Contents
Chapter I — Introductory
Effects of English capital on the progress of the people and the finances of the State. 6
Evidences of irrigation works made by occupiers being promoted by a fixed land tax. 17
“The Mysore and Coorg Directory.” Value of the Dewan’s annual addresses in the Representative Assembly. 21
Chapter Ii — The Scenery and Waterfalls of Mysore
Height of the falls; difficulty of getting at them; the Lushington, Lalgali, and Majod Falls might be visited-when on the way to Gairsoppa Falls. 30
Chapter Iii — Mysore — Its Government and Representative Assembly
The alleged breach of good faith as regards conferring appointments on natives in British territory. 54
The constitution of Mysore; terms on which it was transferred not to native rule but to native administration. 55
After deducting sum allotted for Maharajah’s personal expenditure, the remaining revenues to be spent on public purposes only. 57
The notification by which the Assembly was established, and the system of nominating members. 58
Members called up in order to represent grievances and wants. The marriage question again. 73
Representatives have no power and do not want any. Causes of the absence of any demand for parliamentary institutions such as those in England. 77
Great value of Assembly in bringing rulers and ruled together. Such Assembly more necessary now than formerly. Causes of this. 80
Proceedings of the Congress legitimate till it fell under guidance of Mr. Hume. Excuses for Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji. 83
The third Congress. The members desire to make the laws and control the finances of India. 84
The Congress declares that as Indians in rural districts are not qualified to elect members, these should be elected by an electoral college composed of the flower of the educated classes.
As the desired powers are not likely to be obtained in India, the people of England must be made to believe that India is being misgoverned.
The Congress’ schemes for bringing about a revolution in India. Native volunteers to be enrolled to bring pressure to bear on the Government. The Repeal of the Arms Act demanded.
Opinions of Congress that natives are wanting in the qualities necessary for governing India. 88
Chapter Iv — Natural History and Sport
Boars and other wild animals more dangerous now than formerly. Advantages of this for sportsmen. 93
In a short time 118 caught in traps. Remarkable cessation of such captures. The balance of nature destroyed. 97
The spread of intelligence amongst wild animals. Tiger passes. Difference of opinion as to how tigers seize their prey. 98
Estimate of danger of tiger shooting on foot. Should not be pursued by those whoso lives are of cash value to their families. 109
Importance of using a chain when tying out a bait. Sport spoiled from a chain not being used. 121
Effect on a tiger of the human voice. Tigers often undecided how to act. 128
Very dangerous man-eating tigers have existed in the interior of Mysore. Man-eaters enter villages. A tiger tearing off the thatch of a hut. 131
Great courage and determination shown by natives in connection with tigers. Illustrations of this. 132
Treatment of wounds from tigers. A native recovers from thirteen lacerated wounds and two on the head. 136
A mad tiger. Position of body that should be adopted when waiting for a tiger. Importance of this. 137
Chapter V — Bears, Panthers, Jungle Dogs, Snakes, Jungle Pets
Bear has two cubs at a time. Bears rapidly decreasing. Said by natives to be killed and eaten by tigers. Instances of tigers killing bears.
Bears dreaded by natives more than any animal in the jungle. Probable cause of their often attacking people. Illustration of this. 141
Wanton attacks made by bears on people. Approaching caves and getting bears out of them. 144
How not to attempt to get a bear out of a cave. Am caught by a hill fire. 147
Value of having a good dog when out bear shooting. Am knocked down by a bear. 151
Boars make shelters for themselves in the rains. The flesh of the boar not a safe food. 157
The use, said by the natives to be made by the dogs, of their acrid urine. 159
Many reported deaths from snake bites probably poisoning cases. Reasons in support of this view. From 1855 to 1893 only one death from snake bite in my neighbourhood.
The cobra not an aggressive snake. Unless hurt or provoked will probably never bite. Illustrations in support of this view. 163
Chapter Vi — Bison Shooting
Height of bull bison. Account of an interesting friendship between a tame sambur deer and a bull bison. 175
Chapter Vii — Gold
Explanation of gold being found on the ears of corn. Lieutenant Warren’s investigations in 1800. 191
In 1873 leave first given to a European to mine for gold. Remarkable absence in Mysore of old records or inscriptions relating to gold mining.
