August  i,  1892.] 
TH “ TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST.  97 
MY  MISSION  TO  SOUTHERN  INDIA. 
By  E.  J.  Young. 
Having  been  appointed  Commissioner  by  the  Planters’ 
Association,  of  Ceylon  to  visit  the  Districts  of  Southern 
India,  end  report  on  the  best  means  of  increasing 
our  labour  supply  ; I sailed  on  22ud  January  1892 
from  Colombo  per  S.S.  11  Bengal”  and  landed  at 
Madras  ou  25th,  and  duly  presented  my  credentials 
from  the  Ceylon  Government  to  llie  Excellency  the 
Governor. 
I met  with  a kiud  and  friendly  reception  from  Lord 
Weulock  who  assured  mo  that  he  and  his  Government 
would  do  everything  possible  to  further  the  views  of 
the  Planters  of  Ceylon  ; and  that  the  more  coolies 
went  over  the  better  pleased  he  would  be,  as  emigra- 
tion was  conducive  to  the  best  interests  of  both  countries. 
The  migration  of  Tamils  to  and  from  Ceylon  is 
entirely  voluntary  and  it  13  probable  that  from  the 
date  ot  its  first  European  colonization  this  Island  lias 
attracted  labour  from  the  South  of  India.  Co  dies 
aro  free  to  return  whenever  they  please,  and  as  in 
many  instances  they  do  not  go  back  to  India  this 
must  be  taken  as  an  indication  they  are  content  to 
remain  in  the  land  of  their  adoption. 
I compute  that  on  an  average  about  75,000  Tamils 
come  over  to  Ceylon  every  year  from  the  Southern 
districts,  and  that  of  these  about  60,000  return.  The 
others  settle  permanently  in  the  Island, 
From  all  classes  I heard  only  praise  as  regards  the 
general  good  treatment  of  the  coolies  when  in  the 
Island.  The  Collector  of  Chingleput,  who  has  had 
long  experience  at  Tanjore,  Madora,  &c.,  assured  me 
he  had  never  heard  a single  complaint  from  the  many 
coolies  he  had  met  on  their  return  from  Ceylon  ; they 
invariably  spoke  well  of  the  place,  and  were  anxious 
to  go  back  ; which  could  not  always  be  said  of  other 
oouutries  they  had  visited. 
Excluding  feudatory  states,  the  total  enumerated 
population  of  the  Mairas  Presidency,  oa  26th  February 
1891,  was  36,630,440  which  is  4,803,327  or  15  58  per 
cent  increase  on  the  Census  of  188T 
The  population  per  square  mile  was  252  against 
218  in  1881. 
So  the  native  population  in  the  Madras  Presidency 
increases  roughly  speaking  at  an  average  rate  of  lg 
per  oent  per  annum.  However,  from  all  I could  gaiher 
the  increase  in  the  districts  from  which  we  chiefly 
draw  oar  labour  supply,  can  safely  bo  put  down  at 
2 per  cent,  per  annum  ; and  that  iu  the  face  of  a heavy 
emigration  to  many  countries. 
This  steady  annual  iuorease  to  the  already  congested 
population  constitutes  the  great  difficulty  ahead 
for  the  Madras  Government. 
On  mentioning  to  Lord  Wenlock  my  anxiety  to  fi  id 
fresh  fields  for  reoruiting  ho  suggested  I should  turn  my 
attentiou  to  Chingleput  and  North  and  South  Arcot 
as  admirably  suited  to  the  purpose  : 
North  Arcot  population 
2,178,226 
South  Arcot 
do 
2,159,813 
Chiugleput 
do 
1,137,333 
Total  5,475,372 
These  three  districts  are  new  fields  f;om  which 
we  have  drawn  but  few  coolios  in  the  pist. 
The  inhabitants  are  mostly  Tamils,  similar  to 
tho3e  in  Ceylon.  They  speak  the  same  language, 
and  go  in  large  numbers  to  the  Straits,  Burmah, 
Natal,  and  even  Mauritius;  but  few,  however,  end 
only  in  times  of  great  scarcity  come  to  Ceylon.  Th  1 
long  and  expensive  journey  precludes  their  taking  ad- 
vantage of  our  labour  market. 
I went  to  Chittoor  the  capital  of  North  Arcot,  a 
jttilway  journoy  of  about  100  miles  North  of  Madras; 
13 
and  there  met  several  old  Ceylon  caDganies  and  coolies 
and  had  long  talks  with  them  and  listened  to  their 
grievances. 
The  Collector  was  exceedingly  kind,  and  took]  an 
immense  amount  of  trouble  in  getting  his  native 
assistants  as  well  as  Ceylon  emigrants  from  long  dis- 
tances  to  Chittoor  iu  order  to  go  thoroughly  into  the 
different  questions,  and  hear  all  that  had  to  be  said 
in  the  matter. 
