Village, Town, and Jungle Life in India

Newcombe's first voyage to India was in the troopship Malabar, which left Southampton, England on 7 October 1874. His was the first batch of fifty young Civil Engineers just appointed from Coopers Hill College to the Public Works Department. His long experience in many parts of India - towns and jungle, hills and plains - enabled him to collect a wealth of information. This book is based on the notes he made for mainly those who were about to proceed to India. Among the various subjects he writes on are places like Bombay, Punjab and camp life of villagers, life during the summers and the monsoons, hill life, famine, irrigation works in the North-West Provinces, towns and temples, religions, diseases, Baboo English, furlough and retirement and a host of useful topics for those new to India.

Alfred Cornelius Newcombe, started his career in 1874 and served at various places in North India in different capacities. Later on he spent time in Assam and with Nijam Government in Hyderabad. He retired in 1902.

In an article in ' The Calcutta Review' of January 1893 on " Cold Weather Visitors in India," after commenting on the mistakes made by one of them, the writer remarks that such crude and undigested impressions of India are useless and mischievous, and that, as they pass muster at home for real facts, perhaps more might be done to place a true picture of the state of things before our countrymen. He suggests that a few who have passed much of their lives in India might record the facts " before Indian impressions have had time to fade away, and while they are still surrounded by all the local colour."

My long experience of life in that country between 1874 and 1902 in many parts - town and jungle, hills and plains - has enabled me to collect much detailed information. I have arranged these notes in the hope that they may be interesting to those about to proceed to India, and to many who stay at home.