130 
On the Rent of Land, 
[April 
In the first place, I shall address myself to those who hare made up their minds 
to a residence in the country, and who are entitled to hold lands by the regulations 
of the Government. 
Some people who insist that Government take the whole of the surplus produce 
from the cultivator, leaving him a bare subsistence, wi'l scarcely credit mein advis- 
ing an investment of money in land subject to this taxation. I shall not enter into 
the particulars of this question, but confine myself to the fact of its being a very 
profitable speculation, and none of the speculators having as yet failed, the returns 
may be considered certain ; and to my knowledge the most of them are anxious to 
increase their property in this line : as, however, my bare assertions may have small 
weight in establishing what I have stated, it is necessary I should be more parti- 
cular. The mention of person’s names in an anonymous letter, is an invidious 
task ; but in the present instance, where nothing can be stated hut what is honora- 
ble and creditable to the parties, I hope I shall stand exonerated from any impro- 
per feeling. The TMcurs Qazi Nizibat Ali, Callu Chdn, Akber Ali Cbdn, 
Merdan Ali Chan, and Abdul Rahman Chfin, with many others, besides East 
Indians, are instances of successful investment of property in lands subject to tie 
Government revenue ; and if the lands they hold were so much overtaxed, pray 
where do their lacs of rupees come from ; and whence that unquenchable thirst for 
land ? The days of cheap bargains are certainly gone, and the lands of a Raja- 
ship are not procurable for a few thousand rupees as in former times, but it is not 
long since a taluqdari sold in this neighbourhood, which yielded a profit of 40 
per cent, per annum, after paying the Government revenue. 
There are many places in the Upper Dooab, where capital could be invested with 
every prospect of success; and I may mention, in particular, a tract of country lying 
along the foot of the first or low range of hills from the Ganges to the Jumna, about 
ten miles in breadth ; at present it is almost all a jungle, with a number of service- 
able trees in it. Sites of deserted villages and ruins of pacca buildings are com- 
monly met with, and the soil is very superior. Beautiful flowers and plants are 
here to be found, which are altogether strangers to the rest of the plains. Wood 
for building is to be had in abundance, and at the distance of a few miles, firs are 
procurable for the mere cutting. The vicinity of the hills renders this a most en- 
ticing spot for a. person who intends to settle himself in India; he may enter his 
palanqueen and be at Landafir, in the hills, in eight or ten hours. It is said to be 
unhealthy in the rains in low places ; high spots should be chosen as sites of resi- 
dence . A considerable trade in wood and bamboos could be carried on down the 
Ganges and the Jumna; of itself no small inducements, as it has hitherto given 
good returns. 
I may now add a word to those who propose a temporary residence in 
India, and who are not entitled to hold lands. I see no chance of their succeeding 
in any thing at pre-ent except the manufacture of indigo and sugar: the former a 
much more difficult process than in Bengal, owing to the coldness of the climate. 
An indigo vat in Bengal, which takes 6 or 8 hours to come to the proper state of 
fermentation, takes 12 or In hours up here, and the process is altogether rendered 
less subject to rules of theory, requiring constant attention and application of 
judgment in the various operations ; hence the uncertainty of the produce, and one 
of the causes of the inferiority of the indigo of the Upper Provinces ; and if a 
person is not well skilled, he had better not Jmzard a disappointment- To those, 
however, who are proficients in the art, every prospect of success is afforded, for it 
has been found perfectly easy- to carry on an Indigo concern on a small scale with- 
out a single acre of cultivation or advances of money. A capital of 20,000 rupees 
will set a manufactory going in the small way, viz. 4,000 rupees for outlay in 
building, and 16,000 rupees for the purchase of plant and other charges ; the fac- 
tory, on this plan, cannot be large, but another may be erected at eight or len coss 
distance, as money may be plentiful, and plant procurable. The first thing to be 
done is to agree with a numberof respectable landholders to furnish plant at a certain 
price, and then to build at any convenient spot -it is a plan which has entirely 
succeeded. The value of a cacha biga of plant is 3 rupees, or about 12 maunds 
of plant. The Government receive four annas per bigu for land of this description, 
and which may partly explain the reason, why holding lands liable to the Go- 
vernment revenue, is, in general, here rather an advantageous thing. 
If ever the manufacture of sugar succeed in this country, I am convinced it 
will be on a plan of this sort ; the Native will be the cultivator, and the European 
C a J Tb e cacha biga of all superior crops, such as sugar-cane, tobacco, onions, 
<&c.y is smaller than a cacha biga of barley^ gram* juaty 6cc* 
