security of that empire;* and, although this
opinion cannot now be avowed, the principle
is still admitted and acted upon to the fullest
extent. During the last fifty years, English
settlers have suffered much from Company's
beardless magistrates, or collectors scarcely
out of their 'teens. But long years have done
much to sear the consciences of Indigo
planters and others, and have raised up
amongst the Mofussilites a race of Slashers,
who repay the government in kind.

The upper and lower provinces of Bengal
have an extent of three hundred thousand
square miles, with a population of about eighty
millions. The judicial affairs of this vast
country being entrusted to about sixty Com-
pany's judges and magistrates, and some few-
scores of uncovenanted and native magnates,
it must be obvious that a very little laxity
must render the administration of justice a
farce,—an impossibility.

For a long time Mr. Slasher met the East
Indigo judicials on their own ground.
Latterly, however, he has changed his tactics,
and now stands on the defensive within his
own territories. The course of a Mofussil
suit would be pretty much as follows: A
Zemindar, or Hindoo landholder, is desirous
of decoying the ryots of a certain village held
in rent by Slasher on behalf of the Mineral
Company. The former pays the ryots
money to favour his suit, and they refuse to
work for the latter. Slasher lays an action,
and pays into the hands of his native lawyer
a round sum in rupees for secret services,
without which defeat would be certain, and
with which success may not be quite assured.
Some of the Zemindar's most active partisans
are carried off and heard no more of, whilst
Slasher loses two of his best hands in an
affray. The Zemindar proves by means of
forged papers that Slasher's claim to the
ryots' services had long since expired.
Slasher proves by documents of equal
authenticity that they had, at a later date, made
themselves over to him. Nevertheless,
Slasher is cast, after a delay of many months.

Finding his antagonist the Zemindar, not
content with making free use of the disputed
ryots, but persisting in attempting other
encroachments, Slasher got together a strong
body of his retainers, amongst whom were
many Simthals, and proceeded to the village,
taking possession of his enemy's quarters, and
of such stores, implements, pigs, and elderly
ryots as had been left behind in the confusion
of a precipitate flight. The ryots
having made off to the jungle, and it being
more than probable that the enemy would
return in great force, the mineral manager
secured as many pigs and as much rice as he
cared for, and then, despite the supplications
of the old folks, set fire to the village and
made off with his booty, leaving behind
him a sad lesson to both Zemindar and ryots.
Impunity has emboldened Slasher to such
a degree, that he now sets all officials at open
defiance. A warrant is served on him by a
peon of the adjacent court: he tears the
paper into shreds before the frightened
messenger; and, as a warning to all such gentry
for the future, orders his burkandasses to
administer three dozen lashes on his shoulders.
Of course the mineral manager is served with
no more warrants.

It was not long since that the darogah, or
police-superintendant of the district, levied
tolls from all the boats passing downward
towards Calcutta; detaining them until the
black-mail was paid. Slasher knew that
complaint would be in vain from any one,
but especially from him; so he resolved to
take the remedy in his own hands. He
despatched one of his own boats well manned
and armed down the river. The usual fee was
demanded and refused. To enforce payment,
the unsuspecting darogah went on board, ami
was at once seized, bound hand and foot, and
conveyed to the stern manager, who forthwith
had him tied up before several hundred
of his people, and caused to be administered
to him a lesson similar to that bestowed on
the magistrate's peon; much to the delight of
the assembled villagers, who appear to be
born with an instinctive dread and hatred of
all police authorities in the Mofussil.

Slasher's power throughout the Rainy-
grainge district is something extraordinary:
it borders on the marvellous, and one needs
not a little faith to believe in its omnipotence.
Any ordinary dacoity, assault, or
murder, is pretty certain to go undetected.
But so sure as any offence or crime is
perpetrated within the immediate range
of the mineral settlements, so sure are my
friend's burkandasses or constables to be
in full scent within a dozen hours. No
crime goes unpunished about him; and, as
a consequence, there is very little crime.
To be sure, his proceedings are not strictly
legal; but they have the great merit of being
extremely efficacious.

Not the least singular part of this state of
things in our district is, that villagers having
disputes and complaints amongst themselves,
always carry their cases before Slasher; who
devotes two hours daily to the hearing of
these voluntary pleadings, much to the
satisfaction of all concerned, who know
perfectly well the hopelessness of resorting
to any of the Mofussil courts for
justice. I cannot give a better idea of
Slasher's daring Mofussil character—a
character that has been moulded by
circumstances into its present shape—than by
saying that when the Santhal rebellion was
defying all the efforts of our military, he
wrote to the Bengal authorities, offering to
put an end to the rising in a fortnight,
provided government would supply him
with a thousand stand of arms and ammunition,
and ask no questions. The authorities

* Papers relating to the Settlement of Europeans in
India, pp. 13-22.