Last year. beat the record in North travancore, a notoriously rainy region. On remarking to an old friend that we had over thirteen foot of rain in duly alone, "inches, my dear, of course you mean" was the severe reply, given with un air of demanding accuracy before all things Plague.
The plague is everywhere abating, and in Bombay the health of the city is rapidly improving. Seven years of plague, and five of famine have been a very severe strain on the country and we all hope brighter days are dawning.
The Amir of Afghanistan.
Major Bird, I. M.S, has been royally entertained in Kabul, his success in dealing with the Amir's hand having gained him great popularity with all classes. The unfortunate hand was ina very unhealthy state, an abscess had formed in the palm which had to be operated on, giving His Highness instant relief.
The Amir had been suffering from sleeplessness due to pain in the hand. To this cause, perhaps, may be traced the renewal of family feuds in the Afghan Court, that famous lady, Bibi Halima, the mother of Sirdar Ulnar Jan, being again at variance with His Highness, Tibetans and their Opinions on the Tuna Affair.
Mr. Evan MacKenzie, who has for some years been in close touch with the Tibetan tribes of Kalimpong in connection with Mission work among them, states that their spirit was very encouraging on being informed of the defeat of their follow-country men, Home thought that trade would now revive and flourish in Tibet without let or hindrance; others seemed doubtful as to the conclusion of the present struggle, and hazarded the opinion that the Tibetans, feeling their country and religion were at stake, would fight to the bitter end.. This chimes in with the latest reports from Colonial Younghusband. It seems plainer every day that the simple country folk are willing to trade with us and are not deeply antagonistic; it is the monks who, for the preservation of their priestly influence, sre determined to keep us out of the country. The ignorant laity seem in a tight place; if they fail to keep our troops back they get their throats cut by order of their own Government; if they fall fighting, their goods and chattels are confiscated by the same fostering power. At Gyangtse, Colonel Younghusband reports that the Tibetans have proved born traders, bargaining in the bazaar pescofully with their late foes, and sending down to Phari for more goods to dispose of "while the sumshines." Ther are strange legends among the Tibetans of their origin; by their own confession the national ancestry runs back to the king of the monkeys and a hobgoblin They are universally described as being hideously ngly—broad flat noses without ible bridge, no eyebrows, full lips, oily skins, and coarse straight hair are a few of the attractions, which, added to squat, ungainly figures complete a somowhat unpleasing picture.
The State Railways in India are making quite a now in ordering' a large number carriages for the Northwestern Railway, which are to be fitted with electric lights, electric fans, and automatic coolers. The latter arrangoment is intended to displace the tatties at present in use, and has a design to keep the now-fangled tattie perpetually moistened, without attention from the passengers by night and by day much needed reform! Oh, those tatties How often has it seemed the last drop in our already overflowing cup, when travelling by train in the hot weather, to have to rise and turn the handle of that wretched little tattie which fills the window space. One only rises, because panting and suffocating, it is no longer possible to breathe the burning air without becoming unconscious. The wind whizzes in, for the moment fresh and cool through the dripping tattie, but how short. the relief and how great the collapse, after even so slight an exertion. In fact, in spite of tattie and ice-box, apoplexy seems to stare one in the face. A refreshing splash in the bathroom attached is not the joy it should be when the water comes fizzing out of the dusty tap too hot to touch. Government has likewise given a lead to private companies in sanctioning the purchase of a railway automobile, for service on the Sialkote branch of the same line. If the success, as it ought to be in a country like India, where so many lines carry a light passenger traffic, others will be purchased for different branches. The North-western automobile will be steam-driven and carry six first-class pas. sengers, eight second, eight intermediate and forty-four third-class, with space for luggage.
To jump from north to south, still on the subject of railways, the South Indian Railway is shortly to open a branch line to Quilon, ranning through Trivandrum, the eapitsl of Travancore. This is important, not only as being the first railway in Travancore, but because the mail trains will then run to Quilon instead of Tuticorin. The latter place is chiefly important in its own eyes because Rudyard Kipling said the Europeans there lived entirely on whisky and telegrams. It has also been a little important on account of its export trade—chiefly, the cotton of Tinnevelly district—and also because of its position as the South Indian port on the direct route from India to Uolombo. A daily service of steamers runs betwoon the two ports. Its Ikmell as a first-class station has been sounded, and further consternation carried to the breasts of its inhabitants, by the announcement that Russia has declared cotton to be contraband of war, as it is so largely used in the manufacture of explosives.
Pearl banks exist in the vicinity of Tuticorin, which are from time to time inspected by Government. The Inspector of Pearl Banks has just returned in the port officer's steam-launch Marguerits from inspecting the banks for the second time.
Legal Advice For Purdah Ladies.
Miss C. Sorabji, a Parsee lady, has just been appointed Counsel to the Court of Wards, Bengal. In other words, purdah ladies are now provided with qualified legal assistance in the administration of their estates, and can now confer with their lady lawyer as well as lady doctor when occasion arises. This isa great step in the direction of improving the condition of the Zenana from within, without compelling the inmates to break the rules of decorum which they have been taught to consider inseparable from good manners and right feeling.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.