INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

116 A FEW GENElUL CRITICISJfS.
or nothing for the opinions expressed in their
press. It is still, to a very great extent, tnle
regarding famines, that "to the native mind
. the question of responsibility probably
would not occur in such cases at this hour, except
within the narrow circle influenced and
instructed by the Anglo-Indian press." *'
Again, the official class in India, taken as a
body, are, within certain limits, among the
picked men of a nation. There is no necessity
to discuss the condition of the Indian Civil
Service as at present constituted; but, on the
whole, I think the Service is allowed to be a
good one. Besides its purely civil element, it
comprises many military men,-men who therefore
necessarily prefer work, and hard work too,
to an idle life-men who have spirit as well as
ability, and who may be said to be among the
best officers of the army. It should also be
understood that "Civil Service," in the sense
here used, includes many professions and occupations-clergymen,
medical men, engineers,
geologists, &c., whose opinions are all represented.
All these have their own varied ex-
• Dr Hunter.