UPPER INDIA. 7 



It has been brought forward as a proof of a want of inven- 

 tive faculty in our predecessors in India, that they were content 

 with the hand punkah of the country which was in use amongst 

 the natives, and did not invent the punkah now in use, which 

 is suspended from the ceiling, for a number of years after 

 we had obtained possession of the country. It appears to me 

 that the suspended punkahs not Jbeing invented was probably 

 owing to the fact that they were not required; the climate 

 being cooler, the old hand punkahs were sufficient, and there 

 was no urgent necessity for the suspended punkahs. As soon 

 as the necessity arose, from increased heat of the climate, the 

 suspended punkahs would be invented. Previous to their 

 invention, punkahs could hardly have been used in bedrooms. 

 Thermantidotes now in general use were not known fifty years 

 ago. The first description we have of one was by Dr. Ranken, 

 and was published with drawings in the Transactions of the 

 Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta, in 1827. Punkahs 

 were, I believe, first allowed in barracks for European troops 

 in 1849, previous to which they were not considered neces- 

 sary. I never used a punkah in my house before 1850 or 

 1851, and know many persons who did not use them at that 

 time. 



New barracks have been built throughout the country, 

 mostly since 1857, giving much greater accommodation for the 

 troops, and built on improved principles and better ventilated, 

 built expressly for coolness ; but they are described as unbear- 

 ably hot, and now it is proposed to increase the number of 

 hill stations, and keep as many of the European troops as 

 possible in the hills. This is all very well as regards the 

 infantry, but the cavalry and artillery cannot be kept in the 

 hills. There are other Europeans too whose duties tie them 

 to the plains, and who cannot get to the hills for the hot 

 weather. All Government officials must keep to their posts, 



