On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    No. 435, July 24, 185S.J Tajs ¦ LJSAi;ja...

  • 

    SELECT COMMITTEE ON COLONIZATION AN3> SE...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    The Indus* Mr. W. P. Andrew, Amid Multif...

    sources of the valley of the Indus . As one means of promoting these objects , Mr . Andrew reviews the measures for English settlement in India propounded by the Association for Promoting English Settlement in India , and now under the consideration of Mr . Ewart ' s Committee in the House of Commons . On the whole he is favourable to the svstem : — I am strongly impressed with the belief that-when the means of intercommunication are improved in India , Manchester and other great manufacturing towns -will he induced to send English agents into the interior

    of tbe country to purchase the raw materials , especially cotton , on the spot where they are produced , instead of receiving as at present the goods at the port of shipment through the slow , expensive , and inefficient system of barter of the native traders , and that other persons of intelligence may be induced to settle in a country possessing every variety of climate , and producing indigenously every product necessary or agreeable to man . India , unlike our colonies , is a densely peopled country , and labour is abundant and cheap ; an able-bodied labourer is paid 3 d . per diem , and it is computed that three able-bodied men do -as much in the field as one

    good labourer in this country . In this assertion other Iudia authorities , including men now resident in India , differ from Mr . Andrew , for they affirm one English labourer will do thrice as much as a native labourer , and it is a significant circumstance that one settler is about to The great field for English enterprise for some time must be in the superintendence and direction of that cheap labour , which is one advantage India presents to the settler , unlike so many of our colonies where labour is not to be got . Mr . Andrew proceeds : —

    In India there is no field for the bone and muscle of the English peasant , what is wanted is the capital , the enterprise , the skill of England to direct the many millions of willing hands hangiag listlessly in idleness to explore the resources of a country known to be rich in mineral treasures , and possessing a soil capable of returning three harvests in the year to the most rude and inefficient husbandry . The plains of India are unfit for European settlers , further than as masters of labourers ; but in the capacity of coffee , indigo , and , above all , cotton planters , zemindars , manufacturers , clerks , master artificers , contractors , tradesmen , there is room for an enormous increase of numbers , and every encouragement ought to be given to their settling in . the country .

    With respect to the hiUs , Mr . Andrew gives testimony : — Tho Himalayan and Inter-Himalayan regions are wonderfully adapted for the European constitution . They are as salubrious , and generally cooler than a great portion of Australia . Europeans can , if they choose , work in the open air , in proof of -which it is stated that the strongest built house at one of the hill stations was constructed entirely by European soldiers , without any native aid whatever .

    In Australia , there is no navigable river with the exception of the Murray , to a limited extent , few running streams , no water "power , very little fertile soil , the climate is arid , the ; whole continent does not produce one single indigenous edible fruit , root , or grain , the very timber is so heavy and hard that it sinks in water , and turns the edge of carpenters' tools not specially made for the purpose . The Kangra and many other valleys of the Himalayas are of great fertility . In them we see the astonishing spectacle of the productions of the temperate arid torrid zones growing side by side , the creeping-rose intertwining its branches with the bamboo , and the wild violet and tulip Howering round the roots of the

    plantain . Further in the interior , there are inexhaustible forests of pine ; a rich vegetable loam , on which all the fruits and vegetables in Europe will thrive in perfection . In Kanawur , the vine unpruncd , uncultivated , growing like a bramble in the hedges , yields a grape unequalled in the world . Water power everywhere abounds . The wool trade might be increased to any amount . G-old is found in fine dust , but only at the confluence of certain streams . What is . still moro valuable than gold , iron and coal exist in the hills ; the former in extraordinary abundance . Following tho lead of the Government , ¦ European enterprise has already made some progress in the cultivation of the tea-plant in tho hilly regions of India .

    Along tho Himalaya range , there is not a hill-slope from 8000 to C 0 O 0 feet in elevation which is not more or loss adapted for tea cultivation . India can , and will , one day , supply the world with that commodity . Irom Doyrah to Ka 9 hmcre , various localities present thomsclvea in ovcry sense calculated for tho growth of tho tea-plant . Simla and lCiissowlio , already possessing during tho summer a considerable number of residents , would afford a limited market on the spot . Tho vogetation hero resembles that of tho locality whom tUo plant is found growing spontaneously , anil tho climate is , in my opinion , from a considerable experience , not to bo surpassed .

