36 
things by replanting denuded tracts, barren bills have again 
become healthy and picturesque. Moreover, vineyards, the 
produce of which has been deteriorated, and themselves liable 
to inundations while the forests were destroyed, are once again 
free from such risk, and the quality of their wine is of its old 
standard.* And yet the rule must not be looked upon in all 
cases as absolute. At Murree and Simla coniferae abound, in 
the former place as extensive forests. As painful experience has 
for some years back demonstrated, cholera is localised in both. 
At Ootacamund, forests of eucalyptus globulus exist ; several 
other species of that genus have also been planted in that 
locality. Malarial fevers, however, originate there in persons 
long resident in the place, and since 1877 cholera has obtained 
a footing in that once beautiful station. It is evident, there- 
fore, that neither coniferae nor this much-lauded member of 
the Myrtaceae necessarily and absolutely abolish endemic 
disease affecting persons foreign to particular localities. 
6. By similar means the climatic conditions of Upper India 
have undergone change and deterioration within historical 
times, although the date is somewhat ancient according to 
accepted chronology. During the wars preceding the sub- 
jugation by the Arian invaders of what now constitutes a 
considerable portion of the Punjab, dense forests covered the 
surface of the country. As at the present day, in the far west 
of America, clearings in the forest took place, and, ultimately, 
tribes thus became permanent settlers. Visits of ceremony 
and friendship were interchanged by rulers, rajahs, and maha- 
rajahs. Among the duties of hospitality was to clear away 
the intervening jungle, open up a road, make straight the way 
by which the distinguished visitor was to travel attended by 
his retinue. And a similar custom still exists. 
7. According to the great Hindoo epic poem, the Maha- 
barata, prosperous cities, richly cultivated lands became 
established; the inhabitants had abundant food; they were 
long-lived ; as far as can be gathered, epidemics among them 
were of very rare occurrence; illness was looked upon as 
punishment by the gods for some sin committed ;*j* the natural 
* At the Polambella. 
t A similar theory of disease existed in ancient Egypt. A tablet of the 
time of Rameses XII. (12th century b.c.), to be seen in the Paris Library, 
and translated in Records of the Past , where the Egyptian god, Khons, was 
sent to cure the little princess Bentaresh of the evil movement in her 
limbs. When he came, the demon said, “ Great god, who chasest demons, 
I am thy slave, I will go to the place whence I came.” — Anthropology , 
by E. B. Taylor, p. 354. Throughout India, China, Syria, and in other 
countries a similar theory of disease held good. In times more recent, 
