Peoria. By Lieut.-Col. H. A. NewelL (Poona: Published by the
Author. 1 rupee 8 annas.)—The author of many well-known and useful Indian guide-books has written a highly interesting history and description of Poona, which might, as he says, have been the 'capital of India If the Mohammedans had not defeated the .Hindu confederacy at Panipe.t in 1759. The episode in which British-people are most keenly interested is the battle of Kirkee in 1817, when Elphinstone and Burr -with a British brigade routed the treacherous Peshwa's army, which was ten times as mnnerous Colonel Newell's description of the fight and his excellent map are to be commended. We notice a parallel to the "Black Hole" rif Caleutta in an episode that occurred at Poona in 1791. Thirty- -four Seahmin revellers were looked up for disregarding the curfew-; their cell was so small that twenty-one were found dead in the morning. The Brahmins promptly lynched the Kotwal, or pollee superintendent, who was nominally responsible.
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