Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-04-30

fcult to obtain, but d0ubIy so against the
wealthy; yet evidence has not been wanting
of the most barbarotts tortures inflicted by
zemindars of the soil upon their dependents.
even to the death, and that, too. for not more
than copper coin-a few annas only, less
that sixpence due upon balance of rent
So much is this the system amongst ratiFes
of Bengal, that we much doubt whether there
be any zemindary in which torture is not
employed in the collection of rents. We
must not wonder at this, for Bengalees are
proverbially towards, and all towards are
cruel-and who such promising victims as
the poor ryots!
There is no physical wIetchedness nor abb
ject misery within European Limits that can
in any way compare with the utter prostra-
ton and broken down degradation of the
Bengal ryots. The land how fertile, the
climate how enriching, for the production of
the finest silks, the richest dyes. the most
delicate ibres, the most valuable grain, that
nature has ever enabled man to produce for
the markets of the world; and yet amidst
all this abundance of blessings, how misera-
BILE the condition of those who should be
sharers in the general wealth! A stranger
IN the land might well mistake an ordinary
ryet, in his pristine rags, and dirt, and squal-
or, for some wandering outcast from Jail,
hospital or lInatic asylum.
The oriental, of whatever grade, or caste,
or calling, has an instructive love for landed
property If it be but the miserable cor
ner of the poorest holding. the most wretch
ed hoyei that man could take shelter in, the
Asiatic is still most anxious to be considered
as the owner. 1t may be that the indian
nant-farmer dwelIs in a place that might
in Eurnpe be deemed fit only for dogs; it
may be that on the limited slip of soil encir-
cling his Ifosel, siekly mango-tree, few
date-palms, cluster OF plantains, or Knot
of sugar cane, may be seen; it may be that
cultivated fields grace the ensirons IN rich
Iuxurance; but be this as if may, the owner
or renter is equally delighted, SO that ne may
feel that he is the possessor ofthe homestead
the garden or the field.
Of course, there are many grades oi ry yJts,
all differing much in their material post
ton as in their habits aud inclinatlons. Be-
sides the mere renter or the day laborer,
there are men who, holding no land oftheir
own, yet possess pair of bulIocks, a plough
and kodatie or hce, with which they under
take to plant and tend the land OF others,
who are either too idle or too busy to cultivate
II themselves, receiving half o. the produce
tor So doing There are, besides these, ma
nv others who hold land either as members
ot u family in common, or in their lndlVidu'
al right, and who hold some appointment or
otfice, whilst they leave others to cultivate
for them. receiving, of course. their share OF
crops. II is scarcely too much TO say, per-
haps, ttlat in Bengal, if bot in the upper pro-
vinces, there are very few Hindoos, and not
many Mussulmans, who have not holding
OF some sort. -.-..
Il would not interest the general reader 10 be
told at what rate per beegah the genrality of
these tenures are held, nor to hear how the
holdings vary in the different parts of the
country; it may, however, he stated, thit the
ryot who holds a jumma or tenure equal to
fifty rupees per annum is supposed to be IN
a tolerablv good position. When he has
paid his rent. his abwabs or presents, his fees
re the village choWkedars or watchmen, the
interest ON borrowed money, the value of bis
seed, repairs of tools, &c, he may perhaps
have twenty rupees lett for his years family
| expenses, being about one penny day.
1t is true his wants are few IN number
| compared with those of the European laoorer
! but if he have more than one child the above
small sum cannot go far to supply his wants.
| The article of clothing is almost a superfuity
1 their cooking utensils, few earthen vessels
and wooden implements, value not above
few pce, his agricultural tools, plough, haf
row, and hoe, such as they are. of the pat
terms of the first Pharaohs and Nimrod, may
be worth about three rupees, and perhap:
cost him shilling during the year for re-
pairs. AS FOR dress, the slips of dirty clott
about his and his wife's waist are scarcely
worthy the namej their value cannot be
more than few pence.
/ What shall we say of his food! Surely he
who tiils the ground, who rears the bread fo
millions, canno: want a suficiency of food
The ryot does not really starve. save in ex
treme cases, but feeds on the merest pittan
ces of the poorest grain and vegetables
Rice is a luxury in many cases; parchet
Grain, milet and the smaller fish of tank
and streams, with vegetables and roots maxi
up the ordinary meals of these people. |
. must be remembered, however, that WI
speak only of the professional rvot; and e
ven among these there are remarkable ex
ceptions of successful industry and agricul
tural prosperityi these are mostly TO be me
with near the larger towns and cities; bu
the bulk of population must not be judge
from them.
In the Mofussil OF India, one great want
: that of roads. Away from the influence o
rivers, the tiler of the soil finds it all but i'm
possible to convey his produce to distan
marts Hence arise those fearful famine
, which have at times desolated the land
One district with failure of grain-crops lac
, + food, another province commands an abun
, dance OF rice, yet, without roads, how cal
5 | the two effect any exchange. In this wa.
even in ordinary times, a superabundant GRO
has so giutted the local market, as to reduc
the value of grain to the merest tride-s
low as to be unequal to amount OF rent an
charges on the land, making curse of
: blessing Rice has been known to fall
one rupee the hundred seers, or one shillin
! the hundred pounds-weight; while hundre
miles away it was selling at four and hv
;. times that price; yet the owners of the chea
rice could not sell it to the buyers of the DEF
- grain, simply because the cost and difficult
: of transport was SO great.
:, The railway, it is clear, will prove one
the greatest 6oohs to India. With it, fan
ines will be all but impossible, and the fru
of labor on the soil far more certain. "
= are not amogst those who augur rapid cha
10 ges and complete reformation amongst tt
! natives of India, from the consequences
recent events, from what is termed the A
- glicising of British India. But, on the OF
- er hand, we do believe in a gradual and la
= ting improvement, not by legislative enae
- merits, nor Orders in Council, but by mar
concurrent means by the gradual enlig
= tenment of the mass of the peoples by q