Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/34

Rh the scenes and sees the working of the machinery. To him, if he has got any heart at all, come the grey-beards of the village next to his camp, to tell their parish griefs, nine-tenths of which come under one head — the corruption of their own countrymen in office — and the other tenth the blindness of the white Sáhib-Zillah (district officer). And no feature in his latter days was then more marked than the fierce war he waged against all "Jacks-in-office," whether black or white.

'Another experience which he laid to heart when a surveyor, and gave vigorous effect to as a governor, was the duty and policy of light assessments, the cruelty and desolation of heavy ones.

'Another was the superiority of work done out of doors, surrounded by the people, to work done in court, surrounded by untrustworthy officials.

'And another, which became a cardinal maxim in his mind, was this, that roads were the first want of any country and any government.

'"Push on your roads," he used to say; "open out your district. The farmer, the soldier, the policeman, the traveller, the merchant — all want roads. Cut roads in every direction."

'Roads and canals are not much thought of except as the first conduce occasionally to our personal comfort. The great points, the traffic of the country, the inter-communication of districts, the facilities of markets, and such matters, are generally less considered than the chance of the great man once a year going to shikár. Who that has travelled much about the country, and witnessed the poor man digging his hackery out of the ruts on the public highway, while shortly after he finds miles of almost unfrequented road in good order, will think this picture exaggerated?

'Every district should have not only its military road — its Via Appia — of the most durable material, connected in all