Rajah Bukhtawar Sing tells me, that he has heard the whole process frequently described in this way by the midwives who have attended the birth.  These midwives are however generally sent out of the room with the mother when the infant is found to be a girl.  In any law for the effectual prevention of this crime, it would be necessary to prescribe a severe punishment for the priest, as an accessary after the fact.  The only objection to this is, I think, that it might deprive the Court of the advantage of an important witness when required at the trial of the parents, but when necessary he might be admitted as King’s evidence.  All the people here that I talk to on the subject, say that the crime has been put down in the greater part of the British territories, and that judicious measures honestly and firmly carried out would put it down in Oude, and do away with the scruples which one clan of Rajpoots have to give their daughters in marriage to another.  Unable to murder their daughters, they would be glad to dispose of them in marriage to all clans of Rajpoots.  It might be put down in Oude, as it was put down by Mr. Willoughby, of Bombay, in the districts under his charge, by making the abolition one of the conditions on which all persons of the Rajpoot clans hold their lands, and strictly enforcing the observance of that condition.  The Government of Oude as now constituted could do nothing whatever towards putting it down in this or any other way.

January 27, 1850.—­Palee, eight miles north-west.  The road half way from Sandee to Busora, and half way from Busora to Palee, passes over a very light, sandy soil—­bhoor.  I have already stated that kutcha wells, or wells without burnt brick and cement, will not last in this sandy soil, while it stands more in need of irrigation.  The road for the last half way of this morning’s stage passes over a good doomuteea soil.  The whole country is however well cultivated, and well studded with fine trees; and the approach to Palee is at this season very picturesque.  The groves of mango and other fine trees amidst which the town stands, on the right bank of the Gurra river, appear very beautiful as one approaches, particularly now that the surrounding country is covered by so fine a carpet of rich spring crops.  The sun’s rays, falling upon such rich masses of foliage, produce an infinite variety of form, colour, and tint, on which the eye delights to repose.  We intended to have our camp on the other side of the river, but no good ground could be found for it, without injury to the crops, within three miles from Palee, and we must cross it on our way to Shahabad to-morrow.