BOOKS.
A VOLUNTEER'S INDIAN SCRAMBLE.
THE " scramble " of Lieutenant James differs from many other books of travels in the extent of his ground and the variety of his subjects. In this respect, indeed, he resembles some of the older travellers, who went forth to seek fortune instead of materials for a book, as he excels them in the art of writing,—if that, indeed, be an excellence which consists in elaborating trifles.
Mr. Hugo James seems to have gone to India in search of a career, and of his brother, who held a staff appointment. After a voyage from Bombay to Kurachee at the mouth of the Indus, and a land and river journey through Lower Seinde, he joined his brother at Larkanah. The country was soon startled by the murder of Anderson and Agnew, the revolt of their murderer Molraj, and the victory of Edwardes. Mr. Hugo James deter- mined to join Edwardes as a volunteer ; he was present at the siege of Mooltan, and served afterwards with the irregular troops of Edwardes and the Native allies in parts of the Punjaub. He had risen to the temporary command of a couple of regiments when Colonel Sykes placed a cadetship at his disposal. " The king's chaff is better than other folk's corn": Hugo at once resigned his leadership for an ensigncy in the Company's service. His adven- tures thenceforth were not so remarkable or various as before; his travels were more extensive. They consist of a journey from the Indus to Calcutta, a residence at Calcutta and at Barrackpore, marches through the country on duty, which our author turns into excursions, and a visit to Daijeeling, the nearest sanitary station of the Himalayas.
There is variety in the volumes: rough adventure in the earlier journies through Scinde and the Punjaub; camp life at the siege of Mooltan ; interviews with half-independent Native princes when the traveller was himself an independent man. A keen sportsman himself, Mr. James had always a pursuit; and, like many other sportsmen, he possesses an eye for nature. Dr. Hooker has somewhat forestalled the adventures at Darjeeling; though our author's account of that station and his mountain excursions have freshness and character. His pictures of Calcutta and on the Ganges have novelty from the searching nature of the writer's explora- tions and his non-avoidance of disagreeable subjects. In fact, ac- cording to him, you scarcely can avoid them practically if you look about you. The following is a picture of hygiene at the City of Palaces; the more worthy of note, as, though the sickness-breed- ing abominations may be confined to the lower parts of the town, any pestilence in that climate will be sure to travel through the city.
"Who could wonder at the cholera and smallpox being so prevalent in Calcutta, after having inspected the drainage arrangements of the Native portion of the town. During the rainy season the atmosphere is impreg- nated with a disgusting effluvia, arising from the open drains. Those who have traversed the worst and most populous localities in the city, must ad- mit that, without any exaggeration, a scavenger's cart in London would emit a heavenly odour in comparison with some of the Calcutta streets. The drains are constantly blocked up by the accumulation of filth, and as they are always kept open, the inhabitants must certainly be gifted with very strong powers of endurance, for the houses in some cases are actually built over these streams of pollution. Then, again, the small tanks, or rather pools of stagnant water, must breed diseases amongst the children ; and if the Com- missioners of Sewers do not shortly adopt some stringent measures towards the cleansing of the town, a plague in all probability will visit the Indian metropolis. No fault can be descried as far as concerns the European quarter. The streets here are kept remarkably clean, whilst the shop- keepers and others employ a number of water-carriers, who daily water the roads, and thus lay the dust, besides rendering the atmosphere much cooler."
The horrors of the Neemitolah Ghat (a landing-place) could scarcely be prevented, on account of the religious feeling ; but the site might perhaps be changed.
"Many English residents eschew prawns on account of the prevalent sup- position, that they fatten upon dead Hindoo bodies, and other refuse thrown into the river. Neemitolah Ghat ought to be a capital feeding-place for fish having a taste principally confined to dead bodies. At the above, mentioned locality, the Hindoos burn their defunct friends, and wo betide the inq.ui- chive' or unsuspecting individual who approaches too near this disgusting ghat ; particularly if he is gifted with very sensitive olfactory nerves. One day when passing the place in a small boat, the force of wind and tide drifted our craft much nearer to these funereal piles than we had anticipated or wished ; however, astonishment in a measure made us disregard the horrible effluvia that pervaded the air. We were surprised at the innumerable birds of prey that were congregated together ; the vultures twinkling their glassy eyes as they anxiously watched the burning dead bodies, which in some cases had already been attacked by some hungry bird with an appetite no longer to be restrained. Ever and anon a fortunate bird would discover a tit-bit, which immediately became an object of desire, and forthwith a dozen aspirants for the horrid morsel would be engaged in a deadly feud."
