THE BURMESE UTOPIA.
go THE EDITOR OF THE " $PECTATOR:1
am afraid the Indian Forest Officer's report on Manipur (not Minapur), as noticed by you in the Spectator of August 24th, must be characterised as largely partaking- of, and not only "tinged with," the spirit of romance, as you leniently remark. I can imagine the grim smile with which the inhabitants would hear their country described in the. glowing terms used by the impressionable writer. First let me remark that Manipur has not been annexed, but has been a "protected State," with a British Political Agent, since the. Burmese War of 1825; and for the last twenty-one years, an annual Report has been regularly sent in, and either separately printed and published, or (during the last few years) embodied in the "Assam Report." As many of these Reports are ex- tremely full, and the truth very plainly stated, there was no- need for an outsider to put his views in print, except on the- principle that seems to hold good with "globe-trotters,"--viz.,. that a few days' casual experience is more valuable than the- matured experience of those who have lived in a country for years. As, however, reports of this kind do lead to wrong impressions, permit me to make a few comments.
First, Imphal (not Imphail) is not the name of the town,
but simply signifies "the capital," the name being Munneepore,. or Manipur, as now written—i.e., the "city of gems "—and the population is about 60,000, not 40,000. The city stands in a, wide, treeless plain, and, with exception of two or three small sacred groves and a few old trees, mostly " peepul " and " banian," here and there, depends for its trees on those planted by the inhabitants in their private compounds, every hut being detached and surrounded by its own very unsanitary enclosure ; the large palace enclosure is peculiarly bare, and would give most people, even the natives of Eastern Bengal, little idea of grandeur. The roads can in no sense be said to be lined with trees. There is, as I have said, an old tree here and there ; but beyond that, there are only the small quick-growing trees and tall grass in the untidy hedges of the compounds, which look pretty enough, it is true, but are rather too much- like the edge of a scrub-jungle, and can in no way be compared to an avenue.
Then, as to no work being done in the capital. Every man: works for the Maharajah ten days out of forty, and ceaseless activity prevails within the private enclosures, where every trade is practised. There are only two or three wheeled vehicles, but there are plenty of light sledges, excellent for the country, and human vehicles without end. There are plenty of stalls every evening in the great bazaar, when all buying and selling is done. Few countries contain so many artisans, the best of whom, far surpassing any to be found- between Benares and China (always excepting Calcutta), live in the capital. Trade is not forbidden, and never has been,. but is largely carried on ; there is, and always has been, a coinage in bell-metal, the coin being called " sel," and our rupees are universally used, and valued according to- the exchange of the day, a rupee being equal to from 400. to 480 sel. Polo-playing, Manipur being its original home,. naturally carries great weight ; but other qualities far outweigh it,—the strong man, the successful sycophant, and the boon- companion never fail to occupy good places. That the people, owing to the habit of paying great attention to their personal' appearance when out-of-doors, appear well-to-do and happy, is true ; but any one who lives among them and observes their inner life could tell a different tale. Justice is an article unknown, and slavery prevails to a sad extent. Under the strong rule of the old Maharajah things were bad enough ; now; under his weak successor, all the numerous brothers have their little courts of injustice, and are all so many centres of oppres-
sion. Formerly all this could not have existed. A Rajah, or- his strong Minister, as soon as he came to the throne, speedily put an end to his superfluous male relatives by drowning (alL the adults had doubtless deserved death a dozen times at reast)-; so that only one oppressor remained, and if his rule proved too severe, the people revolted, and put in his place some one who promised better, and in this way substantial reforms were brought about. Alas ! those rough-and-ready days. are gone ; the iron hand of the British Government holds. the man who. rules, by its grace, firmly in his place ; the people ery, "How long P" but "it is a far cry to Loch Awe."
Manipur has twice done excellent service to the Government of India, during the Naga revolt in 1879, and during the Burmese Wax of 1885-86; if properly worked, it might do much more. I should add that annexation is not the remedy for its ills ; the people often cry out for it but our cumbersome system would soon be unpopular. A little more judicious interference, and a long minority—i.e., the management of the State by a skilful and sympathetic Political Agent with the powers of a Rajah—and a modified native system intelligently carried out, would soon make it really the happiest portion of Eastern India. Would not the same system work wonders in Colonel, late Political Agent, Manipur.
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