Of the mines subsequently started all practically closed in 1882, except the Mysore mine, which began to get gold in end of 1884. 197
Had the Mysore Company not persevered the Kolar field would probably have been closed. Depths to which mines have been sunk. The Champion Lode. 198
Expenditure by the companies in Mysore in wages. Consequential results therefrom on the prosperity of the people. 205
Royalty on mines that are not paying should be reduced or abolished. Act required to check gold stealing. 207
The want of tree planting. Other auriferous tracts in Mysore. Mr. R. Bruce Foote’s report. 210
Brief analysis of Mr. Bruce Foote’s report on the various auriferous tracts. The central group of auriferous rocks. 211
The western group. Expects that many other old abandoned workings will be discovered in the jungly tracts. 213
Chapter Viii — Caste
Widows may contract a kind of marriage. The value of caste in socially segregating inferior from superior races. 221
The separation caused by caste has not hindered advancement amongst the rural population. The Coorgs an instance of this. 223
Inquiry as to how far caste has acted beneficially in opposing the existing interpretation of Christianity. 227
Native Christians neither better nor worse than the low-classes from which they are usually drawn. Experience of the Abbé Dubois. 230
The upper class peasantry having to give up caste would be injured by being converted. 231
To become a Christian our missionaries compel the entire abandonment of caste. Their version of Christianity wisely rejected. 230
Mischievous action of our missionaries as regards caste. Their erroneous views a bar to the progress of Christianity. 237
Secession of native Christians in consequence of the “Circular.” Erroneous views contained in the Report of the Madras Commissioners. 242
Rigidity of caste laws much exaggerated. They vary in different places. Occasional violations of caste law condoned. Remarkable instance of this. 263
Instance of variation in caste law. Caste apt to be made the scapegoat of every Indian difficulty. 266
Mr. Raikes’s remarks on the evil effects of caste. Thinks that it is the cause of infanticide. 268
Instance to show that infanticide can exist amongst people free from caste. Polyandrous habits not necessarily a cause of infanticide. 269
Chapter Ix — Coffee Planting in Coorg
Conquered and annexed by us in 1834. My first visit to Coorg in 1857. The pioneer planters. 276
European and native plantations. Their number and the probable yield from them. Expenditure per acre. 279
Proportions of manure varied according to the condition of the coffee. The time in which manure should be applied. Applications of burnt earth. 281
Primary cause of the existence of so much Borer. The terms on which Government lands are sold for planting. 285
Reasons why certain of the reserved State forests should be given out for planting. 286
Cinchona and Ceara rubber planting tried and abandoned. Coffee seed introduced from Brazil, and other countries, without any apparent advantage. Liberian coffee tried experimentally. 287
The capital spent on labour and the consequential results of this on agriculture. My visit to Coorg in 1891. 288
The route from Mysore. The coffee works at Hunsur. Interesting adventure with a panther. 289
Mr. Mann’s coffee garden at Mercara. The large profits from it. To the Hallery estate six miles from Mercara. 294
General observations on coffee planting in Coorg. Its flourishing condition. More attention should be paid to shade. 297
The profits that may be expected from good, well-managed estates. The great want of a Game Preservation Act. 300
Chapter X — Coffee Planting in Mysore
The work not hard. The climate agreeable and healthy. The elevation of the coffee districts above sea level. 304
The changes that may be taken in the slack season by planters. The durability of well-shaded plantations. 305
Shaded plantations a very permanent property. The profits of coffee. Case of an estate bought with borrowed money. 306
From want of information coffee plantations in Mysore not saleable at good prices. Failure of coffee in Ceylon. This gave coffee generally an undeservedly bad name.
Mysore coffee fetches the highest price in the London market. Original Mysore coffee land tenures. 313
In the south of Mysore all coffee land probably taken up. In north, land reported to be still available. Planters well satisfied with the Government.
