CENSUS OF INDIA 1961
REPORT ON THE POPULATION ESTIMATES OF INDIA
VOL. III, 1811-1820 PART-A EASTERN REGION
Edited by
DURGAPRASAD BHATTAcE,ARY
OF THE INDIAN ~TATISTICAL INi;T1TUTE
Office of the Registrar General Ind Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India New Delhi CONTENTS Page No. Foreword· v Preface vii-xxix Contents of Tables xxxi-xxxv Contents of Maps • • • xxxvi Acknowledgement xxxvii POPULATION ESTIMATES
I PROVINCES 1. ASsam, 1826-30. 1-7 2. Bengal, Bahar, Orissa and Benares, 1812 8 3. Bengal, 1815 9-13 4. Lower Provinces of Bengal, 1822 14-22 5. Kachar or Heerumba, 1819. 23-28 6. Orissa Province, 1814 29-37 II DISTRICTS 1. District of Sylhet, 1813 and 1822 41-43 2. Burdwan, 1813-14 44-58 3. District of Bhagalpur, 1810-11 59-138 4. Districts of Behar and Patna, 1811-12 . 139-214 5. District of Shahabad, 1812-13 215-273 6. District of Cuttack, 1818 274-281 III CITIES AND TOWNS 1. Sylhet Town, 1813 285-286 2. Burdwan, 1813·14 287-288 3. Calcutta, 1810-22 289-296 4. Chandercona, 1814 297 5. Chandemagore, 1814 298-299 6. Chinsura, 1814 • 300 - 301 7. Cossimbazar, 1829 302-303 8. Dacca, 1815 304-306 9. Keerpoy, 1814 • 307 10. City or Moorshedabad, 1814 308-309 11. Serampore, 1814 310-311 12. Arah Town, 1812-13 . 312-313 13. Bhagalpur Town, 1810-11 314 14. Chuprah, 1817 . 315 15. Mungger Town, 1810·11 316-317 16. City ofPatna, 1811·12 318-323 17. Patna City, 1815 324 18. Rajmahal Town, 1810·11 325-326 19. Cuttack Town, 1818 • 327-328 SEI.ECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 329-331 FOREWORD It has been the tradition of the Census Commission to prepare and present reports on various aspects of the population of the country, quite apart from the presentation of demographic data as such. As part of this tradition and in vrder to ensure that historical demography receives due emphasis, a project was planned soon after the 1961 census to present, 'in 8 volumes, a report on the population estimates of India commencing from the 18th century upto 1872. Of this series, the volume relating to the period 1820-1830 has already been pub lished and the present publication relates to the period 1811-1820. It is hoped to bring out these volumes as quickly as possible so that the entire series is available soon. The preparation of these volumes and the entire work relating to these reports on the population estimates of India over this vast span of time has been a labour of love on the part of Shri Durgaprasad Bhattacharya of the Indian Statistical Institute and the entire credit for the collection of the material, its editing and presentation should go to him and to his band of devoted workers. We would welcome suggestions so that future volumes of this series could to that extent be improved.
New Delhi P. PADMA~ABHA Dated 28-9-1978 Registrar General, India
PREFACE Sedion I-The Plan of Pre-Census Population 3. Source- A full catalogue of the volume where Studies from materials have been extracted with particular pages and also the 1.1 The pre-census population project was call No. of the book. An abbreviated sponsored by the Registrar General. India in reference to the library is given in 1961. The main purpose of the project is to third bracket after the catalogue. search. collect. compile. scrutinise. collate and If a Volume contains several docu ments, and materials are extracted edit quantitative and descriptive materials on from some of them, the author and population and allied socio-economic variables the title of a particular document for the pre-census period from old records and are given first followed by authorl publications in order to publish them after mak tide of the Volume in a bracket. ing an appraisal according to standard proce AS is used for Asiatic Society's Library, dures laid down. It was decided to publish the BSL for West Bengal Secretariat Lib~ary, ~SP for Bangiya Sahitya materials in eight volumes as follows. PallShad LIbrary, NL for the National Vol. I-Eighteenth Century Library. NAI for the National Archi ves of India, WBSA for West Bengal Vol. II-1801-1810 State ArchiVes; lSI for the Indian . Vol. . UI-181l-1820 Statistical Institute Library. Vol. IV-1820-1830 4. Materials -(a) Geographical location-A general Vol. V-1831-1840 description of boundary, latitude Vol. VI-1841-1850 and longitude, etc., is given from sources mentioned under 3 or from Vol. VII-1851-1861) other documents. This section is Vol. VlII-1861-1872 followed by another with a sub heading "geographical identification." 1.2 The fourth volume entitled Report on the Sometimes, attempts have been made Population Estimates of India 1820-1830 was to identify any tract of 1811-1830 on a map of 1961 by the editor and results published first in the series in the year 196:5.1 It presentd in editor's own words. was stated in the Foreword by Shri Asok Mitra. (b) Particulars of population-This Registrar General. India (January 8, 1963), "this section starts with a summary table is the first of eight projected volumes on Popula prepared by the editor as follows: tion Estimates for various parts of India made from the eighteenth century upto 1870. when the (Summary Table) first census of India was planned for execution in ------1872.... As this volume is one of the first ven sri. item particulars tures of its kind, I advised that there should be a no. minimum of editing, appraisal being limited to 10 points - mentioned in para 1.5 of the editor's 2 3 prdfate.· The first'volume is primarily designed 1 area in square miles to elicit suggestions and criticisms for improve 2 number of villages ment. The Census Commission. therefore, 3 population; persons males invites comments and criticism so that future females volumes .may be enriched." 4 number of families 5 number of houses 1.3 In para 1.2 of the editor's preface of the 6 population per square mile volume relating to the period 1820-1830 (refer 7 average size of a village 8 average size of a f4mily red to subsequently as the published volume), it 9 average size of a house was stated. "the purpose of the report is 10 females per thousand males primarily to compile all estimates of population of India or any part of it and to present them The summary table is followed by population systematically in a uniform manner. Relevant figures, statistical tables on population and allied materials about the composition and characteris variables. tics of population such as number of villages. 5. Method - Methods followed by the author of houses, breakdown of population into age. sex, an original document in arriving religion. caste, occupation. etc.. have also been at a population estimate or in compiled as far as possible. Factors favouring conducting a census or surveor as far as pgssible in author's own or retarding the growth of population have also words have been repro<;l.uced. been taken into account." 6. Explanation-Any detailed explanation of the 1.4 The ten-point appraisal as modified now material presented under Hem 4 or materials anailable on subjects is thus : referred to there. e. g., description 1. Year - The year to which a population of castes and their function. state referred to. of cultivation, manufactures and 2. Place- The name of the geographical tract other productive economic acti covered by any population estimate. vities, migration, materihl ~condition (vii) (vlil)
of the people, their langunge habits, manners, etc. fact{)rs heJp· therein noted .... Under Particulars of populatlon, ing a growth such as good seasons derivative tables should b~ presented and unifor. or retarding a growth such as mity of presentation itttempted. Editors shOUld drought, scar..;:ities, famines, epide. us;.! statistical devices more carefully and syste mics,etc. matically so that a reader may obtain 0) a 7. Gaps AllY z"ps mentioned by the author summary of the data presented, (ii) aU common in respect of any population esli ratios such as age, sex, rural-urban, etc. The flnte fvrm!d, !'l.g.,under·caverage Registrar General wrote, "At the outset, I agree in respect of area, non-reporting that it is very important to look for primary by cnumeratort" prejudice of the infl)fm3.nt, lack of reliabiUiy of Sources wherever available. but I am afraid you any figure, etc. will not have many primary sources on which you can lay your hands on. Besides:, it will be 8. Editorial In the published volume, the point quite as weU to compile printed sources which Comm~n( S contained "ESSlmtw.l Informa are of course secondary sources. But even the tioil". It has been covered by the summary LolQle and jilerefore, omit printed sources are not always available and ted. Editorial Comment was it is important that whatever is published should placed as point 9. The point 10 have the stamp of some authority or authenti referred to earlier estima tes or city ... I fully agree with your comments on year. later estimates. This point was place, source, materials and methods, but in expla nat seemingly u~fut and has been abolished. nation ... we should limit ourselves to facts as recorded ...• The explanation should be mainly All insertions tinder trurd bracket are neces. restricte 2.1 A draft volume entitled Report on the 2.3 Searches. throu~h primary sources &t.arted Population Estimates of India, 1811-1820 (with at West Bengal ArcbIVes, Natio.nal Arcbives of supplements for 1820-1830). edited by Durga India, Maharashtra Archives. Madras Record prasad Bhattacharya. Anima Bhattacharya Room. (now Tamil Nadu State Archives) etc., in and Bibhavati Bhattacharya was submitted tQ the addition to searcheS! through printed pages. At Registrar General. India in April 1965 _cop.tainiog this stage, it was felt that a geographical tract of about 2,500 typed pages':2 It contained 47 pre-census data should be idelltified on or in estimates for Provinces or States, 23 estimates relation to a current map as far as possible to for Districts, 99 estimates for towns. In addition; make a meaningful assessment or use of pre it contained an Appendix giving several sections c:ensus population data. Work on a map such as (1) tabulated information on districts, bibliography started as eady as 1965. A map cities, towns and yiJ1ages from the East India of India. by Arrowsmith with provincial boundary Gazetteer 1815,3 (Za) houses' in a large nUlllber was reproduced by Walter Hamilton in 1820,S of tracts in Rajasthan, (2b) Edur ~tate, 1&Zl. Ihis map was superimposed on a map of 1961 number of houses. (3) factors affecting growth of and corresponding modern territories of each old populatk'u such as rainfall, cr::n~gjJ.l, famine pro\'Juces of 1820 were marked Ollt at cEst,~::t pestilence. cholera, fever. natural calamites, etc. levels by measuring squares in the following TIle Appendix also contained a note on fonn. Buchanan'S contribution to statistical surveys of India. The said draft volume contained about _5(}O tables. 2.4 We have tried to indicate the trends of population at selected points of time and to 2,2 In spite of the fact that tbe above draft verifv the same with relevant infonnation. For -purpose, under Editorial comment, we contained a rnassiy~ volume of information, it t.h~s ~. was felt that population figures mainly C?oml)Ued have presented time series of population of each from secondary sources like gazetteers, etc., whae geographical tract of 1811-1830 for some subse 'quent census years such as 1872 (or 1881), even 'Original sources or methods of collecting data were very ofte·n missing. win not be quite 1921 (or 1931). 1961 (or 1971). It is well kno'wn that the year 1921 is the Great DiFide in the uSi::ful for a project intended to reproduce past population statistics for a scientific use and for population bistory of India. Population of each building up valid time series of population and tract fo.;:- IB72, 1921 or 1961 has been worked out allied variables. It was, therefore, suggested to the taking generally the· population of whole district directl~1 from the census leports and working out Registrar General, India that "primary sOurceS. the population of any part of a district either by meaning the sources of origin of the data, mostly faking population proportionate to the area or lying in a manuscript form should be looked into." Verification of and djscc;very by muHiplying the re1e\'ant area with the density me~b{lds of the immediate larger tract. Naturally. of gaps whi-ch are essential for future research population in tbe series as worked out is some can only be done when we reach tbe original what approximate, but perhaps enough for a sources of data. AU sorts of reproduction of rough idea. We have tried to examine adverse data should be studied carefully and comments factors existent during the pre-census and the (ix) ORlS3A 1820~tj)ENTfFICAtioN'()F TERRITORY BY SU'PERTMPOSITlON OF OLD MAp ON A 1961 MAP BY SQUARE METHOD districts of area measured on 1961 map states provinces 1961 as under 1961 1820 provinces of included excluded total area in- area cx- total 1820 1961 in Orissa from Orissa eluded eluded area area 1820 (no, 1820 (no. (sq,m.) (sq,m.) (sq,m.) (sq.m.) of squares) of squares) '1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Orissa Orissa 26,351 26,150 52,501 52,211 Sin'gbhum 2·5 24·0 26·5 482 4,632 5,114 '5;191 'Sambalpur 6'0 27·0 33'0 1,158 5,211 6,369 6,763 "Puri 19· 5' 1'0 20'5 3,763 193 3,956 3,999 Balasore 12'5 0·5 13·0 2,412 96 2,508 2,500 Mayurbhanj 4,022 4,022 4,022 Keonjhar 3,206 3,206 .... 3,206 Cuttack 4,236 4,236 4,~36 Dherikanal 4,177 .,., 4,177 4,177 Ganjam 4'0 25'0 29'0 772 4,825 5,597 4,824 Baudh 6'0 16'5 22'5 1,158 3,184- 4,342 4,248 Sundargarh 3'5 16'0 19·5 675 3,088 3,763 3,751 Midnapur 1·5 -25' 5 27'0 290 4,921 ?,211 5,258 census period wherever possible, but there is a INDIA : 1811-1820 danger lhat informati6tl may b~ incomplete, and, therefore, may even be misleading on some (with additional materiaIB for l.S21-183{) occasions. Shri Asok Mitra, the then Registrar no. of places for which General, India, pdinted out, "unless we have estimates discovered complete information on the factors determining the size of population at any particular period, Provinces, Princely States and Districts 112 we may commit the mistake of over-emphasis on Cities and towns . " 94 any aspect on which inform~tion is fortuitously 206 available." This USeful forewarning was kept in mind. We have tried to assess whether the The published volume contained 37 such esti popUlation figures as given for any year in 1811- mates. The following points may be mentioned 1830 is a plausible one, and in doing so, we <:tbout characteristics of the materials as outlined have worked out arithmatical rates of variation 111 the above table: (1) These materials roughly per annum between a pre-census year and 1872, cov~red alJ?ost the entire territory of the present also for two census periods 1872-1921 and 1921- In~la, Pakistan and BangIa Dcsh; (2) about one 1961. The general workIng assumption is that ~hlrd .of ~he data was based on some sort of the pattern of fluctuations and consequent 5low lllvestIgatIOn or enumeration; (3) there were increase. obtairtedl during 1872-1921 also hold population and socio-economic data for about good during i801-1872 unles~ facts to the con one thousand villages of a tract from Hissar to trary are present, and on this assumption, the Gorakhpur collected under Regulation VII of pre-c;ensus rate is like.1y to be around 1872-1921 1822 and also under revenue survey programme; rates, and in any case, generally below 1921-1961 (4) there were more than a thousand statistical rates. There may be a higher growth in certain tables and (5) the village level population AREA AND POPULATION OF PROVINCES, KINGDOMS AND DISTRICTS, 1811-18341 srI. plac.: and reference year (an1 equi area in population method (a) and source (b) no. valent tract) sq. mile (000) 2 3 4 5 Assam, 1826-30 (=roughly 1961 dis- 20,182 650 (a) estimate perhaps based on some sort of counting tricts of Kamrup, Nowgong, Darang, Lakl1impur, Sib~agar & Sadia Fron- (b) parliamemary papers, official documens at the tier Tract) National Archives of India and Haliram Dhekial Phukan's Assam Buranji 2 Bengal, Behar, Orissa & BCUlras, 1812 1,62,000 27,000 (a) estimate at some midPoint considering available (=roughly present West Bengal ex- figures furnished by Sir William Jones and Henry cept a portion of northern hill area, Thomas Colebrooke Bangia Desh, part of Goalpara, Bihar, Cuttack, Balasore, Puri of (b) Fifth Report from the Select Committee of the Orissa & Benaras) House of Commons, 1812 3 Bmgal, 1815 (=as in 1812) 1,62,000 30,000 (a) estimate by Walter Hamilton based on available data (b) East India Gazetteer by Walter Hamilton. 1st ed. 1815 4 LOWer Provinces of Bengal, 1822 N.A. 37,578 (a) after a frequency distribution of villages by group (=same as in 1812, Benarasexcluded) of houses, average house per village was worked out, thereafter total houses estimated; population was worked out on the basis of an assumed average of persons per house (b) dala extracted from BengaiJudicial(Crimina/) Pro ceedings, 10th November, 1825 available at West nengal Archives 5 Kachar or H~erumba, 1819 (= roughly 7,857 500 (a) estimates perhaps based on enumeration of families district of Cachar minus Karimganj (b) a paper in the Friend of India subdivision and the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District) 6 Orissa Province, 1814 (=whole or part 22,500 1,462 (a) some assumptions regarding number of villages of 1961 districts of Singl1bhum, Sum and houses per village were made, thereafter on balpur, Puri, Balasore, MayurbhanJ, further assumptions, average persons per house was Keonjhar, CuUack, Dhenkanal, Gan worked out jam, Baudh, Sundargarh, Midnapur) (b) report of Richardson, Member of the Board of Revenue on Deputation at Cuttack, available at West Bengal Archives 7 The District of Sylhet, 1813 and 1822 2,861 1,500 (a) data supplied by Collector in 1813, basis not known (=alm:>st same as the district of 19H) 3,532 1,083 for 1822, see the estimate for Lower provinces of Bengal, 1822 (b) Parliamentar~ papers, District gazetteers Burdw.ln, \81,3-14 (=approximately 2,400 1,444 (a) 98 villages and towns enumerated, average per 1961 district (-) Raniganj subdivi dwelling worked out, and on this basis population sion, (+) half of Ausgram, Kotulpur estimated and Indus of Bankura) (b) W.B. Bayley's paper entitled Statistical View of the population ofthe District of Burdwan Published in Asiatick Researches, Vol. 14. 9 District of Bhagalpur, 1810-11 (= 1961 8,225 2,020 (a) rejecting Khana-Sumari results, Buchanan first district of Bhagalpur, pan of Saha estimated the number of people required to cultivate rsa, greater part of Monghyr) land, secondly he considered the ratio of agricultural and non-agricultural population, checked these data thoroughly and arrived at the total popu. lation (b) survey results of Buchanan published by Bihar, Orissa Research Society, tables procured from the India Office Library 10 District of Bihar & Patna (=1961 5,358 3,364 (a) Buchanan estimated the number of plougftmen and district of Patna whole, Gaya 2,785 their proportIOn to other classes and after several sq. miles out of 4,786 sq. miles and checks and scrutiny, arrived at the total population 479 sq. miles of Monghyr district) (b) same as in the district of Bhagalpur 11 District of Sahabad 1812-13 (=almost 4,087 1,420 (a) Buchanan first estimated the quantity of land cui. identical with the same district of tivated per plough, then the ploug!tmen, then the 1961 except that the Police Station of rest of the classes on a proportion basis Rajpur was outside and the tehsil of (b) same as in the district of Bhagalpur Balia of U.P. was inside) 12 The District of Cuttack, 1818 (=0 Cut 6,300 1,252 (a) men per tilled bigha and their proportion to arti. tack, Balasore and Puri districts as in sans, ecc., total workers multiplied by average size 1941 roughly) of family, comumption of salt, assumed population per village, etc., were also basis of population estimates (b) Report of William Ewer available at West Bengal Archives ~... o g :'" ., i " z .z-0 ~ I I 00..... ! .. ... :i 0 ... >-... i .. i~ o ~!: A. a: " II: 0 '"... ":It.... ~ ... (xi) We shall briefly examine each of these estimates stationed in the districts. but the return& were so and discuss the sources of data and methodology imperfect, and where they were made by those as used by the original author in arriving at a of two descriptions of officers, so contradictory, given population estimate. that no general conclusion could be drawn from them ... "ll. They took a mid-point between the 3.2 Assam-Assam in 1826-30 for which 12 population estimates have been furnished repre estimates of Sir William Jones and of Henry Thomas Colebrooke.I3 . • sents a small tract along the Brahmaputra river containing the modem district of Kamrup, Now 3.4 The estimate of Bengal for 1815 is one by gong, Darang, Lakh.impur, Sibsagar. and Sadiya Walter Hamilton presented in the first edition of Frontier Tract. These tracts were divided into two the East India Gazetteer. Walter Hamilton's administrative units called the Lower Assam and works have been frequently used and should be the Upper Assam. Population estimates present discussed at the very outset. As already stated, ed were contained in a Foreign Department Walter Hamilton published the East India document and in the Parliamentary Paper on Gazetteer in one volume in 1815. the second slavery. The most striking feature of the esti edition appeared in 1828 in two volumes. 