New-York tribune., 1891-01-30

There ought to be cOnslderap'c healthN cuIi
ostv as TO the life of an Indian Nlccroy and his
wife. and Lady Duiicrin has certainty done hcr
hest 70 satisfy it in this volume Of selections from
her Journal The publication of experiences III
tb;s form presents advantages and drawbacks.
Among the former must be rcckOncd superior fresh
moss Of impressions. Opinions and descriptions
set down few hours after events or conversations
arc more lifelike and also more trustworthy than
when recorded at greater distances of time On
the other hand, it must he admitted that the
General effect of the journal form of publication
Is somewhat fatguing. The mOnotonous sue
cession of short fragmentary paragraphs taxes the
attention of the reader almost painfully, and in
keeping diary so extremely busy person as
Lady Duffern is in n manner compelled to practise
a condensation which interfcrcs at least with the
literary value of her work But those who only
desire TO know what Vccroys wife finds TO do
and to see will not be disappointed in the present
instance though they may wish that her lively
ladyship had taken more space in which TO de-
scribe some of the curious and highly interesting
sights she saw and the strange people she en-
cOunercd.
OF course Viceroy sees the regular sights
from quite a different point Of view than that
of the ordinary traveller or European resident IN
India. For him and his consort the honors pald 10
ROYALTY are everywhere forthcoming Wherever
are places where. while the Viceroy may enter.
his wife must remain without. Lady Du1crin
accompanied her husband upon number of
progresses" to various parts Of the country, and
thus she saw the most notable people and places,
the most impressive ceremonies, and the fullest
ceremonial splcndOr of State functions. The
Viceroy visited the most important among the
native princes and was entertained by them with
lavish magnifcence and Oriental profu>ion and
gorgeousness. lie held durbars at which RaIahs
and mobiles innumerablc attended. Glittcring in
splendid and picturesque costumes. and hung with
precious stones Princes clothed in gold and silver
and velvet and satin, and bearing great fortunes
on their persons in the form of diamond crowns
and aigrettes emerald and ruby necklaces, ropes
of pearls, and gcm-cncrusted weapons and gar
aents figures which might have come straight
out of the Thousand Nights and One Night. III
fact Unjust have become almost tiresOmcly
familiar TO Lady Dufern before these tours came
TO an end.
Then there were the camps, in which perfect
towns of canvas were erected, where through the
magic of numbers there were ordered streets and
smooth grass lawns and refreshing fountains, and
rows of gas lamps: where every comfort and
luxury was provided, and all accidents guarded
against. save those caused by the capricous
weather. When the NcerOv met the Amir of
Afghanistan that same incalculabc factor threat
ened to play the mischief with all the elaborate
preparations, for it raincd and thundcrcd and
lightened until the tents and the ground were
alike soaked and until the ladies of the Niccrcsal
household had to he carried from the doors of
their tents to the various receptions leVCeS. din
ners and other ceremonies with which each daily
programme was filed. Fortunately perhaps for
the political effect of the meeting, the Amir had
been lodged in a house and so could not be washed
away, and Lady Dufern seems to have thought
that he rather enjoyed the experience. because 50
many other people were miserable. But when the
sun shone on these stately camps the experience
was different Then there were all kinds OF
amusements, races and the indigenous tent-pPggnc.
and of course military reviews and professions OF
medieval splendor, and elephants stridine about
clad in royal scarlet, and camels bearing mountain
guns on their backs, and everywhere swarms Of
ravly decEed natives ready to yell their londcst
and to throw flowers and 10 sprinkle scent for the
Lord Sahib and the Lady mem-Sahib representing
that white race they had done their best to
drive out Of Hndustan less than generation ago.
And the Viceroy's duties of conciliation and Of
courtesy took him into native States where Mahara
jahs and Raiahas and Maharanas lived very much
after the ancestral manner; where magnificent,
spacious palaces and castles received them, when
they sometimes dincd in hall a thousand feet in
being seated in the middle of the room. she could
not see either end of IT, The great native princes
entertained their noble guests with true princcy
hospitality with banquctS and beautiful illumina-
tions and astonishing displays of fireworks; with
strange Oriental sports and games, such as fights
between elephants, between bulls. between rams,
between quails: with displays of the precious c.-
tents of opulcnt treasures; with gifts which
when valuable were. however, always declined;
and with constant thoughtfulncSs and attention
After these stately visits had been paid the Vice
roy and his family went to Smla. the bill
station where eight or nine months of the
year are now regularly spent by the Indian
Government, and where the business of the
State is carried on as steadily as at Cal
cutta. Lady Dufierin's experiences Of Simla
weather were not very pleasant. Fog, mist. rain
and electric storms seem to have prevailed most
of the time. She also embarrassed by the
preciptOus character of the country, and The
consequent difficulty, and not seldom danger of
getting about. At Simla there is little oppor-
tunity for using horses and carriages, there being
but one practicable drive. The common vehicle
is the japanese iinrickshaw. a kind Of grOwnUp
perambuator on two wheels. Lady Duiierin, how
ever procured a mule. and later pony, which
she harnessed 10 her jinrckshaw in which she
made many interesting excursions.
The Marchoness gives few amusing examples
Of the English spoken or written by educated
natives. The British Resident at Bhurtposc once
received letter beginning IIOnOrcd Enormity.
A man. during an examination. told 10 write
an essay the horse, which he did c0ncisely as
follows: The horse is very noble animal, but
when irrtated, he ceases to do So" Another
native wrote paper Illustrating the difference
between riches and poverty, and concluded thus
An Short the rich man welters crimson velvet,
while the poor man snortS on flint" Another
native wishing to express his gratitude to an
English official, wrote, " For all that YOU have
done for me may God Almighty give YOU tit for
tat No doubt the natives could rctaliatc with |