The Great Indian Hedge

[Ashwin Baindur]

In the years before the Mutiny, the British constructed a hedge, a very large and long hedge, halfway across India for the mundane reason of preventing salt smuggling. John Company, it seems, also fattened itself by making poor labourers pay two months wages for a year's supply of salt. This hedge was manned and guarded like the Maginot line. An Englishman, read about it in Henry Sleeman's ''Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official '', came to India and found it....

http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/taxmans-hedge/

Enjoy...

Ashwin


--
Warm regards,

Ashwin Baindur
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Col Ashwin Baindur
OIC Corps Archive & Museum,
CME, Dapodi Pune 411031
-------------------------------------------
Tel:020-27147976 (R), Mob :09923454462
Alternate email:ashwin....@gmail.com
Blog: http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
''We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.''

- Quarry worker's creed
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[chitra narayanan]

Very fascinating!

Checked in Wikipedia and here's more on the Great Hedge

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hedge_of_India

[JANAKI TURAGA]

Thanks for posting this.

The original book by Sleeman is available at:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15483

Janaki Turaga
 

[figtree]

Fascinating! But I wonder whether it has any relation with Indian
Trees, particularly tree pics.

On Feb 15, 8:04 pm, JANAKI TURAGA <janakitur...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for posting this.
> The original book by Sleeman is available at:
>
> http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15483
> Janaki Turaga
>

> On 2/15/09, Ashwin Baindur <ashwin.bain...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > In the years before the Mutiny, the British constructed a hedge, a very
> > large and long hedge, halfway across India for the mundane reason of
> > preventing salt smuggling. John Company, it seems, also fattened itself by
> > making poor labourers pay two months wages for a year's supply of salt. This
> > hedge was manned and guarded like the Maginot line. An Englishman, read

> > about it in Henry Sleeman's ''*Rambles and Recollections of an Indian
> > Official* '', came to India and found it....

>
> >http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/taxmans-hedge/
>
> > Enjoy...
>
> > Ashwin
>
> > --
> > Warm regards,
>
> > Ashwin Baindur
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Col Ashwin Baindur
> > OIC Corps Archive & Museum,
> > CME, Dapodi Pune 411031
> > -------------------------------------------
> > Tel:020-27147976 (R), Mob :09923454462

> > Alternate email:ashwin.bain...@gmail.com<email%3Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com>

> > Blog:http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ''We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.''
>
> > - Quarry worker's creed

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Ashwin Baindur]

Hedges are mostly constructed using tree spp. In this case, the link mentions Indian Plum. Keeping in mind that the post dealt with heritage trees, I had posted here. Apologies if you fel that this is spam.

Alternate email:ashwin....@gmail.com

[JANAKI TURAGA]

Hi all,

I feel that Indian Trees and shrubs etc, are a much unknown kind and this post gave me an opportunity to explore a very fascinating slice of history-of how trees, shrubs etc. were actively used to and were an instrument of colonisation and of establishing an empire!

I am glad that this forum enables the discovery of different facets of our plant life-botanical, and the cultural, as well as political.

Janaki Turaga

 

[chitra narayanan]

Yes, i agree. I think bringing out historical associations such as these make trees and shrubs  come alive in different ways.

Recently, I had an opportunity to see the largest olive tree in the world in Italy (attaching the pix here) and interact with the owner of the tree, which is said to date back 2,000 years. It was hugely fascinating hearing how the ownership of the tree had changed over the centuries and see the records!

 

Regards

Chitra

[satish phadke]

Thanks Ashwin for sharing this interestng information on the group.

Satish

2009/2/15 Ashwin Baindur <ashwin....@gmail.com>

--

http:// satishphadke.blogspot.com

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

ghosh Babu, it was fascinating to know about the Great Hedge. More of such material should be encouraged on this site. This site is certainly more than an identification parade.

akbhatt

 

On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 9:39 PM, figtree <sibda...@gmail.com> wrote:

My blogsite is at:
http://anandkbhatt.blogspot.com
And the photo site:
www.flickr.com/photos/akbhatt/

[kaysat tiwari]

Dear All,

If anyone knows any more detail about this hedge in Etawah district then I can look for it and show the photo of remains.

Soon I will be in Etawah, Karhal, Mainpuri, Jasrana, Shikohabad,Kurawali and Etah area looking for Sarus crane and Pelicans.

Regards.

Satyendra

H.NO 139, P.O.Tala, Distt Umariya.
M.P. India 484-661
To know more about Bandhavgarh visit following links.
http://skayinbandhavgarh.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/satyendraphotography
http://tigerdiaries.blogspot.com
www.kaysat.com
SKAY'S CAMP is awarded QUALITY rating by Tour Operator For Tigers (TOFT).
00-91-7627-265309 or 09425331209

[figtree]

Sorry for the comment, If you had earlier mentioned the name of the
plant used for the construction of the hedge, I would have definitely
refrained making the earlier comment.

