Huntsville gazette., 1884-01-12
Flowing in India.


Indian peasantry is now being made,
saws q London paper 1t differs from all
the suggestions of quacks and ill-ln-
formed philanthropists, inasmuch as it
! is thoroughly practical, and goes deep,
both literally and figuratively, to the
root of the evils of the ryot's life. 1t is,
in fact, the introduction of a light iron
plow India, which ought to be one OF
Z the wealthiest countries of the world, is
bowed down by the burden of 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 a-feudalism. absentee land
lords, legislative obliquities, or race
prejudice. 1t is simply the hereditary
and natural condition of the Indian
rvot. 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 toop The question sounds absurd
enough when written down in English;
but the native of India sees no absurd
ity in it. 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
light iron plow sold by Swedish firm
at the low price of sixteen shillings.
Some of these were introduced into the
presidency, and ryots coaxed into using
them. The result is that supplies are
now regularly 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
lightness 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 subsoil, the frivo-
lous, ricketty thing is as inappropriate
as could well be imagined. The ryot,
however, is not so sure OF this, and his
arguments are characteristic of him
He says that this identical plow, or an
other flom which it was copied, sufficed
his forefathers, and is good enough for
all his neighbors Why, then, should
he he disconnected? Nor must it be
forgotten that the Hindoo's protests in
favor of routine are occasionally sup
ported by the well meant but injudi-
cious efforts of philanthropists to
'ameliorate their condition" As an
instance may be cited 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 then 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 mule
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 clamor and castigation greeted
this achievement, and, as the astonished
and terrified team plunged forward all
together, the huge instrument slipped
from the control of the ploughmen,
who We're hanging on to the handles,
and the glitter ng share gave leap
and pierced its way at sharp angle
d some four feet deep into the earth.
The sudden disappearance OF the huge
blade under ground was applauded by
the intelligent natives as triumph,
and very great, therefore, was their
bewilderment when they saw all the
animals being solemnly yoked to the
other end of the plough-in order to
get it out of the ground again, At this
point a farmer who had arrived late
came upon the scene. He had not
q 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 hesore him--three pairs of
@bullocks and a mule yoked to the
wrong end of plough h-when an
official accosted him with. "Well, Ram
Lal, and what do you think of itP''
The man bowed low. providence,
saidhe, sknows everything. But what
should slave like me understand of
such mattersp Yet it may be that these
are-tireworksw- BOSTON Herald.