adopted may, under any circumstances, be deemed a legitimate source of c<strong>on</strong>gratulati<strong>on</strong> to those who originated them, as well as to those who carried them out. 162. Few, if any, will, I apprehend, doubt the necessity <strong>and</strong> expediency of interventi<strong>on</strong> in the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur, after perusing this memoir; <strong>and</strong> as few will be disposed to questi<strong>on</strong> the advantage to the people resulting from that interventi<strong>on</strong>, <strong>and</strong> the subsequent c<strong>on</strong>quest of Sind. If it be thought that the state of society existing in the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur <strong>and</strong> Kutch, previous to our interventi<strong>on</strong>, be too highly coloured, or that the power of the Desert b<strong>and</strong>itti of those days be overrated, I appeal to the Government records of the period. If, <strong>on</strong> the other h<strong>and</strong>, it be thought that the present social state <strong>and</strong> prospects of the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur are too str<strong>on</strong>gly c<strong>on</strong>trasted with what first caused our interventi<strong>on</strong> there, I appeal to the Commissi<strong>on</strong>er in Sind’s report * of 1856, <strong>and</strong> to an extract from a letter from the same authority to Government, † quoted as a note below, <strong>and</strong> to the paucity of crime <strong>and</strong> other significant signs of the times, <strong>on</strong> record in the Government archives. Murder <strong>and</strong> rapine have been supplanted by law <strong>and</strong> order; fear <strong>and</strong> dread of the b<strong>and</strong>itti have given way to security of pers<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> property; the reckless disregard of the laws of nature, exemplified in the chopping off of women’s heads, when even suspected of infidelity, has given way to a wholesome regard for the laws <strong>and</strong> justice of the ruling power. In short, where all was chaos, order now prevails, <strong>and</strong> men gain their livelihood by trade, cultivati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>and</strong> other lawful pursuits, instead of robbing their neighbours <strong>and</strong> the such like. 163. The gratitude of the people generally—in saying generally, I speak advisedly, to prevent its being thought that <strong>on</strong>ly the chiefs <strong>and</strong> those who enjoy grants <strong>and</strong> immunities are included,—is dem<strong>on</strong>strated in a variety of ways, though, from the nature <strong>and</strong> positi<strong>on</strong> of the districts, <strong>and</strong> the little importance attached to them, they have but few opportunities of showing in a marked way their good feelings towards the British Government. When an opportunity did occur, by the visit of the Commissi<strong>on</strong>er in Sind to those districts in 1854- 55, they took advantage of it to assure him of their sense of the liberality <strong>and</strong> justice of, <strong>and</strong> of their devoti<strong>on</strong> to, the ruling power. 164. Aware how much Natives appreciate the mark of respect <strong>and</strong> c<strong>on</strong>fidence of being allowed to appear armed, I have rather encouraged it am<strong>on</strong>gst the heads of tribes <strong>and</strong> leading members of society than otherwise. It is a trifle in itself, but is thought a good deal of by them. 165. It may be as well to observe, before closing this memoir, that statute or forced labour is unknown in the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur. If any man or woman has been called <strong>on</strong> to * The report is published in Selecti<strong>on</strong>s from the Records of the Bombay Government, No. XL., <strong>and</strong> is dated 21st January 1856. † Extract from letter No. 151, of 11th April 1855, from the Commissi<strong>on</strong>er in Sind to the Right H<strong>on</strong>orable Lord Elphinst<strong>on</strong>e, Governor <strong>and</strong> President in Council.— I look up<strong>on</strong> his (Lieutenant Raikes’) management of the Thurr districts as a perfect model for the administrati<strong>on</strong> of a very delicate <strong>and</strong> difficult charge—an opini<strong>on</strong> in which I trust Government will c<strong>on</strong>cur, when the present heavy press of current duty allows of my completing my l<strong>on</strong>g-promised report <strong>on</strong> the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Memoir</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com 59
work for the State <strong>on</strong> any occasi<strong>on</strong>, without a fair <strong>and</strong> full remunerati<strong>on</strong> for his or her labour, it has been in direct oppositi<strong>on</strong> to repeated orders <strong>on</strong> the subject. 166. In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, I have <strong>on</strong>ly to express a hope that the grants, immunities <strong>and</strong> privileges that have been bestowed <strong>and</strong> enjoyed by the people of the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur, <strong>and</strong> of which they have shown themselves alike deserving <strong>and</strong> sensible, may be c<strong>on</strong>firmed to them in perpetuity, with such periodical modificati<strong>on</strong>s as altered circumstances may render expedient. S. . RAIKES, Magistrate of the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Memoir</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> the Thurr <strong>and</strong> Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com 60
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