Page:Bulandshahr- Or, Sketches of an Indian District- Social, Historical and Architectural.djvu/17

 This system of minimizing the personal influence of the district officer not only contains the seeds of possible political danger in the future, but it is also fatal to the growth of social enterprize in the actual present. No oriental will exert himself except under the immediate influence of an individual leader. He likes to have his work seen and appreciated at once and has not sufficient perseverance or confidence in himself to bear up against the disappointment of a long-deferred reward. A Magistrate and Collector, who is not afraid of provoking official jealousy, and who refuses to entertain the prevalent delusion that Indian ideas, whenever they differ from European, are necessarily barbarous, will find in any district, whatever the particular bent of his own tastes may be, an ample field for beneficent action; and he may depend upon the most generous support, provided only that it is not demanded as by a master but solicited as from a fellow-worker, and that the object is such as is calculated to conciliate native sentiment.

Neither Hindus nor Muhammadans often hoard their superfluous wealth. Either it is lavished in utter frivolities, such as fire-works and dancing girls, or it is given to so-called religious institutions, which—if Muhammadan schools—are for the most part foci of sedition, or—if Hindu temples—are hot-beds of profligacy and licentiousness. Or it may be, it is employed with less injury to morals, but with greater prejudice to æsthetic taste by the erection of such costly and hideous buildings as the Dánpur Gate, which forms the subject of one of my illustrations. If the rich native gentry can be put in a better way of spending their money, the influence exerted for this result seems to me to be well exerted.

It is objected that whatever is done under such influence is done for the sake of Government reward in the shape of a title or similar social distinction. But I believe that this is seldom the first motive. A reasonable pride in beautifying one's own town is a feeling which exists almost every where; though it is totally ignored by the official Philistine, who has