12 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



the coolies understand their terms of engagements and are 

 cared for on the journey to the Tea districts ; but once landed 

 on the garden all Government interference should cease. 



The idea of the State laying down how many square 

 yards of jungle each coolie shall clear in a day, how many 

 square feet he shall dig, &c., &c. ! Can any certain rates be 

 laid down for such work ? Is all jungle the same, all soil the 

 same ; and even if such rates could be laid down, how can 

 the rules be followed ? Bah ! they are not, never will be, and 

 the whole thing is too childish for serious discussion. 



It is not difficult to sit at a desk and frame laws and rules 

 that look feasible on paper. It is quite another thing to 

 carry them out. Over-legislation is a crying evil in India, 

 but there is still a worse, namely, legislation and official 

 action on subjects of which the said officials are utterly 

 ignorant. 



I have said enough to show imported labour cannot vie 

 with local, nor would it do so were all the evils of Govern- 

 ment interference removed. I therefore believe Tea property 

 in India will eventually pay best where local labour exists. 

 This will naturally be the case when other conditions are 

 equal, but so great are the advantages of local labour, I 

 believe it will also be the case in spite of moderate draw- 

 backs. 



