Reviews, and Notices respecting New Books. 133 



which under an unassuming head presents us with a mass of va- 

 luable information. Under the simple name of illustrations' 

 Mr. Royle has not only afforded us that information which the title 

 of his work would lead us more immediately to expect, but he has 

 also presented us with a comprehensive sketch of the physical fea- 

 tures of India in general, and of the Himalayan Mountains in par- 

 ticular; with most valuable details respecting the adaptation of 

 animal and vegetable life to the conditions unde,r which it exists, 

 the distribution of such life according to the localities fitted for it ; 

 and also with a variety of other subjects of general interest, which 

 certainly no one would have anticipated from the unassuming title 

 he has given to his work. 



It is with much pleasure we observe that Mr. Royle omits few 

 opportunities of illustrating the power of science to contribute to 

 the happiness and welfare of mankind ; we particularly allude to 

 those passages where he points out the capabilities afforded by the 

 variously situated portions of our Indian possessions for the growth 

 or cultivation of numerous important productions. We experience 

 this pleasure not because we would wish to degrade science and 

 make it subordinate to the mere acquirement of pounds, shillings 

 and pence, but because it is most desirable to prove to the mass of 

 mankind, that, while their intellectual enjoyments are increased, 

 and their minds are expanded by science, their more ordinary oc- 

 cupations are benefited in proportion to its progress. 



Respecting the actual products of India, and its capabilities, Mr. 

 Royle remarks, that 



"In the peninsula of India, and in the neighbouring island of 

 Ceylon, we have a climate capable of producing cinnamon, cassia, 

 pepper, and cardamoms. The coffee grown on the Malabar coast 

 is of so superior a quality as to be taken to Arabia and re-exported 

 as Mocha coffee ; the Tinnevelly senna brings the highest price in 

 the London market; and there is little doubt that many other valu- 

 able products of tropical countries might be acclimated, particularly 

 as several are already in a flourishing condition in the Botanic gar- 

 den at Calcutta, such as the cocoa and nutmeg, as well as the cam- 

 phor, pimento and cashew-nut trees. In the Neelgherries a favour- 

 able site might without doubt be found for the cinchona, as well 



as the different kinds of ipecacuanha." Along the coasts 



of the Bay of Bengal the cocoa and areca-nut palms flourish and 

 abound, and the continent everywhere produces indigo, cotton, 

 tobacco, sugar, and opium. The first, hardly of any note as an 

 Indian product thirty years ago, is now imported in the largest 

 quantities into England If from these we turn our at- 

 tention to other products, we shall still see that there are great ca- 

 pabilities even where we should least expect them: for though India 

 is generally looked upon chiefly as a rice country, wheat has been 

 imported into and sold at a profit in England from the northern 

 provinces, and flour for making starch is now one of the annual ex- 

 ports from Calcutta. Of dyes, medicinal drugs, resins, and gums, 

 there are great varieties, and more might be successfully intro- 



