Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/292

 270 Reviews.

The Census of Northern India. Reports. Panjab, by Pandit Harikishan Kaul, Part i. (191 2), pp, 553 + xiii, 8s.; North-West Frontier Province, by C. Latimer, Part i. (19 1 2), pp. 268 + cxxv + xi, 9s.; Baluchistan, by

D. Bray, Parts i. and ii. (1913), pp. 200 + 98 + 7, 4s. 6d.; Kashmir, by M. Matin-uz-zaman Khan, Part i. (191 2), pp. 256, 6s.; United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, by

E. A. H. Blunt, Part i. (1912), pp. 432, 6s.; Rajputana, by E. H. Kealy, Part i. (19 13), pp. 271, 4s.

Even to students familiar with the rural life and beliefs of the Indian races these Census Reports present a mass of new and important material. It is highly creditable to the officers in charge of the provincial enumerations that the reports of their operations are, on the whole, so instructive. Their primary duty was to organize, often from most unpromising sources, a staff of enu- merators, and, without interference with racial or religious pre- judices, to collect a body of statistics which are indispensable to the work of administration. The discussion of the material thus collected, and the investigation of problems of religion and sociology, are only incidental to the successful conduct of the enumeration. Such discussions and investigations must be carried on within a limited time, in a climate which often renders intense mental efforts impossible, and amid the distractions of less interest- ing but more important duties. That so much has been done under such difficult circumstances is highly commendable. Again, when we compare these Reports with the first real attempts which commenced in 187 1, no one can help being impressed with the new spirit which pervades them. They are compiled with a much wider outlook and with greater skill and literary power ; and the writers, as a rule, seem to have endeavoured to keep themselves acquainted with the results of recent research, and to provide in readable form information indispensable to the student of religion and folklore.

I do not propose within the narrow limits of a review to attempt detailed discussion of the subjects dealt with in this great series of Blue Books. These notes are confined to Northern India; Bengal, the Report of which is delayed by the re-arrangement of the pro-