Modern Hinduism. By W. J. Wilkins. (T. Fisher Unwin.)— Sketches
of Hindoo Life. By Devendra N. Das, B.A. (Chapman and Hall.)—These two volumes should be read together. Mr. Wilkins, who is a missionary of large experience, limits his account to " Northern India ;" but practically he traverses the same field as does Mr. Das, whom we may regard as a Hindoo of the advanced and reforming party. And as their subject is the same, so do their views for all practical purposes agree. Of course, they regard matters from a different point of view ; but there is a substantial agreement in their conclusions, so far, at least, as they concern Hindoo life. Where there is a difference, it is more apparent than
real. Mr. Das, for instance, does not think that the case of Hindoo widows is quite as hard as does Mr. Wilkins ; but then, they are thinking of somewhat different cases, Mr. Wilkins of young widows, Mr. Das of elder ones, women of assured position, with grown-up children, who naturally do not lose the position of influence which the habit of years has given them. Mr_ Das's work is of a much slighter and more popular kind than the other, and leaves many questions of the graver kind untouched; but it may be usefully consulted. In some matters he evidently speaks with a more intimate knowledge.
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