DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0282
258 Life of Mountstuart Elphinstone. ch. vm.
the roacl, over stones and everything. He travelled at the rate
of two coss a day.’
‘September 29.—I have often been sorry I leave places where
I have been for any time, hnt I never recollect to have prized
a place so much dnring the whole of my stay as I have this.
This may be partly owing to the climate, and partly to my
way of life, which never leaves me either solitary, or idle
altogether. It is curions to observe what times one recollects
with the greatest pleasure. I expected the Cauhul mission to
have been a source of most pleasing reflection, yet, for some
reason which I cannot discover, the thoughts of that time
are not pleasing.’
£ October 14.—I do not see the near prospect of my being
able to take up my travels which I saw this time last year.
Yet I am gradually getting rid of the Jageerdars, and I shall
begin with great vigour as soon as I can.’
While engaged on this work he took a warm interest
in the labours of others in fields akin to his own. AYhen in
Bombay he made the acquaintance of Mr. William Erskine,
son-in-law to Sir James Mackintosh, and secretary to the
Literary Society of Bombay. In him he found a companion of
congenial tastes, and the correspondence which passed between
them was continued with interruptions till Mr. Erskine’s death.
Mr. Erskine was educated for the legal profession in Edin-
burgh, and at the instance of Sir James Mackintosh accompanied
him to Bornbay, where he resided for twenty years, and held
several offices connect.ed with the Supreme Court. He devot.ed
himself to questions connected with the language and lite-
rature of India, and was an occasional contributor to t.he Trans-
actions of the Literary Society of Bombay, of which he became
the secretary. Among his earlier friends in Edinburgh was
Dr. Leyden, and on the premature death of that. eminent
scholar he received the charge of many of his manuscripts,
especially his unfinished translation of the memoirs of the
Emperor Baber. Mr. Erskine took the work in hand, revised
and completed the translation, accompa.nying it with a valu-
able essay on the races and geography of Central Asia. Mr.
the roacl, over stones and everything. He travelled at the rate
of two coss a day.’
‘September 29.—I have often been sorry I leave places where
I have been for any time, hnt I never recollect to have prized
a place so much dnring the whole of my stay as I have this.
This may be partly owing to the climate, and partly to my
way of life, which never leaves me either solitary, or idle
altogether. It is curions to observe what times one recollects
with the greatest pleasure. I expected the Cauhul mission to
have been a source of most pleasing reflection, yet, for some
reason which I cannot discover, the thoughts of that time
are not pleasing.’
£ October 14.—I do not see the near prospect of my being
able to take up my travels which I saw this time last year.
Yet I am gradually getting rid of the Jageerdars, and I shall
begin with great vigour as soon as I can.’
While engaged on this work he took a warm interest
in the labours of others in fields akin to his own. AYhen in
Bombay he made the acquaintance of Mr. William Erskine,
son-in-law to Sir James Mackintosh, and secretary to the
Literary Society of Bombay. In him he found a companion of
congenial tastes, and the correspondence which passed between
them was continued with interruptions till Mr. Erskine’s death.
Mr. Erskine was educated for the legal profession in Edin-
burgh, and at the instance of Sir James Mackintosh accompanied
him to Bornbay, where he resided for twenty years, and held
several offices connect.ed with the Supreme Court. He devot.ed
himself to questions connected with the language and lite-
rature of India, and was an occasional contributor to t.he Trans-
actions of the Literary Society of Bombay, of which he became
the secretary. Among his earlier friends in Edinburgh was
Dr. Leyden, and on the premature death of that. eminent
scholar he received the charge of many of his manuscripts,
especially his unfinished translation of the memoirs of the
Emperor Baber. Mr. Erskine took the work in hand, revised
and completed the translation, accompa.nying it with a valu-
able essay on the races and geography of Central Asia. Mr.