THE SAL FOEESTS. 377 



struction of a decent road through the Mandla district, con- 

 necting its culturable wastes and its splendid sal forests with 

 the railway at Jubbulpur, is one of the most obvious necessi- 

 ties of the time. This has been often urged before, and its 

 urgency has as frequently been admitted. The money only 

 has always been wanting ; and so it may probably continue 

 for many a year to come. 



We have heard much of the recent financial distress in 

 India, and much violent criticism has been levelled at the 

 Government in directions the most incompatible with each 

 other. It has been blamed equally for the imposition of 

 additional taxes and for its penury in expenditure on matters 

 affecting the development of the country. Few or none of 

 these critics have really seen the present situation of the 

 country. That situation is one of much peculiarity, which, 

 while creating the greatest embarrassment at the present 

 time, is yet full of hope for the future. I have referred to 

 the state of prices, and this appears to me to furnish the key 

 to all the existing difficulties. The value of labour has about 

 doubled in ten years, while the cost of provisions has nearly 

 trebled. Government derives most of its revenue from the 

 land ; and in such times of agricultural prosperity it should 

 be able, by a great increase in its rents, to meet the large 

 enhancement of its expenses, owing to the rise in prices and 

 wages. But it has been found impossible to raise its rents 

 very much without interfering with the advance of agri- 

 culture. The reason is plain. The appropriation of the land 

 for cotton unduly diminished the area under food. Several 

 dearths also occurred, and the food supplies of the country 

 were unduly contracted. Prices rose immensely, higher than 

 the -rise in wages, to a scarcity point, in fact. Land began 

 to be taken up to meet this, in consequence of the very great 