On Feb 16, 6:14 pm, kaysat tiwari <kaysat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear All,
> If anyone knows any more detail about this hedge in Etawah district then I
> can look for it and show the photo of remains.
> Soon I will be in Etawah, Karhal, Mainpuri, Jasrana, Shikohabad,Kurawali and
> Etah area looking for Sarus crane and Pelicans.
> Regards.
> Satyendra
>

> On Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 5:45 PM, Anand Kumar Bhatt <anandkbh...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > ghosh Babu, it was fascinating to know about the Great Hedge. More of such
> > material should be encouraged on this site. This site is certainly more than
> > an identification parade.
> > akbhatt
>

> >> <email%3Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com <email%253Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com>>

> >> > > Blog:http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/
>
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> > > ''We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.''
>
> >> > > - Quarry worker's creed
>
> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> Hide quoted text -
>
> >> > - Show quoted text -
> >>  My blogsite is at:
> >>http://anandkbhatt.blogspot.com
> >> And the photo site:
> >>www.flickr.com/photos/akbhatt/
>

> --
> Satyendra K.Tiwari.
> Wildlife Photographer, Naturalist, Tour Leader

> H.NO 139, P.O.Tala, Distt Umariya.
> M.P. India 484-661
> To know more about Bandhavgarh visit following links.http://skayinbandhavgarh.blogspot.comhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/satyendraphotographyhttp://tigerdiaries.blogspot.comwww.kaysat.com
> SKAY'S CAMP is awarded QUALITY rating by Tour Operator For Tigers (TOFT).

> 00-91-7627-265309 or 09425331209- Hide quoted text -

[Ashwin Baindur]

Please do not feel apologetic. I do post a lot of blog entries. The reason I do that is it gives more expression to my creativityto write articles for my blog  than just reading or making email posts. When I know a blogpost is not quite relevant I usually add the words 'blogpost' or 'general nature writing' so that people are forewarned.

Anyway, thanks to all for the support from the group of which I was till recently a silent member. I'm sure figtree meant well.

Ashwin Baindur

(http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/)

Alternate email:ashwin....@gmail.com

[sibdas ghosh]

I apologise if my comment hurt anybody. Fine, if some one wants to write about the great hedge , nicer would be if it came with some reference and a photograph. You may visit any village in India, you will find hedges of different types, dependinding on the phytogeogarphic location. It may consist of Pedilanthus, Jatropha, Zizyphus, Duranta, Moringa, Acacia, even dwarf bamboos, serving different purposes. In urban houses , hedges serve different purpose and are mainly made of Amaranthus, Murrya, Ixora etc. mostly for decorating purpose. Plum hedge is mainly meant to protect the land from grazing cattles, as goats and stray cows. In wars earlier, artificial hedges were erected to camouflage the movement of the troop. Historic events are always fascinating, personally I feel it should come along with some context.

Pl. excuse me if I have hurt any body.

Warm regards,

Ashwin Baindur
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Col Ashwin Baindur
OIC Corps Archive & Museum,
CME, Dapodi Pune 411031
-------------------------------------------
Tel:020-27147976 (R), Mob :09923454462

Alternate email:ashwin....@gmail.com

Blog: http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
''We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.''

- Quarry worker's creed
------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Sibdas Ghosh

[J.M. Garg]

Here is a question from Peter ji in a seperate mail:

"Ashwin's message below reminds me of something I read in a history
book. It seems that Tipu Sultan used to surround his forts with a wide
hedge of cactus. This was, naturally, prior to 1799. It struck me that
the species must be the prickly pear, Opuntia, which is origially from
Central America and now naturalised in India. Well, it seems that it
has be around here for a pretty long time! Does anyone have any idea
of when this plant was brought to India?"

2009/2/17 sibdas ghosh <sibda...@gmail.com>

For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

[sibdas ghosh]

The prickly pear-Opuntia elatior (Syn. O. dillenii, ) also known as slipper thorn  (Hindi- Nagphani) used as hedge planr throughout India.Produce beautiful bright yellow flowers. Although very common in India, literature indicates it comes from Central/ South America. Fruits and fleshy stems are edible. I had once came across a  recipe of  prepa ring a mexican dish from the fleshy stems. 

2009/2/17 sibdas ghosh <sibda...@gmail.com>

Sibdas Ghosh

Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1

For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

--
Sibdas Ghosh

[sibdas]

Sorry I inadverrtantly posted the earlier post without answering the
question put. W. Roxburgh (1832), the father of Indian Botany .
considered the plant as native of India, as it was recorded from Cape
Camorin to the Himalayas, upto 1500 meters, but later James (?) Watt,
a Professor of Botany attached to Calcutta Medical College, Presidency
College and also Patna Medical College, who was also a friend of
Florence Nigtingale, in 1882, claimed the plant as native of latin
America. If it comes from America, it must have reached India by the
17th Century, as by 1832 it had been widely naturalised all over
India.

