The Aryan Village in India and Ceylon. By Sir John
B. Phear. (Macmillan.)—After an introduction which deals with the outline of ethnology as bearing on the origin of the Bengal population, and with some illustrative parallels in our own social history, Sir J. Meer describes, first, " Modern Village Life in Bengal," and secondly, ." The Agricultural Community in Ceylon," adding a chapter on the
Evolution of the Indo-Aryan Social and Laud Systems." He is au 'expert in the subject which he discusses, and we do not undertake any criticism of his matter. The most interesting chapters are those which treat of "Domestic Life," of religion and amusements under the title of " Grave and Gay," and of "Rural Crime." The description of the Ceylon community contains many things that will be new, oven to readers who have some knowledge of Indian life. As to style, we must remark on the inconvenient and disfiguring practice of thickly strewing tho text with llindoo words. Some are sufficiently familiar, and may be used with- out apology. We all know, for instence, what is meant by a Zemindar, and as the word has no precise equivalent in English, accept it without remonstrance. But why are we told that "visitors of the bhadratry sit on the takhtaposh with the master of the house.P" "Respectable visitora it on the dais," would have been near enough to the souse; as it would have been to say that a Bengal gentleman remains in his sitting-room until 11 a.m., instead of "remains in his baithalcana."
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