CHAPTER XIII. 



INDIGO IN THE AZAMGARH DISTRICT. 



THE manufacture of indigo for export dates from 

 the early years of British rule in the district. 

 The Company's commercial resident was allow- 

 ed to trade on his own account, as well as for his mas- 

 ters, and Mr. Crommelin, commercial resident at 

 Azamgarh and Mau, in company with two gentlemen, 

 named Stewart and Scott, started the first indigo 

 concern in Azamgarh. Its establishment was opposed 

 by the magistrate of the district under the rule which 

 forbade the Europeans to occupy land, and engage 

 in indigo manufacture in the ceded provinces with- 

 out permission from the Governor-General in Council. 

 Mr. Crommelin eventually got leave to hold the 

 factories, and was exonerated from blame in connec- 

 tion with them ; but so aggrieved did he feel by the 

 action of the magistrate, that he filed an action in 

 the Supreme Court for damages. What the result 

 of the action was, the records that are within reach 

 do not show. His indigo concern seems to have 

 been conducted through European and Eurasian 

 assistants, and at first, not without disputes with the 

 natives, which the latter were careful to bring to the 



