55 



making in India will no doubt do much to work a re- 

 form, and when the natives learn to feel that every 

 new hand is an additional source of wealth, and to 

 appreciate the fact that the earth has treasures for 

 him who will dig, we need not trouble ourselves 

 about Indian famines. In the meantime Govern- 

 ment has done much to check depopulation, by the 

 suppression of disease, blood-feuds, wars, raids, 

 infanticide, suttie, and other devastating influences ; 

 and the practical result of all this is that more em- 

 ployment and more food must be found for the fast 

 increasing population of our Eastern Empire. 



24. It is extremely difficult to draw the line 

 where the parental interference of Go vern- 



parentis to the . T . . . . 



natives. ment is to end ; experience is the only 



guide. Habitual lethargy and fatalism have hitherto 

 retarded progress, and induced the people of India to 

 be content with their present frugal mode of exist- 

 ance ; while ignorance in like manner has led them to 

 believe that none but the more fertile plains, which 

 are subject tq periodical rains or other modes of irri- 

 gation, can be turned to account. But among the 

 multitude there are perhaps a few to be found more 

 intelligent than the rest, and willing to benefit by in- 

 struction and advice, but who are unable, owing to 

 want of means and guidance, to venture on specula- 

 tions involving a large outlay of capital. 



25. Government might probably, with advantage, 

 Danger of being step in here, and by example show the 



dependent on L 



one crop. value of interchange of commerce and the 