14 In mate is the method followed by Haliram Dhekial 1820, A Geographical, Statistical and Historical 15 Phukan.6• "In Assam, the Burmese diminished Description of Hindostan was published in two the population by half in 1816-24 partly by volumes. About source materials, Hamilton wrote ml$sacre and partly by criving 30.000 in slave in the Preface to the second edition of the gangs to Ava," thus writes Dodwell in the Gazetteer, "To form a geographical basis, Mr. Cambridge History of India.7 Anandaram Arrowsmith's six sheet map of Hindostan, and Dhekial Phukan also mentioned of destruction his four sheet chart of the Eastern seas have "of more than one-half of the population"8 been selected, but other valuable maps and charts S. K. Bhuyan described in details the nature o~ subsequently executed have also been consulted ... atrocities and its consequences on the popula The materials from which this work has been tion. 9 Haliram Dhekial Phukan was a prominent composed, consist of printed documents generally man of his time. He built up resistance against accessible to the public, and manuscript record the Burmese. David Scott appointed him as deposited at the India Board. regarding which a the Chief Officer for rehabilitation of persons few explanatory observations will be necessary. displaced due to Burmese oppression. His work The British Government in India is one which Assam Buranji was first published in 1236 B. S. records and reports to England its most minute It was reviewed in Asiatic Journal, 1830, and in transactions, furnishing a basis for accurate Samachar Darpan, 1831. This volume was history beyond those of any other state. In mentioned by James Long in his Catalogue of conformi~ wHh this ~inciple it is the practice Bengali Books in 1855, and also by Sukumar Sen of each presidency to transmit half-yearly, or in his 'Bangia 'Sahitye Gadya10 (prose in Bengali according to the exigence more frequent reports literature). This is the first scientific treatise in in the political, financial and judicial, military. Bengali language. Haliram's keen observation public, legal and ecclesiastical departments, as earty as 1830 is surprising. He starts with accompanied with copies of the correspondence the Upper Assam, defines the limit of the 'census that have taken place with their subordinate area' with a considerable degree of accuracy. and functionaries. These official records are extre mentions that only males were counted. The mely voluminous. but their contents rarely bear number of males is estimated at one lakh. He directly on statistical subjects, the discussions estimates the number of females at more than having generally originated in some accidental one lakh indicating to a higher sex ratio. There irregularities, such as the robbery of treasure, after he mentions the 'non-census area' and disputed boundaries, the irruption of foreign uses ratio method to arrive at final population tribes, defalcation of the revenue, the pupillage totals. The most striking features of his obser of native chiefs, and other matters of difficult vation lie in tracing the sources of errors in popu adjustment. brought under the notice of the India lation figures; undercounting is quite natural in Board and Court of Directors. Where no event areas where a poll tax is prevalent; a violent of the nature above alluded to has taken place, migratory movement of population due to an and the tranquility of the province has continued unprecedented political disturbance is a great undisturbed by war or controversy, no corres· hindrance to a count of population. His upper pondence has resulted; and its internal condition limit of population is 8 lakhs for the tract. has remained so completely unnoticed. that the circumstances of several of the Company's old 3.3 Bengal, Bihar and Benaras, 1812-The districts of great wealth and population are less celebrated authors of the Fifth Report of 1812 generally known than those of remote tracts, the submitted to the House of Commons that "the very names of which are recent discoveries. At enquiries of your Committee do not enable them the conclusion of the second volume a list of these to state with any precision. or with SlUeh confi and other authorities will be found, comprehend dence, the amount of the population, even of the ing a large proportion of the ablest of the old territories of the COIlJpany, consisting of the Company's servants, civil, military and medical. Ptovinces of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa with Besides 'Public Manuscript Documents,' access ~ o~ ;Benares, afterwards annexed to iI-,em. to which was procured him by the late Right The -OOVernment of Bengal called for informa Honourable Mr. Canning, while President of the tion Oll this 1J~d, from the collectors and judges Board of Control, the author has been favoured (xi)) with two most important private cO)llmunications, 'the Superintendent of Police of the l.ower which have greatly enhanced the value of the 'pre Provinces, continued, "Thus in column ~howing sent edition. The first consists of a series of ex the number of villages containing less than 100 fracts from the manuscript jounial of 10hn Ful houses, the number of villages is multiplied 'by larton, Esq., of Great Stanhope Street, Hyde Park, 33 or a fraction of less than -!rd to obtain the the only European who bas even made the com total number of houses contained in the village plete tour of Hindostan, from the Brahmaputra of that class. In the next column showing the to Bombay, from the Himalaya, Mountains to the number of villages above 100 and less than 250 Straights of Ceylon. These travels occupied some houses, the number is multiplied by 150 or j.rd portions of 1817 and 18~8, the half of 1819, and of the number of houses in excess of the class the whole of 1820, were performed deliberately entered in the precedIng cOlumn and so on in and with such an establishment of horses, ele the remaining classes." For example, the total phants, camels, and. tents, as enabled him to en numbelr of villages in the Thanah jurisdiction camp on any spot, and leave no worthy object of of Katwa is 153 of which, 104 villages contain curiosity uninvestigated. 1t is to be regretted less than 100 houses, and 'so on. The sample that the original journal from which these data given in the above form may be extracts were made has never. been published, and conveniently rearranged as follows:-, the estimation attached to them will be proved by the frequency qf reference. The Qther DiSTR1BUTION OF VILLAGES IN THANA CUTW A document, consisting of seven large folio manus . BY FREQUENCY OF HOUSES, 1822 cript volumes, was received from Sir John Malcolm, K. C. B., the indefatigable promoter house-group numberof average total of every measure that can either benefit or vlllages number of houses houses per illustrate India. These contain separate descrip village tion of above 6,500 towns, villages, hamlets-, rivers and mountains in Central Hindostan and 1 2 3 4 the Deccan; but the imperative necessity of condensation only permitted the selection of Less than 100 104 33 3432 such as were remarkable for their size, local situation, temples, public works, or any othe~ 100 to 250 32 150 4800 extraordinary features." Population of Bengal ·250 to 500 13 333 4329 was mentioned by Hamilton casually, c!bviously on the basis of estimates available upto date, to 500 to 1000 3 666 1998 vary betwee.n 28 and 30 million. 1000 to r500 1 1500 1500 3.5 Lower Provinces of Bengal, 1822.-Henry Shakespear wrote about the method, "The details 2500 to 5000 now submitted were obtained by a Circular 5000 to 10000 addressed to the Magistrates of the Lower More than 10000 Provinces within the last four or five years, requesting them to call on the Police Thanauars , to furnish the details required according to a form transmitted to them. The copy of that form will be found in the first sheet of the Under row 1, the average number of houses per annexed statements which will likewise serve to village is assumed at 33 or a fraction of less explain the mode ~hich has been adopted in than jrd to obtain the total number of houses summing up the results." Column (1) to (6) of containecit in that class. In immediate authority of your Presidency would (1811-12)28 and Shahabad (1812-13).29 These be attended with much utility; we therefore reports were not complete. Tables for cultiva recommend proper steps for carrying the same tion of grain were printed in Patna-Gaya report, into execution."Ul but t~~~ tables were not published except for the DIVISIon of Patna. Other reports contained 4.2 It is worthwhile to mention that Marquis no tables for grain. of Welleseley appointed Francis Buchanan on the 28th February, 1800 "to report on the territories 4.6 Professor Mahalanobis procured a micro of the Rajah of Mysore, and, on the country film set of the entire manuscript from the India acquired by the Company after their war with Office Library with a view to editing them for the Sultan as well as on that part of Malabar publication in several volumes. We have used previously occupied by the Marquis Com Buchanan's reports on Bhagalpur, Patna-Gaya walIis."21 Agriculture in all details, natural and Shahabad in this volume. Statistical tables resources, minerals, manufacture and manufac used were from the manuscripts. For each turers. climate and seasons, forests. condition and district we have extracted such portions consider character of the people were subject of the ed relevant for our purpose and recast materials enquiry. Buchanan starled his survey on the accordingly. Let us illustrate from materials 23rd April, 1800. He travelled through Areot, presented for the district of BhagaJpur. From Mysore Coimbatore, Malabar. He finished his the chapter "Extent, General Appearance and survey by the 6th July, 1801. In 1807, the Soil" we have extracted only those portions of Report was published from London in three materials as may be relevant for ascertaining Volumes.22 With such a background, the Gover the jurisdiction and boundary and presented nor-General Lord Minto, appointed Buchanan to them under 4(a)-Geographical location. All the post of Surveyor. Final orders were issued statistical tables were presented under 4(b) on the lith September, 1807. Particulars of population. Under 5-Method, we have reproduced his methodology of compilation 4.3 W. W. Runter appropriately summarised of data. Under 6-Explanation, we have tried the instructions of the survey in the following to restrict our reproduction of materials essential words, "they proceed to the condition of the to explain statistical tables presented. For each inhabitants, their number, clothing, habitations thana or division, we have presented his descrip and diseases; their creeds, religious sects, and tion of topography, housing pattern and urban means of education. The natural productions centres. We were also tempted to pres-ent facts· of the country, animal, vegetable and mineral. compiled by Buchanan on caste and classes and next passed under review, its fisheries, forests, on artisans. We have tabulated the material quarries and mines. its modes of tillage, croi)s, on religion and caste under the heading "socio implements of husbandry, manures, facilities for occupational characteristics of the population." irrigation, and safeguards against floods. The Materials were divided into four columns for different breeds of cattle, the poultry and domes "Muhammedan" population- column I-serial ticated animals, with modes of rearing them; number, column 2-caste, column 3-number of the size of the farms; the state of the fences, and families and column 4-occupation and other the rates of wages are successively considered, particulars. A similar table was prepared for while a separate heading calls special attention to Hindu population where the first three columns the condition of landed property and the tenures were almost identical, but under column 4, the under which it is held. The list concludes with following information was given chronologically the arts, manufactures and commerce of the as and when available: (1) occupational informa country, and furnished an elaborate enumeration tion, (2) place of present settlement of the caste of salient points under each."2,3 or tribe, (3) original country wherefrom they migrated and (4) miscellaneous information. We 4.4 Buchanan worked for eight years from the have also presented a table compiled from rainy season of 1807 till the summer of 1814. descriptive material on "State of Artisans in the He started to work at Dinajpur in the close of District" under three columns: (1) serial number, the rainy season in 1807. After finishing work (2) nomenclature of artists, (3) type and nature in early 1808, he took up investigation in the of work. north-east portion of Rangpur, a considerable portion lying under the jurisdiction of what was 4.7 Buchanan presented data at the thana or called "Lower Assam". At 'the end of rains of division level in statistical tables. We have 1809, he moved towards Purnea and conducted re_tained his form of tables. but made changes in investigation during cold weather of ] 809-10. values by converting anna and pice proportion During 1810-11 he surveyed Bhagalpur and als'o into percentages where such occasions arose. We undertook enquiries in Patna-Gaya. Buchanan have given below serially the subject matter of devoted dry season of 1812-13 to survey Shaha each table and indicated changes made on the bad and conducted his enquiries in Gorakhpur original table for the district of Bhagalpur. Simi during 1813-14. lar changes were made in tables relating to other districts also. 4.5 The Bihar and Orissa Research Society 1. General Statistical Table -no change published reports for the districts of Patna 2. Proportion of inundated land -no change Gaya,24 Bhagalpur25 and Shahabad26, as well as 3. Population and causes by which -no chanse journals of nhagalpur (1810-11),27 Patna-Gaya it is affected (xv) 4 & 5. Monthly expenditure - no change 4.8 The survey of Eastern India conducted 6. Lodging or Housing type - no change during 1807-14 contained, according to R. M. Martin, an area of more than 60,000 sq. 7. Dress,costume and bedding - pice proportions miles and a population of 15 million.30 converted into percentages W. W. Hunter thought that the instr!lctions 8. Frequency of items ofcon sump- do. were well conceived and the best possible man tion was selected for the work. But the system was inadequate involving "three radical defects in 9. Intoxication do. the s.cheme, anyone of which would amount to 10. Fuel and light . do. shipwreck in such an undertaking.'" Firstly, no attempt was made to allot a reasonable sp'ace to 11. Estimate of type of conveyance - det~lls for tha~as and domestic servants for clothing, bedding, oil and fat, -fish and meat; 4.19 yve .ha,:e also prepared a table of some vegetables. milk and milk products, pulses, fuel economlc mdlcators from various tables and light and intoxication. It represents a c(jn~ presented. sumption schedule of national sample survey in a different style and method. SOME ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF DISTRICTS SURVEYED Di BUCHANAN 4.16 He enumerated the transportation. Dhagal- Bihar& Shaba- system. He a1sb' estimated" the number of pur Patna bad domestic servants and slaves by sex. There is ~lso a ~able on employment and unemployment 1. Average produce per bigha In relatIon to the level of educafion. For each (kg.) , division or thana he presented tables of land (i) Summ;!r rice 0 203 119 use, crop. calender, production, availability f6t (0',01) {0'O2) consumption and total value. In the district (ii) Winter rice 226 186 127 tables describing manner of occ~pation of land, (0'0l) (0'02) (0'02) he enumerated area under more than 305 items. (iii) Wheat 190 223 139 He also presented tables regarding number 0'£ (0-02) (0-03) (0'03) cattle by their uses and estimated the quantity (IV) Barley 195 186 147 of milk produced. (O'Ot) (0'02) (0'02) :2. Per capita avaiJabililY peJ: 4.17 In another table he presented an estimate year (kg.). of the proportion of rent paid by high cas,tes', (i) Ri(ic 369 291 175 tradesmen and .ploughmen and proportion of 72 61 67 plough held by ,owners, share croppers, hired (H) Wheat and Barley (iii) Other food 50 27 25 servants or slaves. In another table he estimated 269 the source of payments of rent by different (IV) Total food 491 379 social classes. Finally. he made a detailed (v) Milk (litre) 44 19 23 enumeration of artisans. He did not fail to make a list of commodities imported and exported and Harvest prices per kg. (in Rs. 0.00) are given in present their value. parenthesis. 4.18 Anyone will be simply overwhelmed by Section V-'Cities and, Towns the coverage made and results thrown up. C: E. A. W. Oldain in his introduction to 5.1 Very littly information is available on Shahabad journal pointed out that the work ~ities and towns. We ~albulated all cities and completed by Buchanan was a fine fit for one towns from Hamilton's East India Gazetteers man. "For a true appreciation of the magnitude giving (1) name, (2) location, i.e., iatitude and of Buchanan's task it is essential to .remember longitude, (3) province or state, (4) (a) indication that his work throughout the area was pioneer of its character whether a Court Or political work; he had no previous accounts to guide or centre, or a commercial centre, or fort and a assist him: he had to formulate the methods of place of mHitary impottance, or a religious place, collecting the details required under each head (b) also indication of whether it was growing, of enquiry, sIft, classify and cneck the informa- stagnant or declining, and finally whether infor- tion obtained. and finally compile and write out malion on (a) or (b) is absent. The work of the voluminous reports ... " Professor P. C. tabulation of the first and the second edition of Mahalanobis was of opinion that, "the report the Gazetteer was completed. 237 places were everywhere shows the critical attitude, keen mentioned as towns. A 'town' was no where scientific spirit, and the experimental approach defined in any contemporary document. Perhaps of Dr. Buchanan. The wealth and reliability of overgrown localities having urban elements were information (as far as this can be judged from discriminately called towns. We have produced internal evidence) make this report one of the population estimates fot 18 cities and towns in most remarkable surveys of all times. There is this volume for the period 1811-1830. The nothing in any subsequent survey in India to following table shows the towns and population approach the one conducted 140 years ago."33 in 1811-1830, 1872. 1921 and 1971. POPULATION OF 18 TOWNS OF EASTERN ZONE, 1811.1'830, 1872, 1921 .AND 1971 population 1971 name of towns with reference year 1811-1830 1872 1921 3 4 ~ 1 2 16~912 37,740* 1813 30,000 16,846 sylhet 34,616 144,970 1813-14 53,927 12,32~ Burdwan • 1810 1,000,0001 Calcutta 1810 450,000 I Calcutta 1814 700,000 Ha) Calcutta 1815 500,000J Calcutta 11119 7S0,QOO Calcutta 2-439 R. G· India/(ND)/79 (x,viii) POPULATION OF 18 TOWNS OF EASTERN ZONE, 1811-1830, 1872, 1921 AND 1971-Concld. -~ 1 2 3 4 calcutta 1821 179,917 428,328 (b) Calcutta 1822 230,552 704,290 (c) 1,053,334 3,141,180 Calcutta 1822 265,000 Chandecona 1814 18,145 21,311 6,470 9,805 Chandernagore 1814 41,377 24,000 25,423 75,960 Chinsura. 1814 18,679 34,761 29,938 105,341 Cossimbazar • 1829 3,538 6,304 Dacca 1815 150,000 68,59.5 119,450 556,712* Keerpoy • 1814 10,525 8,046 3,756 7,227 Moorshedabad 1814 150,000 24;534 10,669 16,618 Moorshedabad 1814 165,000 Serampore 1814 11,445 24,440 56,456 ** 199,634** Arah 1812-13 22,200 39,386 40,769 92,670 Bhagalpur 1810-11 30,000 65,377 68,878 172,700 Chupra . 1817 43,500 46,287 42,415 83,166 Mungger. 1810-11 30,000 59,698 46,825 102,462 Patna . 1811-12 312,000 158,900 119,976 472,051 Patna 1815 150,000 Rajmahal 1810-11 27,500 Cd) 3,454 8,185 Cuttack 1818 40,000 42,667 51,007 194,036 *figures are for 1961. (a) seems to be purely guess work (b) area unadjusted i.e., as in 1872 and generally comparable to 1821 (c) area refers to that of 1971 (d)average of 25,000 and 30,000 **includes population of Rishra and Konnagur. 5.2 The populati.on of the towns with 1814 of soldiers to Nuddea, whence {'hey were expom as reference year is generally based on an ed to Fort William !by all the boats of English enumerattion by W. B. Bayley. Population of squadron with banners fiying, music sounding - three Bihar districts (1810-14) is based on scene: of triumph and joy."35 Buchanan's survey. Patna's population for 1815 and Dacca's population for the same year are 5.4 There is no doubt that Murshidabad was subject to question. The city of Dacca was on a decline. Reasons were mentioned by enumerated around the year 1830 by Henry Walter Hamilton as "destruction of the sewers, Walters. The full report was published in the unhealthiness of the city due to a total wan,t of Report on the Population Estimates of India, free circulation of air, and also to the thick, 1820-1830. Perhaps in the absence of any stan impenetrable, and yearly increasing jungle which dard definition, Francis Buchanan treated some is intermixed with the dwelling houses and which of the places even with 100 houses as towns. threatens to abso'rb the whole." The city became Buchanan mentioned 232 towns in three districts the capital of Bengal in 1704 when Moorshid of which 138 had 100 ~b 250 houses. Cooly Khan moved from Dacca. The capital was virtually shifted to Calcutta in 1757 and 5,3 It will !be seen that most of towns declined formally in 1771. The popUlation mentioned by between 1811-1830 and 1872, only Monghyr Wailler Hamilton at 150,000 @5 pel'lSons per doubled. some remained constant and few of house or 165,000 @5! persons per house far them grew. Burdwan declined by 40 per cent, 1814 agrees with one arrived a,t by H.Y. Hathorn Murshidabad by 84 pet cent, Dacca stagnated through a census in 1829 at 146,000 though (1830 census populrution was 67,000 againsf Hathom's calculation is based on 51 persons per 69,000 in 1872). We shall briefly discuss house. T()tal population of the town was Murshidabad, Dacca and Calcu,tta. The history reduced to 24,534 in 1872, 20,841 in 1881, to of Murshidabad since 1757 was naturally one of 9,483 in 1931 and finally recovered to 16,618 in decline, "The City of Muxadabad is as exten 1971. sive, populous and rich as the: city of London," wrote Lord Clive in 1764, "with this difference, 5.5 Th~ hisltory of the rise and fall of Dacca that ,there are individuals in Ithe first possessing is nO,t difficult to trace. In 1680, capital was infinitely greate,r property than in any in the last shifted from Rajmahal tb Dacca. According to Clty"34. When Lord Clive entered into Murshida Hamilto12, "it ap~ars to have . attained its bad treasury, "there was in rtha.tl treasury two greateslt splendour; during the reign of Aurengzeb crores of rupees in ready coin and the payment and judging from the magnificance of thel ruins",. of first instalment is thus described. The money now overspread with iungle, it must have vied its was packed in 700 chests, embarked in 100 boats, extent and riches with the greatest cities, Gour which proceeded down the river under the car'" perhaps excepted ... " The trend of permanent (xix) decline commenced with the tmuble and distrac market sprang up at BetDr near Sibpur. Sapia: tions of the Mogul Empire following the inva gram. a most celebrated commercial centre for sion of Nadir Shah. The process of decay was centuries. decayed rapidly due to silting up of slow primarily due to its supremacy in cot~on the river Saraswati and by the close of the 16tq weaving, mainly through world famous mashns, century, yielded· to Hugli. Govindapu{ was but a series of famines from 1770 expedited ilfs established by migrating Basaks and Seths of decline. "36 Saptagram eager to profi>tJ by :trade at Betor. Thereafter Sutanuti appeared as a centre of cloth 5.6 Walter Hamilton presented an estimate of trade. These are more or less known facts. Job the population of Dacca at 150,000 i!l ~e first CharnDck halted at Sutanuty for the third and edition of his gazetteer (1815). In revlewmg the the last time on Sunday 24th August 1690. In trend of population, it was stated in the ~nsus 1697. the English secured Nawab's permission to report of Bengal in 1872, "In 1801, the popula defend themselves and in the next year, a walled tion was es.timated at 200.000 and Bishop Heber enclDsure was erected. In 1698 •. they alsD secnr in 1823 supposed that it contained 90.000 hous~s ed permission tD purchase ,three villages of and 300000 inhabitaDJt1s. In 1814 the Chowki Sutanuti. Calcutta and Govindapur on payment dari Ta~ was levied on 21,316 houses. in 1830 of a consolidated sum of Rs. 16,000 from Azim the number of houses had fallen to 10,708. In us-Shan. Their estalblishments were on a con the latter year. a census was taken by the ju~ge sistent increase with shops, shipping. servants, and magistrate. H. Walter. when the. popula~lOn dependeDJts, baniansl, brokers. In 1717. ,the was ascertained to be 66,989. The CItY contInU English Company was permitted to purchase 38 ed to decline, however. for some years, until the villages, four on the Howrah side of the river and trade in jute and country produce began to make the rest on the Calcutta side. . up for the loss of cotton manufactures. In 1~6?, population was estima.tled at 51.636 oruy; iJt IS 5.8 Walter Hamilton wrote about the condi now 69212."37 Dacca around 1875, according tion Df Calcutta as in 1717, "the present toWn to W. W. Hunter manifested a decay with its was then a. village appertaining to the dislrict of contracted limits, its reduced and impoverished Nuddea, the houses of which were scattered in population. rui~ :md aban~o~ed habi~ations clusters of ten or twelve each. and the inhabitants seen in every drrectlon, and. IndlCa~d penod of chiefly husbandmen. A fDrest exiSJtea to the prosperity and affluence long. pass~ away. southward of Chandpal Ghat. which was after Hunter considered the population esttmated by wards removed by degrees. Betw~n Kidderpore Bishop Heber in 1823 to be very excessive as in and the forest were two villages whose inhabitants 1814 police tax was levied only on 21,361 we're invited to settle in CaICUItta by the ancient houses,38 The number of houses was 16,257 ac family of the Seats who were at that time mer cording to the census of 1830. Some reliability chants of great nDte and very· instrumental in may of course be placed on Henry Wallters' bringing Calcutta intD the form of a town: Fort census 6f 1830. ·The population between 1830 William and Esplanade are the sites where the and 1872 stagnated· and thereafter a steady rise forest and the two villages above mentioned is nDticed. In 1911, popUlation was recorded at formerly stDod. There ate inhabitants alive whD 108551 in 1941 at 213,218 and in 1951 at recoIIect a oreek which extended frDm Chandpal 335:928' and finally in 1961 at 556,712. The 'Ghat to BaIIiaghat. and who say that the drain annual growth is above 5 per cent wter 1941. before the Government House is where :iJt took 5.7 Calcutta is not a city "hoary with age and the course. To the south of Boitak-Khana there rich in history." Suni,ti Kumar Chatterji brilliant is still a ditch which ShDWS evident traces of ly traced the socio-cultural growtth of Calcutta continuation of this creek. In 1717, there was from the days when it was frequented by Sabar a small village consisting of strangling houses surrounding by puddles of water, where now Kirat and Dhibars (hunter and fisherman).3'~ Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazal (C. 1590 A.D.) stand the elegant houses of Chowringhee. and refers to Kalikata as a Mahal within the Sarkar C..alcutta may at the period be described as ex Df Satgaon. "Calcutta orr alt any rate that por tending to 'Chitpore bridge, but the intervening tion of HugH, where Calcutta now stands, has a space consisted of ground covered with jungle. history," wrote C.R. Wilson, "and the city is the Tn 1742 a ditch' was dug round a considerable growth of many centuries. At firslt, places were part of the boundaries of Calcutta tD prevent the . merely a group of villages to all appearance. not incursions of the Mahrattas, and it appears from Mr. Orme's History of the War in Bengal that distinguishable in any way from hundred Df oth~r river side places.