charges against Impey. There were six articles, but only the case of Nuncomar was gone into. The articles were first laid on the table. Impey defended himself at the bar of the House on the 4th February, 1788. The evidence was then taken before a Committee on various days, and last of all came the accusation. The question whether Impey should be impeached was debated on the 18th April and the 7th and 9th May, when the motion was rejected by 73 to 55.

(To be continued.)

THE BULWARK OF INDIA.

R. M. MACDONALD.

A FAREWELL TO LONDON; AND THE STORY OF THE SLAVE AND THE NOSERING. Second Edition.

By HAMID ALI KHAN, Barrister-at-Law, M.R.A.S., F.R.Hist.S.

In the pamphlet, entitled The Bulwark of India, the aim of the writer is to urge the importance-in regard to which we entirely agree with him-of a cordial personal understanding between Englishmen in India and the Indians among whom they live. He says that "no Government, however powerful and strong, can safely endure for any considerable time unless it be based on the affections of its subjects;" and he shows that the friendly relations which are so much to be desired must spring out of the feelings that influence the individuals composing each race. The subject, as is acknowledged in the Preface, is complicated, and needs delicate handling; but Mr. Hamid Ali Khan has tried to deal with it fairly, and his pamphlet is a useful contribution on the subject; partly as showing the impression made on the mind of a Mahomedan, who can appreciate the merits of Englishmen, of the present state of social intercourse in India. He allows that the restrictions of Hindu caste, and a certain holding back on the part of his countrymen, and also the Purdah system, present obstacles which it is difficult to get over. But, on the other hand, he pleads that difference. of customs need not be so great a bar as it is. People can hold intercourse of a very pleasant kind, as the writer asserts, without taking meals together. Besides, there are many Indians who feel no difficulty in partaking of food with those of another nationality, and who would willingly respond to cordiality on the part of Englishmen. The initiative must

naturally come from the latter; and anyone who repels by a supercilious demeanour loses an opportunity of cementing kindly and loyal bonds, to the great detriment of the reciprocal relations of the two countries. English ladies in India can largely help to promote sympathy and mutual comprehension; and though the matter is one that cannot be easily placed on a satisfactory footing, every Englishman and Englishwoman in India can do something towards this end.

We have received the following account of a successful attempt to bring together neighbours on a plan that succeeds in England. No doubt somewhat similar meetings take place elsewhere than at Aligarh. We have had occasion to mention several that have been held at Madras and at other places. But many combined endeavours are needed in order to lessen the distance which at present separates those of different races in India; and many such efforts will be made when once all our countrymen who go to the East realise that it is a point of pleasurable duty to make acquaintanceships and to form friendships, as many have already done, with the inhabitants of the land in which they temporarily live.

"A pleasant experiment in social intercourse between Natives of India and Anglo-Indians was made at Aligarh on September 11th, in the institution of the English entertainment of Penny Readings. The idea originated with Mr. Syed Mahmood, late officiating High Court Judge, who read two selections. Three English gentlemen, Mr. Mahmood, and three students of the Mahomedan College, filled up the programme. The audience consisted of the ladies and gentlemen of the station and the students of the College. During the evening there was an interval for refreshment and conversation. It was admitted on all hands to be a great success. One of the greatest wants of India is a social platform on which Englishmen and Native gentlemen can meet and enjoy each other's society. At present they meet, as a rule, only in an official way, and there is very little opportunity for Englishmen of really getting to know the best class of Native gentlemen. They on their side are reserved, and dislike pushing themselves forward unless they feel sure they are wanted; so that the Englishman is apt to form his opinions of the people from an acquaintance only with the lowest classes. There can be little doubt that, if

Indian life offered more opportunities of social intercourse between Englishmen and Indians, a great improvement in their mutual relations would ensue."

Mr. Hamid Ali's Farewell to London records his regret at leaving England after a rather lengthened stay. It is well printed, and the book is dedicated to his father, Hakeem Amjad Ali Khan, to whom he expresses his filial gratitude for his encouragement and liberal aid. In the appendix he explains one form of a Persian stanza-a subject that he entered on more fully in our Journal two years ago. He has a considerable power of expression in English verse.

We may add, that on October 3rd a farewell dinner was given to Mr. Hamid Ali Khan, on his departure from England, by his Hindu friends in London from the N.W.P., Mr. Piyare Lal in the chair. This meeting gives proof of the popularity and freedom from prejudice of Mr. Hamid Ali, who has made friends not only among his own community, but among Englishmen and Hindus during his stay in England.

