1852.] FINAL DECISION OF MADRAS GOVERNMENT. 191 



pretation of their language, was confirmed by the fact 

 „ of their systematically holding back, until they saw 

 ] what they considered to be good reason for believing 

 their suspicions to be groundless and unjust. 



2nd, The Government Agency had not proved un- 

 necessary, as it removed the suspicions of the Ryots. — 

 Though Dr. Wight had stated that nothing further 

 j was wanted but remunerative prices on the spot, it 

 was not to be inferred that the continuance of Govern- 

 ment Agency, after the withdrawal from the Cotton 

 Farms, had proved wholly unnecessary. It was the 

 temporary continuance of the Agency, which had re- 

 \ moved the suspicions of the Ryots, and led to the in- 

 [ crease of the cultivation. Had not Dr. "Wight been on 

 j the spot, the cultivation of New Orleans Cotton in 

 Coimbatore would have nearly ceased with the crop of 

 1849 ; whereas by his purchases of produce at liberal 

 , prices, and by his reiterated assurances of the good 

 , faith of Government, the cultivation had so extended, 

 I that during the current season he had already distri- 

 ' buted 400 maunds of seed. Moreover, Dr. Wight 

 represented that, had he not continued his purchases 

 H of American Cotton from the Eyots, he would have 

 I acted prematurely, and would moreover have created 

 j doubts of our probity. Seven or eight years previously, 

 Government had agreed to purchase from the Eyots all 

 " well-cleaned picked Cotton. Circumstances had com- 

 : pelled Dr. Wight to continue his purchases. The old 

 j contract, made some seven or eight years previously, 

 by which Government had agreed to purchase from 

 the Eyots all first sort of American Cotton at 20 

 j| rupees per candy, had never been cancelled. The gin- 

 j house at Coimbatore had been purchased by Mr. 

 J Campbell, the merchant ; and Mr. Campbell had agreed 

 d to retain the same terms. But meantime Mr. Camp- 

 f bell had died, and prices had so fallen at home, that 

 \ had he lived he would have been a loser. The only 

 \ other merchant in the place, being bound by no con- 

 . tract, would only give from 16 to 17 rupees per candy. 

 . Under such circumstances, the Eyots represented to 

 \ Dr. Wight that he was bound to purchase the Ame- 



