These statistics, by comparing the tabulated returns of two periods separated by an interval of fourteen years, illustrate very plainly two characteristics which, according to all Indian experience, mark and signify rapid improvement in the Police of a country. Heinous crimes steadily, though sometimes intermittently, diminish to a certain standard minimum; petty offences increase (in the Police Returns at least) up to a standard maxiAt the earliest stage, when the Police is bad, most of the offences committed, especially the minor ones, are not known at all to the Administration; and very few are тит. punished. The first sign of mending is, under our system, when many more offences are reported, though no more may be punished. In this phase all heinous crimes are reported, and most of the petty offences. For a Police Force, as for a Government generally, the most dangerous period is that when it is under process of reform; and in 1864 this critical period coincided with events which would have taxed the strength and capacity of any Police. The Manchester cotton merchants poured silver into Berar; they scattered it broadcast about the country, and dacoits swarmed in after the silver like wasps after honey. Hence 194 dacoities in that year. But this was an abnormal season. As things continue to improve, the heinous crimes begin to diminish, but petty offences still increase greatly on paper, and probably more of them are in fact committed. Undoubtedly a very large proportion of the increase in these minor crimes shown by the Returns is due to the organization which now almost harasses the people, by methodically insisting that every small theft (which would be absolutely beneath notice in less orderly times) must be reported. But we must also allow for the effects which are produced by a great augmentation of wealth and population, and by the incessant circulation of valuables which a spreading trade causes throughout the country and along all the roads. The statistics of Civil Justice give some measure of the extent to which the general business of the Province has increased in the last fifteen years. Nevertheless, even after allowance has been made for these things, the contrast between the two periods is, according to the figures, remarkable and unexpected. We must assume the earlier returns to have been very defective, since it is quite certain that security to person and property is now (1870) far better than in 1853; while the Berár criminal statistics at this day stand comparison with those for any other Administration. The territorial area upon which these returns were taken is not quite the same for both periods; but it has not changed to any important extent. GENERAL INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS. Abul Fazl reduces the Forts of Narnála, Gáwilgarh, and Kherla Principal tribes of ... ... ... 185 ... 129 245 ... ... 256 ... 97, 255 64 Average number of Acres to each, in Akola District Ahmadnagar, kings of ... ... ... 217 219 ... 20, 127, 135, 247, 248, 249, 250, 253 |