Page:The Indian Civil Service as a profession.djvu/9

 down a gang of brigands, defend a fort, lay out a cholera camp, frame the Imperial Budget, or do many other things not specially provided for in his early education; but, whatever may befall, he will never be asked to perform the routine duties of an office clerk.

The moment he arrives in India, the young 'civilian,' to use the current Anglo-Indian term, will find himself figuring in the Gazette as an Assistant Magistrate and Collector, lawfully empowered to inflict a month's hard labour and fifty rupees fine upon his erring fellow-creatures. For the first year or two he will not be of much account officially; and it is just possible that his seniors may occasionally find him more inconvenient than useful. But, in due course, he emerges from the chrysalis or 'griffin' stage, and becomes a 'full-powered' or 'first-class' magistrate. During his apprenticeship he will be required to pass examinations according to both the Lower and Higher Standards in the vernacular language of his province, the codes