· There was, however. thIS at the time ,of c~ptur.e in 1756 there were about difference that at this point where the villages 70 houses in the town belonging to the English. stood in ,the 16th century, the stream became What are now called the Esplanade, the site of much shallower and less accessible tD sea going Fort William and Chowringhee, were SD late as . vessels. As long as local trade was carried on 1756 a complete jungle interspersed wilth a few huts and small pieces of grazing and arable in small boats. this was of Ht'de importance, and land."41 Satgaon, on the Saraswati, near the modem Hugli was the great centre of commerce."40 The 5.9 In spite of imperial firman. the revenue of POl1tuguese began to frequent the river by 1530. the villages occupied by the English or their They did not risk their ships in the shallow henamdar remained unsettled up to 1757. The water and lay at anchor at Garden Reach. A Mahratta incursion led to migration of a good (XX) number of high caste people in Calcutta. "In the _Company a.cquir~d at the same. .t.ime. the zemill year 1742, says Orme," the Indian inhabitants dary of 24-Parganas under the Mnie of fifteen Of the colony requested and obtained pern:!ission dbees or the 55 villages (pan-Channo-Gnuu; ...)." to !iig a ditch at their own expense round the Under the Act of 1794, the boundacy of town Company's boundary from the llorthern part of was fixed to be inner side the Mahratta Ditch. Sootanutty to the Southern part of Govindpore. Under ,the Act XXI of 1857, the suburbs were This work would extend seven miles.... in six defined to include all lands within the general months. ifhree miles were finished. when the limits or Panchannogram. The municipality of 1,nbabitants, seeing that no Mahrattas bad ever the suburbs was defined by a Government noti been on the western side of the river within sixty ·fication dated 10th September, 1877 which in :oP1es,Of Calcutta... discOlliti.n.ued the work ... cluded six wards (1) Police Stations -, Cossipore, called MaharatW. Ditch. "42 Chltpo.re, Ooltadanga; .. (2) Poli~ Sta.~ons - Maniktollah. B,!1;liagbatta ; (3) PolIce StatIons - . S.W John Zaphan:ia Holwell wrote, «the .tcwn Entally Baniapooker; (4) Police Stations of Calcutta is divided into four principal districts, &llygunge, Tol!ygunge; (5) Police Statiolls under the denonrinaJtions of Dee Calcutta (under Bhowanipore, Alipore; (6) Police Stations - wbich John Nagar included) Govindpoor. is Ekbalpoor, Garden Reach, ToUygunge (Dur~~ SOf>IlJIlutty, Calcutta; and BaZOJ' to each of which, pore), Watgunge. In 1889, the Subarban MUlllCl .and to the j!;'I'eat Bazar, are appropriated a paThty was split into four parts. district Cutcherry. whose accoutlits are all trans mitted to, and center in the great Cutcherry of The following changes are recwded in the Dee Calcutta. These four districts COOItain 5472t District Census Hand Book of Calcutta, 1961, Begha. of ground. (each containing 20 Cotta) 00 Changes in the definition of the Census-territory which the Company receive grou.nd rent at . 3 of Calcutta since 1901: Sicca Rupees per Begha per annum, some few (a) Clssiput-Chitpur was a separate town in places excepted ... which pay a less rent. Exclu 19()1, 1911 and 1921. In 1931 this town. sive of the above 5472} Begha the Company was merged in Calcutta. possess 733 Beghas which pay no ground rent,"43 (b) Maniktala was a separte town in 1901. 5.11 The growth of Calcutta, 60fh in respect 1911 and 1921. In 1931, this town was <>I territory and llOPulation, is well-recoroed in merged in Calcutta. ~nsus documents, particularly in three volumes (c) In 1931 Garden Reach was included in i&sue4 in !876,44 1901,45 and 1951.46 The growth Calcutta. In 1941 it again became a accelerated after !the Plassey when for all practi separate municipal town. ~l purposes political headquart'«s shifted to (d) Tollygung-e was a separ,ate town in 1901. Qlcutta. In the report of 1876, it was stated 1911, 1921, 1931, 1941 and 1951. In {brut "substallltial and permanent territorial 1961 this town was merged in Calcutta. acquisition and expansion occurred after Plassey when by a treaty with Jaffir Ali Khan, the 5.12 There are guesses. estimates, calculations finglish merchants obtained a lot of privileges and censuses of the population of Calcutta since including exemption of rent of the mauzas held the early seventeenth .century. c Pur inter;st for by the Company llnder a Swalld." Twemty the present is concentrated in the period 1811- mauzas enlisted in the Sanad were within 1830. ~ following table shows popula1tion M.~bratta Ditcb. But under the same treaty, "the estimates presented in this volume. POPULA'l'ION ESTIMATES OF CALCUTTA, 1810-22 year authority responsible for the estimate popula. where mentioned remarks lion 2 3 4 5 .tMo Sir Henry Russell the Chief Judge 1,000,000 Walter Hamilton. The East India Gazetteer, city and environs 1828. Vol. 1. 1810 General Kyd 400,000 Do. year not definitely ro ~~ 500,000 1814 Sir Edward Hyde East 700,000 James Ranald Martin. Notes an the Medj· area covered not sta- cal Topography of Calcutta. ted 1815 Walter Hamilton 500,000 WaIter Hamilton. The East India Gazetteer, 1815. 1819 School Society 750,000 Walter Hamilton. The East India Gazetteer. 1828. Vol. 1. l8U Assessors' Census 179,917 Census ofIndia, 1901. Va.7. Part·I residential popula- tion t 822 Magistrates 230,552 Do. residential plus floa ting population 1822 Shakespear, Supdt. of Police, Lower 265,000 Bengal judicial (Criminal) Proceedings, Provjnces 10th Nov., 1825. No. 55. ._-_ (xxi) · 5.13 A. K. Ray in the census volume of 1901 increased during these 60 years by 517 per cent examined the area, boundary, and population (annual rate 8.6 pen:- cent); the population of estimates of Calcutta available since the early Calcutlta Municipality increased by 213 per cent eighteenth century. In the eighth chapter of this (annual rate 3.5 per cent), 'Of Delhi Municipality volume, he examiood the total urban and rural by 863 per cent (annual rate 13.5 per cent), of areas that Weoc-e covered by ,the "town of Cal Madras Municipality by 219 per cent (annual cutta". He pointed out to the faot that there rate 3.5 per cent). The growth rate 'Of receUit was virtually little change in the urban area delead$! was ably diScUssed by Asok Mitlra : between 1794 to 1872. But "the oondiltion of the "It is incredible that whole West Bengal's popula area south of J autliba:z&- Stree,t, in the matter of tion grew by 33 per cent in the last decade reclamation of jungle and extension of residen [1951-1961] Calcutta's should have grown omy tial area, underwent a oont:inu<>us change from 8, while in the same period greater Bombay grew year to year during the whole ~riod." A. K. by 39. Even the Calcutta industrial region of Ray also pointed out to varying concepts of 1951 comprising all the 35 iildustria1 towns on "population" meaning sometimes residential total the H'Ooghly side grew by no more than about population, sometimes males only, sometimes 20 per cent in 1961 when it would be legitimate people living in the toWn excluding women, to expect it to have gr'Own by no less than 50", children and servants, sometimes including and considering the rate of 33 for the State as a $ometimes excluding the daily floating popula whole. The truth of the matter is indeed a tion of the town. The estimates were often for paradox; that, inspire of the squaler, the cr~S!. urban areas only and at another time for urban the swearming streets and path ways, the bustees and rural areas together. Sometimes, clear bUfslting and spilling around. Calcutta i9 n'Ot indication of the geographical identity of the area growing fast en'Ough. And if it is n'Ot groWing relating to a population estimate was lacking. fast en'Ough, surely there must be good reasons f'Or it. "<}7 5.14 The population eS,timates by Sir Edward Hyde and those mentioned in the East India 5.16 It is difficult to build up any series of Gazetteer appeared prima facie to Ray as mere population of Calcutta even for the census guesses to the day population of the town, "in period. The table presented below has its 'Own an of which Holwell's wrong and exaggerated limitations. The figures for 1872, 1881 and 1891 were taken from the time series presented in the estimate [409,000] was undoubtedly a detea:min 48 ing factor." The assessors' census returned the census tables of 1921. With these figures, the number of houses at 67,519 and population at population of Cossipore-Chitpore. :Mianiktala, and 179,917. Ray thinks that the population figure Tollygunge has (been added; as no population of was authentic, but the magistrates by whom they Tollygunge was available in 1872. the figures were employed upgraded the figures to 230,552 for 1881 were used. The population series thus aDd added one lakh for fioating population. reconstructed for the decades 1872-1S91 do not Ass'i!miDg that the population 'Of Calcutta was agree with the sltatement 1.107 of the ·1951 ardun.d tw() laths :in 1821, the population Census. The figures therein are 669.426 for 1872, doubled by 1872 approximately within the same 648,490 for 1881 and 741,889 for 1891. With area and boundary, that is, roughly the growth these figures also, the population of T'Ollygunge is at the rate of 2 per cent per annum for about should be added t'O make them a part of the time half a century. During next fifty years, 1872- series on 1971 geographical unit. The figures for 192f.' the growth is around 50 per cent (though Ithe series for 1901-1961 are taken from the Census of India, 1961. General Population the geographical area is not exact]y identical, any how, we are presellitly discussing the rate Tables. The figures for 1971 are taken from the and not the absolute population) and the next Final Population Total of 1971. For 1931, t(rel 50 years witnessed a growth of 198 per cent, that population of Calcutta is given as 1.165,338 in is, the annual rate is around 4 per cent, Hut it the time series presented in the District Census is doubtful how far economic factors are res Hand Book of Calcutta, 1961. There were, it is ponsible for an apparent increase in the rate of wellknown. narrow communal consideration that growth in the last 50 years. led to an inflation of population returns 'Of Ben gal and the Punjab in 1961. This could natu 5.15 The estimated ceiling population of rally cast its shadow also on Calcutta. Asok Calcwtta was seventeen and a quarter lakhs in Mitra estimated the ceiling population of Cal 1941. It is mainly the partition of Bengal that cutta in 1941 as 1,730,074 against an official resulted in the highest growth rate in the decade return of 2,167,485. The corrected figures and 1941-1951 to the order of 58 per cent. Except consequent percentage are presented in bracket for the partition 'Of Bengal, the annual :rate of in the following table. in~reases between 1921 and 1971, would not POPULATION OF CALCUTTA, 1872-1971 perhaps have been much above 2 per cent, that (based on 1971 ilrea and boundaey) is, something nearer the rate assumed between 1821 and 1872. Taking the first sixty years of year population percentage this century, 1901.1961, the total urban popula variation tiOD of the Indian Union increased by 205 per 2 3 cent (annual rate 3.5 per cent) as per statement 3 of the General Population Tables of the 1961 1872 704,290 censUs. The population of Class·1 towns of India 1881 665,004 -5·91 (xxii) ---~- ---- 5.19 The table is not much useful in com I 2 3 Qaring growth rates overtime, but it indicates the changes in the relationship of the rates between 1891 724,633 +8·97 the Province or State as a whole, all towns 1901 933,754 +28·86 together, Class-I towns and ca:IcutJta City. The 1911 1,016,445 +8·86 annual rate of growth of Calcutta was higher 1921 1,053,334 -13 ·63 than that of 'all towns' and not far away (rom 1931 1,221,210 +15·94 'Class-I towns' upto 1931, but during 1951-1961, 1941 2,167,485 +77·49 Calcutta's rate was one-fourth the rate of Class-I [1,730,0741 [+41·661 towns, and the rate was around one-fourth in relation to 'all towns' and 'West Bengal' as a 1951 2,698,494 +24·50 whole. During 1961-1971, Calcutta's rate was [ +57·97] less than one-seventh of Class-I towns, albout 1961 2,927,289 +8·48 one-fourth of rate obtained for 'all towns' 1971 3,141,180 -[ 7· 31 together and for the 'State' as a whole. Asok Mitra wrote 'Calcutta is not growing fast enough'. Perhaps a further scrutiny of changes in the one may be inclined to say, Calcutta is stagnant jurisdiction of the Municipal Area together with and decadent. nwre minute adjustment for imperfection of earlier enumerations will yield higher population Section VI-Concluding Remarks figures for early years. ·5.17 The growth rate of Wes,t Bengal as a 6.1 Scholars have from time to time tried to whole in the decade 1961-1971 was 24.6 per cent; estimate the population of India. Modern of Calcutta Municipality 7.3 pei"' cent. The enumeration of population known as census growth rate of Calcutta Urban Agglomerations operations began .in Europe only in the middle consisting of 74 constituent units was 21.11 per of the eighteenth century and was not general cent in 1961-1971 against 25.01 per cent in 1951- until the early nineteenth century. Prior to a 1961 when greater Bombay grew by 43.75 per census, "the task of research on population," as cent in 1961-1971 and 39.95 per cent in 1951- J.A. Schumpeter writes, "was not to analyse 1961. It may be mentioned that in West Bengal given facts but so far as possible, to find out the growth of all classes 01 towns together was what the facts actually were."50 All early mate 33.97 per cent in the decade 1951-1961, but the rials on population suffer from such a dimension rate declined to 27.95 per cent in the decade of errors that a modern statistician will perhaps 1961-1971. While all towns together showed a reject all raw materials. Partial calculation, declining growth rate, the rate for the Class-I purposive enumeration, incomplete count. biased towns increased from 33.77 per cent to 55.98 per statement and the like loom large on earlier cent, but the rate of Calcutta, as shown earlier, materials. "But this does not necessarily follow declined from 8.48 per cent to 7.31 per cent. It that these records are without importance. The is also Ito be noted that five Class-I towns of broader problems in the history of population do West Bengal contain 70.25 per cent of the total not require minute accuracy in respect of the urban population of 10,928,399 distributed in absolute population, we rieed some knowledge of 137 towns. the relative population of different areas, and we need some knowledge of the secular trend in the 5.18 The gloomy pattern and character of Ithe growth of popUlation over long periods of time. "51 growth of Calcutta in the oontext of overall growth in the State witnessed during last 20 years may be traced in an embryonic form in the early census decades. According to a table presented 6.2 The earliest reference to census or vital in the Census Report of Bengal, 1931, the popula statistics registration in India is obtained in tion of all towns and cities of undivided Bengal Kautilya's Arthasastra (3rd Century B.C.). A system of registration of births and deaths, and increased by 58 per cent between 1881 and 1931, recording the population by castes and occupa the population of cities by 79 per cent; Calcutta 52 49 tion is supposed to have heen maintained. A grew during these 50 years by 71 per cent. list called Khana Soomari "containing statement AVERAGE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE GROWTH of houses, families. tradesmen, castes, ploughs, OF POPULAnON OF BENGAL AS IN 1931 looms. tanks and other public works, civil and AND OF WEST BENGAL* religious within the jurisdiction of the magistrate 1881- 1951- 1961- which is usually kept under all native govern province/state 1931 1961 1971 ments and seems to be useful"53 was elaborated in a paper presented at the 45th Session of the 2 3 4 Indian Historical Records Commission. S4 Bengal/West Bengll (rurall- O·SO 3·2S 2·72 urban) All towns 1·16 3·60 2·80 Class-I towns 1·58 3·38 5·60 6.3 In India, sporadic guesses and estimates on Calcutta 1·42 0·S5 0·73 population in quantitative terms are available since the early seventeenth century for selected *D.lta unjer cols. 3 ani 4 relate to W. Bengal. towns or small rural areas. There are series. (xxiii) .though perhaps often unreliable. for cities like Firstly, existing data based on a regional Madras, Calcutta and Bombay since early enumeration were used as far as possible after sixteenth century. Sir William Jones, Lord making certain assumption regarding under Cornwallis and Lord Wellesley were responsible enumeration and under-coverage. On the for compiling district-wise return of population basis of such assumption a decennial time of Dewani provinces. Pran Nath, Chandra series was built up from 1801 to 1961 for the Sekhar, G. Findlay Shirras are responsible for three Presidencies, Bengal, Bombay and some of the guess work on pre-census popula Madras, and also for the North-Western Pro tion. 55 No systematic attempts have been made vinces. Central India and Mysore. The past in India to collect available historical data. Such growth rates estimated by the first Census data have their limitations in several ways as Actuary in 1881 were taken into consideration. pointed out by Simon Kuznets with special re Secondly, for regions for which population ference to those! available for statistical eco data were available for shorter periods, e.g., nomists. He pointed out that such data "are for the Punjab and Sind in 1850's or, for which neither derived in the laboratory nor obtained by no population data were available prior to scientist for scientist. Most frequently they are 1870-72 enumerations, the growth rate was by-products of administrative activity of public assumed as a first approximation to be the or private agencies. Consequently they are often same as the average rate in the 'normal' inaccurate. Rarely they are collected or tabulat census decades, 1881-1891 and 1901-1911 with ed with reference to categories with which the adjustments for the incidence of rainfall, statistical investigator is concerned, and, in drought, famines etc. A list of disturbing altogether too many cases, they are inaccessible factors (failure of rainfall, droughts, famines to students at large.... in economics therefore the pestilence etc.) was prepared for each region, first phase of statistical analysis is a treatment of and the list was critically examined for each available data that will make them more direct decade to assess whether it was similar to or ly adaptable to the requirements of economist."·16 worse than the two normal census decades. "The first step" therefore, as suggested by and, if worse, to what extent the population Professor Kingsley Davis, in pre-census studies, growth was likely to have been affected. A "is to get the demographic data out in as clear decade in which population decreased was from as possible in both space and time. It compared with the change in 1871-1881 or a should then be feasible to draw from the same similar census decade. When population or similar source quantitative information about figures were available for only a few districts. agricultural land, agricultural produce and taxes ratio method (proportion of the population of and economic and social conditions. These, these districts to the total_ population of the combined with demographic data, would help to region in 1871) was used for making adjust clarify some of the complex relationship between ments for the population' of the entire region; demographic and other aspects of society in also taking into consideration actual changes different parts of India."57 of boundaries in 1941, to the extent available. ~.4 In a historical study, it seems essential All-India estima;tes were obtained for each that an integrated treatment of socio-economic decade by aggregating the adjusted regional factors is essential to ascertain what facts were. estimates, and are given in the foUowin, P. C. Mahalanobis, therefore, visualised a pro Table 3.1 : ject in history as an "integrated programme in studying the social and cultural, economic and 'FABLE 3·1 : POPULATION OF INDIA, 1801·1871 political developments of modern India" and (area covered 1,582,989 sq. miles) arrangement were "made for a first hand study of historical recOl'ds ... "58 Professor Mahalanobis considered statistics as a historical process and perceD- considered Kautilya's Arthasastra, A in-i-Akbari year population (million) tage and Buchanan's surely as three mile-stones of total changes chanae quantitative history of India. Naturally, he was _.------very keen to utilise past data for analytical 2 2'1 3 purposes. 