APPENDICES. 65 



rice and wheat producing lands. These crops, however, require 

 irrigation, and as water can be obtained only at comparatively 

 low elevations, and what little is available has in almost every 

 instance been appropriated by the native zemindars, the lands 

 on which a European could settle, with any prospect of success, 

 become still more limited. Tea and potatoes, it is true, are 

 unirrigated crops, but what European soldier possesses capital 

 for the one, and with what chance of success could he compete 

 in the market with the native producer in the other? 



The only way in which Government could obtain any con- 

 siderable quantity of land would be by asserting its right to 

 unclaimed land, and by purchasing what might, from time to 

 time, be in the market. This would be a cheap and certain 

 process, but it would be slow ; and the experiment itself is, he 

 thinks, of very questionable utility. 



With reference to the next point, the deputy commissioner is 

 of opinion that the land should be given in fee-simple ; that 

 revenue should not be demanded ; and, further, that, as few 

 soldiers would, unassisted, have capital sufficient for a first 

 attempt, the money, which would otherwise be spent by Govern- 

 ment in reconveying the soldier to England, should be given 

 him as gratuity, after certain probation, and under suitable limi- 

 tations. An extension of the period in which a soldier can re- 

 enlist in India is also considered allowable, on the ground that it 

 would give the man an opportunity of trying the country, with 

 some employment to fall back upon, in case of failure. He further 

 advocates the introduction of a liberal leave system, so devised 

 as to enable a few of the oldest and most deserving men in each 

 regiment to make their first experiment in farming, even before 

 the period of their discharge. 



With regard to the third point, Lord W. Hay remarks that it 

 is the " average " soldier whose prospects we have to consider. 

 The man of no special qualifications, of slender means, somewhat 

 addicted to drinking, not disposed to regard the natives of the 

 country with a friendly eye in India such a man is sure to fail. 

 The accumulations of years expended, he finds himself a beggar, 

 in a country where great obstacles exist to earning a livelihood. 

 Again, to the European settler, marriage is almost impossible ; 

 for he has no opportunity of procuring a wife, and no prospect 

 of providing for his children. Government, the deputy commis- 

 sioner thinks, will be chargeable with a grave political error, if 

 it go out of its way to induce European soldiers to settle in the 



