Palamau. Bengal District Gazetteers
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BENGAL DISTRICT G.A.ZETTEEl~S. PALAMAU. BENGAL DISTRICT GAZETTEERS. PALAM.AU. BY L. S. S. O'MALLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE. CALCUTTA: A ~HE BENGAL SECRETARIAT BOOK DEPOT. 19 0 7. OFFICIAL AGENTS FOR THE SALE .OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. ~ In India. MEssRs. THACKER, SPINE: & Co., Calcutta and Simla. MEssRs. NEWMAN & Co., Calcutta. MESSRS. HIGGINBOTHAM & Co., Madras. MEssRs. THACKER & Co., Ln., Bombay. MEssRs. A. J. CoMBRIDGE & Co., Bombay. THE sUPERINTENDENT, AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, Rangoon. Mas. RADHABAI ATMARAM SAGOON, Bombay. MESSRS. R. CAMBRA.Y & Co., Calcutta. • Ru SAHIB M. Gu£AB SINGH & SoNS, Proprietors of the Mufid·i-am Press, Lahore, Punjab. MESSRS. THOMPSON & Co., Madras. MEssRs. S. MURTHY & Co., Madras. M"EssRs. GoPAL NABA.YEN & Co., Bombay. M:zssas. S. K. LAHIRI & Co., P~:inters and Booksellers, College ' Street, Calcutta. MEssRs. V. KALYANARA.MA IYER & Co., Booksellers, &c., Madras. MESSRS. D. B. T ARAPOREV ALA, SoNS & Co., Booksellers, Bombay. MESSRS. G. A. NA.TESON & Co., Madras. MB. N. B. MATHUR, Superintendent, N azair Kanum IDnd Press, Allahabad. THE CALCUTTA ScHooL-BooK: SociETY. MR. SUNDER PANDURANG, Bombay. MEssRs. A. M. AND J. FERGUSON, Ceylon. MEssRs. TEMPLR & Co., Madras. MEssRs. Co:MBRIDGE & Co., Madras. MEssRs. A. R. PILLAI & Co., Trivandrum. lh:ssns. A. CHAND & Co., Punjab. In England •. MR. E. A. ARNOLD, 41 & 43 Maddox Street, Bond Street, London, W. MEssRs. CoNsTABLE & Co., 10 Orange Street, Leicester Square, London, W. C. · ' MEssRs. GRINDLA.Y & Co., 64: Parliament Street, London, S. W. MEssns. KEGA.N PAuL, TRENCH, TRUBNBJ& & Co,, 43 Gerrard Street, Soho, London, W. MR. B. QuARITCH, 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W. MBssRs. P. S. KING & SoN, 2 & 4 Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, S. W. · lfEssas. H. S. KING & Co., 65 Cornhill, London, E. C. MR. B. H. BLACKWELL, 50-51 Broad Street, Oxford. MEssRs. DEIGHTON BELL & Co., Cambridge. MR. T. FISHER UNWIN, 1 Adelphi Terrace, London, W. C. On the Continent. MESSRS. R. FRIEDLANDER & SoHN, Berlin, N. W. Carlstrasse, 11. MR. OTTO HARBASSOWITZ, Leipzig. · _ lb. RuDOLF HAUPT, Halle-a~s. Germany. MR. KARL HIERSEMA.NN, Leipzig. MR. ERNEST LEROUX, 28 Rue Bonaparte, Paris. - M.a. MA.RTINUS NIIHOFF, Tho Hai'le• PREFACE. PALAlUU occupies a somewhat unique position amc:>ng the districts of Bengal. It is the youngest district in the Province, having been part of the Lohardaga district until 1892; and it has been characterized as ·the driest and probably the poorest district in both Bengal and Eastern Bengal. Five districts only surpass it in size; on the other h~nd only three districts have fewer inhabitants,· and nowhere, except in Angul, is the density of population so small. Ethnologically, ~tis a kind of neutral ground between the tracts which still form the home of aboriginal tribes and those inhabited by people of Aryan descent; its people, their manners, customs, u.nd land tenures, are different both from those of Chota N:agpur proper and from ·those of Bihar. Physically, it is a land of hiH and jungle. interspersed with picturesque valleys a~d ravines, which to the north merge . into a level plain along the banks of the Son. It is one of t-he most beautiful districts in t~e Province, and a country which wins the affections of every officer who serves in it. The account contained in tpis volume has been compiled mainly frGm,. the