Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.16.2

25.16.2

Here in India, as well as in England, these people are guided by those institutions, and keep them amongst themselves, but only amongst themselves ; for as yet in what concerns the welfare of the people of these countries, and in all revenue matters, relative to these provinces, they trust to what rules and constitutions they have heard of here, and to whatever instructions they may have received from Mootsuddies, and officers of their own appointing. These they have already committed to their books, and they have made of them so many rules to distinguish right from wrong ; but the reason why such a custom has been instituted, and what might be its cause and ground, these are matters which they never discover themselves, nor ever ask of others ; or if they comprehend anything in them, they willingly counterfeit ignorance, without any one's being able to guess what they mean by counterfeiting that ignorance. In short, as the gates of communication and intercourse are shut up betwixt the men of this land and those strangers, who are become their masters ; and these latter constantly express an aversion to the society of Indians, and a disdain against conversing with them ; hence both parties remain ignorant of each other's state and circumstances. It is true that a small number indeed of natives are in the service of the Members of the Committee, and of the Collectors of the six Districts ;