Asiatic Quarterly Review (Full Title: The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record): Volume XIII, No. 26 [‎537v] (199/238)

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Reviews and Notices.
channels where the sweep of the tide is strong. It is soaked and bleached
in fresh water, then stretched, dried and worked, until it becomes a strong
pliable cord.” These extracts will give the reader but a faint idea of the
excellent and useful descriptions of the places, inhabitants, towns and
rivers covered by this exceedingly well-got-up volume. We observe that
similar volumes are ready on Central and South America, and in prepara
tion on Asia, Europe, Australia, and Oceana. The authorities from which
the descriptions are derived are given at the end of each chapter, so that
the reader may be able to obtain fuller information.
W. Blackwood and Sons; Edinburgh and London, 1902.
3 . Sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. Generals, by G. Forrest, c.i.e. The reason for the existence
of this volume is not very obvious. The subject, indeed, which is suggested
by the title is novel and piquant, but the substance does not correspond.
Of the nine officers mentioned; two were not Generals of Sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , and two
for practical purposes—were not Generals at all, while a fifth distinguished
himself mainly as a civil administrator. The work has neither beginning,
middle, nor end, and is not an organic whole, as a “ book ” should be; it
is, in fact, nothing more than a number of magazine articles bound up
together under a common title, which is evidently an after-thought. The
first chapter consists mainly of a sketch of Arthur Wellesley’s doings in
Southern India, such as might be found in any standard history; while the
last hundred pages are a hasty abstract of the war in South Africa, from
the investment of Ladysmith to the surrender of Pretoria. Justice, how
ever, requires the admission that the narratives are well told—barring
inaccuracies, for some of which the printer is answerable—and the tone is
high and manly. Mr. Forrest appears to have access to valuable materials
and an appeal to the public such as is unusual with writers on Indian
topics. Perhaps he may yet produce a real book on “Sepoy Generals,”
showing how the wonderful Indian Army has been created and by what
manner of men. Biographical notices would in that case extend to such
men as Clive and Coote, Benoit de Boigne, Lake, Ochterlony, in addition
to some of those treated of here; and a curious comment might arise on
Moltke’s famous canon. When asked, some time before the war of 1870,
as to the capacity of French Generals, the great strategist said that men
who had learned war in fighting barbarians were not to be feared in modern
scientific warfare; perhaps Indian experience might not altogether cor
roborate this rule.
In any case, and whatever were to be the plan, there are two omissions
which ought to have been avoided. In the first place, the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. hardly
ever notes the year in which the events he is recording occurred; great
confusion occasionally ensues—^., in the chapter on Wellington there is
a general reference to the perils to which the nascent Empire was exposed
during the early career of that famous man. In this Mr. Forrest observes
that “De Borgne’’—meaning General de Boigne of Sindhia’s service-
might join Raymond and other French officers in making war on the
British. Now, apart from objections which will occur to experts, it is