On Feb 25, 4:13 pm, sibdas ghosh <sibdasgh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The prickly pear-Opuntia elatior (Syn. O. dillenii, ) also known as slipper
> thorn  (Hindi- Nagphani) used as hedge planr throughout India.Produce
> beautiful bright yellow flowers. Although very common in India, literature
> indicates it comes from Central/ South America. Fruits and fleshy stems are
> edible. I had once came across a  recipe of  prepa ring a mexican dish from
> the fleshy stems.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 12:54 PM, J.M. Garg <jmga...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Here is a question from Peter ji in a seperate mail:
> > "Ashwin's message below reminds me of something I read in a history
> > book. It seems that Tipu Sultan used to surround his forts with a wide
> > hedge of cactus. This was, naturally, prior to 1799. It struck me that
> > the species must be the prickly pear, Opuntia, which is origially from
> > Central America and now naturalised in India. Well, it seems that it
> > has be around here for a pretty long time! Does anyone have any idea
> > of when this plant was brought to India?"
>

> > 2009/2/17 sibdas ghosh <sibdasgh...@gmail.com>

>
> >>   I apologise if my comment hurt anybody. Fine, if some one wants to
> >> write about the great hedge , nicer would be if it came with some reference
> >> and a photograph. You may visit any village in India, you will find hedges
> >> of different types, dependinding on the phytogeogarphic location. It may
> >> consist of Pedilanthus, Jatropha, Zizyphus, Duranta, Moringa, Acacia, even
> >> dwarf bamboos, serving different purposes. In urban houses , hedges serve
> >> different purpose and are mainly made of Amaranthus, Murrya, Ixora etc.
> >> mostly for decorating purpose. Plum hedge is mainly meant to protect the
> >> land from grazing cattles, as goats and stray cows. In wars earlier,
> >> artificial hedges were erected to camouflage the movement of the troop.
> >> Historic events are always fascinating, personally I feel it should come
> >> along with some context.
> >> Pl. excuse me if I have hurt any body.
>
> >>    On Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 11:13 PM, Ashwin Baindur <

> >> ashwin.bain...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>>    Please do not feel apologetic. I do post a lot of blog entries. The
> >>> reason I do that is it gives more expression to my creativityto write
> >>> articles for my blog  than just reading or making email posts. When I know a
> >>> blogpost is not quite relevant I usually add the words 'blogpost' or
> >>> 'general nature writing' so that people are forewarned.
>
> >>> Anyway, thanks to all for the support from the group of which I was till
> >>> recently a silent member. I'm sure figtree meant well.
>
> >>> Ashwin Baindur
>
> >>> (http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/)
>

> >>>> > >> <email%3Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com<email%253Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com><
> >>>> email%253Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com<email%25253Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com>

>
> >>>>  > >> > > Blog:http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/
>
> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>> > >> > > ''We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning
> >>>> cathedrals.''
>
> >>>> > >> > > - Quarry worker's creed
>
> >>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>> > >> Hide quoted text -
>
> >>>> > >> > - Show quoted text -
> >>>> > >>  My blogsite is at:
> >>>> > >>http://anandkbhatt.blogspot.com
> >>>> > >> And the photo site:
> >>>> > >>www.flickr.com/photos/akbhatt/
>
> >>>> > --
> >>>> > Satyendra K.Tiwari.
> >>>> > Wildlife Photographer, Naturalist, Tour Leader

> >>>> > H.NO <http://h.no/> 139, P.O.Tala, Distt Umariya.

> >>>> > M.P. India 484-661
> >>>> > To know more about Bandhavgarh visit following links.http:/
> >>>> /skayinbandhavgarh.blogspot.comhttp://

> >>>>www.flickr.com/photos/satyendraphotographyhttp://tigerdiaries.blogspo...

> >>>> > SKAY'S CAMP is awarded QUALITY rating by Tour Operator For Tigers
> >>>> (TOFT).
> >>>> > 00-91-7627-265309 or 09425331209- Hide quoted text -
>
> >>>> > - Show quoted text -
> >>>>   Warm regards,
>
> >>>> Ashwin Baindur
> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>> Col Ashwin Baindur
> >>>> OIC Corps Archive & Museum,
> >>>> CME, Dapodi Pune 411031
> >>>> -------------------------------------------
> >>>> Tel:020-27147976 (R), Mob :09923454462

> >>>> Alternate email:ashwin.bain...@gmail.com<email%3Aashwin.bain...@gmail.com>

>
> >>>> Blog:http://thebutterflydiaries.wordpress.com/
> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>>> ''We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.''
>
> >>>> - Quarry worker's creed
> >>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> >>> --
> >>> Sibdas Ghosh
>

> > --
> > With regards,
> > J.M.Garg
> > "We often ignore the beauty around us"

> > Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna:
> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1
> > For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group
> > (Indiantreepix)http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en
>
> --

> Sibdas Ghosh- Hide quoted text -