CONTENTS. 



Para. Page 

 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 1 1 



Section I.— THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE CONDI- 

 TION OF THE PEOPLE IN FORMER CENTURIES. 2-11 1-19 



1. Scantiness of information as to the condition of the people in 



former centuries ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 1 



2. Pandya, Chola and Vijianagar Dynasties ... ... ... ... 3 2 



3. Frequency of -wars and backward state of the country ... ... 4 2-4 



4. Famines and epidemics very desti'uctive in former times ... 5 4-8 



5. The land-tax collected by Native sovereigns, heavy and oppres- 



sive ... 6 8-10 



6. The character of the revenue adnwnistration under the Vijia- 



nagar sovereigns ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 10,11 



7. The enormous revenue of former rulers ... ... ... ... 8 12,13 



8. The devices resorted to with a view to inci'ease revenue ... 9 13, 14 



9. Temples, palaces, &c., erected by means of forced labour ... 10' 14, 15 

 10. Tavernier's accoiint of the state of the country and the condi- 

 tion of the people ... ... ... ... ... ... .,. 11 15-19 



Section II.— THE CONDITION OF THE PRESIDENCY AT THE 



END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WHEN ' 



MOST OF THE PROVINCES OF SOUTHERN 



INDIA WERE ACQUIRED BY THE BRITISH ... 12-14 19-24 



1. State of the districts and the condition of the population ... 12 19-22 



2. Insecimty of property, obstriictions to trade, uncertainty in the 



value of the currency and heavy taxation ... ... ... 13 22,23 



3. Poverty of the agricultural classes .. . ,., .,. 14 23,24 



Section III.— THE CONDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL 

 CLASSES UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION 

 DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE PRESENT 

 CENTURY :.. 15-18 24-36 



1. fiarly land settlements and the condition of the country during 



the first 30 years of the century ... ... ... ... ... 15 24-27 



2. Agricultural depression from 1834 to 1854 and its causes ... 16 27, 28 



3. The condition of the ryots as disclosed in the reports of the 



CoUectors of the several districts 17 28-33 



4. The measures taken to ameliorate the condition of ryots and the 



state of communications ... ... ... - ... ... ... 18 33-36 



Section IV.— NARRATIVE OF THE PRINCIPAL FACTS BEAR- 

 ING ON THE CONDITION OF THE AGRICUL- 

 TURAL CLASSES FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE 

 PRESENT CENTURY TO THE PRESENT TIME... 19-21 36-43 



1. The cessation of the period of agi'icultural depression and the 



commencement of a period of prosperity and internal reforms 19 36-39 



'J. There-action ... ,,. " ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 39-42 



8. Fai>;iine of 1876-78 21. 42,43 



