Selections from Travels and Journals Preserved in the Bombay Secretariat.
Edited by George W. Forrest. (E. A. Arnold, and others. 103. 6d.)—Mr. Forrest, who was formerly Director of Records to the Indian Government, has put together in this volume a number of curious records. Geographically, they are obsolete. Routes which were once largely' matters of speculatfou have now been accurately surveyed. But the human interest remains. James Outram, for instance, describes his journey from K heist, which had been captured by the British on November 13th, 1839. He determined to try a route which might be available for troops, and go disguised himself in Afghan costume, and travelled in the company of "throe holy Syuds of Shawl." They passed on their way many parties of fugitives, most of them women whose men folk had been killed or had left them in the lurch. One such party was a special embarrassment. It consisted of the families of the Khan of Khelat's brother and his principal Minister. SOMO men were with them; but all but one of the women, who had never before been outside the harem, were on foot. The Syuds were recognised, and Outram, who himself had to support the character of a holy man, could not but listen to the complaints and sorrows of the fugitives. His difficulty was aggravated by the fact that he was dressed in a costume taken from the Minister's own wardrobe,—it had been given him as suitable for the disguise. Outram had to show sympathy, and doubtless felt it; but he could not understand a word of the story. Scarcely less disturbing was the attitude of the people. They were exceedingly curious, much put out by the fall of Klielat, and divided between fear and hatred of the Feringees who bad brought it about. On the eighth day, after surmounting not a few difficulties and dangers, Outram arrived at the coast and embarked kir Karichi, "taking with me," says the traveller, "my Afghan yaboo, which though only 13 hands had carried me and saddle bags, altogether weighing upwards of 16 stones, the whole distance (355 miles) in '7i days, having during that time been 111 hours on his back." Forty-six miles for seven days in succes- sion was pretty good! Not less notable, but in a different direction, are the journals of Mr. Masson, "a gentleman of Kentucky." Mr. Masson started from Tabriz and travelled through Afghanistan and the Punjab, keeping his eyes shrewdly open for what was to be seen. He did not present himself before Runjet Sing, as he had no wish to enter his service."
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