1839] 



Communieation in the Carnatio. 



83 



demonstrated to the inhabitants, by the establishment of a regular and a 

 speedy system of conveyance upon them. If we rest satisfied by placing 

 at the command of the natives such an improved means of intercourse, 

 and content ourselves, by simply levying a toll on all carriages which 

 fake advantage of it, no one will doubt but that the grand objects of 

 such an undertaking would not be obtained, that few of the evils which 

 press so heavily on the internal transport of the country would be 

 removed, and the civilizing influence of the measure vv^ould be entirely 

 defeated. 



The advantages of such an establishment can only be worked out by 

 European energy and European talent, by men who are convinced of its 

 expediency, and who are well acquainted with the incalculable benefits 

 to society which can be extracted from it. Under their direction, light 

 vans would be established for passengers, and cars for the transport of 

 heavy goods. The natives would by degrees discover the superiority 

 of such a mode of conveyance over that at present in operation, in cheap- 

 ness, rapidity, and regularity, it would gradually be taken advantage of, 

 and might ultimately become the sole channel of internal communicati- 

 on. By this means an impulse would be given to internal commerce 

 hitherto unknown, and thus would be consummated a measure of vital 

 importance to this portion of India, and one considered essentially 

 necessary for the proper development of the resources of every country. 



It were superfluous to point out in detail the various advantages which 

 India would derive from the formation of roads admitting of such easy 

 intercourse, as there is not an individual who would not be directly or 

 indirectly benefited by their establishment, and above all that portion of 

 the population would derive the greatest advantage, who stand most in 

 need of assistance, the cultivators of the soil. In this as in other 

 countries, they form the most numerous and important class of the 

 inhabitants. But in India, in place of the intelligence and industry ob- 

 served in other countries, the ryot through long oppression, is sunk in 

 poverty, ignorance and apathy, and hardly an effort has been made to 

 raise him from his degraded condition. The formation of such excellent 

 roads would operate immediately in his behalf, by enabling him to 

 bring the produce of his land with facility, to the best market, at the 

 loast possible expence. By such means he would be rendered inde- 

 pendent of the travelling merchant, the hope of gain would stimulate 

 him to exertion, and that apathy and languor, which are the invariable 

 concomitants of poverty and want of hope, would give place to energy 

 and enterprize. In his journies he would become familiar with new 

 objects, and would be inspired with the desire to obtain them, which 



