I found another snippet about Alec Hill, and Edmonia (Taylor) Hill's statement that "In 1888, in addition to his other work, at the request of Government he undertook to write a series of geographies for Indian schools".
This is somewhat off the main Kipling track, but it might be useful background, if only because any chats with his landlord (cobra nests in the garden, politics in America, education of Indians, British scientific civil servants tramping alertly round the lower Himalayas) would be grist to the writing mill.
Alec wrote "a very good series...three little volumes, the first two of which have reached a third edition. The third volume, which is new, treats chiefly of mathematical and physical geography" (Nature, November 1890 - this is just after news of Alec's death circulated, so he is already "the late Prof. S. A. Hill").
Has anyone seen copies of these books from the Indian Press of Allahabad? The three appeared together in an 1890s revision by G. N. Chakravarti. However, the University of Allahabad minutes for 1898-99 give a solo mention to a revision by Pedler (the cobra-poison expert) of this third volume.
Alec's other colleagues also helped after his death: George Thibaut (from 1888 to 1895 a professor in Allahabad) dealt with the sale of goods from Alec's villa, and Henry Blanford wrote an official obituary.
I visited Alec's home farm in County Antrim last month: well-behaved cows, and a pleasant view over the countryside towards Belfast. The sites of the Ballyboley National Schools (Upper and Lower), and the disused railway junction, are within walking distance.
Edmonia and her sister (already in London in December 1890) returned promptly to the USA. I would still like to know more of any visit that Edmonia made to Alec's relatives, before or after that. Another point of family interest is that Robert Emmet Hill - the same cousin whom Alec visited in South Carolina in 1883, and with whom he corresponded about Indian and American life and culture - was in Ireland in 1859. Alec was then aged about 9. They must have met, as Robert was being hosted by Alec's father John Hill, uncle David Hill and other local friends and relatives.
That choice "Robert Emmet", the name of a prominent United Ireland activist, is a clear sign of the views held by Robert's father (Alec's uncle) William Hill of Abbeville; these too might have been discussed with Kipling.
best wishes
Chris
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