1801 207 6.5 In 1969, a request was made on behalf of the International Union for Scientific Study of 1811 215 +8 +3'86 Population (IUSSP) to P. C. Mahalanobis for a 1821 205 -10 -4'65 paper on the population of India in the nineteenth century. The paper was based on the estimates 1831 216 +11 +5'37 formulated under f1he guidance of and in colla boration with late P. C. MahaIanobis. The all 1841 212 -4 -1'85 India series was presented in a joint paper by Mahalanobis and Bhattacharya.59 1851 232 +20 +9'43 About methodology, it was stated, 1861 244 +12 +5'17 "3.1 Atfempts were made to make a quanti 1871 256 +12 +4'92 tative assessment of the trend of population. (xxiv) 3.2 On the basis of available evidence industry and under the British Government the relating to the regional fluctuations discussed population has certainly undergone iii progressive earlier in this paper. it is reasonable to con increase, which still continued. and surpasses. that clude that the reasons for fluctuations in the of England in the best cultivated districts, the growth of population for the period 1801-1871 situation of all classes being highly favourable to may be attributed to the same factors as were the propagation of species." Hamilton referred responsible for the fluctuations during the to the situation in Bengal in the late eighteentk period 1871-1921, that is. to the incidence of and early nineteentIi century.61 The late drwpts, disease. famines, pestilence, etc. Lack eighteenth ceatury, from all evideBces, shows. of a strong Central Government with conse obviously a trend of depopulation. Adam quent lack of stabl(f conditions of peace and Smith's Wealth of Nations was published in order, rapid political changes and unsettled 1776. Adam Smith wa£ himself incline4i to economic conditions, no doubt, were also addi believe that under the conditions of the Com tional factors for a declining or a virtually pany's rule. a rapid increase of population was stagnant population upto 1841." not possible. on the contrary. the process of 62 6.6 A resume of relevant historical scenery depopulatioo was serious. James Grant re may be of some interest. W. W. Hunter in his marked on the "mistaken supposition of the writings on the famines of 1768-7()60 quoted existence of great comparative stock of labour in numerous records and concluded that the popula agriculture and. ma.m.ltfw;:ture."63 Some micro tion of Bengal just recovered at the time of tJhe regional evidence are available to show the permanent settlement. This means that popula growth rate between early 19th: century and. 1872. tion of the Bengal Presidency remained the same both around 1768 and 1793. The same opinion 6.7 The following table shows the summary was expressed by the Magistrate of Midnapur of results of Buchanan's survey in six Bengal for his district. Walter Hamilton wrote, "The districts and corresponding position in 1872 as inhabitants of Bengal are numerous in proportion given by H. Beverley in the Census Report of to the village and manufactures that employ their Bengal 1872.64 POPULATION 1807-14 AND 1872 1807-14 1872 ~hange change p.c. p.c. districts ------In area in popuJa- change change in area in population area in population tion in area popula- sq. miles sq. miles t10n 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Raospore 7,400 2,735,000 7,811 2,970,625 +411 +235,625 +5·55 +8·62 Dioajpore 5,374 3,090,000 5,022 1,747,635 -352 -1.252,365 -6·$6 -41'75 Purneah • 6,340 2,904,380 6,409 2,324,705 +69 -579,675 +1'09 -19·96 Bhagalpore 8,225 2,019,900 8,573 2,990,692 -1-348 +970,792 +4·23 +48·06 Patna &. Bihar 5,358 3,364,420 5,225 3,168,705 -1.33 -195,714 -2·48 -5'82 Shahabad . 4,087 1,419,520 4,385 1,723,974 +298 +304.454 +7'29 -/-21'45 ----_._----_._------tolal • 36,784 15,443,220 37,425 14,926,317 +641 -561,883.__ +1-74 -3·34 It is proper and appropriate to quote H. Beverley exception of the Begoo Serai sub-division), on previous estimates of population as well as Bhaugulpore. (except thannahs Seopool, on results of Buchanan's survey (1807-1814) Mudehpoorah, and Budhowna), the Senthal compared to the results of the Census of 1872. Pergunnahs (excluding Deoghur and about half The following are extracts from the Report on of Nya Doomka), Purneah, Dinagepore, Rung the Census oj Bengal, 1872. poor, Julpigoree and Goalpara exclusive of the Dooars. Ma.ldah with the exception of thannahs Gomashtapore and Nowahgunge, the Jungi "Dr. Buchanan's survey extended to the dis pore sub-division of Moor!ihedabad. thannahs tricts of Behar, Shahabad, Bhaugulpore, Panch bee bee, Khetlal and Budulgaches of Purneah. Dinagepore, and Rungpore. These Bogra, and Dewangunge of Mymensinga. This districts are stated to have covered an area tract of country represents an area of 37.425 of 38,784 square miles, the population of square miles, of which the population by the which was calculated by Dr. Buchanan to be recent census is 14,926,337 souls. In other words 15,443,230 souls, giving 420 persons to the the population of the tract in the present day square mile. It is not easy to identi~y the is found to be between three and four per pr.ecise boundaries of these districts at the caat•. l~s thaaa, ii was estimated by Buchanan present day, but from the maps which accom in 1807-14." "Dr. Buchanan's method of pany his description of them the territory calculating the population naturally appears surveyed would seem to include the present somewhat rough and uncertain in the Jight of districts Shahabad, Patna. Gaya (with the modern science, and it is only fair to state exception of thannahs Aurangabad, Nubbee that he himself was fully aliVe to its imperfec nugger, Barachutty. and Sherghotty, which then tiOll. Still he considered the results he obtain formed part of Ramgarh), Monghyr (with the ed to be infinitely more trustworthy than those (XXV) arrived at in 1801, of the fallacy of which he says, "The number of women in a condition had ample opportunitieS' of satisfying himself. to breed is far beyond the proportion in Europe The m5!thod, .Buchanan employed was this. He and still further beyond what prudence requires, first ascertained the extent of cultivation, and yet the population seems in some places to then allowing. five 01' six acres, accordIng to' Del dimilllshwg, for the extreme timIdity and the pbysical character of the district, as the' listlessness of the people has in some. part~ quantity of land cultivated by a, single plough, prevent~d them from bemg able to repel the and assuming that each plough represented five encroachments of wild beasts. This however persons old and young, he arrived at the aggre is only: a local. and recent evil and within the gate agricultUl;al population. \'Then", he goes' last forty years, the population has, 1 am credi,. on to say, "having in, each division consulted bly intormed, at least doubl,ed." Of Shahabad the most intelligent men that r could find he sa:)'s-"L am convinced my estimate is, not concerning the proportion' which persons em over-rated." Of Bhaugulpore-"The drains on ployed in agriculture bear to the two other population are very small, and in general the classes of society into which the people divide manners. of. both women and men are exceed~ the: inhabitants, J have formed the total amount ingly strict. Notwithstanding these. circum~ as it appears in the tabJel." These estimates stances, and an uninterrupted peace (or a were, in some, cases checked by calculations number of years, with a larg~ extent of very. based on other data. For instance,. ,Buchanan fertile territory unoccupied, it would appear would ascertain the aggrega.te agricultural pro from the reports of the natives. tl}at the popu duce o{ a district, and: after deducting the' lation is in some places on the diminution, amount of ~he exports, would, calculate the and. scarct:ly anywhere is advancing with thai: number of moutI\s required for the consump rapidity v.:hich· mignt be .expected." In his ~ipn of the food supplies whieh remained. ,ac~ount of Goruckppre" .}(e, says : "The p'opu These; it must be confessed are rude methods lation which I have assigned amounts 'to 2(}9, estimating a population, a~d Dr. Buchanan's persons fO the sgl1are mile, which in Europe figures do not seem to have ever had much would be considered as a great number; but importance a,ttached to them, It is qllite pos it is very low where aimost the whole soil is sible, however, that this is to be accouhted foit ?apable of giving at least one crop of grain by the long interval that was allow.ed to elapse tn the year, and where: the people live ~lmost before their publica,~ion." "At any rate tlie entifely on· grain." .- close agreement between BUchanan's estimates and the results of th,e late CeD,lHlS is sufficiently remarkable to, deserve ~Qme further consid~ra "The above (':xtracts show that Dr. :Ducha- tion in this place. It would be easy to reject ·nan was' fully alive to· the extravagant· charac Buchanan's figures altogether as mere: guess tep of his estimates, regarded from a' purdy work, ,if it were: D,Qt. that he paid very great European p,oint of view; but, as lie says, in attention to the subje<;t, and was forcibly im a. counfry ltke B~ng~l, _ where a large propor pressed even at th,at time with the fact that tIOn' ~f the land' YIelds two crops a Year, where' the country was enormously over populated. On the ~Iet of the people consists almbst entirely the oth~r hand, if we accept his. figures, we ,of nce, where there are no preventive checks are as It "'ere compelled to admit that the' to the: increase of the popUlation, and where popUlation of these districts has been more or the only positive check is disease, we must less stationary for the last sixty years. It will expect to find a population far in excess of be seen that for Dinajpore, Purneah and Bahar, what we are accustomed to meet with in the ,Buchanan'S estimate is in excess of the results West. An Indian. population indeed would of the <;ensus; while for Rungpore, Bhaugul ,seem to be limited only by the extent of culti pore and Shahabad, his figures fall short of vabl~ land in each district, and .calculations the, census· retUl'ns. "That the population lik~ Buchanan's based upon, the l'itate of 'cult,i should be enonnous", he writes in his account V1!tIOn', wo.ulct: not be likely to :be fat wide of of Dinajpore, "is not wonderful. The· nations the truth; HacL the necessary materials been of both Hindus and Mohammedans inculcate fort~com~ng, the best wa.}') on checkin~ Bucha in the strongest manner the duty otT women nan s estImates perhaps would have been to to propogate the species and I may venture 'compa_re_ the extent of cultivation in. ;the present to say that t.he injunction is compiled with as day WIth what it was at the' time of his survey. far. ll1early as hyman nature will admit. A In· Bhaugulpore and Rungpore the increase of malden at the age of puberty would; be looked pop,Qlationl.n:tay' easily, be accounted for by the upon by t~e natives with disgust and contempt; Jact: that l~rg,e:. tracts. o~ land have only come b.ut few mdeed are! left in this humilia,ting unden cultIvatIon wIthlll recent years'. The SItuation. Except. l~ose women, I may safely 'Sonthal pergunnahs alone are suffiCient to venture to say that III the whole district there ~ccount for. the, increase. over Buchanan'S fIgures. for the 'former df~trict. On the other. are not ~ thousand WOmeh capable of fulfilling hand m Purneah and Dmagepote it will tie the dutIes Qf' marriage who are not either se~n tb~t we. haye a. ~road-belt of comparatively wives or concubines'." Iil h,is account of Pur th!nly 1llhabIte~r terrItory. with' populous dis neah he speaks of "the immens~ population t(Jcts on both .SI~es of it,. and' it js qu'ite possiBle by which m~ coullh:y .js - overw.heIQled'~; , and. tliat a more 1llhmate' acquaintance with tlie history, 6f these districts_ might: reveal physibaf (xxvi) causes sufficient to explain a diminution in the accounts as 'deserted' and in 1776 the entries in number 'Of their inhabitants within recent this column exceeded .. half of the whole tillage. years." For the first 15 years after the famine. depopula "In the absence of any previous census, tion steadily increa,sed" : W. W. Hunter and the however, it is of course more guess-work t'o Fifth Report quoted b.y. R. K. Mookerji in his attempt to form any conclusions in regard to Indian Land-System in the Report of the Land the increase or decrease of the population. ~e.venueCommission,Bengal. Vol. II page 214), British rule has established peace and security IUS extremely unlikely that in 1794 or 1812 the throughout the country, and so far has removed population would hilVe even partially recuperated. some of the causes which are at work to check The 1872 popuilltion of West Bengal may. there the natural increase of ihe people. But Bengal fore, be, without fear of contradiction, regarded is not more fertile than it used to be, and. if as. having been even less than its population in there has been an extension of cultivation, there 1750. Thus in the course of the last two hundred are also large exports of agricultural produce years the population of West Bengal has grown which were unknown at the beginning 'Of the very slowly. even that not steadily but sporadi present country." cally, with periods of noticeable increase altt"r 6.8 Reviewing the trend of the population in nating with periods of sharp decline. West Bengal between 1790 and 1872, A§pk Mitra 6.10 We should have a brief survey of morbi observed. "It is a matter of no little instruction dity and mortality of the .period 1811-1830 to that between 1790 and 1872 the population re have an all-round vision of· the factors affect mained almost stationary and even declined. ing growth. The worst cholera epidemic in This is mentioned in Chapter I and for details Indian history appeared in this period. "The great the reader's attention is drawn to H. Beverley's epidemic of cholera that overran India and Report for 1872. In other words, the normal Ceylon in 1817-19" swept away large number of growth that might be expected for the province people. James Jameson's Report published in during 80 years (1790-1872) and again between 1820-"a work of singular merit and interest, 1872 and 1921 (during which period the increase now scarcely sufficiently remembered67-" has was only 20.5 per cent including immigration in been thoroughly examined. "In attempting to 50 years) was sacrificed to extension of cultiva write a description of the epidemic, which has tion, inquitious tenancies and sharecropping of late so severely afflicted the continent of traditions, natural calamities,' and preternatural lndia ...... " Jameson discussed the weather for decay of indigenous industry. The counter relevant years and factually described the serious balancing factors of a foreign contact, a net incidence o~ morbidity due to vagaries of seasons work of railways and roads, of improved public of Lower and Upper Bengal. The disease was health and famine-fighting methods, of settled endemic in Bengal, but was more present in the peace and stable administration were of little first six months of 1817. "On the 28th of that avail. The price of the Permanent Settlement in month (August) it was reported to Government, terms of human sacrifice was thus more consi that the disease has suddenly appeared epidemi derable than a series of major wars or famines, cally in Jesson!, a populous town situated at the so much so that in a hundred and thirty years Delta of the Ganges; and that it was attacking all [1790-1921] the natural growth of population was classes indiscriminately; and was cutting off from only 12 per cent on the estimated population of twenty to thirty persons daily, that the inhabitants 1794."65 astonished and terrified at the unaccountable and 6.9 Mitra observed in the same report, "But very destructive nature of the attacks, were fly India still remains a poor country so far as the ing in crowds from the place, as the only means rate of growth of popUlation during 1801-1951 of escaping impending death. So little was ,the is concerned. What holds for India generally nature of the new pestilence understood and such applies with particular P0In.t to' West Bengal was the extreme consternation produced by it, which underlines the remarks made above. The that the Civil Courts of the District were shut; growth of its population has been on a much and a stop put for a time ,to business of every more subdued scale than in India as a whole. description...... such was the energy of the Whereas the latter grew either sporadically in disease ...... so totally destructive was it of human certain decades or not at all in others, West life, that in this district alone. it is reported to Bengal registered actual declines in some periods. have, within a space of few weeks, cut off more The Appendices printed in part I-C of this Report than six thousands of the inhabitants." Writing will show that West Bengal had in 1872 almost these lines, Jamesons mentioned that a month the same population as it had in 1794 or 1812. previous to attack in Jessore, the disease began It should be remembered that already in the to prevail epidemically in the distant Provinces famine of 1770-72, according to the great W.W. of Bihar and Dacca; and before the expiration Hunter and the celebrated Fifth Report of 1812 of the first week in August, it had firmly esta "35 per cent of the total and 50 per cent of blished itself in many other parts of Ben~aJ. the agricultural population had died," so that, 6.11 It arrived in Calcutta by the beginning what with the unsettled condition of land tenure of August, "before the end of the month had and the human sacrifice made in reclaiming un widely spread its ravages. in a manner threaten cultivated, malarious, land laid waste by the ing to sweep off a large portion of the Native famine of 1772 ("In 1771 more 'than one-third population; that in the early part of September, of the cultural land was retutued in the public even the European portion of the community ("xvii) was no longer secure... soon after the. mi~dle frequent inundations or unnatural moisture fol of September. the disease. now strictly epldemJcal. .lowed by great heat. extended itself in every directiQn; within a short 6;14 Inundation in Bengal (1822-1823) was space of a few weeks stretching from the most well described by Henry Pjddington.7 1 W. B. Hen easterly parts of Poomea. Diliagepore. and Sylhet. derson's essay on the results of an enquiry into to the extreme borders of Balasore and Cuttack; the law of mortality of British India is an impor and reaching from the mouth of the Ganges tant document.72. The report contains a table nearly as high as its junctiion with Jumna ... " showing statement Of. burials of Europeans a~ East 'Indians at . Park Streer Protestant BUrial Ground for the years 1814'10 1833 by single years of age. Cathben Finch's V\tal Statistics of Cal 6.12 "Within the area of several thousand cutta contains mortality statistics for 1817-1836 miles. thus in so short a period brought under its (statistics for Hindu and Muslims for last 5 years influence; few towns or villages of any consider only). To summarise, incidence of morbidity was able size wholly escaped its aitac~s; almost every high and mortality quite large during the penod. spot being. notwithstanding the great irregularity of its course. and the waywardness of approach. 6.15 It will be appropriate to recall what sooner or \ater. in a greater or \esser deglee. Rammohun Roy 'Said aoou\ the pmbkm 01 popu subjected to its dreadful visitations. The cities lation in those days. In the senes of Additional of Dacca and Patna, < the towns of Balasore. queries respecting the condition on India before Burrisaul, Burdwan. 'Rangpore, MaIda, BhaguI the Select Committee of the House of Commons. pore, Chupra and Mosufferpore, with the Mili the following questio~ was asked : tary Stations of Monghyr. Buxar'and Shazeep6re. Q. 7 Can you state the rate of increase in all suffered seve~ly and thl;oughbut whole extent of Delta of the Ganges and more especially in : popUlation 'f the tracts bordering on the Hooghly and Jollyn . Am. It increases considerably from the early ghy Rivers, so great was the mortality, that the marriages .of. the people, and from the bulk of whole population was seflsibly diminished males so seldom leaving their families, and by the dreadful ravages of the distemper ..." almost never going abroad. But there art: These excerpts and summaries are sufficient to occasional strong natural check to this show the ravages of mortality being estimated super abundance. The vast number car sometimes around 10 per cent of the total popu ried of late years, by cholera morbus, hav lation. Jameson also presented statistical tables. ing greatly relieved the pressure of sur On the subject of spread of cholera in India in plus popUlation, the condition of the former epidemics, works of Bryden68 and labourers has since much improved in Macnamara69 contain valuable data. comparison with what it was before the people were thinned by that melancholy scourge.74 6.13 Malaria is the most notorious disease of The Rajah was thus fully aware of the de Bengal prevailing upto recent past. At one time vastating consequences of the cholera epidemic of in 1930's, such a large portion of working f'jTCe 1817-19 as well as effect of early marriage etc. was attacked that crops rotted in the field in a The great famine of 1770 cast its shadow in the large area of rural Bengal. Malaria in Bengal first decades of the nineteenth century. The epide in the 19th century is well treated in a number mic of 1817-19 IS treated as one of the worst of books such as Westland's Gazetteer of the in history. Jes$ore district, Dr. Elliot's Rep'Cm on Epidemic 6.16 Opinions expressed and formulations Remitent and Intermittent Fever in Burdwalt -made are those of the editor and not of the and Nadia, 1863, Major French's Endemic Fever Registrar General, India or of the Indian Statis in Lower Bengal 1874, and Report of the Burd" tical Institute, I am personally responsible for wan Fever Enquiry 1874. A. B. Fry wrote70 : errors and omissions. "The early records of the East India Company prove that Calcutta and Bengal were malarioul1 from the very commencement of British occupa tion." In the Extracts from the Topography and Vital Statis,tics of Calcutta, by F. P. Strong, it was noted that malaria prevailed in all parts of DURGAPRASAD BHATTACHARYA Bengal not cleared of jungle. Jungles. lakes, Indian Statistical Institute marshes. filthy pools, stagnant water were respon sible fer malaria in Calcutta in 1820's or in 203, B. T. Road 1830's. It was recognised that mortality in Ben Calcutta-700 035 gal was high and this mortality was attributed to 31st July, 1978. t. Census of India 1961. Report on the population 23. Hunter, W. W. QuinqUennial R.eport of the Statisti estimates of India, 1820-1830. Edited by DurS"," cal Survey of India. London; 1876. prasad Bhat~harya and Bibhavati Bhattacbary;1· 24. Buchanan, Francis. An Account of the districts of Delhi, Manager of Publications, 1965. Bihar ana P"atila in 1811-1812. Pafna, mhar and 2. It.eport on the population estimates of India. 18H- Orissa :kesearcJ:r Sotiety, 193-. 2 V"ls. 18~ :E4ited by DW'JIlPIaIY Bhattacharya, Anima 25. . An account oC the district of Bhagaf- BJaattac~, Bibh,avati' Bliattacharya.. Submitted pur in 1810-11. Patna, Bihar and Orissa Research to tire Registrar General, India in April, 1965. Society, 1939. 3. MamiUon. Walter. The Eas' IIndia Gazetteer, 1~ 2'. . An Account of the district of Shaha- cd. 1.ondon, John MUrray, 1815. bad in' ISt2-t3". Panta, Bihar Iltld Orissa Research SooieW. 19341 4. DurSapx:asad Bhattacltarya's letter to Shri Asok Mitra dated 20th Deaember, 1965 with a schaflO 27. of revision, and Aiok Mitra's suggestion dated Janftary 14, 1966. S: Kamfittm, Walter, A Geogmphical, statistical and bi~ 4Iw:.ti.\\~®.. Cl{ H.i..\\d~u Q&l.cI t\\.e wi¥l eont countries. London, John Murray, 18W. V. 1. • J08l1Iat eM'! Ftmc:is Buchanan kepb dw:i03- the survey at the diatriets ot Patna and 6. Ptiukan, HaHram Dhekial, A!Sam Bura~ji (HaIiratn GaYIl in ISH-t2, edited with noteS and introduc Dbekial Pbulian racbiCa klsam Buranji, 1st, 2nd, tion by V. R. Jacklon. Patml, 1m. 3rd and 4th paris combined. edited by Jatindfa Mohan Bhattacharya, first published in 1829)· 29. • Journal of Francis I!uchanan kept Ga.bati, Mokshada Pustakalaya, 1962. during the survey of the district of Shahabad in 1812-13 edited by C.E.A.W. Oldham. Patna, Govt. 7. Dodwell, H. The Cambridge history of India: Tl1e printing, 1926. Indian Empire 1858-1948. V. 6, Delhi, S. Chand & Co., 1958. 