THE BOMBAY NATIVE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY. By PHILIP R. VALLADARES. Bombay, 1885.

This pamphlet is written by a Student of St. Xavier's College, Bombay, with the object of urging on his community the importance of making a strenuous effort to raise themselves by education and by reforms of social customs into a better position than they at present hold. The Native Portuguese who live at Bombay are the descendants of the Portuguese who became British subjects when that city was ceded to England as a part of the dowry of Catherine of Portugal in 1661. They are described as "a respectable, peaceful, and loyal class," and are not to be confused with the Goanese Christians, who are still Portuguese subjects, and seem to be generally of a lower grade than those we are referring to.

The Native Portuguese appear, however, to receive usually a mere superficial education, and to be inclined to extravagance in dress and family ceremonies. The young people are made conceited by such education as they do obtain, and show disrepect to their elders. Early marriages are said to be one serious cause of misery. The writer does not spare

his community, and, among other faults, dwells on the envy, suspicion, and jealousy which characterise many of its members, and which hinder them from unity for the common good. In regard to this, he recommends to them the following "consideration" from Epictetus:

"Does a man reproach thee for being proud or ill-natured, envious or conceited, ignorant or detracting? Consider with thyself whether his reproaches are true. If they are not, consider that thou art not the person whom he reproaches, but that he reviles an imaginary being, and perhaps loves what thou really art, though he hates what thou appearest to be. If his reproaches are true, if thou art the envious, ill-natured man he takes thee for, give thyself another turn, become mild, affable, and obliging, and his reproaches may indeed continue, but thou art no longer the person whom he reproaches."

It is suggested in the pamphlet that friendly meetings should be organised, for discussion of matters concerning the welfare of the community, which meetings would help to raise the tone of the younger men, who too often pass their time in drinking and frivolity.

The writer would have done well to get his essay revised before publication, as the English is often defective. He seems to be animated by a real desire that his people should regain the more honoured position which they formerly held, and he sees truly that the source of improvement lies in their own endeavours. We believe, however, that there are many distinguished exceptions at Bombay among the Native Portuguese in regard to learning and professional success; and it may be that Mr. Valladares has generalised too much from limited opportunities.

NOTES OF A TRIP TO A MALAY STATE.

On the Malay Peninsula, immediately to the North of the British possession known as Province Wellesley, is the country of the Raja of Kedah (spelt Quedah in the maps). To this state the Island of Penang and the Province Wellesley originally belonged, and the British Government pay the Raja 10,000 dollars a year in consideration of their cession. Some sixty or seventy years ago we allowed Kedah

to be attacked and conquered by Siam, although we were under treaty engagements with it; and it is now tributary to Siam, but ruled by its own princes. It is a fine country, and its princes are, perhaps, the noblest of the Malay families.

During a recent stay at Penang, I and three others obtained a passage on a large Government steam-launch, going on official business to visit this interesting state. started late one night, and early the next morning entered a broad river, and about an hour's steaming brought us to a small town, at the wharves of which several small craft were lying. On landing, we were received by the Raja's brother, a charming youth, and a middle-aged man, who seemed to be a sort of factotum, and were driven in comfortable carriages for four miles along an excellent road, bordered with many fine houses and gardens, to a beautiful large house, on a slight elevation, surrounded by gardens and tanks, and handsomely furnished. Here we were supplied with every comfort, and well fed, with the assistance of a capital cook. The view from the house was an extensive one over rich rice-plains, with hills and mountains in the distance. It being the Ramdhan, or fast month, but little business could be done; so, finding that the famous limestone caves, of which we had heard so much, were within practicable distance, we determined, if the means were available, to visit them; and after a good breakfast, we mounted elephants, and set forth. Elephant travelling is not so fatiguing as I expected, and would be tolerable, with a little contrivance for comfort in the howdahs. It was rather tedious work wading through the paddy-fields (not yet planted), streams, and marshes; but about an hour and a half brought us to the foot of an isolated ridge of limestone, probably four or five hundred feet high, rising abruptly from the plain. The Mahout of the elephant on which I rode, when we approached the hill, exclaimed, in Malay, "Beautiful beautiful!" two or three times. He said he had never been at the place before. The sides of the hill appeared to be, for the most part, perpendicular, but broken into ledges, on which grow splendid trees, which, at a distance, appeared a rich forest.

Having collected a party of villagers to accompany us, with materials for lighting our way through the caverns, we commenced the ascent, clambering over broken rocks and tree-roots and trying our powers pretty severely ere we