441 



duced, we gave our opinion that it would be lodging a dangerous 

 power in the hands of any set of men. 



In explanation of the second point, we have only to remark. 

 that the want of competitors and persons capable of being farmers 

 bona fide, will, in our opinion, give rise to nominal farmers. And 

 by our minute in council, we meant only to express, that however 

 the lands may be divided, in order to avoid monopolies, the farms 

 will fall into the hands of a very few individuals; although perhaps 

 covered under the ostensible names of other persons who have no 

 real interest in them. 



Here we desire to be understood, that whatever we have said 

 respecting farming, is merely local to Baroche and its districts; 

 for with a more extended territory, and under different circum- 

 stances, farming may be expedient and necessary. 



We cannot take upon us to explain all the exceptions that 

 may be made to the present mode of collection by jumma-bundy; 

 or to any other system of revenue, but what we alluded to in our 

 minute, were the three following. First, the disadvantages incident 

 to annual rents, which in all countries have been found unfavour- 

 able to improvements in cultivation. Secondly, the great uncer- 

 tainty both on the part of the sircar and ryot, notwithstandino- 

 any division that may be adopted; and the continued dependancc 

 thereby occasioned, both in the officers of government, and land- 

 holders, on a worthless set of men called zemindars; which creates 

 to them a very prejudicial influence. Lastly, the peculiar situa- 

 tion of the collector-general, or sub-collector. If the jumma- 

 bundy unfortunately falls low, they are suspected to have sacri- 



VOL. II. 3 L 



