WORKS OF MERIT.

11

in traffic, to the Brinjaries in their expeditions, and to the weary passenger, who prefers, in the heat of the day, a cool and a pleasant retreat, to the close and heated atmosphere of a building. The roads, in many parts, are lined on both sides with large trees, and are splendid avenues, stretching sometimes from one town to another; thus enabling the people to prosecute their journeys in the meridian of day. Now and then, you come to a poor-house, or a charitable establishment, where Bramins are fed, where the poor are refreshed and have their wants supplied, and where great villany is practised by those who are entrusted with its management. But all these are either the fruits of superstition, and the deeds of those who hoped, in this way, to obtain fame in the present world and happiness in the next; or the benefits which former rulers conferred upon their subjects, and with which they were content that their administration should be judged of by future generations.

Still, the effects of war, rapine, and anarchy are far more manifest than the benefits of peace. You pass through large tracts of country which, with little trouble, would yield thirty or fifty fold to the farmer, lying barren and waste; because they have

* Brinjaries are the gipsies of India; carry on merchandize between one country and another; convey their goods upon asses; bring supplies to armies in time of war, and enjoy the privilege, in such seasons, of having their rights and property, and their persons respected by all parties.

12

SIGNS OF MISRULE.

not been furnished with the necessary premium upon industry, or because their inhabitants have been reduced to a remnant, and have not been able to contend with the exactions of despotism and misrule. You visit towns and villages which are still surrounded with walls of defence, or with dense and impassable hedges, which were originally planted to defend their inhabitants from the Pindarries,* and which are still deemed necessary as a defence against robbers and banditti, in the absence of a police establishment, whose vigilance and protection ought to be extended to the peasant and to the farmer, as well as to the citizen. You travel through jungles and through deserts almost in the neighbourhood of large towns, and which the tiger, the elephant, the wolf, and the jackal occupy as their dwelling, since the progress of civilization has been so small and so slow, that the people have not been able to reclaim them, and drive their ferocious tenants into more distant abodes. You sojourn in provinces rich in ores and in metals, abounding with natural resources, qualified to bestow treasures of wealth upon the laborious and enterprising adven

A tribe of freebooters who arose in India during the eighteenth century. Generally well mounted, a band of them would attack a town during the night, pillage its inhabitants, and commit the greatest excesses, and in the morning be sixty or seventy miles distant from the scene of their depredations. The Mahratta powers took them under their protection, and as they would not surrender these Ishmaelites, it brought on the Mahratta war.

SIGNS OF MISRULE.

13

turer; but yielding nothing: nay, sometimes overrun with famine and with pestilence, because their former and present rulers have dug no mines, have cut no canals, have formed no railroads, have erected no granaries, and have adopted no measures to draw forth their exhaustless stores. You live among a most interesting people, whose villages are so many little republics, and who really possess, among themselves, many of the elements of comfort and of happiness; but their children grow up, like their fathers, ignorant, superstitious, sanguinary, and idolatrous, because colleges have not been established to enlighten them, a general system of education has not been granted to emancipate them from error, and pains have not been taken to spread among them that information which would contribute to their present and eternal welfare.

I see Bungalows,* erected for the accommodation of European travellers, provided often with a table, and couch and chairs, and furnished with servants, who are civil and anxious to obtain supplies for your comfort. But where are the alms-houses for the indigent natives? Where are the infirmaries

These are buildings erected by the government, every ten or fifteen miles in the line of road, affording a good shelter during the day; but as they are not furnished, like our Inns at home, you are obliged to bring your crockery, and some furniture and supplies which your table may require; while the attendants who have charge of the bungalow, can usually find milk, eggs, fowls, a sheep, vegetables, &c. on moderate

terms.

14

PARTIAL IMPROVEMENT.

for the sick and afflicted? Where are the asylums for the insane, the orphan, and the widow?

The native army has been greatly improved; it has submitted to European discipline, and, under the command of British officers, it is reckoned a match for any oriental troops, however valiant and courageous. But why does the ryot still cultivate his ground with the same rude implements?-why does the artizan still work at his trade with the same rough and antiquated tools that were used by his forefathers?-why does the merchant carry on his commerce at the same slow and tedious rate as before? Why?-because they have had no models of improvement to emulate, no machinery to show them the superiority of European science, and no measures to accelerate merchandize and save time and trouble and expense.

The Government is liberal; great is the freedom granted to the press; the authorities, generally speaking, are intelligent and meritorious officers; many of the judges and magistrates are superior men, wish well to the community, and would be an honour to any country; and a new criminal code has been adopted for the empire. But the land-tax is, in many parts, high and oppressive; law and justice are, in some instances, slow, expensive, and administered with indifference; exaction, rapacity, and bribery, often attend the collection of the revenues, by the native officers: and wherever Europeans are

*

Ryot is the name generally applied to the agriculturists.

PARTIAL IMPROVEMENT.

15

not numerous, and not very watchful, the native authorities would feel no hesitation in using the rack, the stone, the thumb-screw, and other modes of torture, to extort money for themselves, as well as for the treasury.

In reply, it may be said, that the British government has not yet had time to consolidate their power; that improvement is slow in its growth, and that, in a country so immense, the development of its energies must be waited for with patience. This is granted; but we long to see the beginning of better days-the promise and the pledge of improvement. If three or four millions of money are to be withdrawn annually from India, and imported to England to pay the dividends, and to meet the expenses of the Indian government at home, why should not a similar amount be expended upon the country, to improve its moral, its commercial, and its agricultural interests? Will not the better cultivation of the soil, and the discovery of its riches secure their own reward of prosperity, peace, and gratitude? Will not the Hindoos deem themselves happy under such a rule, co-operate with the agents of the government, and be excited to rivalry and to emulation in the career of improvement? Will not a capital, expended upon works of public utility, yield a good return, lessen the burdens of the people, give additional stimulus to commerce, and ameliorate the condition of those who are, in reality, the strength and riches of the nation?