142 COTTON RICE WANT OF EUROPEAN SETTLERS. 



not sufficient for the demand ; it is the small annual 

 plant, common throughout Bengal. I offered the 

 different kinds sent by the Society, but they were 

 refused, the land being required for rice, which they 

 consider the more profitable cultivation ; they assign 

 a further reason for refusing, that the Cotton offer- 

 ed to them not being an annual, would occupy the 

 ground from which they now obtain various pro- 

 ductions during the year ; and Rice being the princi- 

 pal staple of the district, it is of course more 

 thought of; nor is it to be wondered at when the 

 natural indolence of the native is considered, and the 

 trifling labour required for its cultivation ; for in this 

 district it may almost be said to be a spontaneous 

 production. I fear but little improvement can be 

 expected from the introduction of any new cultiva- 

 tion, without more European settlers. The Zemin- 

 dar is but seldom a resident on his estate, and even 

 when he is, he thinks only of how he can best 

 manage to get the most out of his ryots, and so 

 long as he gets enough, he is contented with the 

 old system. 



The fruits are generally so inferior, it is a ques- 

 tion whether they would be worth the trouble and 

 expense of transport, even admitting the certainty 