The New Cattle Trespass Act. The want of a Wild Birds’ Protection Act. The neglect of game preservation. 319
In consequence of game destruction tigers forced to prey heavily on village cattle. Great losses in consequence. 320
The want of a Government Agricultural Chemist. The discovery of a new hybrid coffee plant. 322
Chapter Xi — Shade
The evils arising from excessive trimming of side branches of shade trees. Planting under the shade of the original forest trees. 337
The value of leaving marginal belts of forest. The danger of a running fire. 338
Importance of attending to the gradients, the quality of the soil, and its exposure to drying winds. 342
Elevation and rainfall govern quantity of shade that should be kept. The thinning, and lopping lower boughs of shade trees. 343
Importance of at once planting up spots where shade is deficient, in order to keep out the Borer insect. 346
Preparation of shade tree cuttings before planting out. How to grow young charcoal-tree plants. Valuable as nurses. 348
Chapter Xii — Manure
Bulk manures as a rule should not be applied to land directly under shade trees, but to more open spaces. 351
Manure should be varied on different aspects. The quantity that should be annually supplied. 353
A considerable amount of manure required even though the loss from crops is small. 356
A test of land being sufficiently supplied with manure. The quantity of manure probably required. 357
Ridges should be more heavily manured than hollows. The time of year when manures should be applied. 360
Bearing that the time of applying manures has on leaf disease. Mr. Marshall Ward’s remarks as to this. 362
In the case of steep land the manure should be buried in trenches. Farmyard manure. Its great value for coffee. 364
Value of forest land top soil as a manure, and as a substitute for farmyard manure. 366
The comparative cost of farmyard manure and top soil. Remarkable result from an application of pink-coloured soil. 367
If top soil costs the same as farmyard manure the former is better. Reasons for this being so. A compost of pink soil and manures may be made, which will equal good farmyard manure, and cost but little more.
An agricultural chemist wanted for the province. A careful record should be kept of manure applied. 378
Native manurial practises should be studied. Application of various soils as top dressing by native cultivators. The best and most economical way of manuring coffee has yet to be discovered.
Chapter Xiii — Nurseries, Topping, Handling, Pruning, etc.
Irrigated coffee near Bangalore. Mr. Meenakshia’s gardens. The selection of a site for a nursery. 384
Handling and the removal of suckers. Its importance as regards rot and leaf disease. 389
The removal of moss and rubbing down the trees. The cultivation of the soil. 392
Chapter Xiv — The Diseases of Coffee
Mr. Marshall Ward’s report on leaf disease in Ceylon. Leaf disease probably always existed in Mysore. Said to have caused much loss on some estates.
Losses of leaves from other causes commonly attributed to leaf disease. No reason to fear it if land is well cultivated, manured, and shaded. Evidence that shade can control leaf disease.
Conditions under which leaf disease is liable to occur in the cases of good soil under good shade trees. 400
The importance of manure and cultivation with reference to leaf disease. Mr. Graham Anderson’s, Mr. Marshall Ward’s and Mr. Brooke Mockett’s opinions. The Coorg plant not so liable to be attacked as the Chick plant.
Borer is worst under bad kinds of shade trees, but can be controlled by good caste trees. 403
Reasons for thinking that the usual practice of destroying all bored trees is of little use. 405
The Borer can only be suppressed by adequate shade. Rot, or pellicularia koleroga. Aggravated by want of free circulation of air. 406
Measures for lessening rot. Importance of meeting monsoon with mature leaves on the coffee trees. 407
CHAPTER XV.—THE SELECTION OF LAND FOR PLANTATIONS, AND THE VALUATION OF COFFEE PROPERTY.
Much land unsuitable from over heavy rainfall. Mr. Graham Anderson’s return of rainfall. His interesting memorandum. 411
Elevation of plantations above sea level. With a few exceptions not much difference in value of the coffee of various estates. 412
The quality of the shade ought largely to affect a valuation of a property. 418
Impossible to offer opinion as to value of coffee property, till facts as regard it are widely known, and the line is opened to western coast.
CHAPTER XVI.—HOW TO MAKE AN ESTATE PAY, AND THE ORDER OF THE WORK.