30. Martin, R. M. lIistory, antiquities, topography and statistics- of Eastern India. London, Wm. H. AIIc=ft, 8. Phukan, Anandaram Dhekial. Quoted by A.J.~· 1836-38. 3 Vols, Mills in Report on the' provinces- of Assatn· Calcutta, Calcutta Olz..... Qfi<*, 1984-. 31. Hunter, W. W. Plan for an Imperial gazetteer of India. Calcutta, Home Secretariat Press, 1870. 9. Bhnyan; S. It. .Anglo~Assameso relations 1881-1886, G~, DGpartrnent of Historical and Antiqujl 32. Bhattacharya, D. and Deb Roy, R. A Nato oft riilm studies, 1949. agricultural wages in Bengal and Bihar 1793··1972. Social Scientist; Vol. 61, August, 1977. 10. Sen, Sukumar, BanKla Sahitye Gadya, Calcutta, Modern Book Agency, 1356 B.S. 33. Mahalanobis, P. C. Why Statistics: address o~ the General President at the 37th Indian Science Con 11. Great Britain. House of Commons. The Fifth gress, Poona, 2nd January. t950. Report from the Select Committee of House "f Commons, on the affairs of the East India CoJll 34. Clive, R. An Address to the proprietors of East p~ny dated 28th July, 1812. Edited by W. K. Fir India Stock, London, 1764 (in India Tracts). mInger. V. I. Calcutta, R. Cam bray, 1917. 35. ChunGer, Bholanath. Travels of a Hindu •... 12. Jones, WiUiam. CompLete Works. V. 8 London. London, Trubnet and Co., 1869. 1801. . 36. Hamilton, Walter. The East India gazetter. 2nd 13. Colebrooke, Henry Thomas. Remarks on the huS ed. V.I. London, Wm. H. Allen & Co., 1828. bandry and internal commerce of Bengal. Calcutta, Statesman Steam Printing Works, 1884. 37. Beverely, H. Report on the census of Bengal. 1872. 14. Hamilton, Walter. The East India Gazetteer, 2nd 38. Hunter, W. W. Statistical Account of Bengal. ed. London, Wm. Allen & Co., 1828. 2 V. Vol. 5. London, Trubner and Co., 1875. 15. Please see serial No. 5 which contained twO 39. Chatterji, Suniti Kumar. The Changing culture of volumes. Calcutta. (In Bengal Past and Present. January June, 1968). 16. Pemberton, R. B. Report on the Eastern f'rontiCr 40. Wilson, C. R. The Early annal~ of the Endish iD of British India. Calcutta, Baptist Mission, 1835. Bengal .... London. W. Thacker arul Co., 1895. 17. Allen, B. C. Assam District Gazetteer. Vol. 2. Sylhet. Calcutta, Cladonian Printing Works, 1905. 41. Please see serial No.3. 18. Bayley, W. B. Statistical View of the Population 42. Census of India, 1951. Vol. 6. Paft HI. Calcutta of Burdwan. (In Asiatic Researches Vol 14. City. 1816). . . 43. HolweIl, J_ Z. and Friends. Important facts regar 19. O'Malley, L.S.S. Puri. Patna. Govt Press 1929. ding the East India Company in Bengal from the p. 53. (Bihar & Orissa District Gazetteers).' year 1752 to 1760. (In India tracts. London, 1764). 20. Prane, David. A Sketch of the life of HamiltoD 44. Report on the census of Calcutta taken on the 6th (Buchannan) ... Calcutta, 1905. April, 1876. 21. Please see serial No. 20. 45. Census of India, 19fH. Vol. 7. Calcutta town and suburbs. Part-]:, A short history of Calcutta, by 22. Buchanan, Francis. A Journey from Madrl\S A. K. Ray. through the countries of Mysore, Canara, Malabar. London, T. Cadells W. Davis, etc., 1807. 3 Vots. 46. Please see serial no. 42. (xxviii) (xxix) 47. Mitra, Asok. Calcutta India's city. Calcutta, New 60. Campbell, George ed. Extr~ets ~om r~cords at tho Age Publishers Private Ltd., 1963. India Office relating to fanunes 10 India, 1769-1788. Calcutta, Government Printing, 1868. 48. Census of India, 1921. Vol. 6. City of Calcutta. Part-2. 61. Please see serial no. 5. Vol. 1. 62. Smith, Adam. An Enquiry into the nature and 49. Census of India. 1931. Vol. 5. Bengal and Sikkim. cause.s of the wealth of nations, 1776. London, Part-I Report. J. M. Deut and Sons, 1950. 50. Schumpeter, J. A. History of economic analysis, 63. Fifth Report from the Select Committee of the edited by Elizabeth B. Schum peter. New York, House of Commons on the East India Company, Oxford University Press, 1959. dated 28th July, 1812 edited by W. K. Firminger. 51. Usher, Abbot Pi\yson. ~he History of population Vol. 2. Calcutta. R. Cambray and Company, 1917. and settlement in EuraSia. (In Spengler, J. J. and 64. Please see serial no. 37. Duncan, O. D. ed. Demographic analysis. Illionois, the Free Press, 1956). 65. Census of India, 1951. Vol. 6. West Bengal, Sikkim and Chandernagore, Part I A. Report. 52. Shamasastry, R. KautiIya's arthasastra. Mysore, Sri Raghuveer Printin~ Press, 1951. 66. Jameson, James. Report on the epidemic cholera morbus as it visited the territories subject to the 53. Buchanan, Francis. Account of the District or Zilla Presidency of Bengal in the years 1817, 1818, 1819. of Dinajpur .. (Micro-fi)mea copy oi the M1>s. ex Calcutta. Govt. Gazette Press, 1820. tracted from the India Office Library). 67. Indian Annals of Medical Science, Vol. I, 1851-52. 54. Bhattacharya, Durgaprasad and Deb. ~oy Rama. Khana Sumari Records and the statistical System 68. Bryden, 1. S. Epidemic Cholera in Bengal Presi of India Presented at the 45th session of the dency ... Calcutta. Govt. Printing, 1869. Indian Historical Records Commission. 69. Macnamara, C. A. History of Asiatic Cholera. 55. Davis, Kingsley. Population of India and Pakistan. London, MacMillan, 1876. Princeton, New Jersey, 1951. 70. Fry, A. B. First repo.rt on Malaria in Bengal. Cal 56. Kuznets, Simon. Statistics and economic history. cutta, Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, 1912. (In the Journal of economic history, Vol. 1 and Supplement, 1941). 71. Piddington Henry. The sailor's horn book for the law of storms ...... London, [ ], 1848. 57. Letter from Professor Kingsley Davis to D. Bhatta charya Of 1une 6, 1975. 72. Henderson, W. B. Results of an enquiry respecting the law of mortality in British India... (In Asiatic 58. P C Mahalanobis on historicat studies. (In A Note Researches. Vol. 20, pp. 190-214). ~ historical socio-economic studies on India, 73. Finch, Cuthbert. Vital statistics of Calcutta (In issued by the Pre-Census Population Studies. Unit, The Journal of the Statistical Society of London. Indian Statistical Institute. Calcutta. 1977) (mlmeo). V. XXX. London, 1850. p. 168-182). 59. Mahalanobis, P. C. and Bhattacharya, D. Growth 74. Sarkar, SUSIObhan, ed. Rammohun Roy on Indian of population in India and Pakistan (In Artha economy. Calcutta, Rare-Book Publishing Syndicate, Vijnan. March, 1976). 1963. CONTENTS Of TABLES I PROVINCES 1. Assam, 1816-30 Page No' (l-S) Area of Assam (as in 1826·30) and its corresponding tract in 1872, 1921 and 1961 • 3 (2-S) Summary table of population of Assam, 1826-30 3 (3-S) Area and population of Assam (as in 1826-30) in 1872, 1921 and 1961 6 (4-S) Variation in population of Assam, 1826-30, 1872, 1921 and 1961 - 7 2. Bengal, Bahar, Orissa and Benares, 1812 (5-S) Summary table ofpopulatit)Q of Bengal, Bahar, Orissa and Benares, 1812 8 3.Bengal, 1815 (6-S) Topographical division of surface area of Bengal, 1815 9 (7-S) Topographical divisidn of surface area of Bihar, 1815 10 (8-S) Summary table of population of Bengal, 1815 .- 10 4. Lower Provinces of Bengal, 1812 (9-S) Provinces of Bengal (as in 1820) : identification on a map of 1961 14-15 (lO-S) Provinces of Bengal (as in 1822) : area (in sq. miles) in 1822, 1881, 1921 ,1941 and 1961 15 (l1-S) Area of some component parts of Bengal, 1822 .- 15 (12-S) Summary table of population of Lower Provinces of Bengal, 1822 15 (13) Abstract statement of the number of houses and the population oftbe several districts in the provinces of Bengal, Bahar and Orissa including the City of Calcutta and the Foreign Settlements • • • • 16 (14) Form of return of population circulated to the several magistrates of the Lower Provinces: return from Zillah Burdwan, Thannah Cutwa 18 (IS':"S) Distribution of villages in Thannah Cutwa by frequency of houses 19 (16-S) Method of finding average houses per village 19 (17-S) Variation in population of Bengal, Bihar and Cuttack District, 1822,1881,1921,-1941 and 1961 21 (1) Bengal Provinces 21 (2) Bengal proper 21 (3) Bihar 21 (4) Cuttack District 21 (1~-:-S) Percentage'increase of population per annum in the three Bihar Districts, 1810-1872, 1872-1921'and 1921- 1961 ' . 21 (19-S) Some comparable ratios in the Lower Provinces of Bengal, 1822, 1881, -1921 and 1941 22 (1) Average size of villages 22 (2) Average number of houses per village 22 (3) Average size of a house. 22 (4) Population per square mile 22 5· Kachar or Heerumba, 1819 (20-S) Summary table of population of Kachar or Heerumba, 1819 25 (21-S) Estimated area and population of Kachar or HC()rumba, 1819, 1891, 1921 and 1961 28 (22-S) Variation in p..lpulation of Kachar or Heerumba, 1819, 1891, 1921 and 1961 28 - 6.0rfssa Provinc-e, 1814 (23-S) 'Territorial changes of Princely States of Orissa in 1814~196f - 29.30 (24-S) Identification of territory by superimposition of an old map of Orissa as in 1820 on -a 1961 map 31 (25-S) SUiUiUuy table of p:>pulation of Orissa Province, 1814 - 31 (26 -S) Some particulars of Tributary Mohauls of Orissa Province, 1814 33-34 (27-S) Area, villages, houses and population of Orissa Province, 18.14, 1881, 1921 and 1961 36 (28-S) Annual percentage increase in population of Orissa Province, 1814.1881, 1881-1921 and 1921-1961 37 -----~~------NOTE-Tables with serials like(13),(~4) etc., are original tables prese':lted .in d«?c!lments mentioned under 3. Source, but serial numbers such as 1,2,3 or I,II,I1[ Without brackcts are numbers as gIVen m ongmal documents. Tables with serials like (l-S), (2 -S),,(~--:-S), etc., are prepared ,by the editor: '!ables with(*)mar~s (~xxi) (xxxii) II DISTRICTS 1. J)js1rictwf8)'Hl~lt~l.IMU8i2 (29-S) Summary table of population of the District of Sylhft. t813 and 1822 41 (30-S) Variation in population of the District of Sylbet. 1813. 1822, 1872, 1921 and 1961 43 (31-S) Percentage variation in population of the District of Sylhet, 1872, 1881, 1891 and 1901 43 2. Burdwan, 1813-14 (n-S) Changes in the Police Stations of Burdwan District, 1813-14 to 1961 .u.4S (33-S) Summary table of population of Burdwan, 1813.. t4 ~5 (34) I Returm of t~~ p.)pul~tion of ninet>:-~i.ght villages and towns, situated.in the ~estern parts of Bengal, 45·49 procured with the view of ascertalllmg the genera! average pro!,Ofhon of Inhabitants to a dwelling (35) II Statement of the total number of dwelling houses respectively inhabited by Hindus and Musalmans in the District ofBurdwan, arranged under the head of the several Police Jurisdictions •. • ' 50 (36) III Abstract classification of the whole number of HiRdu inftabitants in 26 villages of Burdwan, arranged under the heads of their respective castes or professions. • . • . 50-51 (37-S) Variation in population of Burdwan, 1813-14, 1872, 1921 and 1961 55 (38-S) Area, population, mauzas and houses of Burdwan, 1813.14, 1872, 1921 and 1961 56 (39-S) Average size of mauzas, houses and females per 1,000 males in Burdwan, 1813·14, 1872, 1921 and 1961 57 (40--S) Houses and population ofsomevillagesofBur-dwan, 1813.14.00 1961 58 J. Disttiet of Bhgalp.. , UUO-U (41-S) Summary table of population of the District of Bhagalpur, 1810·11 60 (42) 1. General statistical table of the District or Zilla ofBhagalpur 61·62 (43) 2. Stating the proportion of inundated land in the Bhagalpur District that is covered during the whole rainy season and that is only occasionally covered . . . . • . • • • . 63 (44) 3. An estimate of the population of the District of Bhagalpur and some of the causes by which it is affected 64 (45) 4. An estimate of the proportion of families in certain parts of the District of Bhagalpur that consist of certain number of persons with the usual monthly eXpenditure of such families • • • . 65.66 (4.6) 5. An estimate of the proportion of families in certain parts of the District of Bhagalpur that consist of cer- tain number of persons with the various rates of monthly e){penses at which such famiJies live • 67-68 (47) 6. An estimate of the manner in which the people of the District of Bhagalpur are lodged 69 (48) 7. An estimate ofthe manner in which the people ofBhagalpur are covered by day and night • 70-71 (49) 8. An estimte of the manner in which the people ofBhagalpur are fed 72.74 (50) 9. An estimate of the extent to which the people of Bhagalpur indulge in- various intoxicating substances 75 (51) 10. An estimate of the manner in which-the people of the Bhagalpur District are supplied with fuel and light 76 (52) 11. An estimate explaining the extent of luxury in attendance and conveyance in the District of Bhagalpur 77 (53) 12. Explanatory of the state of education in the Disrtict of Bhagalpur 78 (54) 13. Explaining the manner in which the cultivated land of the District of Bhagalpur are occupied 79 (55) 14. General abstract of the value and produce of land occupied by farmers who cultivate with the plough in the District of Bhagalpur • • '. • . • • • • . • . . 80 [Table No~. 15.34 ar~ not prese~ted i'n this volume] (56) 35. An estimate of the livestock in the District of Bhagalpur • 81-83 (57) 36. An estimate of the quantity of milk procured by the owners of cattle in the District of Bhagalpur and of its value . • • . • . • . • ...... 84 (58) 37. An estimate of the proportion of rent paid in the District of Bhagalpur by the high castes, tradesmen and ploughmen, and of the proportion of the ploughs held by their owners or men of their families by those who cultivate for a share, by hired servants or slaves . • . . . 85 (59) 38. An estimate of the number of cattle allowed for each plough in the different divisions of the Bhagal· pur District • • 86 (60) 39. An estimate of the farmers who pay their reftt frort1 their own stock, who borrow ready money for the purpose and who take advances for produce but at the crops season are able to discharge their en.. gagements and of those who are yearly increasing their debt 87 (61) 40. An estimate of the number of artists in the District of Bhagalpur . 88.91 (62) 41. Value-in rupees of the goods exported and imported annually from and into the district of Bhagalpur. 92 (63-S) Socio'occupational characteristics of the Muhammedan populat ion of the Dist rict ofBhagalpur, 1810·11 110 .. 111 (64-S) Socio.occupational characteristics of the Hindu population of the District of Bhagalpur, 1810-11 . 111-122 (65-S) State of artisans in the District ofBhagalpur, 1810·11 130-135 (66-S) Area and population of corresponding tracts ofBhagalpur District (as in 1810·11) in 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1961 137 (67-S) Variation in population in the District ofBhagalpur, 1810·11, 1872, 1921 and 1961 138 4. Districts of Behar and Paioa, 1811·12 (68-S) Equivalent tract of the Districts of Behar and Patna of 1811·12 in Bihar State, 1961 141 (69-S) Summary table of population of the Districts of Behar and Patna, 1811·12 141 (70) 1. (Jeneral statistical table of the District ofPatna City and Zilla Behar 142 (xxltiil) (71) 2. Proportion ofi~undated land in the Districts ofPatna City and Zilla Behar that is covered during l11~ whole rainy season and that is only occasionally covered . " ..•• 143 (72) 3. Statement of the number of pilgrims who have received licences to worship at Gaya from the 1st May. 1797 to 30th April, 1811. . . . • . . . . • . • . . 143 (73) 4. An estimate of the population of the Districts of Patna City and Zilla Behar, and of some of the causes by which it is affected • • . • . . . . • . .• 144 (74) 5. An estimate of the proportion of different classes of society that are employed in agriculture in the Districts of Patna City and Zilla Behar . • . • ...... 145 (75) 6. An estimate of the number of houses in the Districts of Patna City and Zilla Behar founded on the r<:port of the nativeofficed and btherintellikent person'S •. 146 (76) 7. An estimate of the proporlion df families in the various parts of the Districts of Patna City and Zilla Behar that consist of certain number of persons, with the various monthly rates of expenditure at which such families live • 147-148 (77) 8, An estimate of the manner in which the people of Patna City and Zilla Behar are lodged 149 (78) 9. An estimate of the manner in which the people of Paina City and Zilla Behar are covered by day and night . • • . . .. • . • , • . . • . • • 150-151 (79) 1~. An estimate of the manner in which the peo~le of~he Districts ofPatna City and Zilla Behar are fed • 152-155 (80) 11. An rstim~te of the extent to which the people ofPatna City and Zilla Behar indulge in various intoxi- catmg substances . • . . . • . . . . • • • • • 155 (81) 12. An estimate of the manner in which the people of Patna City and Zilla Behar are supplied with fuel and lil$ht 156 (82) 13. An estimate explaining the extent of luxury in attendance and conveyance in the Districts of Patna . City and Zilla Behar • ....•.••••..•• 157 (83) 14. Explanatory of the state of educfltion in the Districts ofPatna City and Zilla Behar 157 (84) 15. Number of Hindu academicians in the Districts ofPatna City and Zilla Behar and their scholars 158 (85) Hi. Explaining the manner in which the cultivated land of the Districts of Patna City and ililJa Behar are occupied 158 [Table Nos. 17 to 33 are not presented in this volume] (86) 34. General abstract of the value and produce of land occupied by farmers who cultivate with the plough in Districts ofPatna City and Zilla Behar 159 (87) 35. Explanatory of the loss in cleaning the rice in the husk as usually exposed to market in Patna, and of separating the husk without boiling 159 (88) 36. An estimate of the livestock in Patna City and Zilla Br:har 160-161 (89) 37. An estimate of the quantity of milk procured by the owners of cattle in the Districts of Patna City and Zilla Behar. 162 (90) 38-. An estimate of the pJlopor'ion of rent paid in the Districts of Behar and City of Patna by the high castes, dealers, artificers-and ploughmen and of the proportion of the ploughs held by their owners or men of their families, by -those who Cultivate for a share, or by hired servants or slaves etc. 163 . . , . ... . (91) 39. An estimate of the numbers of cattle allowed for each plough in the different divisions of the Behar District and in that ofthc City ofPatna 164 (92) 40. An estimate of the farmers who pay their rent from their own stock, of those who borrow ready money for'the purpose, of those who take advances for produce, but at the crop season are able to discharge their engagements, and of those who are yearly increasing their debts 165 (93) 41. List of artists in the City ofPatna and District of Behar . 166-173 (94) 42. An estimate explanatory of the manufacture of coarse cotton cloth in the Districts of Patna and Behar '. . 174 (95) 43. An estimate explanatory of the manufacture of finer cotton cloth in the Compahy's Factories of Maghra, Jahanabad and Bigha 175 (96) 44. Exports and imports of the Districts of Pat na City and Zilla Behar 176-117 (97-"5) Markt!t towns in Beharlmd Patna • • • 117-178 (98-"-S) Socio-o;;cupationa1 characteristics of the Muhammedan population of the Districts of Behar and Patna,194-195 1811-12 (99-S) Socio-occupational characteristics of the Hindu population of the Districts of Behar and Patna, 1811-12 196-201 (1 OO~S) State of artisans in the Districts of Behar .and Patna, 1811·12 207-212 ~101~S) Variation irrpopuiation of the Districts of Behar and Patna, 1811·12, 1872, 1921 and 1961 213 (102-S) Area and populaticm of Districts of Behar and Patna, 1811-12, 1872, 1881,1891, ... 1961 214 5: District of Shahabad, 1812-13 (103-S) Summary table of population of thc District of Shahabad, 1812·13 . 216 f104) 1. General statistical table of the District ofShahabad 217·218 (105) 2. Slating t11e proportibn of inundated land in the District of Shahabad' that is covered during the whole rainy season, that in ordinal y years is occasiOnally covered and that is exempt from being flooded ex· cept in cxtraordinary years 219 (106) 3. An estimate of the proportion of dilTerent classes of society, that are employed in agriculture in the District. of Shahabad • • ,. '. 220 (107) 4. An estimate of the population of the District of Shahabad and of some of the causes by which it is affected . 2~1 3-439 R. G. India/ND/79 (~xxil/,) (lOS) S. An estimate of the proportion of families in the various parts of the District of Shahabad that consist of certain number of persons with the various rates of expenses at which such families live 222-224 (109) 6. An estimate of the manner in which the people ofShahabad are lodged 225 (110) 7, An estimate of the manner in which the people of Shahabad are covered by day and night • 226-227 (111) 8. An estimate of the manner in which the people ofShahabad are fed 228·231 (112) 9. An estimate of the extent to which the people of Shahabad indulge in various intoxicating substances 232 (11.3) 10. An estimate of the manner in which the people ofShahabad are supplied with fuel and light 233 ( 114) 11. An estimate explaining the extent of luxury in attendance and conveyance in the District of Shahab:td , • • , , , , • , , 234 (115) 12. Explanatory ofth,e state o'f education in the District ofShahabad • 235 (116) 13, List of the Hindu academicians in the District of Shahabad 236-237 (117) 14. Explaining the manner in which the cultivated lands in the District of Shahabad are occupied. 237-238 [Table Nos. 15 to 26 are omitted] (118) 2'7. General abstract of the value and produce of lands occupied by farmers who cultivate with the 238 plough· in the District of Shahabad (119) 28. An estimate of the livestock in the District of Shahabad , • 239·240 (120) 29. Ari e3tinute of the 'q~llntity of milk procured oy the owners of cattle in the District of Shahabad , 241 (12l) 30. An estim:lte onhe proportion of rent in the District of Shahabad paid by the high castes, dealers, artificers and ploughmen, and of 'the proportion of the ploughs held by their bwners or men. of their families, or by hired servants or slaves etc. , 242 (122) 31. An eSrlmate of the nuniber of cattle allowed for each plough in the different divisions of the ShahabJd District , 243 (123) '32. An estimate of the farmers who pay their rent from their own stock, of those who borrow ready money for the pur'j:>ose, of those who take advances for produce but at the crop season are able to dis charge their engagements, and of those who arl< yearly increasing their deb.ts 244 (124) 33. An estimate of the number and kinds of artists in the District of Shahabad 244-246 (125) 34. An estimate of the exports and imports of the Shahabad District , , , , 246 (126-S) Socio·occupationa1 characteristics of Muhammedan population of the District of Shahabad, 1812·13 259-260 (127-S) Socia-occupational characteristics of the Hindu population of the District of Shahabad, 1812-13 260·265 (12&'-S) State of artisans in the District of Shaha bad, 1812-13 . 270-273 (129-S) Variation in populatipn in 'the Qistri~t of Shahabad, 1812.13, 1872, 1921 and 1961 273 6, District of Cuttack, 1818 (130-S) Area oT British occupied Orissa in 1818 274 (131-3) Political geography of Orissa at different periods, 178~·1872, excluding Princely States 275 (132-S) 'Summary table of population of the District of Cuttack, 1818 , 275 (133-S) .Area,. NP~lation, vi11~ges and houses ,of the District of Cuttack, 1818 as estimated.,by Willjam E\yer 276 (134-S) Area, villages, houses Jind population of the District of Cuttack, 1818,<1881 and 1921 280 (135-S) ~ariation in population of the District of Cuttack, 1818, 1881 and 1921 281 III CITIES AND TOWNS • 1. Sylhet Town, 1813 (136-S) Summary table of population of Sylhet Town, 1813 235 (137-S) Variation in populatio~ of Sylhet Towr!! 1813, 1817-19, '1872,1881,1891, ... 1961 286 ., 2, Burdwan, 1813-14 (138-S) SumJ1lary titble Qf pop.ulatiqn of Burd,¥an, 1.813-1~ • 287 (139-S) Variation in population of Burdwan, 1813.14, 1872, 1881, 1891, ,,, 1971 283 3. Calcutta, 1810-22 (140-S) Summary table of population of Galcutta, 1810-22 , 290 (141-S) Population estimates of Calcutta, 1810-22 290 (142-S) Population of Calcutta, 1822, 1872, 1881,1891 ... 