If the reports of certain of the officials of the
Indian Forest Department are not tinged with the spirit of romance, we have by accident done a very picturesque thing. Unknown to ourselves, we have contrived to annex a Utopia. Every one knows how Mr. Ruskin and his followers rage at our smoky towns, our roaring streets, our lack of peace and happiness, the squalor and hideousness of our life, and protest against the wickedness of trade, the immorality of taking interest for one's money, and the evil uses of a coinage. Between Assam and our newly acquired possessions in Burmah, lies the little Hill State of Minapur, whose capital, Imphail, exactly fulfils the ideals of such dreamers. The city—it contains forty thousand people— stands in a clearing in a dense forest, and its streets are deep forest glades, lined with splendid trees. Hidden away in a sylvan covert is the Rajah's palace, and round it are grouped the houses of his favourites. Imphail is, in fact, a city of villages, or rather of suburban villas, for every homestead has its garden. No thought of dull toil, however, degrades the inhabitants. There are no vehicles, no shops, no artisans, all trade is forbidden, no coinage exists, and, best of all, political distinction and Court favour are gained by expertness in the sport of polo. Yet all day the woodland ways of Imphail are thronged with smiling, happy men and women, none of whom show any signs of ever having had to undergo the strain of work. How, we ask, on reading of all this happiness, is an existence such as that led at Imphail to be accomplished ? Unfortunately, the answer is not very satisfactory. The people of Imphail only manage to lead their blissful and ideal lives by living upon somebody else,—or, in the words of the report, " by pressing on the persecuted agriculturists" of the country districts. Once again, in fact, it is made clear that ideal communities are possible only on one condition. The life at Athens was, intellectually and materially, well-sigh perfect, but it was purchased at the price of slavery. Only through slavery in some of its many forms can we dispense with the ugliness and roughness of life. Even the Socialists see this, for they propose a bondage of man to the State which would be as intolerable as slavery itself.
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