:2:24 Hlstorij of the Bamoossics, [July 



defective and inefficient Police exists, the most uncom- 

 fortable feelings of alarm and insecurity are produced 

 among the peaceable and unprotected portion of the 

 community ; more especially when they see or hear of 

 formidable bands of plunderers bursting forth from 

 their lurking places, during both the day and night, car- 

 rying off the little property of their neighbours, while 

 those who have little or nothing to lose, are often oblig- 

 ed to propitiate the plunderers by a timely offer of a 

 small supply of food to save themselves from cruel treat- 

 ment. This state of things becomes eventually highly 

 detrimental to the commercial interests of the country, 

 and it is to be borne in mind, that it tends to alienate the 

 attachment and respect of the population from the Bri- 

 tish Government ; for when weighing the advantages 

 and disadvantages of living under our rule, the chief credit 

 the mass of the population are willing to grant us is, that 

 we protect them more effectually from robbers and plun- 

 derers, than their own Kings and Governors formerly 

 did, and that in our dealings with them we exact no more 

 rent or tax, than at the time of settlement was stipulat- 

 ed for ; and if necessary we even lessen* our demands, 



* It is much to be regretted, that the benevolent intentions of our 

 liberal and fostering Government to alleviate the distressed conditiou 

 of the poor farmers, hy granting them remissions when there has 

 been a failure of the harvest, is, however, too frequently defeated by 

 the intrigues of Mamlutdars, -Shaikdars, and Koolkurnies, and sometimes 

 of the Patells of villages ; many of these poor people rarely benefit, 

 at least to the full extent of the indulgence that was solely intended 

 to be conferred on them. It is to be hoped the spread of education 

 among the lower orders, and showing more consideration to the higher classes, 

 wi]l gradually put a stop to this and many other evils. That it will induce 

 a higher tone of moral feeling among all, and that consequently they M'illbe- 

 come moi'e spirited and independent; for there is such a disposition to cringe to 

 the will of their superiors, that it is almost inconceivable lo what extortion the 

 majority of the poorer description of farmers will submit to, rather than runtiie 

 risk of displeasing the native revenue officers and Koolkurnies ; who pos- 

 sess extensive means of distressing persons who will not bend to their views. 

 To those unacquainted with the character of the Brahuiuns, it would seem 



