Gold, Sport, and Coffee Planting in Mysore / With chapters on coffee planting in Coorg, the Mysore representative assembly, the Indian congress, caste and the Indian silver question, being the 38 years' experiences of a Mysore planter

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

13746

Title

Gold, Sport, and Coffee Planting in Mysore / With chapters on coffee planting in Coorg, the Mysore representative assembly, the Indian congress, caste and the Indian silver question, being the 38 years' experiences of a Mysore planter

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Mysore planter Robert H. Elliot recounts thirty-eight years of agricultural, political, and sporting life in India. Blending practical coffee cultivation advice with observations on local governance, caste dynamics, and big-game hunting, this memoir offers a vivid, authoritative portrait of colonial India's resources and challenges.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Gold, Sport, and Coffee Planting in Mysore,' Robert H. Elliot presents a comprehensive memoir detailing his thirty-eight years as a coffee planter in the jungles of Mysore and Coorg, India. Published in 1898, the work serves as both a practical agricultural guide and a critical political commentary on the region's development under British administration. Elliot dedicates the book to Sir K. Sheshadri Iyer, the Dewan of Mysore, praising his wise governance while simultaneously critiquing British monetary policies, specifically the 1893 currency measures that devalued the rupee and harmed Indian exporters. The text offers extensive insights into the natural history of the region, featuring detailed accounts of tiger behavior, hunting risks, and wildlife management. Elliot describes the dangers of man-eating tigers, the intelligence of wild animals, and the specific precautions sportsmen must take, such as avoiding sitting on the ground and managing baiting strategies. He also explores the scenic beauty of Mysore, including the majestic Gairsoppa and Cauvery Falls. A significant portion of the book is devoted to coffee farming techniques. Elliot emphasizes the importance of soil management, shade trees, and manuring to prevent crop exhaustion and insect attacks. He argues against heavy manuring that leads to over-cropping and subsequent plant weakness, advocating instead for moderate, frequent applications of bone-meal, castor cake, and cattle manure. He provides specific recommendations for different soil types and aspects, noting that light, dry soils require careful management to avoid drought-induced damage and borers. Beyond agriculture, Elliot addresses complex social and political issues. He discusses the role of the Mysore Representative Assembly, the influence of the Indian Congress, and the complexities of caste within the colony. He offers a critical perspective on the Indian Congress, describing its early days and its shift toward seditious activities and demands for self-governance. Furthermore, he analyzes the economic impact of the 'Gold Standard' policy, arguing that forcing India onto a gold standard effectively levied a heavy export tax on Indian products, stifling progress and exacerbating famines. Through a blend of technical agricultural data, personal anecdotes of danger, and political analysis, Elliot provides a critical view of how economic policies and environmental factors intersected to shape the lives of settlers and the broader economy of India during the late 19th century.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Travel
• Politics
• Essays