COTTON-WOOL. 



95 



and thrive. To suppose that the natives of India, Memoir on 



. ^ Cotton 



of themselves, will undertake any new scheme, is Cultivation, 



. 29 March 1819. 



contrary to long and wide-spread experience. 

 They are the children of very inveterate customs 

 and prejudices, and nothing can induce them to 

 alter their modes of proceeding, but the salutary 

 interference of wise regulations aided by Govern- 

 ment, and introduced skilfully and by well-directed 

 measures. The natives conceive that Government 

 can do every thing ; and such being their ideas, 

 though in some instances it may be erroneous, yet, 

 as thinking so, they the more readily obey orders, 

 provided such orders do not militate with their 

 religious opinions, or violate any very particular 

 customs generally observed. As to reasoning 

 with the natives about the benefits of any new- 

 system or scheme, except in a very few instances, 

 it is a vain attempt and a mere waste of time. 

 They will coolly listen to such conversations, and 

 then they will start the most absurd objections, 

 give innumerable excuses, talk about their old 

 customs, express dislike to innovation, laugh at 

 the idea of increasing what is called by Europeans 

 their comforts, and at last go away determined 

 not to try any thing new. This is undoubtedly 

 true when the natives are left to their own will 

 and pleasure : let Government, however, only 

 order a thing to be done, they will cheerfully 

 obey ; and when once well initiated in its advan- 

 tage, their minds become changed, and they will 



then 



