Ixx 



Ganara. — Slavery existed in the district, the number of slaves 

 amounting to 82,000- The right of sale was the master's exclusive 

 privilege, with or without the land. The slaves could also be let on 

 hire. They were fed and clothed by their masters, who also presented 

 them with a small sum of money on their marriages or on occasions of 

 particular ceremonies. The average quantity of food and clothing 

 given was — 



Food. Clothing. 



For a man — 



l|Oanara seer of coarse rice, 2 pieces of canthy, 6 cubits 

 2 rupees' weight of salt, in some taluks, a cumbli 



a little betel-nut and leaf. and a roomal. 



For a woman — 



1 seer ... ... ... 1 piece of cloth, 7 cubits. 



For a child — 



I seer ... ... ... 1 piece of cloth, 4 cubits. 



The slaves were not cruelly treated, 



Malabar. — There were slaves in the district numbering 100,000. 

 They were frequently transferred by sale, mortgage or hire. The 

 measure of subsistence to be given by the proprietor was fixed, and 

 he was bound by the prescribed customs of the country to see it 

 served out to the slaves daily. The slaves were in more comfortable 

 circumstances than any of the lower and poorer class of natives. 



(D.) — Extracts from the Report of the Commissioners for the investigation 

 of alleged cases of Torture in the Madras Presidency^ 1855. 



Many a witness has declared to us that the people would be satisfied 

 if the demands of the Revenue Officers were restricted to the just 

 Government dues ; we entertain no doubt but that the extortion, of 

 what are erroneously termed " Bribes," is univei'sal, and that when 

 payment cannot be obtained by fair means, foul will be resorted to. 

 Then is brought into play all that perfect but silent machinery which 

 combines the forces of Eevenue demands and Police authority ; the 

 most ingenious artifices which the subtlety of the native mind can 

 invent are had recourse to ; and it seems highly probable to us that it 

 is a common practice with the native officers to give their own illicit 

 demands precedence, when pecuniary means being more plentiful or 

 easily procurable, the process of extraction is more readily complied 

 with, under hopes and promises of future services, perhaps that of 

 assisting in cheating Government among others, expressly with a view 

 to keep the revenue demand as a corps de reserve to fall back upon, 

 the practice of oppression and violence to extract that, being not so 

 apparent an injustice in the eyes of the people as the application of 

 the same measures for mere private personal purposes.^ 



' Mr. Forbes, Collector of Tanjore, writes as follows : — " The people of India draw a 

 wide distinction between oppressive acts practised with a personal motive, and those, 

 which, however erroneously, they connect with a puhlic duty ; they will make complaint 

 upon complaint and appeal upon appeal for the redress of a private wrong, when they 

 will at the same time tacitly submit to a greater injury received in a pubUo act : the motive 

 of the one they see to be personal, and attach no personal motive to the other." 