1971 295 (143-S) Av~rage annual p;,rcentage growth of population of Bengal/West B~ngal, all towns, Class I towns and Calcutta, 1881.1931, 1951-1961 and 1961-71 , , • '. , , , , 296 • " 4. Chandercona, 1814 (144-S) Summary table of population of Chandercona, 1814 • • • 297 (145-S) Variation in population of Chandercona, 1814, 1872, 1881, 1891, '" 1971 297 5, Chandernagore, 1814 (146-S) Summary table of population of Chandernagore, 1814 '. • • • 298 147-S) Variation in popqlation of Chandernagore, 1814, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 299 (xxxv) 6. Chinsura. 1814 (148-S) Summary table of population of Chinsura, 1814 • • 300 (149-S) Abstract statement of the number of houses and the population of foreign settlements (chinsura, 1814) 300 (150-S) Variation in population of Chinsura, 1814~1872, 1881, 1891, '" 1971 301 7. Cossimbazar, 1829 (151-S) Summary table of population of Cossimbaz~'r, 1829 • 302 (l51-1-S) Variation in population of Cossimbazar, 18Q9, 1951, 1961 and 1971 303 8. Dacca, 1815 (152-S) Summary table of population of Dacca, 1815 304 (153-S) Variation in population of Dacca, 1815, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1961 305 9. Keerpoy, 1814 (154-S) jSummary table of population of Keerpoy, 1814 307 (155-S) Variation in population of KeerP0Y, 1814, 18)2, 1881, 1891, .... 1961 .. 307 10. City of Moorshedabad, 1814 (156-S) Summary table of population of the City of"Moorshedabad, 1814 308 (157-S) Variation in population of the City of Moorshedabad, 1814, 1872,1881, 1891, ... 1971 309 11. Sera~pore, 1814 (158-S) Summary table of population of Serampore, 1814 310 (159-S) Ab3tract statement-ofthe number ofhousesantl the population of the foreign settlements (Serampore, 1814). 310 (160-S) Variation in population of Serampore, 1814, 1872, 188J, 1891, ... 1971 311 12. Arah Town, 1812-13 (161-S) Sum Ulry table of population of Arah Town, 1812·13 312 (162-S) Variation in p;)p.llation of Arah Town, 1812-13, 1872, 1081, 1891, ..• 1971 313 13. Bhagalpur Town, 1810-11 (163-S) Su.n mry table of population of Bhagalpur Town, 1810-11 • 314 (164-S) Variation in population of Bhagalpur Town, 1810-11, 1872,1881, 1891, ... 1971 314 14. Chuprah. 1817 (165-S) Summary table of population of Chuprah, 18J 7 315 (166-S) Variation in p.Jpulation of Chuprah, 1817, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 315 15. Mungger Town, 1810-11 (167-S) Summary table of population of Mungger Town, 1810-11 316 (168-S) Variation in population of Mungger Town, 1810-11, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 317 16. City of Patna, 1811-12 (169-S) Summary table of population of the City of Patna, 1811-12 318 (170-S) Variation in population of the City of Patna, 1811-12, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 322 (171-S) Distribution of hou,es by mlterial used in walls and roofs in the City of Patna in 1811-12 322 (172-S) Distribution of households dwdlingin houses classified by pre dominant material of wall in Palna Muni- cipal Corporation in 1961 322 (173-S) Distribution of households dwdling in houses classified by pre dominant material ofroor in Patna Muni- cipal Corporation in 1961 . . . • . • . . • . • 322 17. Patna City, 1815 (I74-S) Summary table of population ofPatna City, 1815 324 18. Rajmahal Town. 1810-11 (175-S) Summary table of population of Rajmahal Town, 1810-11 • 325 (176-S) Variation in population of Rajmahal Town, 1810-11, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 326 11). Cuttack Town, 1818 (177-S) Summary table of population of Cuttack Town, 1818 327 (178-S) Houses in each ward of Cuttack Town around 1820 • 328 (179-S) Variations in population of Cut tack Town 1818, 1872, 1881, 1891, .. , 1971 328 CONTENTS OF· MAPS Facing page JI Ino;lia.: pastern Zope vii 2. India: Eastern Zone, 1814 showing Density of Population .x 3:- District Burdwan showing Bo:unda~ies in 1961 and in 1814 •.. 44 4. Bhagalpur, 1811 showing the Boundary of the District .Bhagalpur, 1810-11 as pel Francis Buchanan's Survey inserted on a Map of 1961 ...... 59 - . . ~ , . 5. -District .Bhagalpur, 1810-11 showing the Land ·Utilization Pattern 61 6. District Bhagalpur, 1810-11 showing the Empl6ymen-r Structure 78 7. Behar &.Patna, 1812 ...... , 139 8. Behar. & Patna, 1812 showing the Land Utilization Pattern ... I.: 9. Dis,trict ,Beha~ & Patna, 1812 s.bowing tl)e Employment Stnlctur.e ... f ••• ~ 145 10. Shahabad, 1812-13 .. J 215 11. Shahaba'd, 18)z·d 5lho~ing the L'and Utiliz~tion Pattern 217 12. -Shahabad, 1812-13 'showing the Employment Structure 220 EDITOR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We remember with a sense of deep gratitude Professor Barun De, Professor S. Bhattacharya, our close and aITectionate association with late Professor Benoy Chowdhury. Professor Ashis Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis during Bose, Professor (Mrs.) Dharma Kumar, Professor 1968-1972. He left his illuminating guid0lines T. N. Krishnan. Professor V. D. Divekar. Dr. on historical studies. Our gratefulness to Pro Ashok Mitra Professor Ashok Rudra. Dr. (Mrs.) fessor C. Radhakrishna Rao. knows no bound. Kalpana Ba;dhan. Professor (Miss) Bela Dult Professor Rao acted as a friend. philosopher and Gupta. guide during 1967-1975 and is still extending his helping hand in time of need. It is because of I am grateful to our senior colleague Professor Professor Gopinath Kallianpur's massive and firm Nikhilesh Bhattacharya for his guidance in statis support that the team of the pre-census project tical matters whenever sought. Among other is still working together and the project continues colleagues associated with the project. Smt. Anima meaningfully for a productive purpose. Dr. B. P. Bhattacharya working sincc 1962 is responsible Adhikari always encouraged and helped the for the major part of search. collection. compila work. tion. and first-hand editing. She also ably ex tended her help up to the final stage of the work. Dr. Asok Mitra, now Professor. Jawaharlal Smt. Sandhya Das Gupta assisted her as and Nehru University, sponsored the project as the when required and worked on compilation and Registrar General, India and is providing his collection. Shri Kulada Ranjan Biswas led the guidance and help without any hesitation. His work of handling massive statistical materials to suppOrt in critical days deserves a special men bring them to a meaningful shape through several tion. Shri P. Padmanabha. the present Registrar trials ably assisted by Shri Phani Bhusan Majum General, India, is a gentleman with an immense dar, Shri Ganesh De and Shri Ajit Halder. Shri interest to scholarly work. it is his kindness Biswas also worked on geographical identifica that the project came out oC stagnation .lfter tion. Shri Sailesh Sen Gupta prepared the maps several years and this volume is now being sent presented in this volume under the guidance of to the press. We must expres>s our gratitude to Dr. B. K. Roy. Asst. Registrar General (Maps). Shri A. Chandra Sekhar and Shri R. B. Chari, Shri Nakuleswar Chakrabarty also extended his two former Registrar Generals. We acknowledgt! help. Smt. Swapna Sen Gupta was responsible our indebtedness to Shri R. C. Nigam and for linking together the materials from the first Shri B. Mahapatra. former and present Assistant collection to its final with meticulous care and Language Registrar General in charge of the accuracy. Smt. Mira Bhowmick worked on refe Language Division, Calcutta. rences and sometimes on compilation. Shri Ajay We are grateful to the National Library, the Ghosh rendered bibliographical help. Smt. Rama Bengal Secretariat Library, the Asiatic Society, Deb Roy helped at all thCl stages in the final the West Bengal State Archives, the Maharashtra phase oe editing work. Smt. Anima Bhattacharya. State Archives, the Tamilnadu State Archives, Smt. Rama Deb Roy and Shri Ajay Ghosh read the National Archives of India, the lndia Office proofs at various stages. I am grateful to Shri Library. the I.s.I. Library and its reprography Tirath Dass, Dy. DJrector, and to Shn A. N. section, and other libraries and archives for their Kapoor. Pnnting Officer for expediting printing kind help in carrying out the work. of the volume. Shri S. P. Thukral. Investigator, We are grateful to Professor Su&C'bhan Sarkar, Shri H. K. Jhamb, Printing lnspector, Shri S. L. Professor Nihar Ranjan Roy, PI,-'fessor Nirmal Chaturvedi, Printing Inspector, Shri H. C. Chandra Bhattacharya, latc Professor Nirmal Agarwal. Printing Inspector, Shri J. B. Sharma, Kumar Bose, Professor Panchanan Chakrabarty, Printing lnspector and Shri S. N. Behl. Computor of the office of the Registrar General. Professor Hiren Mukherjee, Professor Bhabatosh India meticulously carried out scrutiny or Dulta, Professor Satyendra Nath Sen, Professor final proofs and allied work for printing. SlIri AmIan Datta for their guidance over years. Alak Dutta and Shri Animesh Mahapatra worked For guidance or encouragement, we are alsu in the project as technical workers for sometime. grateful ,to Professor Daniel Thorner, Pro Shri Gopal Sarkar. Smt. An.ima Dutta, Shri $amir fessor Gunnar MyrdaI. Professor J. Tinbergen, Kumar Chakrabarty and Shri Amitava Roy car Pl1Ofessor Simon Kuznets. Professor Kingsley ried out the typing work. Shri Madhusudan Davis, Professor M. D. Morris. Professor Toru Ghosh also rendered assistance in thc work. Shri Matsui. Professor T. S. Hollingsworth. Prof~ssor Ranganath Pade with Shri Minketan Bisoi Eric Stokes. Profes'lor J. Hajnal. Professor Ralph maintained the stream of maps. records. micro W. Nicholas, Professor Alan Heston, Profess0r films and other materials. Shri Matilal Bahadur Peter Laslett. Professor Terence J. Byres. Pro and Shri Ramlal Prasad helped the team with fessor (Miss) Elizabeth Whitcombe, Professnr best of their abilities. Shri Mahadev Halder was Ramesh Ch. Majumdar. Professor Raghubir responsible for various work such as lifting of a Singh. Professor G. H. Khare. Professor V. M. massive volume of books and periodicals at the Dandekar. Professor Ramkrishna Mukherjee. National Library, maintaining contact with Professor M. N. Srinivas. Professor Irfan Habib. different centres, etc. (xxxvii) I Population Estimates PROVINCES (X};.X1X) 1. ASSAM, 1826-30 1. YEAR-JB26-30 2. PLACE-Assam 3. SOURCE- (8) Marlin, Montgomery (1) Bengal. Fort William History, antiquities, topography, and Letter from David Scott, Agent to the statistics of Eastern India. V. 3. Lundon. Governor General dated PO]t. Agent Wm. H. Allen, 1838. p. 600-642. Office, North East Frontier, the 15th [AS/9-5.4 M 382.h] April, 1826 to George Swington, Secretary to the Government in the Secret and (9) Hamilton, Francis Political Department, Fort William. Account of Assam with some notices Original and Secret Department Consulta- concerning the neighbouring territories 1Iion, 14th July, 1826. No. 2-5. first compiled in 1807-1814, edited by [NAI/ S. K. Bhuyan. Gauhati. Department of Historical and Antiquar:ian Studies 1940. (2) Bengal. Fort William p. i-ii. 14-48. ' Secret Consultation, 5th April 1825. [ISI/915.416 H 217] Foreign Department, No. 24. ' [NAI/ (10) Dodwell. H. H. !?e Ca~bridge history of India. V. 5. (3) Great Britain. House of Commons Bnllsh India, 1497-1858. Delhi, Jullundur, Accounts and Papers. Slavery (East Lucknow, S. Chand & Co., [195-]. p. 558. Indies). Session 25 January - 22 .I tine. 1841. V. 28. London, East India House, [ISI/954 C 178(5)] 1841. p. 96-99. 401-402. [NL/Parl. Paper] 4. MATERIALS- (4) Bhuyan, S.K. (a) Geographical locatioll- Anglo-Assamese relations (1771-1826). Gauhati, GCIVt. of Assam in the Depart [Source (9) : geographical exploration of Assam ment Historical and Antiquari~n Stud,ics preface by S. K. Bhuyan] [1949]. p. 1-2, _551-564; Buchanan Hamilton's Account of Assam re [AS/954.1/B575.a] presents the result of the third attempt made by (5) Gait, Edward the Honourable East India Company to collect A History of Assam. 3rd rev. and enI. ed. inf?rI?ation ab~ut Assam. In 1787, while ap By B. K. Barua and H. V. S. Murthy. pomtmg Cap'am Hugh Baillie as Superinten Calcutta, Tha;ker Spink & Co. [1933]. den~ of the Assam trade and Collector of Ranga p. 87, 334. 341. matl and GoaJpara, the Governor-General instruc ted Ihat officer to report on the resources of [IS[/954.16 G 144J ~ssam, and the customs of the inhabitants. Some (6) Mills, AJ.M. ll1~ormation can be gathered from Baillie's letters Report on the Province of Assam, Cal wfltten from Goalpara to the Governor-General. cutta, Calcutta Gazette Office, 1854. But. Baillie did not find time to compile a syste p. xxxi-xxxii. matIc survey of Assam as he had to close down his. GoaJpara ~acto~ and office early in 1790 [BSL/XII A-8] ?wmg to the dIssenSIOns and strifes then raging (7) Phukan, Haliram Dhekial m. Assam. The attempt was repeated when Cap Assam Buranji (HaJiram Dhekial Phukan tam Welsh was deputed to Assam in 1792 to rachita Assam Buranji, ] st, 2nd, 3rd and expel the Bengal Burkandazes from Assam. The 4th parts comb~ned; edi'..cd by Jatindra result is embodied in Captain Welsh's letters to Mohan Bhattacharya first published in !--or~ Corn_wallis and to Sir John Shore, specially 1829) Gauhati, Mokshada Pustakalaya, III hIS replIes to Shore's questionnaire on Assam 1962, p. 52-53, 72-77. affairs. * In addition to the mass of information contained in Welsh's letters, we have a more [BSPj954.16 2: fu] literary presentation of Assam in Dr. J. P. Wade's ------'" The replies have been rtrill'tcd in the Appendix to Sir A~exander Mackenzie's History of the relations of Government with the hill tribes of the North Ea8t FrontIer of Bengal, Calcutta, 1884. . 1 2 1. Year-1826-30 2. Place-Assam Account of Assam and Geographical Sketch of portance, viz.. the territories occupied by the Assam. ** The appointment of Hamilton in 1807 Moamarias, the Khamptis and Singphos; and as to report on Assam, in addition to the districts, they were managed at first from the British sta of the Bengal Presidency embodies a deliberate tion of Sadiya they were generally known as the and serious attempt to compile an account of Sadiya country, and the name "Upper Assam" Assam of which there was a regrettable lack of came to be strictly applied to the intervening information. districts between Lower Assam and the Sadiya country. It will be seen that Dr. Wade's Account of Assam was based on personal observation of. and direct contact with the life and manners of the The Matak country or the tract occupied by people of Assam; whereas Hamilton derived his the Moamarias lay between the Brahmaputra and materials mainly from Assam~se fugitives in the Buri-Dihing and extended as far as Sadiya. Bengal and Bengali visitors to Assam. Its ruIer was called the Barsenapati, whose inde pendence had been acknowledged by Purrananda Buragohain and survived the Bunnese troubles. [Source (4): political division] In May 1826 Matiber Barsenapati entered into an engagement with David Scoft in which he Appointment of Commissioners : The Hrst promised to furnish 280 Paiks to lhe' British step taken by Government [of the East India Government. He was allowed to dispose of Company] was the appointment of David Scott petty criminal cases in his jurisdiction, but was and Colonel Richards as Commissioners, the required to send up serious cases to the British former to be in charge of Western: Assam and courts with the results of his inv:estigation. The the latter of Eastern Assam with headquarters district round Sadiya had been in the occupation at Gauhati and Rangpur respectively. Scott was of the Khamptis since 1794 when they expelled declared to be the Senior Commissioner; and as the Ahom governor and established the own Agent to the Governor-General he was authoris chief in his stead. The Kh'ampti chief Chow ed to negotiate with the Assamese and other Salam Sadiyakhowa Gohain undertook to main friendly races, and even with the Burmese when tain a force of 200 men armed by the British. required. The two Commissioners were indepen The Singpho country lay to the east the Matak dent in their jurisdiction, but were expected to and was bounded on the north by the Lohit river act conjointly when together ...... Western and and on the south by the Patkai range. As we Eastern Assam were known from that time as have seen the Singpho chiefs acknowledgea their Senior Khanda and Junior Khanda respcctively. subjection to the British Government and pro mised to be friendly and peaceful neighbours. The Moamarias returned t0' their old agricultural Divisions of Assam : The two divisions Wes pursuits and gave no trouble to the British Gov tern Assam and Eastern Assam require some ernment but the Khamptis and the Singphos explanation at this stage, for their limits, never gradually became impati'ent of restraint and rigidly defined, underwent considerable fluctua replaced into their old predatory habits. tions in the early years of British rule. Western Assam extended in Scott's time from Goalpara to Biswanath; it was thus equivalent to the pre [Source (2): administration] sent districts of Kamrup. Nowgong. and the greater portion of Darrang. Biswanath was sele The Governor General in Council observes cted for its comparative healthiness as the head that the whole of the Principality of Assam being quarter of the British troops, and a few detach now occupied by the British Forces and the ments were stationed there in 1825. The terms Burmahs having been completely expelled there "Western Assam" and "Eastern Assam" were from. it becomes necessary to devise some plan gradually dropped in official correspondence. and for the temporary administration of its internal were replaced by "Lower Assam" and "Upper affairs, pending the final decision of the. Govern Assam", respectively. ment regarding the disposal of the country. As a provisional and temporary arrangement, Eastern Assam, according to the division of thcrdore, His Lordship-in-Council resolyes to Scott. covered roughtly the present districts of appoint Mr. Scott the Agent to the Governor Sibsagar. Lakhimpur, a small portion of Darrang. General and Lieutt. Colonel Birhards C'.ommand and the Sadiya Frontier Tract. It thus included ing the troops, to be the Joint Commissioner in three minor tracts of considerable political im- Assam ... ** ~ade·s. Account of ~ssam has b.een edited by Srijut Benudhar Sharma, antI published at North Lakhlmpur In 1927. Wade s Geographical Skeh:h of A.sam has been edHed by Dr. S. K. Bhuyan and pub lished as a serial in the Assam Review, Silchar. 1928-30. - 3 1. Year-1826-30 2. Place-Assam [Source (3) : divisions of Assam] (b) Particulars of population- The province of Assam is at present [1841] (2-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF divided into three portions; viz. ASSAM, 1826-30 1. Lower Assam or Kamrup. which is the srI. western portion and of which Gowhatty item particulars is the chief station. no. 2. Central Assam. subdivided into North 2 Central Assam or Durrung. and South 3 Central Assam or Nowgong; the principal 1 Area in square miles 20,182 stations of which are. respectively, Dur 2 Number of village rung and Rungogurra. 3 Population: persons 650,COO 3. Prior to 1832, there were two divisions males only viz. Lower Assam, which comprised females the parts now included in the lower and 4 Numbet of families central portions, and upper Assam. 5 Number of houses • [Source (7): area of Commissioners (translated 6 Population per square mile 32 by the Editor from Bengali)] 7 Average size of a village • 8 Average size of a family . After British occupation in Assam, following usual procedures, two Commissioners were ap 9 Average size of a house . 10 Females per thousand males pointed at Kamapitha, the juri~~iction of the two being demarcated by Subanslfl on the North ------of Lohitya River and Dhansiri on the South. [Source (3); Lower Assam] i[Geographical identification] From Captain A. White, Officiating Magistrate, From descriptions of the political division of Lower Assam to Mr. D. Scott, Agent to the Assam in and around 1826, the following table Governor-Gen~ral. North-Eastern Frontier has been constructed. Area under col. (3) was dated 9th August, 1830. extracted from a map published in the Assam With reference to the whole population, the Land Revenue Manual (Vol. T., fifth ed., Shillong, number of the slaves may be estimated as one Assam Govt. Press, 1931) showing the chronology to twelve. From the recent census taken, the of the British occupation. Adjustment of area population of Lower Assam would appear to be among the districts was made with the help of a about 350,000 people; and the adult slave popu description of Upper Assam and Lower Assam, lation to be about 11,000 or 12,000, of whom it 1826-1830 and their identification with the dis is calculated about a quarter are married; allow tricts of 1949 contained in S. K. Bhuyan's Anglo ing four births to one marriage, this would give Assamese Relations. Area under Col. (4) waS altogether a slave population of 27,000 souls. taken from Census of India 1872, the area of the Sadiya Frontiers Tract being taken from the [Source (l) : Upper A<;sam] Census of India 1941. The table attempts at a rough identification of the tract of 1826-30 for Altho' the Census of the people has not yet which population estimates are available. been completed, I have grounds for beHeving from what has been already done that the whole (I-S) ARE<\, OF ASS\M (AS IN H26-JO) AND population of Upper Assam will not be found to ITS CORRESPONDING TRACT IN 1872, 1921 AND 1961 exceed 300,000 souls o~ whom about 40,000 may be labouring pyikes or persons subject to a .--- area in square miles capitation. srI. ------no. 1826-30 1872 1921 1961 [Source (7) : Upper and Lower Assam, 1826-30 (translated from Bengali by the Editor)] 2 3 4 5 6 According to the Census of 1748 Saka [A. D. 1 Kamrup 3,631 3,863 3,804 1826-27] conducted in the Upper Commissariat. 2 Nowgong 3,415 3,699 2,167 male population of young and old age numbered 3 Darang (75 %) 2,560 2,189 2,527 one lakh: females Were not counted. the num 4 VJwer Assam Total 8,212 9,606 9,751 8,498 ber will be approximately something more than 5 Lakhimpur . 4,217 4,116 4,926 one lakh. 6 Sib5agar 2.855 5,097 3,453 7 Darang (25%) 853 729 842 S 3diya Frontier . 3,309 3,309 3,309 The Census area was defined as follows. On Tract the south of Brahmaputra, Dhansiri River in 9 Upper A~sam Total 11,970 11,234 13,251 12,530 the West to Jaipur in the East; on the North of Brahmaputra, Subarnasiri River on the East h',Slt:m 1~,\£'1. l~,£,d,~ 1.3/0~1. l\,~l£' and Bhalrabi River on the West. Un a Survey 4 1. 'fear-1826.30 2. Place-Assam of India map of Assam (Hind 5,000, Sheet No. 6. EXPLANATJON- 46, fifth edition), Dhansiri River rises from Borai! [Source (10) : depopulation] Range at a point near 9310 E. and above 25' N., ;n Assam 0.: Burmese diminished the popu bends towards North-West by about 15 miles and latIon by half .lD: 1816-24 partly by massacre, and then turns towards North-East forming a curve partly by dnvlllg 30.000 in slave gangs to bent towards east upto Garampani, then hends Ava. towards right uplo Golaghat the River moves again. in the north·west 'directiun to reach [SoUlee (6) : observation on depopulation by Bramnaputra near Dhansirikukh. Jaipur i., situu. Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan] ted on the bank of Burhi Dihing near 95to£ and 2rN. Subansiri moves from the northern For several years antecedent to the annexation border towards Brahmaputra by :lhe siue of the Province groaned under the oppression and longitude 94ioE. and be.nds right in the South lawless tyranny of !.he Burmese, whose barbarous Western direction crossing 2rN. and 94"E. and and inhuman policy depopulated the country and reaches Brahmaputra at a point West of 94°E. des.troyed more than one half of the population. aM South of 27"N. The river Bhairabi could whIch had already been thinned by intestine com nOt be identified on the map.) motion and repeated civil wars. [Source (4) : depopulation by Burmese atrocity] East of this tract, nO- count of p()pulation took place in Sadiya and Maran Hubi area. the The afrocities committed by the Burmese in lltunber may be estimated at one lakh in an.'" Assam have passed into the common traditions The number of people given above is doubtful. o[ the people, and have been confirmed by the Firstly, I have mentioned about poll tax prc recurded versions of sufferers and eye-witnesses. vailing in Assam. Therefore, the minimum and of tho~e who had come in contact with them. number is reported. The count of population The Burmese soldier was supplied with provi therefore cannot be depended upon. It is no ~il)ns only for a few days. and for the rest he had to for:.lge in the villages. While in 11 foreign land wonder that popUlation will be undercountcd where even land is underrecorded. To avoid a they let loose their passions without any restraint. count, one may stay away from his normal resi The first outburst of Burmese outrages in dence. Secondly, during the Burmese occupa A,sam was seen when on their return in April tion. a Jarge number of people fled 10 other 1817 Ihey plundered the border villages and car countJ.1ies. The Singpho and Nagas torcclu\\y ried off women and slaves to their country. In abducted people and sold them in Munkum and 1819-1821 they robbed, mutilated and killed all other countries. Now afler British occupation. people who were suspcoted to have sympathy for a large number of abducted people has been Purandar Si!1'gha and Ruchinath Buragohain. brought back. many of them are coming hack The outrages were repeated with greater severity on their own. Those who immigrate from after the flight of Chandrakanta from Upper abroad are IIOt required to pay poll tax for three As~am and during the scarcity of provisions in years. Many people are coming back due to this 1822. But the rnnst terrible atrocities were reason. Moreover, of the existing population. commited in their final retreat from As~am fol many people arc migrating to Singhp~o ~nd lowing their defeat by the Briti&h for'ces in 1825. Bichagam countries because no poll tax IS leVied They drove off before them all the young pwpJe there. Therefore. the population estimated here they c\1uld get hold of. David Scott estimated may be formally correct, but doubHut the nUIll her of AssJmcsc captives carried off into Ava to be 30.000. In the Lower Commissariat. no population total has been arrived at after takillg account in The (error with which they inspired the people all plaoes. Because in such mehals of K~mru'p was to great that many thousands fled into tbe where no pol! lax is prevalent [as punctuatwl1 IS hills and jungles to the south. where large num absent althrough, the meaning of thili sentence is bers died of disease or starvation; and only a' not clear ... ] the total population will be arollnd small remnant, after enduring unspeakable 4 lakhs [pel haps here the author means the tola1 hardships. manag;!d to reach the plains of t~e population of Lower Assam}. Un~cr th~ abo\c Surma villley. Several of the oubmon'ane vII mentioned boundaries. the populatIOn Will not Iag.es of Jaintia are inhabiled by their dellcen exceed 7 or 8 lakhs [probably, the: population of (hints. who still talk pure .Assamese. The depo the whole British area is estimated}. pulation of the region round Doboka and the Kopili valley dates from this disastrou~ tim~, which is still fresh in the ,memory of the mhabl 5. METHOD- lants of Nowgong, who speak with as much horror fA census is mentioned in all the sources. of the Manar Upadrab, Of "oppressions of the Baliram Dhekial P'hukall mentions the census in the 1748 Saka (or 1826-27 A. D.)] Burmese". *tl1~ total of U,Ji,er Asmm'"thuS com~s to above three lakhs,-ed. 1. Year-1826-JO 2. Place-Assam The condition of the Brahmaputra vaney at no longer exists... In 1825, during a period of the times of the expulsion of the Burmese was partial famine, ... the British Commissioner of most deplorable. No less than thirty thousand the province issued a proclamation permitting Assamese had been taken away as slaves, and a freemen to sell themselves as slaves from June to well-known native authority was of opinion that Ootober of that year, as the only means of pre the invaders, by their barbarous and inhuman serving their lives. The sanction of Government conduct, had "destroyed m'ore than one-half of was subsequently obtained to this measure, but the population which had already been thinned iL was disapproved of by the Court of Directors. by intestine commotions and repeated civil wars."1 Those who survived had been so haras A considerable part of the slavery existing in sed by the long-continued wars and repeated Assam originated in the abuse of the payik acts of oppression that they had almost given system. It was the practice of the Assamese gov up cultivation, and lived chiefly on jungle roots ernment to pay its officers by assignments of and plants; and famine and pestilence carried oIT th~ labour of the payiks. and these officers fre thousan9s that had escaped the sword and capti quently continued, through the imbecility of the vity. The Ahom nobles and the great Go~ains. government. both to enslave the persons and with few exceptions. had retired to GoaJpara. murp the lands of the payiks thus assigrted to after losing the whole. or the bulk oi, their pro them. perty; and they were followed by Jarge nUJ11ber~ of the common people. The former eventu<:!lIy Of the castes to which the Hindoo slaves returned to their homes, but the poorer refugees usually belong, the Koch-Kybort, Kalipla, did nat. and their descendants still form a large Kokita & Napit, are considered pure; the impure proportion of the inhabitants of the eastern part and inferior castes are the Chundals, Dome, of Goalpara. Rira, Kumar. Jogee, Kacharee, Boreiyah and [Source (3) : slavery] Burryheev. Slavery prevails very extensively throughout These are many Mahamedans in Assam. some the whole province. A census, taken about the of whom arc slave-owners, and some are slaves. year 1830, of the population or Lower Assam. The Mahamedan slaves sometimes belong to as there constituted, gave a total of 350.000. of Hindoo masters. but are employed only in out which 11,000 or 12,000 were adults slaves, of door work. Sometimes also Mahamedan masters these slaves it was calculated one-fourth were have Hindoo slaves, whom they do not convert, married. and allowing four birtns to each mar but employ in out-door labour. riage, the officiating n1agi!jtrate estimated the whole numbet of slaves at 27,'000, or about eight per cent of the entIre population, though we do It appears to be the venerable opinion that the not perceive how he obtains this result. The slave in Assam are, on the whole, well treated. .. laves are stated to be less numerous in thl! dis We extract the following from the report of the trict of Durrung thatt in other parts of the pro late commissioner, Mr. D. Scott :- vince. "In the poor and middling families, ihe A principal source of slavery in A~sam, as in slaves and bondsmen are treated like ,the other other parts of India. is the sale of children by inmates, the same mess serving for the whole their parents in times of individual distress or household. and both mistress and maid being general scarcity; but the operation of this c~use entirely clothed in homespun manufactures. was limited in theise portions of the provlllce Among the rich. they often obtain great influ which now constitute Central and Upper Assam ence, and rule the family affairs in the capa by the peculiar nature of their political system. city of dewans. Such persons frequently pos Tn them, under the former governJl1ent the whole sess. by sufferance. farms and slaves of their of the free male population, who were called own, and they are sometimes to be seen in Payiks, owed service to the state, in considera Assam riding in a sort of palallkeen. dressed tion of which they had their land tax-free; and in English shawls. &c., in the style of the sometimes. in individual cases a poll-tax was vakeds and officers of our courts of justice." levied in lieu of these services. Every free male was therefore strictly prohibiJed from ~eHing himself or his male children into slavery without The condition of the agrestic slaves is nearly the sanction of the supreme ruling authority, on a par with that of the agricultural labourer. which, however, was usually giVl!l1 in times of Their field labour,> do not exceed those of 1he famine. Payiks, and the latter scarcely consider their The prohibition is still considered in force, condition at all inferior to {heir own. except that though the state of society which gave rise to it they do not possess their personal liberty. "Observations on the Administration of the Province of Assam," by Anandirm Dhelcial Phukan, Printed in Mill's Report. 6 1. Year-1826.30 2. Place-Assanl The prices of slaves vary in different parts of there were 4,000 persons in Lower and Central the provine.:::, and are regulated by their physical Assam who had mortgaged their labour for spe. and moral quaWies, and in respect of such as are cific periods. Several European settlers here had required by Hindoos for domestic purposes, by reCOUrsi? to this method of obtaining labourers; their caste. The following according to one but then bondsmen ha ve generally deserted, and officer. are the princes in three of the districts, they have found it impossible to trace the fugi. for slaves of the Klita, Kayet and Koch castes. tives, from the backwardness of the natives to aid them in their search. mell boys women girls R,. Rs. R,. Rs. 7. GAPS- District of Durrung 20 10·15 15 8·12 [That the reported census around 18'30 was incomplete has been mentioned almost in all the " Klm,oop 40 15·20 20 12·20 " 8-12 sources used. it has never been stated what was .. " Nowgong 20 10-15 15 the actual geographical territory where an enume· The prices of the inferior castes, viz., Jogees, ration was conducted, what was the agency. to Domes, Kacharecs. Boreiyahs and Burryhces, arc what extent the enumeration was successful. whe one.third less. The range of prices i~ stateJ by ther the main purpose was to conduct a revenue other officers to be from 10 or 15, to 50 or 60 surveyor a count of population for itself or an assessment of poll tax. rupees. One of the au!hors, Haliram Dhekial Phukan There are two descriptions of conditional sla tried to find oui the area altogether left out of very in this province; one, the status of the the ,cope of the enumeration. and actual defi· slave called in the Hindoo Law, "bhaktadasa," ciencies in enumeration. e.g., only males were or slave for his food. Of this class there were counted at some places. He further tried to find in 1830 three or four thousand in lower and out the incidenc,~ of under-enumeration with rea central Assam, who had voluntarily placed them sons thereof. c.g., persons on whom a poll ~ax selves, under the protection of the great men of was not leVied, persons who left the country those portions of the province, and worked upon intentionally or other wise were not enumerated.] their estates, receiving nothing but their main tenance, and being at liberty to depart when 8, EDITORIAL COMMENT- they p1eased. It was supposed that this arose The British portion of Assam in 1826-30 con from the disturbed state of society prior to tl1~ tained an estimated population of 650.000 accord British rule, und was expected to diminish under ing to official sources. The following table a better-regulated system. The other exists in shows the comparable population of the tract in two forms; viz .. wkn, either for a previous debt I R26-30, 1872, 1921 and 1961. Population under which he is unable to pay, or for an advance of column (3) was taken from the Census of India, money to meet some emergency, a freeman 1872: the population of the Sadiya Frontier mortgages his services for a spec.ific number of Tract was worked out for 1872 by taking the years: as 7, 14, or 20 years: or, as in South Behar, ratio of the population of this tract until the debt be repaid, in which event he to the remaining districts in 1941 and applying regains his liberty. This system prevails to a this ratio on the population figures of 1872. TIle great extent in Assam, though less. it is stated, in figures for 1961 were also estimated on the same the district of Durrung than elsewhere. In 1830, basis for this tract. (3.S) -\'REA AND POPULATION OF ASSAM (AS IN 1826-30) IN 1872, 1921 AND 1961 population sri. districts area in square miles no. ------1826·1830 1872 1921 1961 1826-1830 1872 1921 1961 ------8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3,631 3.863 3,804 561,681 762,671 2.062,572 1 Kamrup 3,415 3,699 2,167 256,390 397,921 1,210,761 2 Nowgong 2,560 2,189 2,527 176,640 358,452 967,252 3 Darang 75% 9,606 9,751 8,498 350,000 994,711 1,519,044 4,240,585 4 Lower Assam total 8,212 4,217 4,116 4,926 121,267 588,295 1,563,842 5 Lakhimpur 296,589 823,197 1,508,390 Si'osagal 2,855 5,097 3,453 6 5'),369 119,483 322,418 Darang 15% 853 729 842 7 18,142 24,854 34,050 Sadiya Frontier Tract 3,309 3,309 3,309 8 495,367 1,555,829 3,428,700 Upper Assam total 11,970 11,234 13,251 12,530 300,000 9 ------20,840 23,002 21,028 650,000 1,49G,078 3,074,873 7,669,285 10 Assam 20,182 7 1. Year-1826-30 2. Place-Assam The population figures worked out approxi His work, Assdm Buranjee was first published mately on the basis of 1826-30 area of the tract in 1236 Bengali year. The volume was reviewed show a high rate of growth between the pre in Samachar Darpan, 1831 and in Asiatic Journal census period and 1872 as also between 1872 and in 1830. James Long's catalogue of Bengali 1921. though the rate is still higher between 1921 books publislied in 1855 contains a reference to and 1961. The following table shows the move the Buranji. Sukumar Sen also mentions the ment of population for the tracl as a whole. book in his Bangia Sahitye Gadya (2nd cd. p. 60). <4-S) VARIATION IN POP,ULATION OF ASSAM, 1826-30, 1812, 1921 AND 1961 Haliram's description of physical and political (0.1 tbe basis of 1825-30 boundary and area) geography appears to be correct to a great extent. He described Assam on the south of Brahma.. year 'Population percentage putra to start at Nagarbora hills. 21 miles east of variation Goalpara. to extend up to Jaipur on Buri Dihing R;"'f'e". (}-i'l ...be 'li\Yit,l;. 'Vi "B.. -z.\'.wlllTlu'm., k.~?'-z.w. 2 3 extended from Manah Itiver (Manas according to the present nomencIa~ure. which flows bet 1826-30 650,000 ween 90lo and 91°E., and south of 27}ON. 1872 1,490',078 +129'24 to,wards Brahmaputra) to Sadia Chunpora.. Hi~ 1921 3,074~873 + 106:3'6 estimate of i>Opulatjon at 7 or 8 lakhs is perhaps 1961 7,669,285 +149'42 relaled to this tract, i.c .• 'British Upper and Lower Assam'. ~ - - Assuming a population figure of 8 lakhs in His keen observation- as early as' 1=830 is admir- 1826-1830 as suggest;!d by Haliram Dhekiyal able-. He -starts with Upper "Assam and" tlefiI1es Phukan, the increase bctween 1826-30 (mid-year the limits of the census area with'a consideral5Je 1828) and 1872 is to the order of 690,000 or degree or accuracy.' He then mentions that only R6.25 per cent in 44 years betwecn 1828 and males were counted: The number of males is 1872 or a simple arithmetical growlh of 1.9 per estimated at on~ lakh. 'He estimates the nUl}l cent per annum. The annual growth rate between ber of females at more rtmn bne lakh, indicatiQg 1872 and 1921 is to the order of above 2 per to a higher sex ratio. Thereafter he. men.tions cent. The population was said to be reduced the iton-cehsusl!d area and gives an estimate of to a half between 1814 and 1825. If.. th is ~ the population. correct, the population hardly recovered to the leVel of 1814 even in 1872. Tli'e rate 'of'growth The most striking fea'tures of his observation obtained between 1828 and 1872 seems plausible lie in tracing the- causes of errors in P9pulation hecause a period of quick recovery generally figures: under counting is qJ.lite 11ituraf in; a"reas follows a great disaster. The growth involves where a poll tax is prevalent; the 'violent migr~ the special feature of immigration since the tory movement of popUlation due to an unpre middle of the nineteenth century. cedented political disturbance was a great hind rance to a count of population; incidentally. it Haliram Dhekial Phukan, was a prominent may be mentioned that non-cooperation move man of his time. He was born in 1802. He built ment and communal considerations resulted in up resistence against the Burmese in 1820's. under-enumeration or over-enumeration' respec David Scott appointed him as the Chief Officer tively in the census of 1931 and 1941. for rehabilitation of refugees displaced by the Burmese oppression. Chandra Kanta Singh Walter Hamilton mentioned in Hindostall awarded him the title of 'Phukon'. Swinton ap (v. 2. p. 744). "No accurate estimate of the total pointed him a Seristadar at Gauhati ColIec~orate. popUlation can be formed, but it is probably Haliram waS! appointed as an Asst. Magistrate under half a million. three-fourth of the country at Gauhati in February, 1832 at a pay of oeing known to be desolate and covered with Rs. 250/-. He died in July. 1832. jungle." 2. BENGAL, BEHAR, ORISSA AND BENARES, 1812 YEAR-IB12 2. PLACE-Bengal, Behar, Orissa and Benares 3. SOURCE- were so imperfect, and where they were made East India Company by those two descriptions of officers. so contra The Fifth report from the Select Committee dictory, that no general conclusion could be of the House of Commons, on the allairs of drawn from them. An actual enumeration of the the East India Company dated 28th July. inhabi~ants of those provinces, or a calculation 1812. Edited by Walter Kelly Firminger. V. I. founded on data, promising a high degree of New edition, Calcutta, R. Cambray & ·co., certainty, is still a desideratum. Nothing more 1917. introduction and Text of Report. p. 112-13. has yet been produced, than the estimates of [BSL/XX1V-3] ingenious men, who differ considerably among themselves. 4. MATER/ALS- (a) Geographical locatfon- The first opinion promulgated after tlie Cotrt [For geographical location and identification, pany's ayquisition of the Dewarlny, Goncerning please see Lower Provinces of Bengal, 1822]. 'Ule population of the three provinces, was, that it amounted to ten millions. Subsequent obser~ (b) Particulars of popul'(ltibn~ vations led to a persuasion, that ,this estimate (5-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULA'PION OF was far too low. Sir William Jones; abbut BENGAL, BEHAR, ORISSA AND BENARES, 1812 fiv'-!-and-twenty-years ago, thought ~hat the popu srI. item particulars lation of Bengal, Behar, Orissa, and Benares, no. amounted to twenty-four millions; and Mr. 1 2•.~ ______3__ __ Colebrooke abo'llt ten years ago, computed 1 area in square miles 162,000 it to be thirty millions, if any opinion were now 2 number of villages to be offered on a point, which has not yet been 3 population :persons 27,000,000 subjected to strict investigation, perhaps there males would be no danger of exceeding the truth, in females adopting a medium between the two last calcu 4 number o(families lations, and supposing the population of the four 5 number of houses • " provinces_ to be not less than twenty-seven 6 po;:mlation per square mile 167 millions. 7 average size of a village. 8 average size of a family . 9 average size of a house 7. GApS- 10 femlles per thousand males • Limitations of the attempts in estimating the population are given under 6. Explanation. 5. METHOD- [The authors of the Fifth Replort (1812) re 8. EDJTOiU~L COMMENT- ferred to the estimates made by Sir William Jones The extract .prese;ted in item 110. 6 of this about five-and-twenty years ago and to those by report was quoted by Mr. Beverley in the Report H. T. Colebrooke aQout ten years ago _and. ac on the Census of Bengal, 1872 in full with the cepted a medium between two ea1culations. in following comment on "Untrustworthy character absence of any reliable information.] of the early estimates of the population." 6. EXPLANATlON- In proceeding to describe the opera!tion of tl~c "Thus wrote the Select Committee in the judicial system established in the East India celebrated Fifth Report of 1812. and it is Company's territorial possession, your Commhtee only now, after the lapse of sixty years, that could have wished to advert to the population the reproach of igIiorance on this important sub of those provinces, with a view to indi ject has- been \viI1ed away. The official returns cate how far the means provided may referred to in the above extract were called for appear adequate to the distribution of justice in 1801 during the adminis:tration of the Marquis among the people, under the forms of practice of Wellesley bilt, as s{atec} by the Committee, preseribed by the code of regulations framed in they proved to be notoriously incorrect. Mr. Adam 1793. But the enquiries of your Committee do said of them in 1835-They are deemed to have not enable them to state. with any precision, or been made with too implicit a dependence upon with much confidence, the amount of the popu unchecked native authorities, and it would la!tion, even of the old territories of the Company. appear from the results of subsequent and more consisting of the provinces of Bengal. Bahar and minute investigation that the public functionarie5 Orissa with that of Benares, afterwa,rds annexed from whatever cause kept greatly within the real to them. The Government of Bengal called for amount. Such as they were. however. the only information on ,this head, from the collectors and estimates of the population which the authorities judges stationed in the districts; but the returns .had for thei~_ ~uidance for very many year~." 3. BENGAL, 1815 1. YEAR-I8JS 2. PLACE-Bengal 3. SOURCE latter consisting of part of the Morung, Cooch Hamj)ton, Walter Bahar, and ot.)Jer districts, which have become The East India gazetteer, ...... London. John tributary since the English acquired their present influence in Bengal. Murray, 1815. p. 62-63, 116-139. The districts into which in modern times, the [BSLJXI~36] province of Bengal has been subdivided, are 4. MATERIALS- Bakergunge, Birbhoom, ~urdwan. Ch~ttagong. Hoogly, Jassore, Mymensll1gh. Moorshedabad, (a) Geographical location- Nuddea, Purneah, Rajshahy. Rungupoor, Silhet, Total area of Bengal and Bahar-149.217 Tipperah, the 24 pergunnahs. and to which from square miles. its long connexion, must be added Midnapoor Total area of Bengal with Benares -162,000 although it properly belongs to Orissa. square miles. [Bihar] A large province in Hindostan, situated A lavge province of Hindostan. extending from between 'the 21st and 27th: degree of north lat~ the 22nd to tHe 27th degrees of north latitude. tude. To the north it is bounded by the donu It is separalted from the Nepaul dominions by an nions of NepM and Bootan; to the south by the eJClensive range of hills, which rise IIp on the Bay of Bengal; on the east it has Assam a.nd the northern frontier on the south it has the ancient Ava territories; and on the west the prov~nce of and barbarous Hindoo province of Gunduana. Bahar. In length (including Midnapoor). It may on the east it is bounded by the province of be estimated at 350 miles. by 300 mIles the Bengal; and un the west by Allahabad, Oude. and average breadth. Gundwana. The River Caramnassa was the old line of separation betw~en the Bahar and Benares The area of Bengal and Bahar is 149.217 square territories. miles. and with Benares not less than 162.0~O squ~re miles. The following proportions of thIs This province is one of the most fertile. highly surface <;lre grounded On I?any surveys aLter cultivated, and populous. of Hindostal1. in pro making allowance for large fivers. portion to its extent of plain arable ground. which (6-S] 'tOPOGRAPHICAL DIVISION Ol" SURFACE may be computed at 26,000 square miles, divided AREA OF BENGAL, 1815 naturally illito two equal potitions of territory, north and south of the yanges. which runs here type of uses parts percentage an easterly course of 200 miles. ,_ ------'------2 3 One of thesc divisions extends northerly 70 miles, to the forests of Nepaul and M01;ung; is R.ivers and lakes (one-eighth). • 3 12'50 s~parated [rom Garacpoor in Oude, on the west, Site of towns and villages, highways, by the Gunduck. and a crooked line between that ponds, &c. (one-twenty-fourtl:J) 4'17 river and the Dewah, or Goggrah. 