Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-12
THE MAGNITUDE OF INDIA.
Ancient Nations, Great Cities, and
an Enormous Population.

Ancient Nations. Great Cities, and
an Enormous Population.
For eighty years at least, SAYS the Fort
highHy HfgisW, writer's have underworld to
bring home 10 Engllsbmen the vastness of
India, but, SO far a. can he perceived, they
have failed The Brilon reads what they say,
learns up the r figures, aud understands their
descriptions, but fails, for all his labor, to re-
aliZe what ia continent as large as Europe,
west Of the Nistula, and with 81, Coz, 600 more
people, fuller Of ancient nations, OF great
c tie., OF varites OF civilization, of armies
nobilities, priesthoods, organ cations for every
conceivable purpose from the Spreading of
great rebellion down TO systematic murder
There are twice as many Bengalese as there
are Frenchmen, the Hindostanees, properly so
ca led, outnumbered the whites in the United
States; the Mahrattss would I'll Spain, the
people Of the Punjtb with ScInde are double
the population OF Turkey, and | have named
but four OF the more silent divisions.
Every thing is on the same bewider Ing
scale. The fighting people OF India, whose
males are as big as ourselves. as brave as
ourselves, and more regardless of death than
ourselves, number at least 100, 900. OJO equal
TO Gibbons calculation OF the population OF
the Roman empire. There are q. 900 trained
brown soldiers in native service, OF whom
We hear perhaps once In ten years, and
at least 2,OO,OO0 men whos think their
proper profession Is arms, who would live
10y arms II they could, and OF whom We
In England never hear q word. IL the Prus
sian conscrlption were applied Ia India We
could, without counting reserves or landwehr,
or any force not summoned In time OF peace,
have 2, sou, 90 soldiers actuslv IN barracks
lV
force With which not only Asia but the
world, might be subdued. There are tens of
millions OF prosperous peasants whose hoard
Tugs make India the grand absorbent Of the
precious metals; tens Of millions OF peasants
beside whose poverty fellshs or Sicilians, or
Cunnnught men are rich IN lll0ns OF artisans,
ranging from the men who build palaces 10
the men who, near,y naked and almost with
out too.s, do tie humDest work OF the pot
ter.
Everv occupation which exists i'm Europe
also exists In Ind a The industry OF the
vast continent never ceases, for India, with
all her teemng multituies, with n population
In places packed lie, ond European precedent,
Imports nothing either TO eat or drink, and,
hut for the Europeans, would import nothing
Whatever. She 10 sufficient TO herself for
everything save silver. Amid these varied
masses, these 25J, 600. 900 whose mere descrp-
tons would Gil volumes, the tide OF life flows
ms vigorously Us I'm Europe. There is as much
cpn ehtlon, MS mucI ambition, as much crime,
as much variety Of careers, hopes, fears, and
hatreds. IL Is stili possible to moneyless
Indian to become zier OF adynastv older than
history, or finance minister OF new prince
whose personal fortune in hard cash is double
that of the late Emperor William. or abbot OF
monastery 7 cher than glastonbury ever
was, owner OF an estate that covers a
county, heal Of firm whose transactions
NAV vie with those OF the Earrings and
Il e!chroders. Que man, Jute Pershad by
nan". fed aud TRANSPORTED the army which
conquered Puhjab