Leaves from a Diary in Lower Bengal. By C. S, Retired [i.e. Arthur Lloyd Clay] . With maps and illustrations from sketches by the author, including etchings by Robert Farren

Introduction

The following pages have been abstracted from an old Diary kept for the perusal of friends at home, during the first eight years of Indian service, and it is thought that some account of the daily life of a civilian in Lower Bengal may not be without interest to the public, so many of whom are now, in one way or other, connected with our Eastern Dependency. Great nonsense has in days gone by been written or talked about the Gorgeous East, wliich is now regarded in a more prosaic light ; but there is no need to go into the opposite extreme and look upon India as a " land of regrets " — a place of exile which offers few or no com pensations for the loss of home surroundings. As for health, there is no reason why a man with a good constitution and wholesome love of outdoor occupations should not, living temperately and with prudence, be at least as well as one whose lot is cast in great cities at home ; the duties and responsibilities of an Indian career are such as most would find interesting ; and he must be strangely constituted who could feel no pride in belonging to so fine a service as the " I.C.S.," or in taking part, however small, in the conduct of that great enterprise, the Govern ment of India. In Bengal as elsewhere, a life of regular employment means a good deal of monotonous routine, varied occasionally by more lively episodes.

INTRODUCTION.

VIII The narration of these may perhaps be found amusing, while the sketches .should help the reader to realise the scenes and understand the incidents described in the text. The use of initials not being convenient, in some cases real names are given — in others, these are thinly disguised so as to be recognisable by those who know the persons referred to. CONTENTS

a trip to burmah. 1869 241