the genealogies of the families of the chiefs. It is astonishing how much information is compressed into the manual, and while the writer almost always confines himself to bare facts, one cannot but see that he could, if he had chosen, dilate graphically on the strange chances and changes which have befallen these states, and on the feuds, alliances, deeds of heroism and of treachery, and stirring incidents that continuing through centuries have ended by placing each particular chief on the gadi. As a book of reference, and as giving a general view of the part of India that is not British, this work has great value, and it well deserves to be republished in repeated editions carefully worked up to date.

AMBULANCE LECTURES; OR, WHAT TO DO IN CASES OF ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN ILLNESS. By Lionel Weatherly, M.D. (Griffith and Farran). Price One Shilling.

The St. John's Ambulance Association have organised in the last two or three years, at many different centres, short practical courses of lectures for giving simple rules as to treatment of accidents, &c. This little book contains the substance of one such course, and we are glad to mention its publication as it might be of great use in India as well as in England (without superseding medical aid) for preserving life till a doctor or surgeon can be summoned. Those who attended the lectures had to practise the directions given under the lecturer's supervision, and without practice the information supplied has, of course, little value. But the manual is well illustrated by clear and explanatory plates, so the reader can fully comprehend the practical directions, and can see how to carry them out. A general description of the structure and functions of the human body is first given, and then follow the rules for the immediate treatment of wounds, burns, scalds, fractures, sprains, bites from rabid animals, insensibility, poisoning, suffocation, and for restoration of the apparently drowned. The book concludes with directions as to various kinds of bandages, and the best methods for removing the injured and sick. Many lives might probably be saved if the instructions here supplied were known thoroughly enough for application in cases of

emergency.

THE MODEST RAINDROP, AND OTHER FABLES FOR OLD AND YOUNG. Translated from the Persian by the late Rev. H. G. Keene. A new Edition. London: D. Bogue. 1880.

In 1833 Mr. H. G. Keene, Professor of Persian and Arabic at the old Haileybury College for Indian civil servants, published a little volume of Persian fables, freely rendered into English, for the amusement and instruction of young folk. To every fable was tacked its appropriate moral. The last in the book was called "The Modest Raindrop." It told how a drop of rain, falling into the sea, found refuge in the shell of an oyster, and there “ grew into a pearl, which became in time the richest ornament of a monarch's crown." By way of moral, the author expressed a hope that his little book might some day "find shelter in the recesses of some poetic mind, and come forth again in a future age to receive the applause of its transmuted lustre." In the new edition just brought out by his daughter, Miss K. Keene, the heading of this fable has, by a happy thought, been taken for the title of the whole book, whose "transmuted lustre," in the shape of thick paper, good type, and an artistic binding, is further heightened by some pretty and telling illustrations from the designs of Mr. Fry, an artist of whose work we should like to see more. The whole getting up of this pretty little volume does credit to all concerned, and justifies the hope that this "Modest Raindrop" will find its way into the hands and hearts of a wide circle of readers. Even old folk will pay their tribute of approval to the meditative cat depicted in page 9, to the fox and the ass at page 31, and the group of animals* heads at page 49, while the fables themselves are racy of human wisdom of all climes.-Allen's Indian Mail.

MAHOMMEDAN LITERARY SOCIETY.

The sixteenth annual Conversazione of this Society was held February 12th, at the Town Hall, Calcutta, and was attended by His Excellency the Viceroy, His Honour the Lieut.-Governor, and His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. Moulvie Abdul Luteef, the energetic Secretary, had as usual succeeded in

rendering the gathering attractive and scientifically as well as artistically interesting. The programme of the evening gives a list of the chief objects exhibited and of the experiments carried out on the occasion. In the department of Electricity, Father Lafont and Dr. Mohendro Lal Sircar showed the influence of Magnetism on Light by Faraday's Apparatus, and the influence of Magnetism on Heat, the Electrophone, Phonograph,. &c.; and the Indian Electric Light Company illuminated the Hall and façade, explaining also the possible applications of the Light for various uses. Babu Tara Prosunuo Roy conducted chemical experiments, Babu Raj Krishna Mitter represented the Natural Philosophy Department, and Babu Preo Lall Dey attracted much attention by his working model of a diving bell.. Paintings on ivory, water colour and oil paintings, illustrated books, richly cut glass and porcelain, clocks and watches, a silver chair, a powerful telescope, &c.,. were among the objectsof interest in the Hall, and some very rare illuminated MSS. commanded special observation. One of the MSS. was the Gulistan of Sheikh Sadi, of Shiraz, prepared by the grandfatherof the present Maharaja of Ulwar, at a cost of rs. 175,000. The writing is by a famous caligraphist, and the decorations-floral embellishments of great beauty-are by the best painters of Delhi and other parts. The work took twelve years to complete. There was also a finely illuminated Koran, purchased by the same Maharaja from a native of Kashmir, and a complete collection of the writings of the poet Sadi. The Deputy Librarian of the Ulwar State Library was sent by the Maharaja for the express purpose of showing these MSS., lent by him forthe Conversazione.