Owing  to  want  of  rain  during  the  last  monsoon,  and 
the  consequent  failure  of  crops  to  some  extent,  the 
present  time  is  a most  favourable  one  in  which  to 
commence  recruiting  in  North  Arcot.  If  the  South* 
We-t  monsoon  fails,  n general  famine  is  predicted. 
Two  old  Ceylon  canganies  offered  to  return  with 
me  accompanied  by  100  coolies,  if  I would  engage 
them  and  give  them  employment.  And  the  Assistant 
Collector  thought  two  or  three  thousand  coolies  conld 
be  got  at  once  on  oertain  terms. 
Hut  as  already  pointed  out  the  long  and  expensive 
journey  to  Ceylon  prevents  the  Tamils  Lom  tho 
Northern  Collectorates  taking  advantage  of  our  labour 
market. 
At  present  Madras  is  almost  the  only  known  route 
to  him  ; and  it  costs  with  batta  at  least  R15  for  an 
Arcot  cooly  to  reach  Colombo.  And  where  is  a 
wretched  famine  stricken  peasant  to  raise  such  a 
sum  for  himself  much  less  for  his  wife  and  family? 
Of  necessity  the  needy  emigrant  is  driven  to  the 
Natal  or  Mauritius  recruiters  who  not  only  give  an 
immediate  advance  in  ready  cash,  but  also  provide 
food,  clothing,  and  a free  passage  to  either  destina- 
tion as  the  caae  maybe.  What  possible  hope  has  cur 
free  emigration  against  a system  of  this  nature. 
The  lesson  learnt  throughout  on  this  qu<  stion  only 
verified  what  I have  been  advocating  at  home,  viz., 
cheapening  of  travelling  to  the  cooly,  and  prevention 
from  rubbery  and  ill-treatment  when  en  route. 
The  strongest  and  best  cn’eavours  of  the  whole 
planting  community  should  be  exercised  in  this  di- 
rection ; for  I am  confident  it  is  the  keynote  of  the 
labour  question. 
The  foregoing  remarks  regarding  North  Arcot  also 
apply  to  Chingleput,  the  district  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Madras: — which  would  prove  a good  field 
for  recruiting  provided  the  cost  if  going  to  Ceylon 
were  met  by  the  employer  or  the  present  exorbitant 
demand  for  cost  of  pas-age  from  Madras  greatly 
lessened. 
South  Arcot  is  a very  rich  and  fertile  district  and 
well  watered,  and  has  iarge  Sugarand  Spi  -it  factories 
employing  a great  number  of  hands.  Henoe  tne  people 
learn  high  wages  and  are  well  off;  and  there  is  little  or 
no  prospect  of  getting  labour  from  thence. 
North  Arcot  and  Chingleput  are  the  only  fresh  fields 
visited  which  oould  be  tappod  with  any  benefit  to  our- 
selves. 
All  efforts  to  induce  the  B.  I.  S.  N.  Co.  Agents  at 
Madras  and  Cuddalore  to  reduce  their  present  absurdly 
exorbitant  fare  of  R12  50  to  R6  per  bead  per  deck 
passage  to  Ceylon  entirely  failed.  Whilst  this  heavy 
demand  is  made  on  the  poor  emigrant  to  Cevlou  this 
Company  carries  a cooly  to  Burmah  from  the  Northern 
parts  for  about  R6,  and  I was  told  in  some  instances 
to  Singapore  for  even  less ; both  places  being  further 
away  thin  Ceylon. 
When  iu  Madras  I went  fully  iuto  the  question,  of 
the  indentured  cooly  for  Natal,  Mauritius,  Straits 
Settlements,  &e.,  and  got  from  the  officials  the  forms 
which  the  emigrants  sign  before  embarking. 
These  people  are  engaged  for  5 or  10  years  ; only  the 
lovest,  and  vicious  classes  go, — it  Isa  bad  sy.-tem,  and 
leads  to  all  manner  of  abuses;  aud  would  never  suit 
us,  or  be  tolerated  iu  Ceylon. 
The  Collector  of  Chingleput  when  writing  to  me  on 
the  subject  of  recruiting  most  correctly  describes 
and  warns  us  against  the  Natal  and  Mauritius  re- 
crui:  s as  folio  ws  : — 
“If  you  are  led  to  doing  anything,  I oort&iuly  advise 
recruiting  by  decent  individuals. 
“Recruiters  as  a class  are  lo  ked  on  as  the  off- 
scourings of  society  aud  men  to  bo  contemned.’’ 
The  Ceylon  system  of  free  emigration  is  far  the 
