BOORS OF TRAVELS.'

THE fashion of travelling, induced by modern facilities of locomo- tion, has given rise to so many books of travels that the ground is exhausted wherever steam can search. It is not merely the adjoin- ing countries, France, Germany, Italy, that are overrun by book- writing tourists : Greece, Egypt, Palestine, and Turkey in Eu- rope, have or had their annual swarms of excursionists ; Hindostan bids fair to be as much visited in the cool season ; in defiance of the Atlantic, America, North of the Mississippi, has numerous travellers ; even heat and fever scarcely keep them from Western India. The consequence is, that for some years past there has been an increase in the number and a depreciation in the quality of books of travels, till at last the generality have become as conven- tional and almost as vapid as common novels. Acquirements directed to an end, especially if it be of a kind "coming home to men's business and bosoms," may impart purpose and earnest- ness; but the great bulk of journals, diaries, or reminiscences of foreign countries, consist of general commonplace, or oc- currences that might be matched in an afternoon's railway or steam-boat trip out of London. It must also be said that the fashion of telling one's tour has induced many to publish books which no novelty of scenery, manners, or incident, could have rendered attractive : it is perhaps true that the number of the same class of books induces a reader to undervalue the merit of par- ticular writers.

Of the lot included in the present notice, Captain Hnmbley's Journal of a Cavalry Officer has the advantage of India and war for topics ; but, from some deficiency of skill or of judgment, he has not made a very attractive book out of two such themes. It may be quite true, as he remarks, that neither the British public nor even the Company know as much of the interior of India as they ought to know; and that military men, who are often stationed in remote places and frequently shifted about, have good opportunities of making observations on a country and its people. The desiderated knowledge, however, will not be sup- plied by a commonplace account of a journey from the banks of the Sutlej to Calcutta. In the first place, this leading route is well enough known : in the second, the dry and gazetteerlike in- • Journal of a Cavalry Officer, including the Memorable Sikh Campaign of 1545- 1846. By W. W. W. Ilumbley, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, &c.; Captain 9th Queen's Royal Lancers. Published by Longman and Co.

Evenings in my Tent ; or Wanderings in Balad Ejjareed, illustrating the Moral, Religious, Social, and Political Conditions of various Arab Tribes of the African Sahara. By the Reverend N. Davis, F.R.S.S.A. In two volumes. Published by Hall and Virtue.

Modern German Music : Recollections and Criticisms. By Henry F. Chorley. In two volumes. Published by Smith, Elder, and Co.

formation, varied by historical notices, of which this journey con fists, is not of the kind to benefit the public ; for they not only want the knowledge but the taste for acquiring it. Occasionally some curious information is picked up by the inquiring character of the well-educated military man, and some sketches of Native or European habits are given. Here is a sample of Brummagem work in India.

"Monghyr is the Birmingham of India ; for the natives excel in the manu- facture of guns, pistols, and rifles, many of them marked with the names of Manton, Egg., and other celebrated gunmakers. I have seen one or two of them fired off, and perhaps safely with light charges. A sporting engineer belonging to our steamer bought a Manton for 11. 4s., and fired several times successively. These guns are very cleverly made ; and a novice could not pos- sibly detect that they had not been manufactured by those whose names they bear. Forks and knives, cork-screws, hammers, and other articles of hardware of very good description, are also made here. Fans, table-mats, straw hats and bonnets, necklaces and bracelets, made of a wood resembling jet, &c.; everything, in fact, may be purchased, very good, and at reasonable cost. In our visit to the bazaars, indeed all over the place, we were beset by beggars, who are excessively numerous, and in the most piteous and abject condition. AU the hard work, it seems, is done by the women. I am told that they work much better than the men, and get but badly paid. About twenty brought the fuel required for our steamer, and put it on board, while the men were looking idly on."

The tour occupies about half of a large volume; the remainder of the book contains a diary of the first Sikh war, and a good description of Calcutta,—perhaps a shade too much in guide- book fashion, but mingling with accounts of buildings and institu- tions various sketches of the business and manners of the city of palaces, which are fresh and gossipy. Captain Humbley was present at the battle of Sobraon. The previous actions he missed, the division to which his regiment was attached having been kept marching and countermarching, through unauthorized orders or want of foresight. The account of the battle and of the previous efforts to join are the reverse of striking, not only partaking of the dryness of the writer's genius but being too technical. This part, however, contains some useful pro- fessional information about the Anglo-Indian armies, and indi- cates the bad management of the campaign, either from deficient information or uncertain counsels, as well as from culpable want of preparation. The battles were gained by the cou- rage of the troops, which supplied the place of generalship. Our author enters into a long disquisition to answer the question why the Sikhs were not annihilated by our forces, when the Mahrattas were so cut up at the battle of Assaye : but he omits a main difference—that of generals. Moodkee was very like a surprise ; the battle of Ferozeshah was a doubtful affair, and was begun so late that there was not time to finish it. When the Sikh reinforcements came up next morning, the British ammuni- tion was expended ; and the author's regiment, the Ninth Lancers, which would have been of great use, had been marching about all November, and up to the time of the battle, (on the 21st and 22d December,) without any apparent destination.

