PAST AND PRESENT FINANCIAL PROSPECTS OF TEA. 3 



object there was is a mystery. I conceive, however, there 

 was a hazy idea that 2/500 acres paid well, 1,000 would pay 

 double, and that eventually even two or three thousand acres 

 would be put under Tea and make the fortunate possessor a 

 millionaire. In short, there were no bounds in fancy to 

 the size a garden might be made, and thus loss No.. 2 took 

 place, when absurdly large areas were bought of the Govern- 

 ment and large areas cultivated. 



The only fair rules for the sale of waste lands were those 

 of Lord Canning, which the Secretary of State at home, who 

 could know nothing of the subject, chose to modify and upset. 

 Instead of Rs. 2-8 per acre for all waste lands (by no means 

 a low price, when the cost of land in the Colonies is con- 

 sidered) and that the applicant for the land (who had,, perhaps, 

 spent months seeking for it) should have it ; the illiberal and 

 unjust method of putting the land up to auction with an 

 upset price of Rs. 2-8 was adopted, the unfortunate seeker, 

 finder, and applicant, through whose labour the land had 

 been found, having no advantage over any other bidder. 

 The best, at least the most successful plan in those days, 

 though as unfair and illiberal as the Government action, was 

 to wait till some one, who was supposed to know what good 

 Tea land was, applied for a piece, and then bid half an anna 

 more than he did, and thus secure it. It paid much better 

 than hunting about for oneself, and it was kind and consi- 

 derate on the part of Government to devise such a plan ! 



In those fever days, with the auction system, lands almost 

 always sold far above their value. The most absurd prices, 

 Rs. 10 and upwards per acre, were sometimes paid for wild 

 jungle lands. Tracts, which natives could have, and in some 

 cases did lease from Government for inconceivably small sums, 

 representing say at 30 years' purchase, 4 annas per acre, were 

 put up for auction with a limit of Rs. 2-8, and sold perhaps 

 at Rs. 8 or 10 per acre. Had the Government given land 



