HAPPY INDIA 139 



from the tendency to a too rapid increase of popula- 

 tion, and they don't wish to have their standard 

 of life reduced to that of the Bengalee labourer. 



A people who depend on agriculture cannot increase 

 in numbers in a country already densely populated 

 at the rate that may be quite practicable for a people 

 that mainly depends on manufactures with which 

 they supply the world. 



Land is not elastic. As the people increase in 

 numbers, agricultural production can only increase 

 by intensive cultivation or the occupation of in- 

 ferior land, or new great irrigation and reclamation 

 works. These things can be done, but they require 

 time. But factories of all kinds require only a 

 negligible quantity of land, so that, so long as foreign 

 markets can be found, a manufacturing popula- 

 tion may increase at a rapid rate, and increase in 

 individual wealth and comfort and enjoyment at 

 the same time until the market limit is reached, 

 and then the increase of population must stop, as it 

 has already done in France. 



In the last forty years the population of the 

 provinces of British India has increased 48,000,000, 

 and except for the rampaging " fevers " it would 

 have increased 200,000,000, but that was impossible 

 with the methods of food production practised by 

 the agriculturalists. 



IF THE PEOPLE OF INDIA WISH TO BE HEALTHY, 

 WEALTHY, COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY, THEY WILL 

 AT ONCE CARRY OUT ALL THE WELL-KNOWN SANITARY 

 MEASURES WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED. THEY WILL 



