XX.X " SCENERY OF SWITZERLAND " 71 



the metal-washers of Central and Southern India. 

 They form a sort of caste apart and are said to 

 number some 30,000,000. In the covering letter 

 to Sir John, after begging him to urge the appeal 

 in Parliament, the writer, who is also the signa- 

 tory of the petition, adds, " the Kammalahs, who 

 already owe you a deep debt of gratitude, as well 

 as the millions in India, will feel immensely 

 obliged to you for the generous act " — i.e. for 

 doing what he is able on the lines suggested by 

 the petitioner : 



To the Right Honourable 



Sir M. E. Grant Duff, G.C.S.I., 

 London. 



Respected Sir — It is prayed by Kammalahs of 

 Southern India that if the British rule be just : 



Justice may be done to the Indians by according to 

 them their just rights in respect of — 



Class representation. 



Freedom of use of vernaculars in Public Life. 



Abolition of unmeaning pernicious property quali- 

 fication. 



Distribution of educational funds among all classes 

 of the people. 



The course is the simplest, plainest and safest for 

 any sagacious Government to follow, opens the only 

 surest way to blend the British rule with the thoughts 

 and feelings of the Indian population, and will, it is 

 hoped, appeal itself to the minds and conscience of all 

 the members of Parliament, without exception, and 

 meet with ready adoption at their hands. 



The millions in India are human beings with intelli- 

 gence, educated in their own vernaculars, and cannot 

 but shine in public life if they are allowed to taste it 

 regardless of the drawbacks to be anticipated for a 

 time at the introduction. Because they do not under- 

 stand English, are they to forfeit their rights and be 



