Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/204

RAJAH OF RUTLAM. satisfaction to the people; and all middle men and farmers of villages have been abolished. The revenue, which was Rs. 328,755 in 1864, has risen to Rs. 542,568 in 1870, and deducting all expenditure, leaves a comfortable surplus.

Among other essential reforms, we find it mentioned that Meer Shahamut Ali is using his best endeavours to abolish the system of early marriages, and to persuade Rajpoot families to contract their expenses in marriage ceremonies, from which infanticide proceeds, a crime still very prevalent; but, as the Agent to the Governor General observes, "in the free discussion of the barbarous practice, with Rajpoots, face to face, by men like the Superintendent, more good will ensue than in the orders and exhortations of British officers." We remark, too, with pleasure, the progress of schools and dispensaries, of roads, and of public works of many kinds, and consider the employment of Meer Shahamut All, as a subordinate political agent, to have been a high success. Cannot more men like him be found? No minor states of Central India are reported upon in such high terms as Rutlam, Jowrah, and Bhopal, and the progress is evidently real and sound in all.