rather than their widowed daughters should remarry, would commit suicide. Practical reformers will put these resultant evils of the proposed measure in the balance, and see if they will not outweigh the anticipated good. I, for one, humbly conceive that they will.

22. MANMOHANDAS DAYALDAS.-It is useless to have a legislative measure in the matter (of infant marriage). The chastity of widows has disappeared with the putting down of the practice of becoming Sati. Girls should therefore be married between the ages of 8 and 12. If it be desired to preserve public health, then the best course is to drive away all prostitutes from cities. They are a source of immense mischief.

23. PANDIT PANCHANADI GUTTULAL GHANASHYAMJI OF BOMBAY.

Vijnyaneshwara says:--

"When a country is subjugated, the usages, laws, (and), family customs (prevailing therein) should be preserved intact" and adds "when a foreign country comes under subjection, the customs &c., (of one's) own country should not be mixed up with (those of the conquered country), but the usages, family customs or laws peculiar to that country should be preserved, provided they are not contrary to (their) Shastras”

"The king should by subjecting them to penalties, bring back families, tribes, sections, associations and even countries to their proper way when they swerve from their religion,'

With reference to his (Mr. Malabari's) statement that thousands of Arya wives bereft of their husbands, though of chaste lives and actions, yet pass their lives in misery only and support their existence in hopes of happiness in a future life, we ask, is it or is it not desirable to remove the miseries of dutiful, chaste and virtuous women also

Again the evils of infanticide that are pointed out are, for the most part, for obvious reasons, possible also in the case of

women of some of those Aryas who having married here leave their wives and undertake long journeys occupy ing many years, to distant countries for the purpose of trade.

If it be still urged that the bearing of the torments of passion by a widow is not desirable then the legislature must also be asked to do away with celibacy and many other similar observances. Properly speaking, therefore, in order to avoid immorality, it is better to resort to independent means rather than to bring into existence immorality of a grosser type in the shape of marriage of widows. In this world there are many wicked persons such as adulterers, thieves, robbers &c., who if resistence is offered to them while they are engaged in perpetrating their evil deeds in lonely places, commit other evil deeds such as murder &c-But in order that such murders &c., may be prevented, the persons in question cannot be allowed to commit adultery, theft, robbery &c., as being only lesser evils.

...

The advantages of the non-violation of the bridal bed are evidently non-deviation from religion preservation of modesty and family dignity and the observance of good moral conduct

It is not possible to admit equality between males and females in all respects; .If there should be equality between males and females in every respect why.........do not the husbands live in the wives' houses for both their lives, and the wives in the husbands' houses for the remaining period......

Why does he (Mr. Malabari) not wish that in case a woman has no offspring by the first husband, she should marry again in his life-time another man; and that in case of daughters of kings&c., they should simultaneously have many men.

The thing called woman is the crowning piece of all the objects of enjoyment in this world, and being subject to the special power of the husband, is not like a house &c., capable of being enjoyed by the husband's relations. How

much more incapable must she then be of being fit for remarriage and enjoyment by a stranger. Like a dining leaf* used previously by another person, she is unfit to be enjoyed by another person. The object of marriage is neither sensual intercourse alone, nor bringing forth children, these being attained without the restriction of marriage. But the end of marriage is chiefly the performance of religious rites enjoined to a householder by the Shastras, and secondarily the attainment of the indescribable pleasure to be derived through mutual affection.

Widow marriage is by steps likely to be the source of another danger namely that, in case a serious quarrel arises between the husband and wife it would be thought proper that both the parties should by mutual consent effect a dissolution of the marriage in their life time.

24. V. N. MANDLIK.-I may observe that the " age of consent" which is all that is required for marriages (when consent is necessary) is 12 for females and 14 for males even in such advanced countries as the United States of America. In New York an attempt was made to raise these periods to 14 and 17 respectively, but they were so disrelished by the people that a law was passed in 1830 restoring the old periods of 12 and 14 as before. In the old Hindu institutes the marriageable age for females is 12; but that for males has been contracted by the gradual curtailment of student-life and a change in the social usages of the people. As I have said before, the system has not apparently injured those who have lived properly under it

In my own opinion the drawback to these associations (for social reform) is that temptations to secede are often very strong, so that mental reservation and family necessities are sure to be pleaded, often with great force; and it will en

* The Hindus use plantain and other leaves to eat their food upon.

courage hypocrisy and a departure from truth if such associations are formed

Mr. Malabari asks the Educational Department to prepare and disseminate tracts in the shape of a few Chapters in their text books on the subject.........Were the Department so to descend from its present height, such action would in my humble opinion tend to create most undesirable feelings of discontent, on the ground of improper State interference, whilst the alleged evils could in no way be diminished

.....

It is hinted that official pressure was required to induce the establishment of girls' schools in the mofussil. Similarly it may be used now, is probably the conclusion suggested. If there was improper pressure used, as is here alleged, I regret the occurrence, because I feel sure it must have been injurious to all those who used it and to those on whom it was inflicted. There can be no waste of force in nature: it must produce good or evil.....

Our greatest social and moral benefactors in Western India, Jnanadeva, Tukaram, Muktabai, Ekanatha, Ramadasa and others were not helped by the human agency of Armies, Councils and Governments. They depended on higher power. Their noble lives tell their own tale. We in Western India worship them. Their temples, their memory, their writings are now living powers. I say it with all submission that there is no royal road to these things any more than to others. People, must try to be, to live what they preach. It is a slow painful process but what is higher education, I should like to know, if it will not prepare men for such lives of self-sacrifice and noble self-abnegation? All these saints, male and female, lived between the 14th and 17th centuries of the Christian era.

25. JAYASING RAO, REGENT OF OF KOLHAPUR.-Moral pressure of officials too, will not be so effectual as Mr. Malabari supposes. What did such pressure achieve in the early days of female education? Not even pecuniary inducements could

tempt parents to send their girls to schools till the example of others brought home to them the advantages of doing so. The educated classes fully feel the evil (Infant Marriage). But it is want of moral courage that makes them simply talk and take no action in the matter. At this rate the state of things will never improve. Let the so-called leaders of society set an example themselves, and the rest are sure to follow.

SECTION III. BENGAL PRESIDENCY.

26. C. H. TAWNEY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.— I have no wish to under-rate the value of the influence of "distinguished members of the ruling race," but I think that the days when such pressure could produce a magic effect are for ever gone by in this part of the country, and for my part I do not much regret them. Besides, official pressure is utterly incapable of dealing with a sentiment based on religion and long established custom, and allied with the best instincts of feminine delicacy. On the other hand, we have every reason to hope that, as the diffusion of enlightenment extends the dislike to early marriage that is gradually spreading with the spread of Western ideas, a feeling will spring up that it is unjust to debar child-widows from remarriage. This will perhaps bring with it as a natural corollary a shrinking from imposing restraints on human freedom even in the case of women who have lost their partners early in life and desire to re-enter the married state.

27. C. T. METCALFE, COMMISSIONER, ORISSA DIVISION.There are many natives who would gladly see a change effected, but even those most opposed to the present practice depreciate Government interference for this reason that they feel that the purity of their families, the preservation of their caste and their social customs, are all wound up with the ques-tion of early marriage and enforced widowhood.