منشور رقم ٤٢٩١ الخاص بإيرادات إدارة الأقاليم من السكرتير المفوض لحكومة قلعة بومباي، تشارلز إدوارد فرايزر تايتلر، إلى المقيم في الخليج العربي [و‎‎٣‎٥] (٢٤/١٥)

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of improvement; but I do not think the plan suggested by Mr. Goldfineli is well adapted
to secure that end.
2. It will be observed from the accompanying copy of a letter from my First Assist
ant, in reply to the reference made in accordance with the above endorsement, that he
had no particular instances of undue neglect of meritorious servants in his recollection
when he submitted his proposition.
3. I have frequently seen Cutcherry Karkoons who have for many years served in
the lowest grades, while their juniors have been promoted ; but, except in a very few
instances, it has always seemed to me that they had been properly .passed over. Of
course, if we were to depend on their own account of the matter, we should have to
believe that it is solely for want of patronage that they have not all risen to the rank of
Mamlutdar. Even under a system of examinations much the same thing would occur,
for the unsuccessful candidates would attribute their failure, not to their own want of
ability, but to the partiality of the Native members of the Committee. I believe this idea
to prevail to some extent, even with regard to the present preliminary examinations, and
I have more than once heard it remarked that the relations and connexions of Duftur-
dars, Sudder Ameens, and other high Native officials, were always sure to pass, and to
stand among the first in the lists. This, however, may usually be accounted for by
such persons having had the advantage of a superior education.
4. As there may be some doubt on the point, I beg to explain that I have ascertained
from Mr. Goldfinch that his intention is, that the lower paid Karkoons should rise by
seniority with reference to their standing in the whole Collectorate, and not in each
separate Cutcherry.
5. Such a system, I would submit, must tend to deprive the inferior Karkoons of
the principal motive they now have, or ought to have, for a diligent and faithful dis
charge of their duties, viz. the desire to obtain the good opinion of their immediate
superiors, on whose recommendation their prospects of speedy promotion must at present
more or less depend. If they feel that they are sure of a certain degree of promotion,
independently of such recommendation, it may be expected that many of them will not
be inclined to do more than is enough to avoid disgrace, and that the Mamlutdars will
consequently have much difficulty in getting their work efficiently performed.
6. In the case of the lower paid Cutcherry Karkoons, I have always been in the habit
of paying much attention to the recommendations of the Mamlutdars, unless I had any
reasons for distrusting them ; at the same time, in case of extensive promotions, making
frequent transfers between the Hoozoor and the districts, and between one district and
another. It is obviously the true interest of a Mamlutdar to have efficient subordinates,
for, with a set of incapable Karkoons, how are his multifarious duties to be performed ?
Accordingly, when deserving individuals have been passed over, I think it will be found
to have been chiefly owing to the opinions of their immediate superiors not having been
sufficiently consulted.
7. What is mos^ important to guard against in such cases is the tendency to nepo
tism, which is so apt to warp the judgment of our Native officials, and to restrict the
distribution of patronage to certain families ; but a sufficient check seems to be provided
in the periodical returns bearing on this point, which are now furnished to your
department.
8. The most objectionable part of the scheme, however, appears to me to be the
promotion to the higher offices by seniority of those who have passed the examination.
Mr. Goldfinch allows that no examination will sufficiently test the qualifications