the life of william carey-第53章
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ociety to promise to publish in English； Bengali； and Hindostani； have proved to be only the first of a series of special periodicals representing Indian agriculture generally； tea； and forestry。 The various Governments in India have economic museums； and the Government of India； under Lord Mayo； established a Revenue and Agricultural Department expanded by Lord Curzon。 Carey's early proposal of premiums； each of a hundred rupees； or the Society's gold medal； for the most successful cultivation on a commercial scale of coffee and improved cotton； for the successful introduction of European fruits； for the improvement of indigenous fruits； for the successful introduction from the Eastern Islands of the mangosteen or doorian； and for the manufacture of cheese equal to Warwickshire； had the best results in some cases。 In 1825 Mr。 Lamb of Dacca was presented by 〃Rev。 Dr。 Carey in the chair〃 with the gold medal for 80 lbs。 of coffee grown there。 Carey's own head gardener became famous for his cabbages； and we find this sentence in the Society's Report just after the founder's death：〃Who would have credited fifteen years ago that we could have exhibited vegetables in the Town Hall of Calcutta equal to the choicest in Covent Garden？〃 The berries two centuries ago brought from Arabia in his wallet by the pilgrim Baba Booden to the hills of Mysore； which bear his name； have； since that Dacca experiment； covered the uplands of South India and Ceylon。 Before Carey died he knew of the discovery of the indigenous tea…tree in its original home on the Assam border of Tibeta discovery which has put India in the place of China as a producer。
In the Society's Proceedings for 9th January 1828 we find this significant record：〃Resolved； at the suggestion of the Rev。 Dr。 Carey； that permission be given to Goluk Chundra； a blacksmith of Titigur； to exhibit a steam engine made by himself without the aid of any European artist。〃 At the next meeting； when 109 malees or native gardeners competed at the annual exhibition of vegetables； the steam engine was submitted and pronounced 〃useful for irrigating lands made upon the model of a large steam engine belonging to the missionaries at Serampore。〃 A premium of Rs。 50 was presented to the ingenious blacksmith as an encouragement to further exertions of his industry。 When in 1832 the afterwards well…known Lieutenant…Governor Thomason was deputy…secretary to Government； he applied to the Society for information regarding the manufacture of paper。 Dr。 Carey and Ram Komal Sen were referred to； and the former thus replied in his usual concise and clear manner：
〃When we commenced paper…making several years ago； having then no machinery； we employed a number of native papermakers to make it in the way to which they had been accustomed； with the exception of mixing conjee or rice gruel with the pulp and using it as sizing； our object being that of making paper impervious to insects。 Our success at first was very imperfect； but the process was conducted as follows：
〃A quantity of sunn； viz。； the fibres of Crotolaria juncea； was steeped repeatedly in limewater； and then exposed to the air by spreading it on the grass； it was also repeatedly pounded by the dhenki or pedal； and when sufficiently reduced by this process to make a pulp； it was mixed in a gumla with water； so as to make it of the consistence of thick soup。 The frames with which the sheets were taken up were made of mat of the size of a sheet of paper。 The operator sitting by the gumla dipped this frame in the pulp； and after it was drained gave it to an assistant； who laid it on the grass to dry： this finished the process with us； but for the native market this paper is afterwards sized by holding a number of sheets by the edge and dipping them carefully in conjee； so as to keep the sheets separate。 They are afterwards dried； folded； and pressed by putting them between two boards； the upper board of which is loaded with one or more large stones。
〃In the English method the pulp is prepared by the mill and put into cisterns； the frames are made of fine wire； and the workman stands by the cistern and takes up the pulp on the frames。 The sheets when sufficiently dry are hung on lines to dry completely； after which they are sized； if sizing be required。
〃We now make our paper by machinery； in which the pulp is let to run on a web of wire； and passing over several cylinders； the last of which is heated by steam； it is dried and fit for use in about two minutes from its having been in a liquid state。〃
Since that reply the Government of India； under the pressure of the home authorities； has alternately discouraged and fostered the manufacture of paper on the spot。 At present it is in the wiser position of preferring to purchase its supplies in India； at once as being cheaper； and that it may develop the use of the many paper…making fibres there。 Hence at the Calcutta Exhibition of 1881…82 the jurors began their report on the machine and hand…made paper submitted to them； with a reference to Carey and this report of his。 The Serampore mills were gradually crushed by the expensive and unsatisfactory contracts made at home by the India Office。 The neighbouring Bally mills seem to flourish since the abandonment of that virtual monopoly； and Carey's anticipations as to the utilisation of the plantain and other fibres of India are being realised nearly a century after he first formed them。
