126 NO STRUGGLE NO SELECTION 



mortality from the ravages of smallpox, cholera, and 

 the plague ; second, by its compulsory prevention of 

 the depopulating effects of intertribal wars ; third, by 

 its stamping out of such customs as Suttee, Thuggism, 

 and infanticide. 



The indictment is that the British Raj has prevented 

 the due working of the checks which Nature lias 

 ordained for the keeping down of the population 

 of India, and that, accordingly, in the course of a 

 century the population has grown from 150 millions 

 to 300 millions. 



This indictment is true in so 1'ur as regards the 

 action of the British Raj in diminishing the mortality 

 at various points, and again as regards its efficacy in 

 doubling the population of India. 



The pax Britannica has given security to the gains 

 of agricultural and mechanical industries. The 

 resources of our great dependency have been 

 enormously developed and increased by the creation 

 of the various railway systems which still continue 

 to extend their network in all directions, by canals, 

 and not least by the vast irrigation works which 

 fertilise districts that were before comparatively 

 uncultivated, and also secure large and populous 

 districts from seasons of desolating drought which 

 were formerly only too frequent. 



The testimony of all intelligent and careful observers 

 who have spent many years in India and have studied 

 native life and customs, is uniformly to the effect that 

 the people are now in the enjoyment of a standard of 



