Part IV: Agricultural Economy in General 



BRITISH INDIA. 



lyAND TENURES IN THE PANJAB IN THEIR ORIGINAI, 

 FOR]\I AND AS AFFECTED BY BRITISH RUIvE. 



by J. M. DouiE. 



There is no more interesting subject of historical investigation than 

 the effect which two civiUzations, brought by circumstances into intimate 

 relations, have one on the other. This is so even when both belong to 

 the same fanuly of nations, and what occurs is a peaceful penetration of 

 ideas and an exchange of the fruits of scientific enquiry. But when one 

 nation has imposed its rule on races covering vast expanses of the world's 

 surface and the most various degrees of culture the investigation becomes 

 still more absorbing. This is what happened in the case of the Roman 

 Empire 2000 years ago, and has happened as regards the British Indian 

 Empire in the past 150 years. In the case of both Empires the rulers 

 looked with the most tolerant eye on the native institutions of their sub- 

 jects, but inevitably they exercised upon them, often unconsciously or 

 even against their will, a profound influence. 



No race is fit to control the destinies of an alien people unless it itself 

 possesses a political instinct leading it to abstain from intermeddUng as 

 a Government with the religious and social life of its subjects. On the 

 whole the British in India suceeded in avoiding aU direct interference in 

 such matters. Even widow-burning was only forbidden after long delay 

 and hesitation. In conquered territory the English planted their can- 

 tonments, and soorer or later their own law-coiuls, and pronuilgated their 

 own criminal code. But as regards civil law they maintained the Hindu 

 and Muhammadan codes to govern the most intimate and important re- 

 lations of life, supplementing them in matters such as business contracts 

 by maxims drawn from English law. In the Panjab poUtic compliance 

 and disregard for uniformity were pushed still further. Finding that 

 domestic relations and the tenure of land were governed by village customs, 

 probably older than, and certainly inconsistent with, the legal dicta of 

 Hindu Brahmans and Muhammadan Kazis, they accepted the former as 

 it stood, and in time took steps to have it accurately recorded. The 



