository of their treasures. The bazaar is extensive, form-
ing one street the entire length of the town, and it displays
considerable bustle and appearance of business. The most
important manufacture of Hyderabad is that of arms of va-
rious kinds, matchlocks, swords, spears, and shields, and the
skill of the workmen is said to be scarcely inferior to that
attained in Europe. There is also a considerable manufac-
ture of ornamental silks and cottons."

TH-E NEW ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL AT DEPT-
FORD.—The new Royal Naval School, the first stone of which
was laid by Prince Albert, is now nearly complete, and it is
stated will be ready fur the reception of scholars early nest
August. The style of the edifice is Italian, as adopted pretty
generally in England in the reign of Charles the Second, and
bears some resemblance to Chelsea Hospital. The school
will be capable of accommodaring 260 boys, together with
the masters, secretary, and officers of the institution, for whom
apartments have been specially provided. Large dormito-
ries for the boys, and containing fifty beds each, with cabins
at either end for the ushers and masters, are nearly finishad,
and adjacent to the building is an infirmary for such of the
inmates as may be afflicted with any contagious diiease.
The original contract for the erection of the school was for
the sum of 13,0001., but it is supposed that its completion
will cost at least 16,000/, _ -

The venerable Archdeacon Manning, of Chichester,
preached on Sunday afternoon at Great St. Mary's Church,
Oxford. There was a large attendance of nierulers of the
University.