"حياة ومراسلات اللواء السير جون مالكوم، قائد فرسان وسام الطُهر، المبعوث السابق إلى بلاد فارس وحاكم بومباي؛ من رسائل ومذكرات غير منشورة. في مجلّدين. المجلد II." [‎٣‎٢‎٨] (٦٥٤/٣٤٥)

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CENTKAL INDIA.
me out, in which object they have the full concurrence of Mr.
Canning. I am perfectly ready to go, if I can answer to the King
and to myself that I do not frowardly seek it. If, therefore, the
chance of a separate district being formed in Central India is what
is to determine your plans, I would decidedly say to you that I do
not think the prospect exists."
The time which Malcolm had fixed for his departure
from India—the cold season of 1820-21—was now drawing
near; but the great Malwah Keport was unfinished. He
had foreseen the impossibility of bringing his labors to a
close at a sufficiently early period to enable him to em
bark at the desired time, and he had, therefore, written to
Lord Hastings to intimate his intention to continue at
his post until the following June.* Malcolm judged
rightly that the Eeport would not only add greatly to his
reputation, but confer also much benefit on the public;
and he labored at it in his old unstinting way, ever reso
lute to do the best he could. It may be doubted whe
ther he ever took so much interest in any other of his
literary works. The first pages were written on the
14th of June, 1819, and from that time, except when
interrupted by illness, he never ceased from his work.
He had designed at first little more than an official
Report; but as he proceeded with his inquiries into the
history of the country—as he listened to the oral tradi
tions which were current among the people, and con
sulted such scanty scriptural records as existed among
these rude people—so much of universal human interest
was developed, so many romantic episodes sparkled up
to give life and light to the story, that what was at first a
* " I wrote your Lordship," lie That is now impossible, and I bare,
said on the 4;th of August, " under therefore, made up my mind to stav
date the 18th of July, regarding my till next June, when I shall request a
intended return to England. I find few months' leave to go to the coast,
that I ought, to save the season, to and sail the first opportunity."
reach Bombay early in November.