    Perhaps there is no part of India which approximates so much to a European colony as Simla , which is abont 8000 feet above the level of the sea , and situated on the lower Himalayas , overlooking the extensive plains watered and bounded by the Sutlej and Jumna . As -we ascend the first elevation towards Simla , flowers and shrubs of our own land surround us till we descend the precipitous road to Sabathoo . Here the fir-fringed forests , which form so striking a feature in the Kussowlie Hills , disappear ; and we pass through barren rocks here and there dotted with some solitary specimen of the vegetable world . Approaching Simla , the shades and appearances of the vegetation which abound at Kussowlie , with slight variations , again

    appear ; and as we enter Simla , nothing can exceed tbe pleasing variety which greets the traveller from the plains . Tarieties of the pine , including the gigantic deodar or Himalayan cedar , the oak , and many other timber trees ^ the apricot , the apple , the cherry , and other fruit-trees , are natives of the soil , interspersed with black currant and raspberry bushes , and amongst the flowering shrubs , the rhododendron is the most conspicuous , which here attains to the size of a tree , and in the xn « nths of April and . May , covered with large crimson blossoms , and growing in . groves along the hill-sides , adds at once a novel and beautiful feature to the scene . Simla is a paradise as to climate compared with the heat of the plains between April and June . There , amid

    cloud and the grateful shade of fir-fringed , elevations , the exhausted frame inhales the fresh breeze from the broad snow-belt of the Hindoo Koosh , and one insensibly forgets all about the fever heat of Delhi or Agra . The bazaar at Simla is well supplied at all seasons ; and living , although expensive compared to the cheapness of the Dooab , is less than one-half the sum at -which similar comforts could be secured in Europe . The scenery during a fine day is magnificent , the plains , 70 O 0 feet below , arid at thirty miles' distance , appear like a map , while the devious course of the river Sutlej is discernible as far as the eye can reach . Fields arid

    villages appear distinctly marked out in the landscape . Here and there , a blue line of mist , following the irregular course of the lateral ridges which extend into the plain , rnarks the course of some pure spring whose sweet waters are pouring down to cool the parched sufferers below . From the sub-Himalayan range , the great Saul Forest descends into the plain of Bengal , and affords another quarter inviting enterprise . The area of this forest has been roughly estimated at fifteen hundred miles . This is truly aland of promise , looking to the demand for timber for the Punjaub and other railways , and the steady market throughout the year for local requirements .

    At Simla , a resident pays much more in yearly ground rent for his land than he could buy it for , out and out , iu many of the English colonies , and is hampered by many . restrictions as to cutting down timber on his own estate ; and pays for labour at a rate muvb abuvc yrhat it not only costs in the neighbouring native states , but in the adjoining British possessions . It is a strange anomaly that the East India Company should , with their usual liberality , have obtained for their officers privileges in regard to land in certain of the English colonies , which privileges they partly -withhold in their own dominions . _ But even under existing circumstances cotton planters and agents would find in the plains profitable occupation —while tea-planters , timber-merchants , and dealers in avooI would have in the bills an ample scope for their capital and energy .

    Were the Indian . Government : frank in the policy of colonization , did it let in its true light the value of its own encouragement and of the application of English enterprise and intelligence , India would make a better figure before the English public as a country of progress . To that new branch of industry , the tea cultivation , Mr . Andrew has referred , and it is one that does credit to the Government of India , but the rise , or rather creation of the port of Kurrachcc is a feat to be compared with San Francisco or Chicago , or any giant creation of the Far West . In 181 . 1 s the total exports of Kurrachee were 1010 / ., aud iu 1857 , 735 , 522 / . Mr . Andrew says : ¦ —

    A good port , capable of admitting ships of large burden , and at all hours and seasons , is indispenable to the success of the combined system of rail and river for the valley of the Indus , intended to be carried out by tho Scinde and Punjaub Railways , in conjunction with tho Indus Flotilla . Such an harbour is to bo found in Kurrachee , tho most western port of India , and the only lmul-lockcd harbour between Bombay and the Persian Oulf . This port is perfectly safe , and easy of access to

    largo ships by day and night , and even during the monsoons . According to Commodore Young , of the Indian navy , who in 1854 took tho steam 1 ' riga . to Queen twico into Kurrucheo in tho night-time , during tho south-west inoonsoon , though n bur-harbour , Kurracheo has dopth of water , even in ltd oxisting state , for ships from 17 to 18 feet draught at the high water of ordinary tides . At high spring tides tho depth is from 20 to 21 feet , and at times even to 22 ^ li-ct . In this vluw , Commodore Young is coulirmud by Commodore ltennio , of the Indian

    navy , who , during the preparations for the late expedition to the Persian Gulf , was constantly in and out of the harbour with troops , and became convinced that there was frequently more water on the bar than the portregister showed . As a proof of this it may be stated , not only that the Bussorah Merchant , a large vessel drawing 20 ft . 6 in ., passed the bar in May last , -when the register showed only 21 feet water ; but that when on the 5 th of September last , the Hugh Lindsay went oat of the harbour with tbe London in tow , the lead never gave

