36 TEA PLANTING IN 



voice in their own government, they would be constantly 

 at the mercy of persons, if not adverse, certainly indif- 

 ferent to their welfare. 



The independent European public does not, however, 

 wish to monopolize authority, to the exclusion of the 

 many native gentlemen perfectly competent to look after 

 the interests of their race and country ; but they would 

 rather that all classes have an opportunity of publicly 

 stating their views and upholding their several in- 

 terests, and that no injurious preponderance of any 

 party should arise. 



By granting to non-official individuals of standing, 

 whether native or European, magisterial powers, and 

 by forming in each province where individuals of both 

 races, of sufficient intelligence, exist, committees of 

 such, to examine into the various local interests, or to 

 develope the commercial productions peculiar to the 

 district, the civil authorities would not only receive 

 great assistance, but the class of settlers become more 

 influential. 



The reports of these mixed committees being sent in 

 to the principal civil authority of a province or district, 

 his opinion could be appended, and the document would 

 then be fit to be laid before the metropolitan or supreme 

 authority, who would decide on the point at issue. 



The amount of uncultivated land in India at the 

 disposal of Government is very large, and in most 

 instances adapted for one or other of the various pro- 

 ducts of the country. These lands may be divided into 

 healthy and unhealthy, and although the latter quality 



