PREFACE.

IN 1884, on the invitation of the Historical Board, I gave a course of lectures on India before the University of Cambridge. They formed the basis of the present work, but they have been much altered and amplified.

I have to thank Sir WILLIAM HUNTER for allowing me to use for this book the map prepared for his Imperial Gazetteer of India.'

October 1888.

JOHN STRACHEY.

CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTORY.

English ignorance regarding India-India not a country but a continent

-The name Hindustan-The great differences between the countries

of India-Bengal and Northern India-No countries or nations of

the European type-Sir Alfred Lyall's' Asiatic Studies'-No unity

in India, physical, political, social, or religious-Professor Seeley on

the conquest of India-The English not foreigners the British

Government-The growth of a single Indian nationality impossible

-Danger of generalisations-The main features of Indian geography

-The Indo-Gangetic plain-The countries included in it-Presiden-

cies and provinces-The table-land of Central and Southern India

-Area and population of British provinces and Native States-

Physical causes of the great differences between the countries of

India-Sindh and Bengal-Meteorology-The monsoons-The

periodical rains and their distribution-Mr. Blanford on the con-

trast between Indian climates-The Himálaya-Its influence on

India-Its geography-The great rivers of India-The Ganges and

Gogra-British and Native Himálayan districts-The Kumaon

Himalaya-Scenery of the Himalaya.

LECTURE II.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT IN INDIA AND AT HOME.

Presidencies and provinces-The Presidency of Bengal-First constitu-

tion of the Government-The Regulating Act of George III.—

Hastings and his Council-Changes between 1773 and 1833-Re-

newal of the East India Company's Charter in 1833-The Governor-

General of India in Council-Separation of the North-Western

Provinces from Bengal-Renewal of the Charter in 1853-A Lieu-

tenant-Governor appointed for Bengal-The mutiny of the Native

army--Transfer of the Government to the Crown-The Indian

Councils Act of 1861-The existing constitution of the Supreme and

Provincial Governments-The Governor-General in Council-The

Indian legislatures-Their powers-The Governments of Madras

and Bombay-The Lieutenant-Governors of Bengal, the North-

Western Provinces, and Punjab-The Chief Commissioners of

Burma, the Central Provinces, and Assam-Former cumbrous mode

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Revenue derived from taxation-The Salt Tax-Sources of supply of salt

abolition-The present system-Results of recent reforms-The

-Former system of levying duties-The Inland Customs Line-Its

policy that should be followed-The Stamp Revenue-Excise on

spirits and drugs-Misrepresentations on this subject-Principles

tration-Customs duties-The duties on cotton goods-Free trade

of excise administration-Assessed taxes-The Income Tax-Regis-

mission of duties on cotton goods-Export duty on rice-The

in China-Abolition of import duties-The results-Effect of re-

enacte

Cvil P

growth of the foreign trade of India-Conditions under which the

trade is carried on-Imports of gold and silver-Excess of exports

over imports-Charges in England on account of India-The man-

ner in which these charges are met-The currency-Fall in the gold

value of silver-The loss by exchange-Serious consequences and

causes for anxiety.

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LECTURE V.

PUBLIC WORKS-THE PUBLIC DEBT-FAMINE INSURANCE.

Mr. J. S. Mill on the duties of Governments-Famines in India-Neces-

sity for roads, railways, and canals-Absence of roads under Native

Governments-Their condition under the East India Company-

-Measures taken by Lord Dalhousie-Railway construction-

Creation of Public Works Department-Progress up to 1887-Irri-

gation works in Northern India-Canals of Mohammedan sovereigns

-The Ganges and other canals-Their value-Irrigation works in

Central and Southern India and in Sindh-Expenditure on railways

and irrigation works-The manner of providing funds-Guaranteed

companies-Policy of borrowing for investment in public works-

Barracks and hospitals for British troops-The Public Debt-Divi-

sion into Ordinary and Public Works Debt-Increase of debt owing

to the Mutinies of 1857-Subsequent decrease of Ordinary Debt-

Investments of the Government in railways-Railways constructed

by guaranteed companies-The financial results of the policy of

borrowing for public works-Expenditure from revenue on public

works-Insurance against famine-The policy adopted.

LECTURE VI.

THE LAWS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

The foundations of the existing judicial system-Regulations and Acts

-The laws and the courts before the transfer of the Government

to the Crown-Regulation and Non-Regulation Provinces-The

Indian Law Commission-Lord Macaulay and the Penal Code-The

progress of codification-Sir Henry Maine on the Indian Codes-

Sir James Stephen on the Indian Penal Code-The establishment of

High Courts-The Code of Criminal Procedure-Constitution of the

Criminal Courts Criminal jurisdiction over European British sub-

jects-Changes in the law in 1884-The codification of the Civil Law

-Hindu and Mohammedan law-Chapters of the Civil Code already

enacted-Simplification and consolidation of the law--The Code of

Civil Procedure-Constitution of the Civil Courts-Civil jurisdic-

tion over Europeans-The 'Black Act' of 1836-Lord Macaulay-

The Native judges-Defects in the existing judicial system.

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