Carey expanded and published his 〃Address respecting an Agricultural Society in India〃 in the quarterly Friend of India。 He still thinks it necessary to apologise for his action by quoting his hero； Brainerd； who was constrained to assist his Indian converts with his counsels in sowing their maize and arranging their secular concerns。 〃Few；〃 he adds with the true breadth of genius which converted the Baptist shoemaker into the Christian statesman and scholar； 〃who are extensively acquainted with human life； will esteem these cares either unworthy of religion or incongruous with its highest enjoyments。〃 When Carey wrote； the millions of five…acre farmers in India were only beginning to recover from the oppression and neglect of former rulers and the visitation of terrific famines。 Trade was as depressed as agriculture。 Transit duties； not less offensive than those of the Chinese； continued to weigh down agricultural industry till Lord W。 Bentinck's time and later。 The English Government levied an unequal scale of duties on the staples of the East and West Indies； against which the former petitioned in vain。 The East India Company kept the people in ignorance； and continued to exclude the European capitalist and captain of labour。 The large native landholders were as uneducated as the cultivators。 Before all Carey set these reforms： close attention to the improvement of land； the best method of cropping land； the introduction of new and useful plants； the improvement of the implements of husbandry； the improvement of live stock； the bringing of waste lands under cultivation； the improvement of horticulture。 He went on to show that； in addition to the abundance which an improved agriculture would diffuse throughout the country； the surplus of grain exported； besides 〃her opium； her indigo； her silk； and her cotton；〃 would greatly tend to enrich India and endear Britain to her。 〃Whatever may be thought of the Government of Mr。 Hastings and those who immediately preceded him for these last forty years； India has certainly enjoyed such a Government as none of the provinces of the Persian or the Roman Empire ever enjoyed for so great a length of time in succession； and； indeed； one almost as new in the annals of modern Europe as in those of India。〃
Carey found one of the greatest obstacles to agricultural progress to be the fact that not one European owned a single foot of the soil； 〃a singular fact in the history of nations；〃 removed only about the time of his own death。 His remarks on this have a present significance：
〃It doubtless originated in a laudable care to preserve our Indian fellow…subjects from insult and violence； which it was feared could scarcely be done if natives of Britain； wholly unacquainted with the laws and customs of the people； were permitted to settle indiscriminately in India。 While the wisdom of this regulation at that time is not impugned； however； it may not be improper to inquire whether at the present time a permission to hold landed property； to be granted by Government to British subjects in India； according to their own discretion； might not be of the highest benefit to the country； and in some degree advantageous to the Government itself。
〃The objections which have been urged against any measure of this nature are chiefly that the indiscriminate admission of Europeans into the country might tend to alienate the minds of the inhabitants from Britain； or possibly lead to its disruption from Britain in a way similar to that of America。 Respecting this latter circumstance； it is certain that； in the common course of events； a greater evil could scarcely befall India。 On the continuance of her connection with Britain is suspended her every hope relative to improvement； security； and happiness。 The moment India falls again under the dominion of any one or any number of native princes； all hope of mental improvement； or even of security for person or property； will at once vanish。 Nothing could be then expected but scenes of rapine； plunder； bloodshed； and violence； till its inhabitants were sealed over to irremediable wretchedness； without the most distant ray of hope respecting the future。 And were it severed from Britain in any other way； the reverse felt in India would be unspeakably great。 At present all the learning； the intelligence； the probity； the philanthropy； the weight of character existing in Britain； are brought to bear on India。 There is scarcely an individual sustaining a part in the administration of affairs who does not feel the weight of that tribunal formed by the suffrages of the wise and the good in Britain； though he be stationed in the remotest parts of India。 Through the medium of a free press the wisdom； probity； and philanthropy which pervade Britain exercise an almost unbounded sway over every part of India； to the incalculable advantage of its inhabitants； constituting a triumph of virtue and wisdom thus unknown to the ancients； and which will increase in its effects in exact proportion to the increase in Britain of justice； generosity； and love to mankind。 Let India； however； be severed from Britain； and the weight of these is felt no more。。。
〃It is a fact that in case of outrage or injury it is in most cases easier for a native to obtain justice against a European； than for a European to obtain redress if insulted or wronged by a native。 This circumstance； attended as it may be with some inconvenience； reflects the highest honour on the British name； it is a fact of which India affords almost the first instance on record in the annals of history。 Britain is nearly the first nation in whose foreign Courts of Justice a tenderness for the native inhabitants habitually prevails over all the partialities arising from country and education。 If there ever existed a period； therefore； i
