INDIAN MONUMENTS.
Iar the Annual Report of the Director-General of Archaeology in India for 1918-19 (Calcutta : Superintendent of Government Printing, 2 rupees), Sir John Marshall is once again enabled to record much good work done, despite the absence of several of his assistants on war service and the reduction of the very small grant with which he contrives to do wonders in the way of excavation and preservation. The " Satanic " Government which Mr. Gandhi denounces has done far more for India's historic monuments—temples, palaces, shrines and forts— than any native rulers ever thought of attempting, and it shows complete impartiality without, of course, evoking any gratitude save from the few European, and native scholars who are genuinely. interested in the history of India. However, some of the Native States are now following the Government's good example. The Begam of Bhopal has enabled Sir John Marshall to continue the work of preserving the, famous Buddhist monuments at Bauchi, some of• which are illustrated, in the plates appended to the Report. In Hyderabad, too, the Nizam has borne the cost of putting the- Ajanta caves in good order, and has authorized the employment of an Italian expert to preserve the wall-paintings from further decay. It is proposed to have this remarkable series of paintings reproduced by the three-colour process, so as to leave a complete record of them to posterity and also to facilitate their study. The- total coat of the Archaeological Department for the whole, of British India appears to have been less than four lees of rupees, or about £26,000.
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