REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 223 



to be feared that to develope them within a period of say less than 

 fifty years would probably do as great harm to India as Bolshevism 

 has done to Russia. If human foresight were capable enough, a 

 programme of gradual improvement might be laid out for a number 

 of years but it is doubtful whether this is really feasible. 



This book will greatly interest many in China, as the problems of 

 the latter country are not altogether dissimilar from those of India. 

 There are a few interesting references to both China and Japan which 

 bv no means reflect the doctrines of "Pan-Asia." H. C. 



Sva. By Sir George C. M. Birdwood, k.c.i.e., etc. Warner, London,. 



1915. 12/6 net. 

 This is a collection of essays by a veteran Anglo-Indian who is well- 

 known for his erudition and enthusiasm for Indian lore. The title of 

 the book "implies that these pages are, so far as they go, part and 

 parcel of myself." It is not, however, in any sense an autobiography 

 but a series of expressions of opinion on many subjects. 



The book opens with a fine description of the South-West Monsoon. 

 Other essays deal with the Mahrattas, the Rajputs, Indian flora and 

 fauna, the Muharram festival, Leprosy, the Hittites, Oriental carpets, 

 Indian Unrest and some minor matters. Many of these are rather 

 unreadable on account of the author's somewhat diffuse style and the 

 encyclopaedic character of his comments, but all are valuable for 

 reference purposes. 



The question of Indian unrest is treated in a rather attractive 

 manner. Sir George Birdwood considers that the unrest is due to bad 

 mannered Europeans and incorrect methods of education, especially the 

 neglect to provide a religious eirenicon between Christianity and 

 Hinduism. Probably most educated persons who have lived in the 

 East will agree with him but this does not really help very much. 

 It is practically impossible to train tourists, whether from England or 

 America, in manners ; it is similarly almost impossible to provide an 

 adequate teaching staff which can handle the religious and racial 

 question with the sympathy and judgment that is needed. The very 

 putting into effect of the measures which he proposes would raise a 

 storm of criticism within and without India. 



In very truth the problem of Asia's awakening is one which is 

 rather appalling since it is almost impossible to see how it will proceed. 

 The reaction between the East and the West will not fulfil the forecasts 

 of the devout missionary or of the internationalist or of the theoretical 

 sociologist or of the ardent orientalist of Sir George Birdwood's type. 



