ROBBERS. 
137 
interfered with, and their social customs are re- 
spected, they prove most faithful and tractable sol- 
diers, and for bravery are certainly unequalled as a 
class by any other race of men, not only in India, but 
in any part of the world. Where, however, the local 
native governments under whose domination they are 
placed become lax in their administration of the laws, 
and these haughty Hindoos are allowed to feel that 
the dominant authority does not apply the check of 
restraint, they are apt to be turbulent and refractory 
subjects. Such too is the low opinion in which they 
generally hold the supremacy of their native princes, 
that they frequently not only refuse obedience, but 
defy the authority they nominally acknowledge. Thus 
the petty sovereignties to which they are professedly 
subject are too commonly in a state of the greatest 
political anarchy. 
This, in fact, was the case in the province of Oude 
prior to the supervision of that district by the East 
India Company. The country abounded with rob- 
bers ; every individual, therefore, armed himself as a 
precaution for self-defence, — for no traveller could pass 
beyond any of the towns without the risk of being at- 
tacked. All the peasants consequently wore arms ; and 
whilst they scattered the seed in the furrow, their 
hands grasped the sword or spear, and their backs 
were covered with the shield. As they were always 
prepared to repel aggression, they were no less ready for 
plunder when opportunity tempted them to relieve 
their poverty by an act of illegal appropriation. In 
proportion as impunity prevailed this lawless licence 
increased, until at length the whole province became 
n 3 