The principal subject of _Evenings in My Tent, (which seems to take its title from the place of its composition,) is travels through Tunis, performed under more advantageous circumstances than ge- nerally attend the African explorer. The heir apparent to the throne made a sort of military and fiscal progress into the interior as far as Neftah, in latitude 33 S. longitude about 8 E.; and the Reverend Mr. Davis accompanied him as one of his suite. Though Tunis is the site of Carthage and other ancient towns, and exhibits the Moorish and Arab manners in a less adulterated state than the neighbouring territory of Algiers, the region is probably more re- markable in its associations than in itself. We suspect, however, that Mr. Davis is not altogether fitted to travel advantageously, so far as a narrative of his travels is concerned. He has long been familiar with the Orientals, not only in Barbary but in Syria, apparently as a missionary. He is versed in Arabic and other Eastern tongues, and skilled in controversy, which Mahome- tans rather affect. The circumstances under which he travelled were very favourable. The cortege of Sidi Mohammed Bey rather resembled an ancient patriarchal movement than the march of a modern army in our sense ; so that while the patronage of the Bey —" a most enlightened man "—gave the traveller security and facilities of observation, it enabled him to study Eastern life as exhibited in the emigration of tribes or peoples. Something of this, as well as of Moorish and Arab manners and cha- racter, is preserved in Mr. Davis's pages. There are striking pictures on the march, in the camp, and in the so-called towns. The reader who carefully peruses Evenings in my Tent to extract from it the information which it contains, will be able to draw from it a good deal of matter. This information, however, is m. ixed up with much that is trivial, or of slender relation to the immediate subject, or uninteresting and verbose. Nature has not given to Mr. Davis a penetrating acumen or a very graphic power. lie belongs too completely to a missionary school, with its small views of things, and its mannerism of thought and style. When there is character in an incident, a scene, or an anecdote, he may he able. to preserve ; but he wants vigorous power and artist- like skill to bring before his reader the everyday life and appear- ance of the Tunisian territory, fresh and remarkable as they often seem to be.

Some space is given to reports of controversial dialogues between Mahometans and Jews; the latter being mostly in a wretched state of ignorance. There are sketches of manners really interesting,— as the following account of divorce.

"My first impression on visiting several families was such as to induce me to believe that greater domestic happiness prevailed here than in the Mohammedan cities on the coast. The females are not kept in distinct and separate apartments ; nor do they even cover their faces when in the presence of strangers, but appear perfectly free, and seem exceedingly affable. But though free from restrictions of this kind, I soon discovered that domestic happiness was nevertheless marred, and thatMohammedan females had, even here, cause to groan under the corrupt legislation of the Prophet of Mecca. Discord, contention, and strife, have their away here, and that principally the result of the licentious and unnatural system of polygamy. " When on the coast, I had frequently occasion to see the evil resulting from this portion of Mohammed's legislation. Families are often broken up, ties of the most sacred character are severed, and animosity and hatred may be seen prevailing where harmony end love ought to reign. The trivial causes which justify a divorce, and the facility with which the same may be procured, must be regarded as intimately connected with that baneful sys- tem. To illustrate this, I have simply to narrate an anecdote in which I myself have played a very prominent part.

"A servant of mine of the name of Ali, once very pressingly applied for leave to go out for a short time. It was not my custom to inquire into the nature of his business ; but on that occasion something unaccountable prompted me to put the question, 'And where are you going to, Ali ? ' "Holding up a piece of paper, he very coolly answered, To _give my wife this divorce; and shall soon be back, Arfi—my master.' " 'To give your wife a divorce! Well, you may go ; but remember, if you divorce her, I from this very moment divorce_you.' "Handing me the paper, All exclaimed, Here, master, take it! on such conditions I shall not divorce my wife.'

"The following is my translation of the divorce, the cost of which is only a few pence—

"'Praise to God ! Ali Ben Salem Saud, from Soof, of the tribe of Sakim, one of the porters of Bab Almanorah, divorced his wife, the chaste Buka, the daughter of Chami, of the same tribe, of the sons of my Lord Ann. This divorce is the first she has from this husband, according to their confession. She was present [before the notary] when he returned to her the contract of marriage and the rest of her dowry. He also pays her expenses for the time fixed in which she cannot be married to another, [four months,] also the house-rent during the above-mentioned time, and all other things of the same nature. They agreed that she is to give him, for the purpose of being delivered from him, one hundred piastres (about 3/. 10s.) current money. This sum she will pay in two instalments ; now fifty, and the other fifty after four months, if she lives. She confessed that she is not in the family way, nor does she even doubt of being so. Upon such conditions she was divorced.

