Mr. George Duncan has lately brought out the tenth edition of his Geography of India, revised and corrected to date. (Madras: Higginbotham and Co.; London: Trübner and Co.) This little book contains a great deal of geographical information, concisely and pleasantly conveyed, with useful historical notes, and it has several good illustrations, which have been evidently selected with the view of showing the special features of Indian life and scenery in various parts of the country. In regard to each province a short account is first given of its size, climate, natural productions, people, language, religion, education, industry, commerce and government, and then follow the divisions and towns, briefly and tellingly characterized. The price is only twelve annas.

We record with regret the death of Thomas Terrett Taylor, Esq., of the Mythe, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, which occurred June 27th whilst he was travelling in Italy. Mr. Taylor became some years ago, at the request of Miss Carpenter, Treasurer of the National Indian Association, in the objects of which he felt a genuine interest. He was connected with various branches of commerce at Bristol, and was greatly respected in public and in private life. Mr. Taylor resigned the Treasurership at the end of 1878 to Mr. Wyllie.

INDIAN INTELLIGENCE.

The late annual distribution of prizes and diplomas at the Medical College, Calcutta, was presided over by the Hon. Mr. Wilson, Vice-Chancellor of the University. He observed that when the history of Bengal during the past fifty years came to be written, amongst the very startling events which would have to be

narrated the most startling chapter would be the chapter on education. Further, he remarked on the inestimable benefit to the people of India of having now a scientific system of medical training founded upon the actual observation of nature, instead of a crude and traditional system resting upon an unscientific and worthless basis. The fact that there are already scattered all over the country numbers of scientifically educated and highly trained surgeons and physicians, might be called a remarkable success. In medicine students come face to face with realities it is the study of nature, of real facts. As such it is of inestimable value among a people whose tendency it is to cling to tradition, for by forcing them into a different line of thought it helps to cure this tendency. He therefore anticipated much advantage from the spread of medical education besides the evident benefits resulting from the relief and lessening of disease.

Mr. L. Liotard, of the Government Agricultural Department, has published a Memorandum on materials in India suitable for the manufacture of paper, from which it appears that a large number of Indian plants have fibres of a kind that will make good paper, the most promising being the bamboo. Paper made of bamboo fibre has been found excellent, and a profitable industry might spring up in this line. The East states that there are already many paper mills in India, but most of them are at present on a small scale. It is suggested that where experiments with new fibres might be deemed imprudent, the fibres might be at least separated from the stalk and exported to Europe for manufacture,

Moulvi Abdul Latif, Khan Bahadur, has received the title of Nawab from Government as a personal distinction.

A Society has been established at Bombay called the Amalgamated Society of Trades and Professions. Its object is said to be to form a common bond of union between persons in all parts of India of various trades and professions, in order to secure mutual assistance in times of need, especially regular help for members in sickness, and when they are thrown out of employment by causes over which they have no control. The rules of the society can be obtained from the Hon. Sec. in the compound of the Fitzgerald Hotel, Byculla, Bombay.

A lecture was lately delivered by Rao Bahadur M. G. Ranade, at Poona, on the "Liberals and Conservatives of India." The lecture appears to have been very interesting and earnest, and the subject is said to have been treated in a "very clear and judicious" manner. In regard to education, however, Mr. Ranade does not seem to us, from the report we have seen of the lecture, to have dealt fairly with the advocates of technical education. He assumes that the object aimed at is simply to set up schools of "smiths and carpenters," whereas, on the contrary, it is hoped that, through opportunity of scientific study combined with practice, young men may be prepared to engage in manufacturing enterprises, having been fitted for the direction of skilled labour by the knowledge and experience acquired in technical schools.

The annual Report of the Indian Post Office for 1878-79 shows that correspondence in India is rapidly increasing, and that the habit of prepaying letters is becoming more general, by which the time of officials is much saved. The number of letters posted in the year under review was a little over one hundred and eighteen and a half millions, and of newspapers ten and a quarter millions.

PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.

Mr. Parvati Nath Datta, Gilchrist Scholar, has passed the Matriculation Examination of the University of London in the First Division. In future there will be no need for Gilchrist Scholars to take this Examination, as the Gilchrist Examination has been made equivalent to the London University Matriculation. Mr. K. R. Divecha has passed the First Examination of the Society of Apothecaries, London.

Arrivals. Dr. Beramjee Nowrozjee, for study of London Hospitals; Mr. Nowrozjee Pestonjee, on a visit to England; Mr. K. R. Divecha, for the Indian Medical Service, and Mr. S. Dinsha Wardin, for Engineering, all from Bombay.

Departure.-Mr. Krishna Nath Mitra, Barrister-at-law, for

Calcutta.

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF AHOLYA BAI, A MAHRATTA PRINCESS.

Translated from the Bengali of Nilmoni Baisak by E. C.

King Molohor having obtained as a grant the province of Malwa, was the first king of that part of the Deccan, and reigned with much splendour till the year 1769 A.D. This king had only one son and his name was Kondi. He, during his father's lifetime, went to make war with the Jat tribe, and was slain by Indra at the foot of the Koombi mountains, near the city of Bharata. Aholya was the wife of Kondi, and from her earliest childhood had been devoted to the Brahmans and the holy shastres. The way in which she governed her kingdom was very excellent, and this is why the history of her life has been written.

Aholya had one son and one daughter. Her son's name was Mali. On the death of his grandfather he succeeded to the kingdom, but after reigning only nine months he went to

the other world (that is, he died). He was weak both in body and mind, and from the time he ascended the throne his conduct was very wicked. This was specially shown in his hatred to the good works of his mother, and in his abhorrence of those Brahmans whom she favoured. Once he sent an offering of robes and slippers to the Brahmans and wrapped up scorpions in them, and putting a serpent into a drinking cup he sealed it with his own seal and sent it. The covetous Brahmans on receiving these things opened them eagerly and were bitten by the venomous creatures, and thus suffered intense torment. Thereupon Mali showed no sorrow but great joy. Aholya seeing the bad behaviour of her son wept much, and made continual lamentation that she had been the mother of such a man. On this account some people have a suspicion that, seeing how mean and cowardly her son was, Aholya had destroyed his intellect by drugs, but this idea is entirely without foundation. The true cause of his going mad was this. He accused a certain goldsmith of a heinous crime, and in a rage caused him to be slain. Afterwards it was found out that the goldsmith was quite innocent and not at all to blame. Thereupon such remorse sprang up in his heart that he lost his reason and died raving mad. It was well known that this goldsmith, whom Mali put to death, was a man favoured by the gods, and when he was condemned he spoke these words to the king: "I am innocent, do not condemn me to death, if you do, I will be revenged on you;” and so, when Mali became insane, everyone said that the goldsmith having reached the spirit world had returned and manifested himself in his (Mali's) body. Aholya certainly thought this true, for day by day she sat weeping by his bedside and by every means in her power tried to drive away the spirit. even paid him divine honours, and prayed to him in these words: "Oh spirit! if you will leave the body of my son I

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