was boldly faced; and this outrage upon humanity disappeared-never, it is hoped, to be revived.

At the same time, a blow was struck at another, and a scarcely less revolting practice than the Suttee, namely, that of Infanticide. It had been the custom of the Hindus, from time immemorial, to destroy their female offspring at the birth, as an offering to the gods. The chief supporters of this iniquitous practice were the Rajpoots, among whom it was carried on to such an extent that not a single female was allowed to exist among them. The cherished desire of this people was, that they should be blest with male offspring; and the idea seems to have taken possession of their minds that every female child thus destroyed would return to them in the form of a son. The act of annihilation was generally performed in private; but when the propitiation of the gods was especially needed, the infant was given into the hands of the Brahmins to be solemnly sacrificed in the temple of Ganesa, in order that its presiding deity might intercede with his father Siva in behalf of the parents.

Attention had been already directed to this custom, and legislation tried; but hitherto with little effect. Registration of births was now rendered compulsory, and the practice declared to be murder. It may be doubted if, even with the adoption of such measures, the practice has entirely died out; but that it has been abolished in many districts, and in its great strongholds-the Rajpoot and neighbouring states-sensibly diminished, cannot be doubted.

The suppression of yet another revolting practice belongs also to the category of social reforms with which the administration of Lord Bentinck is identified, namely, that of the Thuggee. The Thugs were a Hindu sect scattered throughout India, whose choice avocation was the murder of travellers by strangulation. The barbarous practice took the form of a religious rite; and its devotees supposed themselves to be under the peculiar patronage of the goddess Kali. These miscreants pursued their bloody business with all that zeal which religion usually

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imparts. Their method of proceeding was to hunt down their victims, strangle them unawares, mangle their bodies, and bury them. The plunder obtained they shared with their patron goddess, whom they never blamed for failure, nor charged with desertion when, upon being detected in their nefarious practice, they were condemned to undergo the penalty of death.

The existence of this horrible custom was not unknown to the authorities; but, inasmuch as its votaries were a secret society, the greatest difficulty was experienced in dealing with it. A certain fortuitous circumstance happened to furnish the governor with a knowledge of their association; and action was immediately taken which had the effect of stamping it out of the land. The members of the fraternity were one by one arrested. The leaders were punished in various ways, and the remainder settled as a peaceful community at Jubbulpore.

To Lord William Bentinck is owing the introduction of steam navigation into India, an institution which has been attended with untold advantages to the country. He likewise improved the condition of the natives by the introduction of the English language into the schools, and opened the public service to natives without distinction; and, in order that the country might enjoy the blessings conferred by a skilful practice of surgery and medicine, established (1835) a medical college in Calcutta.

The financial policy of Lord Bentinck was directed towards the curtailment of the Company's expenditure. The late wars had considerably swollen the Indian debt; and the need of retrenchment was so apparent to the directors, that the present governor had gone out specially pledged to a consideration of the question. With regard to the civil servants, the system of reduction was a comparatively easy process; with the military, it was quite another matter; for experience had shown how dangerous a thing it was to interfere with the privileges of the army. Among these privileges was that of half batta, as it was called, an allowance long enjoyed by the army, consisting of certain emoluments over and above their

usual pay. The Court of Directors had again and again issued instructions to the effect that the extra payments which passed under this name should be abolished; but up to the present time, no governor had been found bold enough to obey the commands of the court; and when, at length, Lord Bentinck yielded to the pressure, the entire military world was in commotion, so that it needed all the firmness of the governor to avert a serious calamity. The gain to the Company was eventually found to be scarcely worth the risk they had run.

Lord Bentinck resigned in 1834; and quitted India the following year. The duties of government were provisionally undertaken by Sir Charles Metcalfe, governor of the North-west Provinces. The Indian career of this gentleman had been one of long and trusty service; and his temporary reign is distinguished by the passing of an act which gave real freedom to the press of the country. The measure, however, was so offensive to the Court of Directors, that it was the means of putting an end to a career of usefulness, and of depriving India of one of her foremost benefactors. The displeasure of the directors was evinced by their refusal to appoint him to the presidency of Madras; whereupon he retired from the country, and took service under the crown as governor of Jamaica.

CHAPTER XXII.

ADMINISTRATION OF LORD AUCKLAND.

Mission of Lieutenant Burnes-Jealousy of Russia-Siege of Herat-Proclamation of Shah Suja-Outbreak of the Afghan War-Capture of Ghuznee-Flight of Dost Mahomed-Shah Suja enters Cabul--Exhibitions of Discontent-Assassination of Sir Alexander Burnes-Critical Position of the British -Assassination of Mr. Macnaughton-Retreat of the Troops -Slaughter of the Khyber Pass-Heroic Defence of Jellalabad by General Sale.

THE virtual successor of Lord William Bentinck was Lord Auckland, who assumed the reins of government in the spring of 1836. His reign, which opened with much promise, is marked by one of the most inglorious struggles with which the British name is associated, namely, the disastrous Afghan war.

So early as the year 1831, Lieutenant Burnes, an enterprising young officer, and an Oriental scholar of no mean order, had been despatched by Lord Auckland's predecessor on a friendly mission to Cabul. For certain reasons, he was favourably received by the Ameer, who gave him every facility for carrying out the main design of his visit, namely, the survey of the country; so that when he returned, it was with a mind stored with such a knowledge of the topography and resources of the country, as might prove of the utmost benefit in extending the commercial intercourse of England.

It would have been well, perhaps, had the observations of this envoy been confined to a mere survey. Unfortunately, however, he had obtained a peep into the politics of the Ameer's court; and had conceived an exaggerated notion of Russian influence and aims in this region. The

idea of a Russian invasion of India by way of this ancient trade-route, was by no means a new one; and her movements were watched with keen interest both at Calcutta and in London. The reports of this envoy served to strengthen the impression. Nevertheless, the overtures of Dost Mahomed for an alliance were persistently disregarded by the governor-general; and the dreaded Europeans were permitted, in alliance with Persia and the chiefs of Kandahar, to lay siege to the important fortress of Herat.

The skill of its defender, Mr. Pottinger, prevented its capture; but matters had become so serious that they could not longer be abandoned to chance. The energy of the governor was thoroughly aroused; and he was determined to act upon the offensive. There was at this time living at Ludiana an exile, named Shah Suja, who, long before, had been deposed from his position as sovereign of Cabool by the present Ameer, Dost Mahomed. With him and the Maharajah Runjeet Singh, Lord Auckland now entered into an understanding, the basis of which was the re-establishment of the former upon the throne of Afghanistan, and the confirmation of the latter in the possession of Peshawar, which province he had wrested from Dost Mahomed (1837).

Meanwhile, Dost Mahomed, despairing of an English alliance, with regret dismissed Lieutenant Burnes, intending to make overtures to Russia. The step about to be taken by the English governor was an unjustifiable one, and merited the signal ill-fortune with which it was attended. The English had no grounds whatever for interference in the concerns of Afghanistan; and the only excuse that the promoters of such an undertaking could offer was that of expediency. The truth is, that both in India and England, a notion was prevalent that Russia must by-and-bye be met either here or upon the plains of India; and the present policy followed from a desire to secure the more convenient of these alternatives.

One of the finest armies ever equipped in India was assembled under the command of General Fane, and