Asiatic Quarterly Review (Full Title: The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record): Volume XIII, No. 26 [‎544v] (213/238)

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Our Library Table.
statistics, as, for instance, on p. 559, where the half of R6.13.3, being
(apparently) given as R5.8.7, instead of R3.6.7, has led Mr. Digby, and
perhaps Mr. Dutt, to believe that it is quite usual in Madras to take 31 per
cent, of the gross by way of assessment. We all know that such cases are
quite exceptional, though I am aware that there is land assessed as low as
four annas an acre, which never could show any “ net ” produce at all if
the cultivation expenses are calculated on the principles of the Settlement
Department. Such land is held on puttah for other reasons altogether,
sometimes simply to prevent a stranger from taking it up.
On the whole, however, Mr. Digby seems to me to have made out a case
from the mouth of the Indian Government itself which loudly calls for
some such minute inquiry as has been suggested (apparently in vain) by
the Famine Union.—J. P.
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
Picturesque New South Wales : a Guide for Settler and Tourist, pre
faced under the direction of T. A. Coghlan. (Sydney: William Apple-
gate Gullick, Government printer. Agent-General’s Office, 9, Victoria
Street, Westminster, S.W.) This well-known author has condensed his
vast knowledge of New South Wales in a short but picturesque volume
for the guidance of settlers and tourists. It contains a historical sketch,
the geography and climate of the colony, its fauna and flora, its govern
ment and social and commercial conditions up-to-date, its industries,
Sydney and its surroundings, and the Western, Northern, and Southern
districts. The illustrations of scenery, places of industry, and other objects
of interest are beautifully executed, and the statistics and other information
drawn from official records are concise and accurate.
A Sketch of the Vedanta Philosophy, to which is prefixed that of the Life
of Sujna Gokulaji Zald, a Typical Veddntin, by Manassukharama
SOryarama Tripathi. Second edition. (Bombay: N.M.T. and Com
pany, Kalikadevi Road, 1901.) A well-written and interesting biography
of one who, by his zeal, perseverance, honesty, and religious principles,
rose from the ranks to be the trusted and high official of the Junagadh
States. The biography is accompanied with a concise outline of the
Vedanta philosophy derived from various sources. There are also an
excellent photogravure of Zala and a minute index.
Hindustani Self-Taught, with English Phonetic Pronunciation, contain
ing Vocabularies, Idiomatic Phrases and Dialogues, Travel Talk, Military,
Legal, Religious, Commercial, Shooting, Fishing terms, Money, Weights,
Measures, Indian I itles, Castes, Festivals, by C. A. Thimm, f.r.g.S.
(London: E. Marlborough and Co., 51, Old Bailey, E.C., 1902.) The
title explains the object of this handy work, and will be of practical service
to travellers, traders, missionaries, and soldiers, as well as students, who
find themselves among those of whose language they are totally ignorant.
1 he second part, the “ Grammar Self-Taught,’’ is in course of preparation.
In the first column the English word is given, in the second the Hindustani
words are given in Roman characters, and the pronunciation phonetically
in the same characters in the third column.