| Description | William notes that matters are smooth now, but they have been labouring 'like drunken men'. The planters have had such a shock that the least touch agitates them. There is no more disguising the crushing weight on the ryotts. Indigo planting, the prop of British enterprise, is 'a great parasite against which the ryott complained in vain'. The matter has filled him with horror at fellow countrymen 'made savage by the loss of ill-gotten gains'. He emphasises the villainy he has seen, but now the planters dare not resort to violence. However they have flooded the courts with forged agreements. They have declared these good, on their honour, to judges, but have not dared to come into court to declare it on oath, sending servants instead. The model planter of the district, Mr [James] Forlong has backed his servants and is now defending them in the Court of Sessions. They burned down the factory and charged twenty-four ryotts by name. They are now on trial for perjury. However the planters are not alone in making false complaints and whole batches of witnesses are being sent for perjury; it horrifies William to see Englishmen telling 'the most barefaced lies'. William has two railwaymen in court for imprisoning a subcontractor, and their defence was that the man 'had claimed shelter from the coolies who were nearly killing him'. The railwaymen changed ground and were contradicted by another European, admitting a debt of 250 rupees as a motive for the crime. Before sentencing, they protested that they were in India to improve the morals of the place and came with Christian sentiments, with many toher excuses. William is appalled by their referring to their birthright as Englishmen and truthtellers while using the lowest of trickery. The season is now over, but William thinks the planters will have considerable difficultes next year, as those who have made cash payments have done so in bad spirit. He discusses the points of view of planters and ryotts and believes that the new Act X of 1859 is beginning to bear fruit in giving a new sense of protection and liberty to the ryotts. William outlines the consequences including the weight of work caused by the new Income Tax, made worse by the death of Wilson. A man of real weight must be sent out to take his place, and Wiliam thinks that Gladstone would despise such a post. He gives news of mail and of Johnny [John Herschel]. William encloses specimens of nature printing: 'I want to introduce the practice of signing agreements so by printing the first two fingers on to the bond - the process is simplicity itself and the seal is undeniable'. |