HAPPY INDIA 29 



frequently criticised its action, and espoused the 

 cause of natives that they thought were badly 

 treated. But when the Company was deposed and 

 the British Government took entire control, how 

 could that Government criticise itself and how could 

 the obedient Parliamentary majority at home criticise 

 the Government that it had put in office ? 



India must be visited not merely to see the sights 

 and show-places, but to enquire into the condition 

 of the poorest people. We have heard of the Moplahs 

 rising in Malabar. Why should these people revolt ? 

 Possibly the feeling that the Caliphat is in danger 

 may be one cause, but undoubtedly it is not the 

 only cause, because these Mohammedan insurrec- 

 tionists have attacked not simply the British, but 

 chiefly the Hindoos. Now the Hindoos are in no 

 way responsible for the British attack on the Sultan 

 of Turkey, but they are the landowners and the 

 Moplahs are to a great extent the cultivators of the 

 soil, and they have suffered hardships. Possibly if 

 their condition had been carefully investigated by 

 independent observers, before feeling had got up 

 to the fighting point, suitable relief might have been 

 given and the sad revolt might have been prevented. 



Sad because of the injury which the insurgents 

 inflicted upon our fellow-subjects. It is also sad 

 to think that so many brave men, good hardworking 

 citizens (these Moplahs were all that) should be 

 shot down by our troops when a little more care 

 and kindness might have retained them as useful 

 fellow-citizens. 



