be said that, while few, they have been conducted 

 in a most negligent and unsystematic manner. 



The Indian ryot ploughs, sows, and reaps in the 

 same manner now a's his forefathers did before him, 

 at a time when our ancestors were picking acorns 

 in Germany, or painting their bodies blue in Britain ; 

 but with this difference, that- the soil has become 

 exhausted, and the products raised therefrom, so 

 far from showing such improvements as we notice 

 in other countries, have become reduced in quantity 

 and deteriorated in quality, and consequently both 

 man and beast have degenerated. We are not 

 surprised to find that the ryots of India plough with 

 the same primitive instrument, and still adhere to 

 the barbarous custom of twisting the tails of their 

 cattle, as their forefathers did centuries ago ; but 

 we have reason to be surprised that an enlightened 

 Government has not yet succeeded in inducing them 

 to improve their antiquated method of cultivation, 

 that nothing has been done to rouse them long 

 before this to energetic self-action and to adopt 

 modern improvements. No ordinary measure, how- 

 ever, will remove the inherent stubbornness and con- 

 stitutional apathy of the Indian ryot, who cultivates 

 the soil in the manner described, not because the 

 method is good or best adapted to the country, but 

 because it has been sanctioned by immemorial usage. 

 He says, when any improvements are suggested to 

 him " Why should I alter my system ? I must 



