THE SILENT INDIA.
The Silent India. By Lieut.-Colonel S. J. Thomson, C.I.B. (William Blackwood and Sons. 10s. 6d. net.)—A very read- able book of Indian sketches and reminiscences by the late Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of the United Provinces, illustrated with photographs taken by the author's daughter and another lady. The book is the work of a kindly and good-humoured Anglo-Indian of the generation which is now fast passing away. It deals with "An Indian Village," "An Eastern Voyage," "Camp Life and Sport," " A Religious Fair," and other such matters, very pleasantly and cheerfully described. There are one or two curious misprints, as Paranas for Puninas on p. 198. :Ind Dungodhana for Dur-yodhana on p. 199. The word Makti- bluirata (p. 199) does not mean "the Great War," but "the Great (war of the) Bharatas," and Draupacii (p. 200) is an obvious misprint for Drupada. We should like some authority for the statement on p. 148 that the English word
"camel" is derived from "the Sanskrit gam-el or humped beast." But these slips do not diminish the attraction of a book of happy and wholesome memories. It is easy to believe that Colonel Thomson enjoyed his long and honourable career in India, and left many friends, white and brown, behind him.
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