    less than 26 ft , though the signal at Manora marked only 21 ft . In the same month the Ajdaha , H . E . I . C . steam-frigate , and the England , one of Mr . Lindsay ' s Calcutta line of steam-ships , with the 4 th Regiment on board , ran up to the landing-place at Keamaree without difficulty . All that such a port requires to make it easily available to ships of heavy burden at all seasons of the year , is a good pilot establishment , a steam-dredge , and some moderate engineering improvements , all of which measures have already been ordered by the East India . Company . -

    Lieut .-Colonel ( now Brigadier-General ) John Jacob , C . B ., Officiating Commissioner , reports , under date the 30 th April , 1606 , that , during the year 1854-5 , 1086 vessels of the burden of 56 , 695 tons entered the ports of Scinde inwards ; 39 of which , including steamers , were square-rigged , of a burden of 13 , 841 tons . The number that cleared outwards was 1103 vessels , burden 58 , 194 tons , including square-rigged ships and steamers . The increase of the import and export trade is still continuing , especially in the exports of the staple products of the valley . The steadiness of the rate of increase is not less remarkable than its large amount , as the following table shows :- — Year . Imports . Exports . Total . . ' ¦ '¦' ¦ £ '' : £ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ £ ¦ ¦'" : ' . 1843-4 121 , 150 1 , 010 122 , 160 1804-5 217 , 700 9 , 300 227 , 000 1845-6 312 , 900 40 , 500 353 , 400 1846-7 293 , 400 49 , 300 342 , 700 1847-8 287 , 872 154 , 730 442 , 600 1848-9 344 , 715 107 , 133 451 , 849 1849-50 419 , 352 114 , 378 533 , 731 1850-51 425 , 831 196 , 461 622 , 293 1851-52 489 , 220 244 , 122 733 , 343 1852-53 535 , 690 376 , 337 800 , 000 _ 1853-54 508 , 793 376 , 310 885 , 103 JT 1854-55 575 , 196 346 , 893 922 , 089 /^ 1855-56 629 , 813 604 , 440 l , 2 < f 4 , 253 1856-57 685 , 665 734 , 522 1 , 420 , 187

    No. 435, July 24, 185s.J Tajs ¦ Ljsai;Ja...

    No . 435 , July 24 , 185 S . J Tajs ¦ LJSAi ; jai & . ¦ , . vzx

    Select Committee On Colonization An3> Se...

    SELECT COMMITTEE ON COLONIZATION AN 3 > SETTLEMENT ( INDIA ) . The evidence given before Mr . Ewart ' s committee is so important , . and throws Buch light oa the condition / of the English settlers , not only in the hill regions , but throughout India , that we think it most desirable to give an abstract of some p ortions of it , though all of it is important . Here , in fa ct ^ ¦ will be found the materials for discussing many of the leading questions connected with the administration of India . MAJOR-GENERAL , TBEMENHEERE , C . B . What do you consider the best means of promoting European settlement in India ?—The state of the existing means of travelling in India is sufficient alone to prevent the country and its resources from becoming known to capitalists . The ordinary mode of travelling is either by marching in stages from twelve to fourteen miles a day , or travelling by dawk in a palanquin . Capitalists will not submit to this tardy mode of progress . I conceive that if railways existed , places holding out prospects of profitable investment would be readily visited , and capitalists would then judgo for themselves of the advantages to be gained by settlement . Do you consider the want of capital to be an obstacle ? •—Yes , capital is a sinequti non ; but I conceive that before capital can be attracted to India , it is necessary to give the greatest facility for intercommunication . Both the agricultural and the mineral resources of the different localities could than be readily inquired into on the spot . Those resources would not only be accessible to capitalists , but would bo placed within easy communication one with tho other , which is not the case now . Can you state tho principal localities of those ?—The principal luuulitioa of conl whioli io worked in India arc those of Eurdwan , and on tho Nerbudda river : tho whole of Uurdwan ( as is well known ) furnishes a great deal of tho steam coal which is usod in India . The coal of tho Nerbudda has only been recently visited by professional mineralogists , anil a coal and iron viewer wns sent thcro last year by desire of the East India Company . There- are several other localities in which coal is found in India ; but , from observations of my own , I conceive that it is coal of recent formation , and not probably so well udaptod to commercial purposes as the coal-beda of Burdwun and of tho JSTorbuddUu It has not

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 24, 1858, page 25, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24071858/page/25/