169 



out against the enemies, they go and break down mountains, walls, 

 and towers; they slay and are slain, and transgress not the king's 

 commandments; if they get the victory they bring all to the king; 

 as well the spoil as all things else. Likewise for those that are no 

 soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbandry, when 

 they have reaped that which they had sown, they bring it to the 

 king. If* he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, 

 they spare; if he command to smite, they smite; if he command 

 to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, 

 they build; if he command to cut down, they cut down; if he 

 command to plant, they plant. So all his people and his armies 

 obey him, and yet he is but one man! furthermore he ealeth and 

 drinketh and taketh his rest!" Esdras. 



If such is the portrait of despotism in its best estate, what must 

 it be in the hands of a wicked and cruel tyrant? It is painful to 

 remark, but I believe it will be allowed by those who have been in 

 similar situations with myself as collectors of the revenues, that the 

 mildness and equity of the English laws, the forbearance and hu- 

 manity of our national character, do not always, nor indeed gene- 

 rally, produce the desired effects in Ilindostan. 1 found it so in 

 the revenue department at Dhuboy. The severe and oppressive 

 measures which the people had been accustomed to under their 

 former governors were more efficacious. Fear is the operative 

 principle; coercion seems necessary in all ranks, from the zemindar 

 to the lowest tandar or patell in the purgunna; the lenity and 

 kindness shown to those immediately connected with the durbar, 

 never to my knowledge produced a return of benevolence in the 

 conduct of the zemindars towards their inferiors. The chain of 



VOL. III. z 



