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Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books
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The heart of a continent : vol.1 |
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Kush Mountains or the river Oxus, then trade will increase,
railways and good roads will be constructed, and oppression
by petty officials be unknown. The Central Asian question is
therefore one of great interest to them; every move in the
game is watched with keenness, and the relative strength and
probable intentions of the two great powers, whom they regard
as struggling for the supremacy of Asia, are freely discussed
by them.
It is naturally difficult for an Englishman to get at their
real opinions as to the respective merits of British and Russian
rule; but, as merchants, I think they highly appreciate the
benefits which are conferred by an administration which makes
such efforts to improve the communications of the country, by
the construction of railways, roads, and telegraphs; which adds
so greatly to the production of the country by the cutting of
irrigation canals; and which encourages trade by removing all
duties that are not absolutely necessary, as the British do.
They hate the system of law in India, though they believe in
the justice of the individual officer, and I am not altogether
sure that they do not prefer administrations where the decision
of law may be less just, but will probably be less costly, and
will certainly be more rapid. But they consider that, on the
whole, their trade interests are furthered more under British
than under any other rule.
In regard, however, to the comparative strength of the two
rival powers of Asia, there is not a doubt that they consider
the Russian more powerful than the British. Even if they
have not really got the greater strength, the Russians succeed
better in producing an impression of it than do the British.
Their numbers in Central Asia are really very small, but they
are much more numerous in proportion to the number of
natives than are the British in India. Then, again, the Russians,
when they strike, strike very heavily; and when they advance
they do not go back, as the British generally find some plausible
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461
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471
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482
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