THE TERM ANGLO-INDIAN.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR..1 should like to subscribe to the protest of Mr. C. R. Haines in your issue of September 23rd against the misuse of the term Anglo-Indian, which has hitherto meant a member of the British community resident in India. A hundred years ago persons of mixed European and Asiatic descent in India were called half-castes or East Indians. In the Madras army the term " Indo-Briton " was officially used to describe the son of a British soldier and a native mother. Such men often enlisted in native regiments, and I had one in my company of sepoys named John Dennis, who was as dark complexioned as any of his comrades. He wao a good man and a good soldier, and eventually rose to be subandar-major of the regi- ment. In the time of the Marquis of Hastings the term "Eurasian" was invented, and has since been generally used, and found convenient as including those who are of European other than English descent. I have known Eurasians in Madras who were descended from Swiss and German mercen- aries in the Honourable Company's service.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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