23 JULY 1921, Page 25

India as Known to the Ancient World. By Gauranganath Banerjee.

(H. Milford. 5s. not.)—Dr. Banerjee, of Calcutta University, is doing good work in promoting the study of Indian history. In this interesting essay he summarizes what is known about India's intercourse in ancient times with Europe, Asia Winer, and Central Asia, and with the Far East. He points out, for example, how the Scythian invasion of Northern India at the beginning of our era led to tho spread of Buddhism from India through Central Asia and thence by way of Eastern Turkestan to China. He describes the spread of Brahmanism to Further India and especially to Cambodia in and after the third century, only to decline some centuries later before Buddhism. Alex- ander, in pushing eastward the limits of Hellenism, brought India to the knowledge of the West and made Alexandria a meeting-ground for European and Indian merchants. Indian princes sent embassies to Augustus, and P oman merchants journeyed to India to buy spices and silk. Dr. Banerjee outlines a fascinating subject in such a way that his readers will wish to know more about it.