46 HAPPY INDIA 



statistics as to the amount of corn raised per acre. 

 He gives case after case showing that the amounts 

 really raised are much smaller than the Government 

 estimate ; on the other hand he quotes some of the 

 official statistics with approval. 



MISMANAGEMENT AND EXCESSIVE REVENUE CHARGES. 



Mr. Digby attributes the poverty of the Indian 

 people in a great measure to simple mismanagement 

 by the British officials, resulting from their ignorance 

 of the country. He also attributes it to excessive 

 exactions for revenue, and to want of elasticity in 

 the collection of revenue, having regard to the condi- 

 tion of the crops, failure to make an allowance to 

 the farmer when the crop is a bad one, therefore 

 forcing the farmer into the arms of the money-lender, 

 who ruins him with his charges for excessive interest. 

 He also considers that our Government is very 

 expensive, because of the large salaries it is necessary 

 to pay to Englishmen to induce them to live in 

 India, whereas the work could be done, he thinks, 

 much better by Indians, who would be glad to take 

 much smaller salaries than the Englishmen have. 

 Also excessive charges for the army and expensive 

 wars, such as the Afghan wars. He also considers 

 that the charges made upon Indian revenue for 

 pensions to Indian civil servants and military men 

 retired, and for interest on the cost of building 

 railways, constitutes a drain upon the Indian people 

 which they cannot afford to pay. 



