Orphan Asylums. 443 



Under such climatic conditions, it is no wonder that the 

 invigorating wholesome breeze is known at Madras as " The 

 Doctor." 



Among the benevolent institutions visited by us, we found 

 the twin asylums for male and female orphans of soldiers well 

 worthy of notice in many particulars. These are for the most 

 part the offspring of European soldiers married to native 

 women, and are known as " half-castes," or " Mestizoes." 

 In the Military Female Asylum, there were at this time 216 

 girls, who were brought up to all manner of female work, 

 as well as taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and remained 

 in the institution until suitably provided for in marriage. The 

 marriage outfit, as also a small wedding present of Rs. 50 (£5), 

 for each girl is provided by Government, and the entire work- 

 ing expenses, which amount to about Rs. 30,000 (£3000) 

 annually, are defrayed by a Government grant of Rs. 1000 

 (£100) a month, together with the interest of the funded 

 capital, upon which Government pays 8 per cent, interest. 



The Military Male Orphan Asylum was founded in 1788 by 

 means of voluntary contributions, supplemented by a Govern- 

 ment Subvention, and possesses a special historical interest 

 from the circumstance that it was here that Dr. Bell, who held 

 the post of Head-Master in the establishment, first projected 

 and put into execution the method of imparting elementary 

 instruction, afterwards so widely renowned as the Lancastrian 

 method of teaching, which since that period has traversed 

 the globe, and has been introduced into every capital in Europe. 



