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works written in this style can hardlly be classed in Hindi literature. Words of foreign origin should only be used when necessary. They should not be freely introduced to the sacrifice of the better understood and significant indigenous words.
The following work is the production of an educated Mahomedan gentleman in pure Hindi dialect. It was composed in Lucknow when Nawab Saadat Ali Khan was the reigning chief in this Province. Its author was Insha Allah Khan. According to Mr. Beale he was a poet and an author of four divans. Among his works "Darai Latafat" is of some reputation. His father was Masha Allah Khan. The author undertook to write a pleasant story in the dialect of the educated Hindus––elegant in style––impressive in diction––and written in such every day spoken words avoiding all words derived from Persian or Arabic, that even the unlearned may understand it without difficulty. A perusal of this book will show how far the learned author has succeeded in his desired object. Throughout the whole book no word of any foreign origin will be found except one word laltain (lantern) which is itself of disputed origin. The story selected by our author and the super human power introduced by him to complete his story may not commend themselves to the readers of modern novels in which human characters are depicted in their natural colours:–– where human actions are delineated in the light of modern education and scientific knowledge––but the reader must bear in mind the period when