Minor sources of loss. The order in which the various works should be performed. 425
Chapter Xvii — The Management of Absentee Estates
Advisable to give manager an interest in the estate. Managers for estates in Mysore require to be very carefully selected. 429
Powers of attorney should be carefully drawn up. The proprietor entirely in the power of the manager. 431
The value of the eye of the owner. Every estate should have an information book. 432
CHAPTER XVIII.—THE PLANTER’S BUNGALOW AND THE AMENITIES OF AN ESTATE.
Chapter Xix — The Indian Silver Question
On June 26th, 1893, gold standard introduced and mints closed to free coinage of silver. 456
Movement originated in India by the servants of Government, and from no other class whatever. 457
Some merchants afterwards joined in the agitation. Gold to be received at the mints at a ratio of 1s. 4d. per rupee. Sovereigns in payment of sums due to Government to be received at the rate of fifteen rupees a sovereign.
Cash effects of the measure. For benefit of English reader figures given in pounds sterling, a rupee taken at 2s. Rupee prices little changed in India, China and Ceylon. Difficulty of forming exact estimates as to this.
If gold value of silver can be forced up from 1s. 3d. to 1s. 4d., Indian Government will gain about one and a half million sterling on its home remittances, and the people lose about seven millions on their exports.
A rise to 1s. 6d. would give the Exchequer a gain on home remittances of £4,500,000 and entail on the people a loss £21,000,000, equal to a tax of 21 per cent. on the exports of India. Effects of this on the producers.
The producers of coffee in Mysore alone would lose £56,000 a year were exchange forced up to 1s. 4d., and £156,000 a year were it raised to 1s. 6d. All producers in other parts of India of articles of export would be similarly affected.
If the rupee is artificially forced up by the State, the shock to confidence will repel capital and injure credit. The first effect will show itself in a lessened demand for labour.
The effects of increased employment on the finances. The bearing of the measure on famines and scarcity. It will intensify the effects of both, and make them more costly to the State.
The measure has arrayed all classes against the Government, except its own servants and a very few of the merchants. 466
The effects of the measure on the tea-planters of India and Ceylon. It must heavily affect both. If Ceylon establishes a mint, tea-planters there will have advantages over their rivals in India.
Coffee planters of India and Ceylon will he prejudicially affected in their competition with silver-using countries. Evil effects of the measure on the trade, manufactures, and railways of India.
The Viceroy and the supporters of the measure have admitted that it must be injurious to the producers of India. Sir William Hunter’s admirable survey of the former and present financial condition of India.
The Viceroy has publicly declared that cheap silver has acted as “a stimulus” to the progress of India. 472
The unfair action of Lord Herschell’s Committee. Not a single representative of the producing classes examined. But the majority of witnesses were dead against the monetary policy of the Government. The Currency Committee reported against the weight of the evidence. The most important points not inquired into at all by the Committee.
The Indian Government and Currency Committee financially panic-stricken, and in dread of effects of repeal of Sherman Act. The financial condition not such as to warrant panic. Taxational resources not exhausted.
Sir William Hunter’s statement proves that the financial conditions were full of hope. The dread that the repeal of the Sherman Act might reduce rupee to 1s. Examination of the subject on that supposition.
By a rate of 1s. a rupee the Government would lose about seven millions on its home remittances, and the people of India gain fourteen millions on their exports. Mr. Gladstone’s Government adopted Home Rule Bill, and Currency Measure in one year. Both forced on by tyrannical action. Gladstonian action as to Opium Commission equally tyrannical.
The monetary measure a policy of protection for the benefit of the silver-using countries that compete with India. 477
Some of the evils the measure, if successful, must cause. The Indian Finance Minister declared that “it ought not to be attempted unless under the pressure of necessity.” No necessity arisen. An independent body wanted to efficiently check the Government. The Duke of Wellington’s opinion.
Cheap silver advantageous to Mexico. The losses to the Government and railways which arise from gold payments are, comparatively speaking, a fixed quantity, while the gain to the people from cheap silver, produces consequential benefits far beyond reach of calculation. These remarks equally applicable to India. Wanted, a Government that can see this.