Description
It may be well to observe, that general utility has been kept in view in the putting together of this work. To those interested in India, resident as well here as in England, it will be found it is hoped a pleasing compendium of information. To travellers also in India, and especially to young officers and others who arrive newly in the country, and who generally stand much in need of something of the kind, it may prove a convenient hand book. To render it the more useful in this respect, the travelling distances have been very generally given, as well as glossaries explanatory of the Hindoostanee and other words in common use, and of the terminations of names of places. A copious Index also has been added, so as to make the book serve in a considerable degree the purpose of a gazetteer. It has been, however, above all with a view to supply a desideratum so long felt, of a suitable school book on India, that the present work has been brought out, and most earnestly does the editor trust it will contribute to an increasing study, as well as to an increased knowledge of the Geography and History of India, about which there is so general and lamentable an ignorance. To further this object, a Map of India has been published of moderate size and price to accompany the book. For the original design and drawing of this map the editor is indebted to his friend the Rev. G. W. MAHON, Chaplain of Fort St. George, to whom he would take this opportunity of offering his best thanks, both in his own name, and in that of the Committee of Bishop Corrie’s Grammar School, to whom the copyright of the Map has been presented by him, as indeed has also the copyright of the book by the author for the benefit of the school.