Sir Ashley Eden has established a Technical School at Howrah, Calcutta, in connection with which several scholarships have been sanctioned. The course will extend over five years; during the first four years the instruction will be both.

theoretical and practical, and the last year will be spent entirely in practical work either in the workshops or in the field. Candidates must have passed the Entrance Examination of the University, and will have also to pass a qualifying Examination in language (English and vernacular), arithmetic and algebra. The Civil Engineering Classes at the Presidency College have been transferred to this new Technical School. The Hindu Patriot states that no less than 400 candidates have applied for admission, a satisfactory proof of the desire for technical education in Bengal.

The Government of India has granted rs. 500 a month to the Aujuman-i-Punjab for purposes of Mahommedan education. That Society is allowed to spend the grant at discretion, provided that it is applied for educational purposes only. No doubt the wealthy Mahommedans will come forward and second these efforts. One Mahommedan gentleman has decided to give rs. 100,000 for promoting education.

The Burmese have started a new branch of industry at Rangoon-the manufacture of billiard balls. These can be made more reasonably than in England, from the tusks of Burmese elephants.

A distinguished native astronomer died at Madras, Mr. Chintamanay Ragoonath Charry, F.R.A.S. He had been for seventeen years Head Assistant in the Madras Observatory, and he had detected two new variable stars, viz., R. Reticuli in 1867, and V. Cephei in 1878. The Government Astronomer and Mr. E. B. Powell, C.S.I., then Director of Public Instruction, recommended him to the Royal Astronomical Society, of which he was elected a Fellow. Mr. Chintamanay was the only native of India who has yet been known to discover new celestial -objects.

The Madras School of Arts appears to be making progress. In stain-glass painting considerable success has been attained.

The silver medal of the Cobden Club offered to the most successful student in political economy in the University of Madras, has been won by Mr. P. Thanu Pillai, M.A. Intima

tion has been received from Calcutta that Manmathanath Ghosh, of the Calcutta University, by gaining the first position in political economy in the Honour Examination in History, becomes entitled to the Cobden Club silver medal for 1880.

"The

The annual Convocation of the University of Calcutta for conferring degrees was held March 13, Sir Alexander Arbuthnot, K.C.S.I., Vice-Chancellor, presiding on the occasion. It was stated that 4,398 students had passed University Examinations in the last year, of whom 1,632 were successful. One student had obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and one had taken Honours in Law. Various desirable changes are to be made in the courses of study at the University, one of which refers to the rules for the First Examination in Arts and the B.A. The Vice-Chancellor said that the aim would be "to render the scheme of studies less discursive, to narrow its range, while increasing its depth-in fact to adopt the principle of a bifurcation of studies which has long been in force in the leading Universities in England." Sir Alexander continued :— principle of these proposals, which originated with our lamented colleague, the late Mr. Woodrow, but which since his death. have been further elaborated, was accepted by the Faculty of Arts so far back as the 15th November, 1877; but owing to differences of opinion, in regard to matters of detail, has not yet been embodied in the regulations of the University. I trust that in the course of the present year, the Faculty of Arts will be able to agree upon some practical mode of giving effect to this important principle, under which the graduates of this University will be encouraged to devote themselves to the special study of those branches of learning for which they have most aptitude-a principle which has worked so well elsewhere. Another suggestion which has been made for improving the examinations for degrees in Arts-and the suggestion would apply to the First Examination of Arts also-is that these examinations, which are at present merely pass examinations, at which all the candidates are given the same papers, should be so arranged as to admit of students taking honours at them." We learn from Brahmo Public Opinion that a few native ladies were present at the ceremony for the first time.