Statistical Account of .Bengal, Vol. XVI, by Sir W. W. Hunter, from the Reports on the Settlement of the Government Estate by :Mr. L. R. Forbes and -Mr. D. H. E. Sunder, and from materials supplied by the local officers. I desire also to acknowledge gratefully the ready and cordial assistance given by Mr. F. F. Lyall, i.o.s., who has kindly t·evised the proofs and made many val1:1able additions, a:Qd to express my thanks to Mr, T. S. Macpherson, I.o.s., for. his ca!eful and h~arty co-operation • • L. S. S. O'lfi~ PLAN OF CONTENTS·· CHAPTER PAGES I. PHYSICAL ASPECTS ••• 1-16 ··~ ... ••• II. HISTORY ... ••• ... ••• 17-35 III. THE PEOl"LE ••• ... ... ... 36-59_ IV. PuBLIC HEALTH ... ... 4 60-64 v. FoRESTs ... ••• ... 65-71 VI. AGRICULTURE ••• ... 72-87 VII. NATURAL CALAMITIES ... ••• ••• 88-98 VJII. RENTS, wAGES A~D !"RICES ••• ... • •• 99-108 ( IX. OccuPATIONs, MA~UFACTURES AND TRADE 109-118, X. MEANS -op COMMUNICATION ... • •• ..• 119-123 XI. LAND REVENUE ADMINISTRATION ... 124-137 XII. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION ... ... 138~142 XIII. LocAL sELF·GOVERNMENT ... ••• 143-144 XIV. EDUCATION ... <U 145-147 XV. GAZETTEER ••• ... .. .. 148-162 INDEX ••• ••• ••• 163-171 TABLE .OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PHYSICAL ASPECTS. PAGES Gi!UBAL DESCBJP'riON-Origin of name-Boundaries-Configuration-Natural divisions-Scenery-HILL SYS'l'EM-RIVEB BYBTEM-Son-Kanbar-Koel Aurangi-Amiinat-Other . rivers-GEOLOGY-BOTANY-FAtrN.&.-Game · birds-Fish-CJ.lMA'IE-Temperature and humidity-Rainfall ... 1-16 CHAPTER II. HISTORY. EARlY HJSTOBY-TBE CBEBO CONQVEST-TBB CREBO BVLB-Invasion of Shaista Khan-Invasion of Zabardast Khiin-MtrRAHMADAN -CONQVBST -MtrDUUdADAN BtTLB-BBITISR CONQtTEBT-EABLY ENGLISH ADMIN• ISTBATION-·MtTTINY Ol!' 1857-FOBHATION 01!' 'l'RB DIST.BICT ... 17-85 CHAPTER III. THE PEOPLE. GBOWTR Ol!' TBB l'Ol'VLATIOB-CENSUS Ol!' ]901-Density of pOpulation-~ Migration-Towns and villages-LANGVAGE-Bhojpuri-Other languages RELIGIONS-Hindus- Baigis-Dihwirs-Ojhas-Witcncraft-Animists Muhammadans- Christians-CASTES AlfD TBIBBS-Bbuiyis-Ahirs Kharwirs-Bhogtis-Kabars-Dosadhs-Chamirs-Brihmans-Rijput s ABOBIGIN AL JI.ACES-Orions-Cheros-Korwis-Mundis-Bhuinbirs Parbaiyis-Nagesias-Birj ias-SOCIAL LIFB-Villages and houses- Furniture-Dress-Food ... :.. ... ... ... 36-59 . CHAPTER IV. PUBLIC HEALTH. VITAL BTATIBTIOB-P.BINCIPAL DISBASEB-Fever-Cholera-Water-supply Bowel complainta-Plague-Other diseases and infirmities-VACCINATION -MEDICAL !:NBTI'l'VTIONS ,., ... 111 101 6Q-ti4 ' . Xll.. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. FORESTS. PAGES RESERVED FORESTS-Northern range-Southern range-Administration Protection-Minor produce-PROTECTED FORESTS-PRIVATE FORESTS- PROSI'ECTS 6:5-71 CHAPTER VI. AGRICULTURE. GENERAL CONDITIONS-Tracts of fcrtility-Rainfall-IRRIGATION-Rand!ts Wells-Extension of irrigation-SOILS-PRINCIPAL CROPS-Rice Jlhadoi rice-Gram-Maize-Barley-Wheat-Marua-Other cereals and pulses-Oil-seeds-Sugarcane-Cotton-Poppy-AGRICULTURAL STATIS· TICS-EXTElfSION OF CULTIVATION-IMPROVED METHODS OF CULT!• VATION-Working of Loans Acts-VEGETABLES AND FBUIT6-CATTLE- ·Vetermacy. relief 72-87 CHAPTER VII. NATURAL CALAMITIES. LIABILITY TO FAMINE-FAMINE OF 1869-FA:lliNE OF 1874-F AMINE OF 1807 -FAMINE OF 1900-PBIVATE BELIEF-RELIEF WORKS-CHANGll OF CONDITIONS-PROTECTIVE MBA.SUBES 88-98 CHAPTER VIII. RENTS, WAGES AND PRICES. CASR RENTS- Rents in the Government estate-Rents for trees-Enhancement of rents-PBODUCE RENTS-SYSTEMS OF ASSESSMENT- WA.GES-Katniyus -Village servants-Supply of labour-P.RICES-1\I.A.TE.RIAL CONDITION OF TilE I'EOI'LE-Indebtedness 99-108 CHAPTER IX • • OCCUPATIOXS, MANUFACTURES AND TRADE. OcCUl'ATIONS-MANUFACTURES -Coal mines -Rajbara colliery-Auran:ra coal ficld-H utar coal-field-Karanpura coal-field-Iron-Iron smelting-Other minerals-Cutch manufacture-Cocoon rearing-Lac industry-Other i'tldustries-TBADE-Fairs ... 