Thomas Henry Thornton

“ His services were mentioned in the governor-general's despatch, and he was appointed by Lord Hardinge to the charge of a district in the newly formed province of the Punjab, that of Hoshiarpur. He had little experience to guide him; but under the inspiration of his new chief, John (afterwards Lord) Lawrence [q. v.] , he organised the district on a 'non-regulation' system of firmness and kindness; living alone amongst the people, without soldiers or policemen the court held under the green mango trees in the presence of hundreds. Here Cust developed an intense love for India and its people. ”

“ After the second Sikh war, which ended decisively in March 1849 with the annexation of the Punjab, the government commissioned Cust to report on the country and its capabilities. He visited every district in the newly acquired territory, and after nearly two years' immense labour he presented his report in 1851. Cust then proceeded to England on a brief furlough. Returning to India, he was appointed magistrate of Benares, and afterwards to the more important charge of Banda in Bundelkand, and in three years he put the district, which was in a most unsatisfactory condition, into perfect order. ”

“ In England Cust gradually recovered his energies. He studied Hebrew and completed the draft of a code of revenue law for Northern India. For a time he helped in the preparation of the Oxford 'Dictionary of the English Language' edited by Sir James Murray. Although he had rowed at Eton, he cared nothing for sports or games, and henceforth found recreation in foreign travel, while devoting himself at home to Oriental and religious studies, which he pursued with characteristic industry and method. ”