30 OCTOBER 1897, Page 25

" C. S.," " who could feel no pride in

belonging to so fine a service as the I.C.S., or in taking part, however small, in the conduct of that great enterprise, the government of India." Certainly there is no nation where youth has before it so magnificent a career as that which India offers to British young men. A book that honestly tells the truth, which is not written for a party or a purpose, neither belittles nor exaggerates its subject, and has an outlook on something beyond sport or society, is welcome. " C. S." contrives to give us as vivid a picture of Indian life by his unpre- tending narratives and records of observations as any one has ever done. His quaint drawings, which remind us of Thackeray, curiously illustrative, though without pretensions to art, help to produce the effect. The " Ghurrall raft," for instance, a subject

which other travellers have not thought it worth while to portray, is a capital example. The raft consists on a bamboo framework, supported by empty water-pots. It is about 4 ft. square, will just support one passenger, and is shoved across a stream by two porters. The whole book is more or loss of the same character, a simple, vivid story, in which pen and pencil help each other with good result.