Human Nature in Rural India. - By R. Carstairs. (Blackwood and
Sons.)—This book contains the observations of a shrewd, practical man. He has had twenty years' experience in the Civil Service, and has evidently used his opportunities. He has much to say that is worth attending to. Hero is his judgment on one important point. " Comparing his feelings with our own two great commandments, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God' and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' my notion is that Hodge fears rather than loves his god or gods ; that he does for his neighbours nothing more than social duty requires him (and that is, outside his caste, nothing) ; but that, reading 'relatives' for neighbour,' he does more for them than we do." " Quacks and Witches," "The Money-lender" are the subjects of other chapters, both of notable importance. The " Bengal Republic" is a prevision of what would happen if the educated Bengali gets to the top, and we disappear and leave him to fight it out with the warrior tribes. The Bengali would have but a short lease of power. A ruler must be prepared to fight in the last resort.
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