importance of all this is now superseded by the railways; but the travellers of to-day can hardly imagine what convenience was afforded to the public of that day by his civilized management of the Grand Trunk Road.
Even more direct and absolute was his authority over the local and provincial works scattered throughout the Provinces. The resources of local taxation were but limited, nevertheless funds of various sorts were found in existence or were formed, and they were by him carefully husbanded. His financial power of supplementing these funds from the treasury was also restricted, still he would ever find some way of helping. Thus he contrived to amass a considerable sum annually for carrying out local improvements. His primary duty was to supervise, but more than this, he actively stimulated and promoted, not only encouraging the local officers, but also framing designs, and striking out new plans. Here his experience of district life at Azamgarh stood him in good stead. But he was able to do for his district officers in their day, much more than had ever been done for him in his day. He managed to leave in most parts of every district some traces of an improving hand; roads and ferries here, schools and benevolent institutions there, and buildings everywhere. He would cause embankments to be formed in countless localities, in order to catch the rain-water and form tanks for irrigation. He would initiate drainage to reclaim the sub-Himálayan swamps. He sanctioned advances of money from the Treasury to be