109-113 · TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER X.- MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. PAGIS DETELOPMENT 0:1 COHlltiNICATIONS-ROA.DS-Principal roads-Hariharganj raad~Sherghiiti roa4-Ranchi road-Garhwi road-Sirguja r<!ad-Other roads-RAILWAYS-WAT.ERCO:M:MUNICA':UO-NS-Ferries_;_POSTAL CO:MU11Ni• CATIOJJS ,,. 119~123 CHAPTER XI. LAND REVENUE ADMINISTRATION~ PALA:MAU PARGAIU-The Governn:ent estate-The tenants-Administration- Private estates-Revenue-paying tenures-Matl4d-Leases-Rent-free - tenures-Transferability of tenures-BEL.A.UNJA PARGANA-J'APLA. PABGANA -TORI PARGAlU-RELATIONS OJ!' LANDLORDS AND TENANTS-Predial services-Effects of the feudal system-ENCUlriBEBBD .ESTATES ••• 124-137 CHAPTER XII. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIQN. A.DMINlSTBATIVE STAFF-RBV.BNUB-Excise-Land revenue-Cesses-Stamps -lncome-tax-Registration-AD:MUISTBATION OF JUSTICE-Criminal Justice- Crime-Civil Justice-POLICE-JAILS ... 138-i42 CHAPTER XIII. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. THE DISTRICT BonD-MUNICIPALITIES ... •.. 143-144 CHAPTER XIV,. EDUCATION. PROGRESS OF .EDUCATION-SECONDARY BDUCATION-·PRI:MARY .EDUCATION SPECIAL SCHOOLS-J'E:MALB EDUCA'l'ION..,-BOABDING HOUSES-EDUCATION OJ!' DIFFERENT RACES ... ,,, ,.. ,,. ~45-li7 • XIV• TABLE OP CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. GAZETTEER. PAGBS Alinagar-Amhar Tappi-Biiresior Tappi-Biiri Tappi-Belaunji ParganR J:!arkol Tappi-Bisrimpur-chainpur-Chbechhiri Tappi-Daltonganj Deogan-Durjig Tappi-Dutbu Tappi-Garhwi-Goiwal Tappi-Haidar nagar-Hariharganj-Husainibid -Imli Tappi-J apli-Khimhi Tappi Kot Tappi-Litehir-Leslieganj-Mahuidinr-Mankeri Tappi-Nagar Untiiri-Niwi-Netarbit-Paliman-Palimau Pargana-Pioki-Pundiig Tappi-Rajhari-Ranki-Satbarwi-Shihpul'-Simi Tappi-Sirhe Tappi' -Sonpuri-Taleya Tappi-Tappi Tappi-Tori Pargana-Untiri ... 148-162 ••• ... - ... - 183-171 163 INDEX. A. B. Aboriginal races, 50-54. Biibuan, 26. A.dh-liaCcii system of rent payment, 102. Biignmara Ghat, 32. Administration of resened • forests, Baharai land, '17. ' 67-6S; of protecud forests, 69-70; Bahuraj~ 48 , of Government estate, 126-127 ; Baigai lands, 126. •land revenue, 124-137; general, 138· Baigas, account of, ,39-41 ; remuneration 142 ; of justice, 140-141. of, 105. Admiuistrative charges and staff, 138, Bair tree, S5, 86. Agarias, smelting of iron 'by, 112-113. Bajra, cultivation of~ SO • .4g had crops, 78. Bilubhang, fair at, 118• .4gkani rice ?8, 79. Diilumith, 123; rainfall of, 14; thana at, Agr_icultural classes, 109. 89, 141 ; fair at, 118. Agricultural statistics, 82. Bal~tmdar soil, '17. Agricultu1e, 72-87, Fandhl, irrigation from, 73, 74, _76; Agriculturists' Loans Acts, S3, 84. utility of, 97, 98. A.kar1, irrigation from, 73, 74, 76. Biinka river, 9. Ahirs, .46-47. Bii.rahazii.r,19. A.j land, 77. Barai, cultivation of, SO. .&kraut soil, 77. Biresiinr, forest block at, 66, 67• Alinagar, description of, 148. Baresiiur Tappa, description of, 148-149. Alluvial formations, 10. Bari land, 77, 134. • Amanat river, description c.f, 9 ; ferries Bari Tappa', description of, 149. on,122. Barkal Tappa ,, , 149. American Protestant Mission, 45. Barley, cultintion of,. 79-80. Amhar Tappa, description of, 148.