ROY MOXHAM FOUND A THROWAWAY REFERENCE TO THE GREAT HEDGE OF INDIA IN A MEMOIR, BUT NO-ONE SEEMS TO HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT IT OR KNOW OF IT. HE OBTAINED MAPS AND GAZETEERS OF INDIA, AND BEGAN TO UNCOVER A HORRIFYING STORY. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, DETERMINED TO SCREW EVERY RUPEE OUT OF THE POOR, PUT A HIGH TAX ON THE SOMETHING FUNDAMENTAL TO LIFE - SALT. TO PREVENT EVASION OF THE TAX , TO STOP SMUGGLING OF SALT FROM THE PRINCELY STATES TO THE RAJ, THE GOVERNMENT PLANTED A HIGH, THICK HEDGE ALONG 2,500 MILES OF INDIA. EVEN DURING FAMINES, THE TAX, WHICH COST 2 MONTHS OF A PEASANT'S INCOME, WAS RUTHLESSLY PURSUED. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SHAMEFUL ACTIVITIES OF THE BRITISH IN INDIA. THE HEDGE CEASED TO FUNCTION IN THE 1880s, AND BY THE TIME MOXHAM STARTED HUNTING FOR IT, ONLY THE TINIEST SIGNS OF IT SURVIVED, AND ALMOST EVERYONE KNEW NOTHING OF IT. A GREAT TRAVELOGUE AND DETECTIVE STORY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SALT MAY BE GAUGED FROM GANDHI'S SALT MARCH TO THE SEA IN 1930, IN DEFIANCE OF THE TAX.
234 PAGES. MAP. GLOSSARY OF TERMS. BIBLIOGRAPHY.
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