New-York tribune., 1905-02-12

IN K e NJ G K G = . r p p
late saPer-arendent- Survey Of India with Ia
REGIONS ~ Tie WorldJ Svo. pp. XII, SO. D.
Il would ae veIlnigh impossible TO write a
book about India that would not be Interesting
ard So Th5--as Eoldich has certainly not
wrought --e Impossible in the present volume.
II q remarkably compact form he has pre-
serted generous amount Of inforula ton about
wonderful country. Il is doubtful II there Is
any other work from which SO comprehensive a
view of the Indian continent may be obtained in
a. is varied aspects and activities. For all
t--- The book = not what Is termed easy read
ing The subject Is too vast TO te treated in 50
s-a- compass by one who 50 saturated with
EoTledge IS is the author without taking on
ssaaWhat Of an encyclopaedia character in the
e-ort 10 do justice TO ali sides Of q many sided
trrlc
A Su2erintendent Of the Official Survey Of
India. The author is especially well ecufDped for
rs task and there are probably few men who
tzye travelled so widely over the region OF
Elich he writes or observed II with so great
particularly Il this respect he differs greatly
t-on The average British official. whom he de-
s-rz5es IS leaving India as q rule knowing
laout Is much Of the undercurrents OF native
existence and native thought as he knew on his
arrival IL the country. To them one native IS
IS a-0ther native. and all natives are of one
grazt alien rn!ly, sharing common stock Of
cCCttful principles" although even the inteIIi-
gent use Of their eyes might teach them that
there are more different sorts Of natives in
lHlia-by q great many-than there are Of na-
tres Of L -r.e-"
land n promise where Nature offers her gifts
XIII Lavish hand and where the soil is peculiarly
@ m
ns sort ~ geographical cUl-de-sac. with q few
n9ta1le gaceWays Leading thereto from the north
snd no exit except bv the sea to the cast south
O vest ln1la has been from time immeuOriaI
POPPED - immigrants who have multiplied within
ler borders with such prodigious vitality that no
EaTe 9f conquest sweeping through Ler historic
80 has Easa- any permanent impression while
eae1 II t1rl has added something TO her perpIexlng
sLnograEhy
As The scoDe OF the book demands. Sir Thomas
Ays special stress upon the geography OF India.
1ot only II lis varied physical features, but in
ne bearing that these have had il shaping
he history and 5est-nies Of the races that make
p The 2s7.0ps 800 inhabitants Of the peninsuIar
sn-lne1t Under the head Of Political Geogra-
lAy, NJ gives a- admirably clear exposition Of
lAe coTplic-t=- system Of British rule and Of
le effect ri contact with European civilization
Oh The native population. In Colonel E0ldich's
opinion the direct result upon the character Of
NE people Is gg- important. This is not strange
when We consider how few in nUmber-16S UJt-
sre -he ruling aliens. The opening CT the civil
Service 10 natives has indeed produced Ger
l-n effect uT91 individuals. over four-dfths
F" lAe places -1 the superior grades Of the ex-
e'l--Ye and Judicial branches are filed By na-
IVES and since these men have been suitably
i1ia there has been a great advance il their
S-cle-cy ard t-ustNorthiness To this result
NE example n the irreproachable integrity Of
l-7 English officials has also doubtless been a
contributing factor. But these three thousand
:" SO native civil servants are but an inini-
'4s'rn2l drop IN the Indian bucket The au-
NOR questions Il the benefit thus achieved may
Aot De largely Offset by the disadvantages of
u'0 LIBERAL al English education in the case of
nose chiefs and MOBILES who have so completely
I-OEted the fashions Of the Western foreigner