Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/72

68 principles which he enunciated have been carried out, and England has conferred on India a boon of inestimable value; while the facility of rapid communication has enabled the State to reduce its armies, to provide security for the population against famine, and to place its political relations on a much firmer basis.

It was in the summer of the year 1844 that the little war in Kolhápur and Sáwantwári occurred. Prompt measures suppressed the insurrection; and Sir Henry Hardinge at once approved of the appointment of Colonel Outram, who brought the affair to a speedy termination. The entire authority in the State of Kolhápur was vested in British agents during the minority of the young Rájá. The country soon became perfectly tranquil. The forts were dismantled and the hereditary militia disbanded; while due punishment was inflicted on the leaders of the insurrection.

Another subject which required the attention of Sir Henry Hardinge during the first year of his rule was the prevalence of human sacrifice among the Kandhs, or Kondhs. This wild tribe, occupying the hill tracts on the borders of Orissa and Ganjám, had just been brought under effectual British supervision. The British officers ascertained that the Kandhs were addicted to the practice of offering human victims, 'bought with a price,' to the Earth-god, in order to propitiate his favour at seed-time and harvest. By an Act of the Legislative Council (Act XXI. of 1845) a