10'2 



under the law of ancient custom, a law in India 

 something- like an act of Parliament, of which they 

 cannot be deprived without injustice, and which 

 prohibits the sale of such lands, otherwise than 

 encumbered with these rights. " It is assumed," 

 says the Secretary of State in his despatch, "that 

 half-civilized tribes will be ready to appreciate a 

 community of interests between the European 

 settlers and themselves. 1 apprehend, on the con- 

 trary, that passionately attached as they are known 

 to be to their ancestral lands, they mig-ht naturally 

 reg-ard the intrusion of European strang-ers as an 

 encroachment and a wrong- inflicted on themselves." 

 And such in many, if not all, places is undoubtedly 

 the case. In the Palialam Valley of Kang'ra, a spot 

 some have thought to rival, in the picturesque beauty 

 of its scenery, the vale of Cashmere, there are about 

 50,000 acres of pasture and other land admirably 

 fitted for tea cultivation ; but not one acre will the 

 / few scattered villag-e communities permit to come 

 into the hands of Europeans, at ten times its actual 

 value, as estimated by the normal rates of the 

 district. On this point I am well informed, for 

 holding* property in the Valley, I was anxious to 

 add to it by securing- more land ; and the following- 

 extract of a letter from my ag'ent will as well illus- 

 trate my subject, as the success which attended my 

 attempts. 



a I have used all my powers of persuasion, to 

 L_induce the Zemindars to sell me enough land to 



