76 



Xoies on Ryot war, or 



If these views are borne out hy experience, they lead us to an infe- 

 rence wholly opposed to that assumed in the Government Orders ; and 

 in lieu of concurring in the opinion,— that if the Government were 



to throw a quantity of grain into places, which would not receive 

 " it in the ordinary course of mercantile speculation, the only effect 



of this measure, would be to convert a scarcity into a famine," I 

 should almost be disposed to assert the reverse, and to maintain,— that 

 at present in South India, whilst its corn trade, and trade in general 

 are at so low an ebb, the timely and judicious interference of Govern- 

 ment, instead of aggravating, is the only mode in general, by which 

 scarcity can now* be greatly mitigated and famine prevented. And 

 that an importation of grain, through the means of Government capital, 

 and possibly of Government agency, from foreign or distant markets, 

 where there is abundance, into districts suffering from dearth, may be 

 under the existing circumstances of the country a measure of sound 

 policy; and the best, if not the only practical method by which the 

 distress caused by the peculiar character of tropical droughts can be 

 greatly alleviated. 



It is no argument against an interference of this nature, to cite to us, 

 as the orders of Government do, the fact, that native rulers in former times, 

 participating in the ignorance, and in the prejudices of the people, 

 have converted scarcities into famines, by the barbarous policy of 

 compulsory sales, or other arbitrary interference with the capital, or with 

 individuals in the trade. There can be no question now, as to the 

 proper course to be pursued on this head : for Dr. Smith has placed be- 

 yond dispute the important principle, that the interest of the inland 

 dealer and the public is the same, and the more free he remains, the 

 better. 



No interference with this branch of the trade is for a moment 

 advocated; for if adequately supplied, the home-dealers it is certain, 

 are fully equal to the due distribution of all the grain brought into a 

 district in a year of famine, in as much as they distribute the larger 

 supplies of abundant years. But it is in the importation — the foreign or 

 whole-sale trade, that we would propose the interposition of Govern- 

 ment. Not by any restriction on the wholesale merchant, or the im- 

 porter, but by offering to him the assistance of Government ; and by 

 endeavouring to infuse into the import and wholesale trade a spirit of 

 adventure and activity, adequate to meet the urgent and large demand 

 of famine. And should this, after full trial, fail to place the necessary 

 supplies in due season, at the doors of the retail dealers — then only by 

 leaving the wholesale merchant to himself, and making use of a Govern- 



