1 9)
2 ‘up on the solicitation of the aggrieved party. These then being ex-
3 cepted, the ratio will stand thus:—
4 Total of Crimes, Proportion of
5 exclusive of Mis- [Total Popula-| ,~-
6 YEAR | cellaneous Offen-| tion, | “time to Popula-
7 Sim ion.
8 1854... 4... 27,276 12,717,821 466
9 1855... 0... 22,002 12,717,821 578
10 The last-named proportion of one crime to 578 persons does appear
11 Variations in the pre- +0 indicate a general peacefulness and obedience
12 valence of crime, to the Laws. It is obvious that in such Terri-
13 tories as these, with races so varying, the ratio must fluctuate consi-
14 derably. The tracts most free from crime are the prosperous States
15 lying East and West of the Sutlej River. The country round Lahore,
16 and also round Jhelum, is about ordinary in this respect. On the
17 Trans-Indus Frontier, the quantity of crime is comparatively light,
18 but its quality is severe. In the Southern regions of the Punjab, that
19 is, round Mooltan and Leia, the numerical amount of crime is great ;
20 but more than half consists of cattle-lifting, which, though of course
21 a crime, does not, under the usual circumstances of its commission, indi-.
22 cate any great depravity, and in some respects partakes of the character
23 of a nuisance. ,
24 13, During the first six years after annexation, the numerical returns
25 ‘Wumerical amount of Of crime increased annually, and this was aitri-
26 crime, butable, not to any real increase, but to the
27 improvement of the detective system. It was not that more crime
28 existed, but that more was brought to light. But in the sixth year,
29 that is, the past year 1855, the number shows a decrease. ‘This fact is
30 remarkable, and would induce the idea, that our detective system
31 has reached its climax, and has at last made an impression on‘crime.
32 Each year the apparent increase became less and less until 1855, and
33 then it disappeared. It is tu be hoped that this state of enigs may
34 continue, —