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LIFE AND LABOUR OF THE PEOPLE OF INDIA BY ABDULLAH YUSUF-a-tI M. A., LL. M. CANTAB., i. c. s., BARRISTER-AT-LAW WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM DRAWINGS AND PHOTO GRAPHS BY NATIVE ARTISTS, AND A DESIGN ON TH1 COVER AFTER AN ORNAMENT IN THE ROYAL PALACI AT DELHI For wel I wot that ye ban her-biforn Of making ropen, and lad awey the corn And I come after, glening here and there, And am full glad if I may finde an ere Of any goodly word that ye han left. CHAUCER, LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W 1907 Fiontitpiece SHARIFA BEGAM, DAUGHTER OF ABBAS TYABJI, ESQ. Music, too, has been cultivated not only on the haclh eyed piano, but on the Bin, an ancient musical instrument of India p 285 TO SIR GEORGE BIRDWOOD, M. DBDIN, K. C. IB., C. S I, U, X, WHO TO HIS SPECIAL INSIGHT OF THE INNER CONSCIOUSNESS OP THE EAST, ADDS AN EVER-HELPFUL SYMPATHY WITH THE ARTISTIC AND LITERACY LIFE OF THE IMMEMORIAL PEOPLE OF INDIA, THIS LITTLE BOOK IS DEDICATED, AS AN AFFECTIONATE APPRECIATION OF THE MANY KINDNESSES AND COURTESIES RECEIVED FROM HIM BY THE AUTHOR PREFACE AN account of the genesis of this book may help to explain some of its peculiarities. The nucleus of the volume was formed by certain lectures which the writer delivered at the Passmore Edwards Institute and elsewhere. During the autumn and winter of 1905-6 India occupied a good deal of the attention of the British public, on account of the memorable tour of their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, in that country. The writer happened to be on furlough in England, and was frequently requested to speak on Indian questions. At the Passmore Edwards Institute he undertook a series of six lectures. They began in the small lecture - room, but week after week the audience increased, until the warder had to give us the largest hall for the purpose. This showed that the subject attracted considerable attention, and that the Metropolis oi the Empire was by no means as indifferent tc Indian questions as is sometimes assumed. The writer had the good fortune to have in his audience or in the Chair some of the mosl 13C x PREFACE distinguished men and women of letters, as well as some well-known authorities on Indian matters. They were pleased not only to approve of the method of presentment, but even to suggest that the matter was of sufficient importance to be presented to a wider public than that to which it had hitherto been submitted. The papers were, therefore, subjected to a thorough revision, and with some additions are now laid before the read ing public. Some new ground is covered in these pages, but the main interest to English readers will lie in the fresh point of view from which all questions are approached. To an Indian, looking at things from within, they must necessarily wear a some what different aspect from that in which they appear to the numerous administrators, judges, business men, and travellers, English and foreign, who visit India or make it their home. At the same time an endeavour has been made to avoid all controversial topics. A comprehensive picture of the life of the people of India and an estimate of their social tendencies need not include any matter which cannot be accepted by men of all shades of opinion. Mrs Humphry Ward presiding at one of the lectures, was kind enough to mention three qualifications in the present writer for dealing with Indian life. In the first place, being born PREFACE xiand bred in India, he is of the people. In the second place, his association with the Government of the country enables him to view life also from the administrative point of view viz. as a whole, and with special reference to social organisation and cohesion...