278 



leaving half the surplus profits in the hands of 

 the landholder. In all cases the people are left 

 in possession, and latterly, where the lands of 

 provinces have been re-settled, rates have been re- 

 duced. Admitting constitutional Government then, 

 what the Government can afford to take for the land, 

 is altogether beside the question. Its demand, except 

 under a threat of enhancing present rates, could 

 not influence prices one iota. What is required 

 to be known, is simply, what the land, or rather the 

 Community's share of its produce, is worth what 

 it will fetch in the market. That is its price and 

 the Government, if it desires to sell, must take 

 that, or nothing at all. 



Such being the condition of things, it may not 

 be uninstructive to enquire what is the market value 

 of land in India generally. I say generally, be- 

 cause it is obvious, that all conclusions regarding 

 a country of such immense extent of area, must be 

 accepted with considerable margin. It has been 

 already shown that in India, the conditions of a 

 strict monopoly are not found. Its exchange value, 

 therefore, will be regulated similarly with that of 

 other things, i. e. land will be cheap if it is 

 plentiful and money is scarce, and dear if it is 

 scarce and money is plentiful. Now it is a fact, that 

 in India there are many thousand square miles 

 of rich and Lighly productive land lying waste 

 and uncultivated. Land then is plentiful. Again, 



