The Brookhaven leader., 1884-01-17
Flowing In India.


A very noteworthy effort in the dlrec-
ton of improving the condition OF the
Indian peasantry is now being made,
says London paper. 1t differs from all
the suggestions of quacks and ill-in-
formed philanthropisls, inaSmuch as 1t
is thoroughly practical, and goes deep,
both literally and figurativcly, to the
root of the evils of the ryot's life. 1t is,
in fact, the introduction of light iron
plow. India, which ought to be one of
The wealthiest countries of the world, is
bowed down BY the burden of n bank
rupt peasantry. No political mal-ad-
ministration is at the bottom of this
bankruptcy. 1t is not traceable TO any
of the ordinary sources alleged for such
phenomena -feudaliSm. absentee land
lords, legislative obliquitics, or race
prejudice 1t is simply the hereditary
and natural condition of the Indian
ryot. For many generations his ances-
tors had starved off the same patch Of
land, so why should not he, their de-
scendant, do just as they did, and
starve too? The question sounds absurd
enough when written down in English;
but the native of India sees no absurd
ty in ii. When the Vienna Exhibition
was opened the Madras Government
sent representative, and among the
other notes which the official made of
exhibits likely to be useful IN India was
n light iron plow sold by Swedish firm
ut the low price of sixteen shillings.
Some of these were introduced into the
presidency, and ryots coaXcd into using
them. The result is that supplies arc
now rcgul trly imported every year, and
the Madras peasant has taken the first
practical step toward class improve
ment by giving the soil fair chance of
doing its best.
The usual "plow" employed by the
Indian ryot is wooden implement Of
pathetic simplicity. 1t is ingeniously
constructed SO as to disturb the soil
through which it moves as little as pos
! sible, and give the plowman as much
unnecessary work as possible. The
| liyhtncss Of the misshapen and primi-
tive instrument is no doubt an advan.
tage when the cult vator wishes TO carry
| his plOw home on his shoulder: but for
the purpose in which it is employed,
the turning up of the subsO |, the frivO-
lOus, rickrty thing is as inappropriate
as could well be imagined. The ryot,
however, is not so sure o. tbs, and his
arguments are characteristic of him.
He says that this identical plow, or an
other ON which it was copied, sulliced
his fOrcfatherS, and is good enough for
all his neighbors. Why, then, should
he C discontt nted? Nor must it be
forgotten that the Hindoo's protests in
! favor of routine are occasionally sup
| ly-t ha o,,t I,1t ipi
cious efforts of phlanthrol lists to
"ameliorate their condition" AS an
| instance may be c:ted the case in the
north of India, where the agricultural
department urged upon public attention
the enormous advantages to be antici-
pated from. deep plowing.
A magnificent plow of the very largest
size and very latest pattern was sent on
trial, and the usual convention of agri-
culturalistS assembled by order. An
important official explained the benefits
OF deep plowing, and thea the expert
ment commenced A stalWart pair of
government bullOcks had been specially
| provided, and these Were now urged to
proceed by much twisting of tails and
personal calumny. The bullocks,
however, having had their tails nearly
twisted off many times before, and
having heard all that could possibly
be invented in abuse of their relatives,
both living and deceased, on many
previous occasions, were as Indifferent
to physical violence as to reflections
upon the moral character of their
| parents. SO another pair were added,
and by and by another; then a niue
was impressed into the service, and SO
on, until considerable string of ami
mails was attached to the implement.
Eventually. a ter a scene of the utmost
excitement and vociferation, and clouds
/ of dust and a tempest of yellS, the
patent plough began to move. Re-
doubled ella nor and castigation greeted
this achievement, and, as the aston: shed
and terrified team plunged forward all
together, the huge instrument slipped
from the control of the ploug men,
who were hanging on to the handles,
| and the glitter'ng share gave leap
and pierced its way at sharp angle
some four feet deep into the earth.
The sudden disappearance OF the huge
blade under ground was applauded bv
the intelligent natives as n triumph,
and very great, therefore, was their
bCh tlCN sb" dll 70
animals being solemnly yoked to the
other end of the plough-in order to
get it out of the ground again, At this
point farmer who had arrived late
came upon the scene. He had not
heard the preliminary explanations
about the advantages of deep plough
ing, and was trying to draw his own
conclusions as to the meaning of the
spectacle terore him-three pairs of
bullocks and a mule yoked to t 6
wrong end of plough when an
official accosted him with, 'Well, Ram
Lal, and what do you think of it?"
The man bowed low. providence"
said he, knows everything. But what
should a slave like me understand of
such matters? Yet it may be that these
e-tireworks"' Boston Herald.