" That the above parties were in their perfect senses on the ninth of the month Alkadi, (the respected) of the year five and fifty, and two hundred and one thousand, (of the Hejira) is certified by " The humble of the Lord, AHMED, son of All Almakbi ; " ' And by MOHAMMED ALHANNAH.

"'The help of God be upon all ! By His favour. Amen.'"

Mr. Chorley, in his two volumes of Modern German Music, has the advantage of a special subject and a special gift for treat- ing it. With criticisms on music and musicians, anecdotes of artists, and descriptions of remarkable performances, are min- gled sketches of scenery, adventures by the way, and the other topics of a book of travels. The sustained attraction of the work, however, is not equal to such advantages and varieties. Part of this may arise from the circumstance of a large portion being old, —a reprint from the Music and Manners of France and North Germany, published in 1841, with revisions and additions.

But there is something deeper than want of novelty which gives a distasteful character to the book. Mr. Chorley writes with fluency, and without misgiving as regards his judgments ; but the style is slight, it might even be called wordy and vague, as if the writer substituted pet terms and illustrations of his own for clear and definite ideas. The judgment not only runs counter to general opinion, but sometimes seems opposite to itself at different times, though a careful analysis (which many readers, however, will not make) would show that the difference arises from the critic's referring to different qualities of the same composer, and always writing as impressively as he can. Thus, in one place he appears to represent Beethoven as a wild, crude rhapsodist, not merely disregarding the formal rules of art, but the very principles on which practical music depends ; though it turns out that this was not intended to depreciate the great poetical and original artist, but done in opposition to some false admirers. The princi- pal drawback to the authority of the criticisms is the idea that some other influence than that of the work itself is prompting the conclusions. The depreciatory judgment on Spahr, and the ex- aggerated panegyric or rather puff of Liszt, are instances in point. The book, consisting of a succession of separate subjects, is of necessity deficient in wholeness or unity. The characteristics of Spohr as a composer, for instance' are quite a distinct thing from Mr. Chorley's first sight of Jenny Lind at Frankfort, the story of how he got there, and the lady's qualities as singer and actress ; and so on through many other chapters, different in their nature, as well as differing in time and place. Whether this isolated or fragmentary character might have been altogether overcome by some pervading idea running through the whole, we need not discuss ; but there is something more than mere formal isolation in these articles. They have an inconclusive, at times almost an empty character, as if they had been written piecemeal. They read something like the letters of a foreign correspondent in a news- paper, which, however interesting when read singly and in refer- ence to a passing event, would not bear collective perusal after the news was stale.

The most striking features of the new matter are these. 1. " Dr. Spohr's Music,"—the criticism already alluded to. 2. "A Glance at Vienna,"—which embraces a tour down the Danube to the capital, the Viennese musical exhibitions, recollections of com- posers, descriptions of the Austrian Government, and specu- lations as to its effect on art. 3. "Music in the Rhine Land"— which is an account of some trips thither to assist at musical festivals, with criticisms on particular productions or particular performers. 4. "The Last Days of Mendelssohn,"—somewhat of a misnomer, since it does not refer to the last days of the corn- poser, but to the last time Mr. Chorley was with him, some months before his death.

The anecdotes of Mendelssohn, and the incidental picture of the man, render this last chapter perhaps the most interesting in the book. Next to it, and in a certain way equal to it, are some sec- tions of the Glance at Vienna; through which there runs an un- der-current of speculation, not prominent but often felt, as to the effects of the Government system of espionage on the character of art and of the people. This is a specimen of the police,—and, be it remembered, in 1844, before revolution or insurrection had given grounds for suspicion.

"There is, perhaps, a fate in first impressions ; yet they are not altogether to be distrusted. Entering the lines on the road from Nussdorf, the man who saluted our clean, talkative Jelin, with a leather-topped stick in his hand, was pointed out to me as belonging to the police. I had not slept a night in the Austrian capital, before another such civil-looking, middle- aged, tidily-dressed official, was allotted to me, as guard of honour. He never accosted me—he never came very near me—but he never let me go out of his sight for ten minutes at a time. In the Cathedral, which I loved to haunt for the sake of the wonderful effects of light and shade belonging to the morning mass in that dark building, when the sun glances on the silver altar, veiled by its incense-fumes—my quiet friend was never missing. In the picture-galleries, he was always some four or five Rubens' breadth distant from me ; nay, when I went to pay a visit to a gentleman in the Chancellory whom I had known in London, he rested on the bench nearest to the door till my call was paid, and when I moved on—he moved on too. It suited my curiosity to go to two theatres on the same evening—a thing which few save foreigners ever do especially when at neither theatre a novelty is played. It suited my shadow to follow me. Now, whereas the most affectionately intimate espionage applied to a traveller can only seriously annoy those who have anything to conceal, the compliment in question per- petually kept before my mind considerations of a certain order, not the most favourable to belief in the easy, unconscious enjoyment of the people among whom I was thrown. It is impossible to conceive truthfulness surviving among those who are liable on the slightest possible argument to be per- petually watched."