England. From Miss Carpenter's account of the female teachers in England, and of the means they adopt to make an insensible, and even a depraved creature, a good wife and a kind and prudent mother, we are led to hope that the advent to India of such teachers would be a great blessing to the future generations of the country.

Poona, October 27, 1866.

It was in accordance with the similar wishes expressed by intelligent native gentlemen at Ahmedabad that I had first drawn out a simple scheme for a Female Normal Training School; I had discussed it fully in every point at Surat, and here I availed myself gladly of the opportunity presented by the presence of the Director of Public Instruction in this Presidency to consider the scheme thoroughly; it then received his general approval. The pressing want in the country is female teachers for girls' schools. When the rapid progress of male education gave rise to the need of a speedy supply of male teachers, there were already a number of young natives who had received considerable education, and who, with special training for the duties of a teacher, might soon be prepared to be schoolmasters. Simple arrangements for boarding these young men, and suitable instructors, were all that were required to establish a normal training school; and as the office of schoolmaster was considered more honourable than others involving manual labour, there was no difficulty in obtaining candidates, and the schools are now well supplied with native teachers.

But with regard to female teachers the case is totally different. It is evident that as the children leave school at so early an age, and then usually are too much

occupied in household affairs to improve their minds, very few could be trained to be teachers except by a long course of instruction. But their position as wives, either by betrothal or in reality, prevents them from being able, if they were willing, to prepare to become teachers; this is also prevented by the social habits of the higher classes. Widows who cannot be easily maintained by their families are at present, unless in very exceptional cases, the only natives who can be enlisted as students. We must, then, look for others now in India-whether English, Eurasians, or any others--who may supply this want, to train as teachers. There may also be many of the superfluous governesses in England who will be glad to come out, learn the vernacular, and be trained, if there are proper arrangements; thus a commencement will be made, and several of these, being already educated women, would be very soon able to throw their influence into the schools now existing, and improve them considerably. But what is to be the position of these Christian students? A proper house must be provided for them, with all needful appliances in this foreign country. They cannot have the protection of the missionaries; they must have that of the Government. It is also necessary that this school should be a Government institution, not only to give the necessary feeling of permanency, but as a guarantee to the natives that it is not a proselytising institution. It must be an essential condition that no one while in the institution should, under any circumstances, be allowed in religious interference of any kind. These being the conclusions fully accepted by all with whom I conferred, I drew out, in accordance with them, the following sketch of such an institution, as would supply the want felt by all the enlightened natives:

First.-A house should be procured, adapted to furnish a comfortable residence for about a dozen Christian students, with a lady superintendent. Arrangements should be made for the separate boarding of nonChristian native students, when required. Arrangements for necessary furniture, board, and attendance, to be made by the Inspector of Schools.

Secondly.-A lady superintendent, who should be responsible to Government for the entire management of the institution, should be obtained from England; also a superior mistress for training. In each case the passage-money to be paid under certain conditions.

Thirdly.-Persons who wish to become students in training must apply to the inspector, and must satisfy him that it is their intention to study and faithfully to prepare to be teachers. They will receive board and instruction while in the institution. All English students must learn the vernacular, and all native students English.

Fourthly.—Any girls' schools existing in the neighbourhood may be employed for the training of teachers, and the students may thus be exercising a beneficial influence in the schools now taught by men, before they are prepared to take charge of schools themselves.

Such a plan would, it seemed to the intelligent natives, as well as to myself, be likely, if well worked out, to meet a great and general want.

I found, however, to my sorrow, that this important plan, and the improvement in prison discipline which was so greatly needed, could not, as I had then hoped, be effected by the Presidential Government. I resolved therefore to remain no longer in Bombay, but to proceed at once to Calcutta, to lay the whole before the Supreme Government.

The next day the grand ceremonial took place-the durbar, which had so long excited the expectations of so many. The native princes had been during the preceding week flocking into Poona. On one occasion we saw a considerable crowd in the street; it appeared to be caused by a procession, headed by native guards in very grotesque attire, which was partly native and partly English. Then followed an elephant, gorgeously decked out, on which was seated a native prince, and beside him we were amazed to recognise an English gentleman, who had probably been appointed to do him the honours of the occasion. To the great regret of all, this was the last durbar which would be held by the present Governor, Sir Bartle Frere, who was universally beloved; and many therefore made a special point of attending to do him honour. It is unfortunate that there is no suitable building for such an occasion, and some ordinary tents placed lengthwise formed by no means a place of reception befitting the dignity of the British nation. Thus, though one end of the tent was specially reserved for English ladies, immediately behind the Governor, we were greatly disappointed at not having an opportunity of surveying the dignified persons and their bejewelled dresses, who came to pay their homage to the representative of British power. The accounts given in the local papers convey, therefore, more idea of what took place than what we saw.

CHAPTER IV.

MADRAS.

Ox arriving at Bombay, I found that the Ahmedabad party had preceded me there. Shortly after my departure, Mr. Tagore had been prostrated with fever: and as this did not appear likely to yield to medical treatment there, he had obtained a three months' leave of absence, and was proceeding, with his lady and friends, to Calcutta.

During our voyage out we had endeavoured to ascertain, from various experienced travellers, some information respecting the different routes. One official gentleman, resident in Calcutta, informed us that he was then returning from a journey to England on a three months' leave of absence. He had travelled from Calcutta to Bombay by land viâ Lahore, the mail route, with a view to save time, as the railway was not completed; this was, however, a very difficult and unpleasant journey, and he assured me that the fact of his having accomplished it, led him to warn me not to attempt it. Subsequent testimony was to the same effect. Every one who had practical knowledge on the subject informed us that the best, and indeed the only satisfactory route, was by steamer to Calicut, by rail across the country from Beypoor to Madras, and thence by steamer