A want of sympathy or fellow-feeling between the governing and governed is common in all parts of India, but in no part that I have seen is it so marked as in Oude.  The officers of the Government delight in plundering the peasantry, and upon every local Governor who kills a landholder of any mark, rewards and honours are instantly bestowed, without the slightest inquiry as to the cause or mode.  They know that no inquiry will be made, and therefore kill them when they can; no matter how, or for what cause.  The great landholders would kill the local Governors with just as little scruple, did they not fear that it might make the British Government interpose and aid in the pursuit after them.

January 17, 1850.—­Sundeela, about thirteen miles from our last camp, on the bank of the little River Saee, over a plain of good doomuteea soil, very fertile, and well cultivated in the neighbourhood of villages.  The greater portion of the plain is, however, uncultivated, though capable of the best tillage, and shows more than the usual signs of maladministration.  In this district there are only three tallookdars, and they do not rob or resist the Government at present.  They distrust the Government authorities, however, and never have any personal intercourse with them.  The waste is entirely owing to the bad character of the contractors, and the license given to the troops and establishments under them.  The district is now held in amanee tenure, and under the management of Hoseyn Buksh, who entered into his charge only six weeks ago.  He is without any experience in, or knowledge of, his duties; he has three regiments of Nujeebs on duty under him, and all who are present came out to meet me.  Anything more unlike soldiers it would be difficult to conceive.  They are feared only by the honest and industrious.  Wherever the Amil goes they go with him, and are a terrible scourge to the country—­by far the worst that the country suffers under.

The first thing necessary to effect a reform is—­to form out of these disorderly and useless bodies a few efficient regiments; do away with the purveyance system, on which, they are now provided with fuel, fodder, carriage, &c.; pay them liberally and punctually; supply them with good clothing, arms, accoutrements, and ammunition; and concentrate them at five or six points in good cantonments, whence they can move quickly to any part where their services may be required.  No more than are indispensably required should attend the local authorities in their circuits.  All the rest should remain in cantonments till called for on emergency; and when so called for, they should have all the conveyance they require, and the supplies provided for them—­the conveyance at fixed rates, and the supplies at the market price, in good bazaars.  For police duties and revenue collections there should be a sufficient body of men kept up, and at the disposal of the revenue and police authorities.  The military establishments should be under the control of a different authority.  But all this would be of no avail unless the corps were under able commanders, relieved from the fear of Court favourites, and under a Commander-in-Chief who understood his duty and had influence enough to secure all that the troops required to render them efficient, and not a child of seven years of age.