Although censuring the growing taste of the Natives for strong waters, especially the educated and civilized portion of them, Mr. James himself has great reliance on that "beat of stimulants brandy." In excessive wet or excessive cold, or under extreme heat, it was his main means of raising the spirits of his Native people on a journey, and making them cheerful at their work. But a dram will not do, it seems, at great elevations.
"It is astonishing the effect produced by spirits upon persons of even the strongest constitution when indulged in at an elevation of 10,000 or 12,000 feet. I have had opportunities of observing this; and Captain El-- in- formed me, that at 19,000 feet it is perfectly dangerous to take any quantity of raw spirit, as even half a wine-glass of brandy produces intoxication. I would recommend all hill travellers to drink nothing but hot tea; for tra- velling up mountains and down vallies, across bridges of very questionable • A Volunteer's Scramble through Seinde, the Punjaub. Hindostan, sod the Hi- inalayah Mountains. By Hugo James, Bengal Array, Fro., &c. Pablmbed by Thacker and Co.
security, requires a firm and steady nerve, which it is impossible for those who indulge freely in the use of spirits to retain long in the snowy regions."
A siege would not appear to exhibit the most striking features of war, at least as regards the besiegers. Use, however, hardens; and men get to look at eannonLballs bounding through a tent as a good joke—till they are hit. Here is an explosion as it appears at a distance.
"Round shot and shells were perpetually whizzing through the air day and night, falling in all directions amongst and through the devoted houses of the city. By night the shells assumed a magnificent appearance, re- serubling so many shooting stars, though, alas ! far more formidable. One day a number of us were viewing the scene of destruction from a battery erected on the summit of a high bill. Whilst we anxiously observed the amount of damage committed by the shells, there arose suddenly from the centre of the fort, what at first appeared to us a huge mound of earth, which gradually increased in size until it resembled a hill some six hundred feet in height, then it almost imperceptibly changed and assumed the appearance of an excessively dark thunder-cloud, which eventually spread far and wide, concealing both fort and town from our wonder-struck gaze ; a few minutes elapsed and it entirely enveloped the high position we were occupying, al- though nine hundred yards from the explosion. This terrific catastrophe originated in one of our shells fortunately bursting in a powder-magazine, containing several tons of combustible ammunition. The sublime spectacle that ensued will never be effaced from my memory, nor, I imagine, from that of any who witnessed the sight. For several minutes the atmosphere con- tinued very close, not even a breath of wind stirring, but a death-like still- neas prevailed, precisely similar to that which precedes a Seinde dust-storm. All the guns ceased firing—all eyes were directed upwards, gazing with awe at the scene thus suddenly presented them. Men even addressed each other in a whisper."
The determination of the late Sir Charles Napier in action or business, and the vigour of his style, have perhaps left an impres- sion of harshness of manner. Such does not seem to have been the impression on Mr. James at his first interview.
On my landing at Kurrachee, the Judge-Advocate introduced me to Sir C. Napier, who was then Governor of Scinde. We found the hero of licence perched upon a high stool, strongly resembling those used by clerks in a London banking establishment. The General gave me a warm welcome, and, shaking hands in that frank and open manner so habitual to old soldiers, exclaimed, 'Ah, I know your brother well ; only had one fault to find with him, and that was when he married—never you marry, and you'll make a soldier ; a soldier ought never to merry. But never mind, dine with me at three today ; I am busy now, good bye '; and with this hint that he wish- ed to be left alone, he once more, even before our departure from the room, regained his desk, and appeared deeply engaged inspecting official corre- spondence. At three, with clock-work punctuality, we sat down to dinner ; and at intervals during the meal, Sir Charles displayed his conversational powers to perfection ; his anecdotes and advice, blended (be it remembered) together, greatly conduced to the pleasantness of the party ; we met again at the theatre, and as a proof of his wonderful tact in recognizing persons whom he had only once suet before, he came up to me and spoke about the evening's performance. All those who have served under the Governor can- not fail to like him, so affable and ready was he to assist all who performed their duty in a soldierlike manner, whilst to the delinquent he proved a most severe judge. The Scindees, though they feared could not help re- specting him, for Sir Charles never refused to listen to their complaints, and having himself set the example, he determined to make all in judicial au- thority follow it. All the officers I met with in Scinde, and indeed every one capable of judging, spoke in very high terms of their really kindheart- ed and talented General."
The Volunteer's Scramble will be found light, lively, fresh, and amusing reading ; but it would have been much better for cur- tailment. Mr. James falls into the bad practice of inexperienced writers, that of over-detailing particular occurrences of a common kind, and does it in the manner of the "sketch."
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