395 



character of the population— Moors, Kabyles, Jews, Arabs, &c. — de- 

 mands special adaptation of means to ends in fixing a foreign colonial 

 establishment upon the soil. 



M. Moll is one of the originators of the great agricultural reforms 

 which have been effected in France during a quarter century past, and 

 has endeavored to apply to the consideration of Algerian agriculture 

 the results of his enlightened labors. He would restrain the tendency 

 to crop-raising fo'Stered by the colonial authorities, and rehabilitate the 

 pastoral regime. He advises the raising of large flocks for a good mar- 

 ket from the spontaneous grasses of the country, together with tree- 

 culture and the re-afforesting of denuded areas. In the southern deserts 

 there are oases, garden-spots, where intensive culture may reach its 

 highest results, but in the great breadth of the territory, where commu- 

 nications are diflicult, flocks and herds alone can find a subsistence. 

 The maritime region, the Tell, is susceptible of more systematic culture. 

 Labor is here abundant and the facilities for irrigation considerable. 



In the three departments of Algiers, Oran, and Constantine, 1,096 

 allotments of land were appropriated by colonists in 1875, of which 896 

 were village-allotments, and 200 in farms. These allotments were also 

 divided into civil and military, according to the legal status of the colo- 

 nist. Of these, 263 were awarded to emigrants from Alsace and Lor- 

 raine ; 488 to emigrants from other parts of old France ; and 345 to 

 Frenchmen and Europeans born in Algeria. 



Eent-unions m Bengal. — Co-operative association has assumed 

 a remarkable phase in the " rent-unions " of Bengal, India. This insti- 

 tution subsisted under the presidency of the notorious Warren Hastings, 

 and even then presented 'a troublesome case for his very summary 

 methods of administration. On late years it has become quite a power in 

 Indian politics. 



The Indian landed system is one of a feudal character, derived from 

 the old native regime, whether Hindoo or Mohammedan, and retained in 

 many provinces by the English authorities. The zemindars or primary 

 government tenants, in law, are under but little practical restraint from 

 the most grinding oppressions of the cultivators of the soil. To coun- 

 teract the reckless greed of the zemindars, the farmers have organized 

 rent-unions, which are inaugurated in each rural district in a very char- 

 acteristic manner. In every Bengal village the popular party is 

 organized under a puncliayet, or assembly of five head-men. When, in 

 the judgment of this body, it is found necessary to resist fresh impositions 

 of the zemindary interest, a union is established. It is designated as 

 vidroti dal, which means literally an opposition league. The ryots or 

 farmers are then invited to join it, but there is always a considerable 

 minority that refuse to co-operate with the movement. The majority 

 are secured before any open demonstration is made, and bind themselves 

 in solemn deeds of writing to give their best energies to the work. The 

 campaign is opened by a petition to the magistrate to protect the ryots 

 from alleged oppressions of the zemindars. The latter have generally 

 a very vulnerable record, and greatly dread judicial investigation, and 

 hence often haul down their colors and abandon abuses complained of 

 on condition of suspension of operations by the union. If, however, the 

 zemindar is impelled by pride or policy to resist their demands, the 

 ryots fix upon a tarilf of rents which they promise each other not to 

 exceed. This tariff is generally the old rate, leaving out the attempted 

 illegal enhancement. If the zemindar fails for six months to enter suit 

 to enforce his additional exactions, his subsequent proceedings are barred 

 5 A 



