337 



But were it even as stated, it would not alter 

 the bearings of the case in the remotest degree, for 

 it having been admitted that the crying want of 

 the province was a sufficiency of labor, it behoved 

 the ruling authority to use every exertion to increase 

 rather than to deminish the supply. 



Such was the situation in Assam and Cachar in 

 1861 and 3862. It was certainly not satisfactory. 

 But a far more painful feature of the case remains to 

 be noticed. It will be recollected that the planters 

 had expressed their perfect willingness to pay the 

 expenses of a proper immigration agency; but stated 

 their inability to set on foot the necessary machinery 

 of an organized system. And to any person ac- 

 quainted, with the circumstances of the cultivation; 

 the attempts of the more powerful Tea Companies 

 to maintain a monopoly ; the rival interests and 

 extreme jealousy of all engaged in tea operations; 

 and the consequent impossibility of securing any 

 thing like co-operation, -that such was in reality 

 the case, must have been obvious. But sound prin- 

 ciples as understood in Bengal, must be allowed 

 room for unrestricted freedom, it being apparently 

 entirely everlooked, that the action of Government 

 was required more for the protection of coolie, than 

 the assistance of the planter. In other words 

 nothing was done and behold the result. 



Coolies were contracted for, by private parties, as so 

 aaany sheep or bullocks, the Contractors receiving a 



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