'This northern D~mand irreclaimable and barren(one- division is bounded on the east by Purneah is sixth) 4 16'67 Bengal, the whole area being one uninterrupted f1ree lands(three-twenty-fourths) 3 12'50 fiat, which was subdivided by the Emperor Acber into four districts: viz. Tirhoot. Hajypoor. Sarun. Liable for revenue i with Chumparun. or Bettiah. including four In village (three-eighths) 9 37'4!) pergunnahs from Monghir. ' Waste (a sixth) 4 ,16'67 24 [100'00] The central division of Bahar cx'tends south of the Ganges 60 miles. to that range of hins called in Sanscrit Vindhya-chil. which separates Prior to the cessions made by 'the Nabob of the lower plains from the territory above the Oude in 1801, the regions immediately govemed Ghauts. It is divided on the west from Chunar in by th;: presidency of Calcutta comprehended the Allahabad, b_y the. Riwr Cannanassa: and from whole soubahs of Bengal and Bahar, a part of Bengal. on the cast, by. a branch of: the southern the adjoining soubahs of Orissa, Allahabad, and hills. extending to the nass of Tilliaghury, on the Berar, and some tracts of country which had confines of Rajemal. The <;listFict named Bahar, maintained their independence even in the most which' is in t11e middle of this central division, flourishing period of 'the Mogul empire. Th._; occupies about on~ ha~f of the whole level ar('a, 9 4-139 R. G. India/ND/79 to 1. Year-IBIS 2. Place-Bengal the plains of Monghir one-sixth more, the rest 1 2 3 being mountainous. Rhotas, the most s~uth western district. lies chiefly between the RlVers 8 average size of a family Soano and Caramanassa; the remaining district, 9 average size of a house Shahabad. extending along the south side of the 10 fem'lles per thousand males Ganges. This central division, on accoun~ of the superiority of the soil and pro?uce, partIcularly *average of two limits set by the author. of opium, yields nearly two-thIrds of the total annual produce. We may estimate the total population of Bengal, Bahar and Benares not to exceed 30 Exclusive of these Itwo divisions there is a strag millions, nor to fall short of 28 millions of gling hilly country of 8,000 square miles, which inhabitants. produces bu~ little. 5. METHOD Still further to the south there is a third and elevated region, containing 18,000 square miles, Nothing mentioned. though proportionally of inconsiderable value. 6. EXPLANATION- This high land territory includes the modern sub divisions of Palamow, Ramghur, and Chuta Nag The assemblage of peasants in their villages. poor bounded on the west by Ithe Soubah of their small farms, and the want of enclosures, Allahabad. on the south by Orissa, and on the bar all great improvements in husbandry; in a east by Bengal. This last division is geographi counltry, however, so infested by tigers and gang cally termed the Three Bellads. or Cantons. and robbers (dacoits) or river pirates, solitary dwel is also sometimes described under the appellation lings. and unattended cattle. would be insecure. of Kokarah, but more commonly named Another obstacle to improvement is the mixture Nagpoor, from the diamond mines it contains. of trades; the peasants indifferently qui't.ting the (7-S) 'P<">POGRAPHWAL DIVISION OF SURFACE plough to use the loom, and the loom to resume AREA OF BIHAR. 1815 the plough. [land per capita] to;Jographical type area in percentage sq. miles In Bengal and Bahar only one-third of the land is estimated to be tilled, but this is exclu 2 3 sive of lays or fallows. In England there are four acres of arable and meadow land for every The assessed lands of eight districts 26,287 50' 58 inhabitant; in Bengal little more than one acre of of this province contains tilled ground for every inhabitant. 1"\1 hoi> b!looging to Palamow, 18,553 35'70 R'l.mghur and Nagpoor [agricultural produce] P0rtiol1 of hilly country in Monghir, 7,133 13'72 Rhotas, &c. The common husbandry sows the rice at the T0ta.1 su?~rlbial contents of the 51,973 [l00'00] season when ilt should naturally vegetate •... province Other corn is more limited in its varities and in its seasons. Of wheat and barley few sorts are ItGeographical identification] distinguished; they are all sown at the commence ment of the cold season. and reaped in the spring. [Please see Lower Provh1ces of Bengal, 1822] A great variety of different sorts of pulse. (such (b) particulars of population- as pease, chiches, pigeon pease, kidney beans. &c.) finds its place also in the: occupations of (38) SUM\1 \.RY TABLE OF POPULATION OFJl BENGAL,181S husbandry, no season being without its appro priate specie_s; but most sorts are sown or reaped srI. item particulars in winter. These constitute a valuable aflticle in no. the Bengal husbandry, because they 1. Year-I815 2. Place-Bengal The universal and vast consumption of vege each. The price of labour may be computed table oils in Bengal is supplied by the extensive from the usual hire of a plough with its yoke of cultivation of mustard seed, linseed, sesamum, oxen, which may be stated on the medium to- be and palma christi. besides what is procured from about 4 d. per day. The cleaning of the rice is the cocoanut. The first occupy the cold season; executed with a wooden pestic and mortar, the the sesamum ripens in the rains, or early after allowance for husking it being nearly uniform; their c1os~. the person performing this contracting to deliver back five-eighths of the weight in clean rice-the Among the most impotitant of the productions surplus, with 'the chaff or bran. paying for the of Bengal are. tobacco, sugar, indigo, cotton, the labour. Five quarters of rice per acre are recko mulberry, and poppy most of which require land ned a large produce, and a return of 15 for one solely appropriated to the cultiv!lltion of each. on the seed. [little subdivision of labour] [abundance of fish] The want of capital in manufactures and agri The abundance of fish affords a supply almost culture prevents the subdivision of labour. Every attainable to every class, and in the Ganges and manufacturer and every artist working. on his own its innumerable branches are many different account, conducts the whole process of his art kinds. Their plenty at some seasons is so great. from the formation of his tools to the sale of his that they become the ordinary food of the poorest production. Every labourer and artisan, who natives, who are said to contract diseases from too has frequently occasion to recur to the labourll liberally indulging themselves. of the field, becomes a husbandman. '[agriculture, export and prices] [staple production] In Bengal, where the revenue of the state has The staple productions of Bengal for exporta had'the form of land rent, the management of the tion are, sugar, tobacco, silk. cotton, indigo, and opium. public finances has a more immedia~e infiuencr on agriculture, than any other branch of the Co:ton is cultivated throughout Bengal. and administration. It may be presumed, however, has latcly been raised and exported by sea in the lands in Bengal are better cultivated and ren increased quantities. Besides what is produced in dered more productive. as notwithstanding the the country, a large importation takes place from increased export of grain, (from 30 to 45,000 tons the banks of the Jumna and the Deccan. annually), and the large tracts of country required for the growth of sugar. indigo, and other articles [boatmen] exported by sea, t'Pe price of rice, and every other Thirty years ago in Major Rennel's valuable kind of food used by the natives, so far from work, the hole number of boatmen employed on being enhanced'. was cQnsiderably lower on the the rivers of Bengal and Bahar, were estimated average of the 10 years, from 1790 to 1800, :than at only 30,000; but probably some mistake must during any preceding period since the acquisition have occurred in :the calculation as they cerltainly of the province; nor has Bengal suffered a famine are at present much nearer 300,000. Besides this of any severity since the year 1770, which is more trade. most of them follow the petty occupations than that can bl! said for any other part of India. of agriculture, or fill up the intervals of their [agricultural labour and wages] employmenlts as fishermen. and occasionally aug ment the bands of dacoits or river pirates. A cultivator in Bengal, who employs servants. enteitaihs one for every plough, and pays him [muslins] mOI1lthly wages, which, in an average do not exceed one rupee per month: in a very cheap Plain muslins, distinguished by their various district the wages are so low as half a rupee; but names. according to the fineness or cl?seness of the task on the medium of one-third of an acre the texture, as wel1 as flowered. strIpped. or per day is completed by noon. The cattle are checkered muslins, denominated from their pat then left to the herdsman's care, and the plough terns. are fabricated chiefly in the province of man follows other occupations during the remain Dacca. The manufacture of the thinnest sort of der of the day. Generally. he cultivates some fine muslins is almost confined to that province: land on his own account, and this hc commonly other kinds, more closely wove. are fabricated on rents from his employer for a payment in kind. the western side of the Delta of the Ganges; and a different sort, distinguished by a more rigid [agricultural operations] texture does not seem to be limited to any parti If the herd be sufficiently numerous to occupy cular districts. Coarse muslins. in the shape of one person, a servant is entertained. and receives turbans, handkerchiefs. &c. are made almost in in food, money, and clothing. to the value of every province and the northern parts of Benares one rupee and a half per mensem. The plough afford both plain and flowered muslins. which itself costs less than a rupee. The cattle employed are not ill adapted for common uses, though in in husbandry are of the smallest kind: the cost, capable of sustaining any competition with th~ on an average, being not 1110re than five rupees bcautiful and inimitable, fabrics of Dacca. 12 ,1. Year-I815 2. Plao,e-Benga/ [leather industry] [religion and caste] The expoI1t of hides from Bengal might b,_; Among the native population in the eastern greatly increased. It is calculated t,hat, including districts of B(!ngal. the Mohommodens are almost buffaloes. these provinces contain above 50 equally numerous with the Hindoos; in the middk millions of cattle. Until recently the demand was part they do not constitute a four:th part of the so small, that the carrier often neglected to tak,; population. to the westward the disproportion is the hide off the cattle that died a natural death. still greater. As an average of the whole, tht~ About 1797, some Europeans engaged in the Mohommodens may be computed at one-tenth tanning of leather, and manufadture of boots and of the popUlation. Of the four great classes, th~ shoes which, although not so strong or water aggregate of the Brahmin, Khatri, and Vaisya. proof as the British. answer so well, that they have may amount. at the most, to a fifth part of the greatly reduced the importation. The natives tntal population. Commerce and agricultre are have also arrived at considerable p.:rfeotion in universally permitted to all classes, and under the the fabrication of saddles, harness, military gen~ral designation of servants 10 the other three accoutrements, and other articles of leather. tribes, the Sudras seem to be allowed to prose Buffalo horns might also become an article of cute any manufacture. In this trib~ are included export, although so bulky and difficult of stowage. not only the true Sudras. but also the several An excellent species of canvas is now manufac castes. whose origin is ascribed to the promis tured in Calcutta, and sold much cheaper than cuous intercourse of the four classes. In practice that imported from Europe. little attention is paid to be the limitations of the castes. daily observation shews even Brahmins [export and import] exercising the menial profession of a sudra. Every Should freight ever be rc:duced to the lowest caste forms itself into clubs and lodges, consisting price a't which it can be afforded, corn might be of several individuals of that caste residing within exported from Bengal to Europe. Rice, barley. a small distance. These clubs govern themselves and wheat, may be shipped in Calcutta. for nearly by particular rules and customs or by-laws. It the same price; namely. two and a half rupees per may however, be received as a general maxim, bag. containing two maunds, or from 3s. 4d. to that the occupation appointed for each tribe. is 3s. 6d. per cwt. Rum might b~ exported from entitled merely to a preference; every profession, Bengal, at from Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per gallon; th·.:: with a few exceptions, being op;m to every deS quality is as yet inferior to th~ Jamaica rum. cription of persons. hllt might be: improved to equal it. Liquorice' and ginger are produced in Bengal. and might be [cities, towns and villages] exported to any extent. Within these limits arc comprehended three very large citie'>: Calcutta, Moorshedabad. and Dacca; Bengal imports from Europe m<:::tals of alJ sort~. and many prosperous inland trading towns. of wrought and unwrought, woollens of various from 10 to 20,000 inhabitants, such as Hooghly, kinds, naval and military stores, gold and silver Boguangola. Narraingunge, Cossimbazar, Nuddea. coin and bullion. and almost every article of Maulda. Mungulhaut. The small villages, of Europe, for the European part of the jnhab~tants. from 100 to 500 inhabitants. are beyond num [density and total popUlation] ber .... While passing them by the inland naviga Upon the whole, the average of 200 to a squart; tion, it is pleasing to view the cheerful bustle and c.:rowded popUlation by land and water; men, old mile, in districts which are well peopled, may b~ admitted as tolerably correot; and we may esti women, children\ birds and beasts, all mixed and mate the total population of Bengal. Bahar. and intimate, evincing a sense of security and appea Benares. not to exceed 30 millions. nor to fall rances of happincss. seen in no part of India short of 28 millions of inhabitants. beyond Company's territories. [share of crops : rent] (ethnic characteristics] In the revenue system of Bengal the ryot. or Beyond Bengal the natives of the northern cultivator, is deso..:ribed as a tenant paying rent. mountains prove. by their features. a Tartar and his superior as a landlord or landholder: but. origin. they people the northern boundary of strictly speaking, his payment heretofore was a Bengal. contribution to the state. levied by officers named zemindars. standing between him and government. On the eastern hills. and in the adjacent plains. In the rule for dividing the CfC'p. whether under the peculiar features of the inhabitants show with special engagem.~nts. or by eu&lom. their propor equal certainty a distinct origin; and the elevated tions are known. viz. 'tract which Bcngal includes on Ithe west, is peopled from a stock obviously distinct. or rather Half to the landiord and hali to th~ tenant. by several races of mountaineers, the probab1e One"third to 'the landlord and tWll-thirds to aborigins of the country. The latter are most the tenant. evidently distinguished by their religion. charac Two-fifths to the landlord and three-fifths to th;;: ter, language. and manners, as well as by their tenant. features. from the Hindoo nation. Under vqrio\1S i3 1. Year-I81S 2. Place-Bengal denominations they people the vast mountainous The opium produced in the proyinces of tract which occupies the centre of India, and Bahar and Benares is monopolIzed by the some tribes of them have not yot emerged from government, and sold in Calc-utta by public sale. the savage state. Bahar, like the greater part of Hindostan, was In the mixed population of the middle districts, anciently supplied with salt from the Lake of the Hindoos may be easily distinguished from the Sambher, i,n the province of Ajmeer; but it now Mohommodens. Among the ,later may be dis consumes the Bengal saIt, and a small pOJ:tion criminated the Mogul, the Afghan, and their of that imported from the coast of Coromandal. immediate descendants, from the naturalized [landed property] Musselmaun. Among thc Hindoos may be recog nised the peculiar traits of a Bengalese, contrasted In the nature of landed pr-operty there afe wIth those of the Hindostany. several distinctions bet.wixt Bengal and Bahar, of which the following are the principal. [upper classes] In Bengal the Zemindaries are very extensive; The men of opulence now in Bcngal arc the and that of Burdwan alone is equal in produce of Hindoo mercha\lts. banktrs. and banyans ~)f to three-fourths that of Bahar, in which pro Calcutta with a few at the principal provincial vince the Zemindaries are comparatively small. stations. The greatest men formerly were the The power and influence of the principal Zemin Mohommoden rulers, whom the British have clars in Bengal are proportionably great, and superseded. and the Hindoo zemindars. The~e they are able to maintain a degree of indepen two classes are now reduced to poverty. and dence, which the inferior Zemindars of Bahar the lower classes look up to the official servants have lost. .and .domestics of the English gentlemen. The .land of Bahar have, f.rom -time immemonal, been let to farm, and no general settlement, since [slavery and agriculture] the acquisition of the Dewanny, had been con Slavery. in its severest sense, is not known in cluded between government and the proprietors Bengal. Throughout some districts 'the labours of the soil, until the final and perpetual assess of husbandry is executed chiefly by bond ment in 1792. servants. In certain other districts the ploughmen There are few instances of jaghires in Bengal, are D.1ostly slaves of the peasants. for whom they probably not more than three or four; but they labour,. but are Itreated by their masters more like are frequent in Bahar. hereditary servants, ..• .than like purchased slaves. Thou_gh the fact must be admitteQ~ ,that slaves Upon the whole, the proprietors of the soil in may q,e ,found in Bengal among the labourers ill Banar were in a degraded state, comparatively husband~, yet in most parts none 'but free men with those of Bengal. In Bahar there are but are occupied in the business of agriculture. three principal zemindars, viz. the Rajahs of Tirhoot, Shahabad, and Sunnote Tokaroy. [Bihar : topography] [chief towns] The province of Bahar possesses great natural The chief towns are Patna. Monghir, Bogli advanta,ges, a temperate climate. high and fertile poor, Buxar, Dinapoor, Gaya. and Rhotas, The soil, we}l watered, produdtive of 1,he 9rier grains, race of men visibly improve in Bahar compared and aH the luxuries required by tl;lC most active with Bengal, as they are taller and much more inhaoitants of the north. Its geographical situa robust. tion is centrical, having easy communications internalcy, and serving as a thoroughfare for the [religion] commerce of Bengal and of foreign maritime Bahar having been, at an early period, con countries, with the provinccs of HilJdostan. Thl.!s~ quered by the Mohomodens. and afterwards advan,tages brought Bahar into a high state of retained in permanent subjection, contains a prosperity soon after the Patan conques!t, which considerable proportion of inhabitants professing continued under the Mogul dynasti. that religion. particularly in the northern and n:ore cultivated districts. Although Gaya, the [a,gric.ulture, manufactures and commerce] bIrth place of Buddha, the great prophet and Agriculture, manufactures, and commerce', le.gislator of the more eastern nations, be within have .always greatly flourished in t-his province. the limits of the province, and is still a place of OpiuW may be considered as its peculiar pro piligdmage for sectaries of that persuasion, yet duce ~nd staple commodity of the country; among the resident inhabitants remarkably few saltpetre is principally manufacturcd in the Buddhists are to be found the Brahminical beina districts .of Hajypoor and Sarun. Cotton cloths the prevailing religion. b for exportation are manufactureG every where, in addition to which are the ordinary produc 7. GAPS- tions of grain, sugar, indigo, oil, .betel leaf. &c. Nothing mentioned. The manufacture of saltpetre scarcely passes the 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- eastern limits of Bahar. [Please see lower Provinces of Bengal, 1822.] 4. LOWE:'R PROVINCES OF BENGAL, 1822 1. YEAR-1822 2. PLACE-Lower Provinces of Bengal 3. SOURCE- [Geographical identificationJ Bengal Judicial (Criminal) Proceedings, 10th November, 1825. No. 55. Original Consultatiolls. Superimposing "A Map of India and Adjacent Countries" attached to WaIter Hamilton's Bin.: [WBSAj dostan on a map of India and Pakistan 1961. 'and measuring squares on the map, the fol 4. MATERIALS- lowing table was prepared. Each square r~pH~- (a) Geographical location- sents 193 square miles. I , [Please See Bengal, 1815] (9-S) PROVINCES OF BENGAL (AS IN 1820) : IDENTIFICATION ON A MAJ1 OF 1!>61 states 1961 provinces 1961 districts as under included 1961 excluded 1961 total 1961. 1820 provinces of 1820 area in sq. mile area in sq. mile area in sq. mile under 1820 under 1820 ---- I 2 3 4 5 6' W. Bengal (India) + Bangia Bengal 94,473 11,387 105,860 Desh+part of Bihar Singbhum 579 4,535 5,114 24 Parganas 5,285 5,285 Midnapoor 4,921 290 5,211 Bankura 2,653 2,653 Burdwan 2,716 2,716 Santal parganas 2,026 3,474 5,500 Hooghly 1,216 1,216 Birbhum 1,757 1,757 Murshidabad :2..056 :2.;056 Nadia 1,514 1,514 Purnea 3,667 579 4,246 Maida 1,436 1,436 Dlnajpur 4,661 4,661 Coochbebar 1,289 1,289 Golapara 4,646 4,646 RangpUf 3,704 3,704 Rajshahye 3,654 3,654 Bogra 1,502 1,502 Pahna 1,877 1,877 Kusthia 1,371 1,371 Jessore 2,547 2;5~7' Kbulna 4,652 4,652 Faridpur 2,694 2,694 Barrisal 4,240 4,240 Noakhali 1,855 1,855 Dacca 2,882 2,882 Mymensingh 6,361 6,361 Sylbet 3,281 1,447 4,728. Tripura 2,702 1,351 4,053 Tippera (Hill) 2,594 2,594 Chittagong 2,705 2,705 Chittagong (Hill) 5,093 5,093 14 15 ]. Year-I822 2. Placer-Lower Provinces oj Bengal 2 3 4 5 6 Bihar & part of West Bengal Bahar 53.814 15,245 69,059 Singbhum 386 4,728 5,114 Ranchi 4,825 2,219 7,044 Purulia 1,544 868 2,412 Hazaribagh 7,016 7,016 Dhanbad 1,114 1,114 Palamau 2,702 1,737 4,439 Shahabad 4,408 4,408 Saran 2,669 2,669 Gaya 4,766 4,766 Champaran 3,553 3,553 Muzzaffarnagar 3,018 3,018 Darbhanga 3,345 3,345 Patna 2,164 2,164 Monghyr 3,975 3,975 Bhagalpur 2,093 2,093 Santal Parganas 3,474 2,026 5,500 Purnea 579 3,667 4,246 Bengal and Bahar 148,287 26,632 ------174,919 Attempts were made to demarcate the 1822 from the census tables of 188], 1921, 1941 provinces and their parts with the data obtained and 1961. The result was as follows : (10-S) PROVINCES OF BENGAL (AS IN 1822): AREA (IN SQ. MILES) IN 1822, 1881, 1921, 1941 AND 1961 provinces 1822 1881 1921 1941 1961 1 2 3 4 5 6 83,548 Bengal 77,772 82,564 84,148 83,502 61,204 Bihar 59,949 59,151 59,122 54,076 144,752 Bengal & Bihar • 137.721 141,715 143.270 137,578 Cuttack District 9,040 8,056 8,231 9,216 10,735 153,792 Bengal, Bihar and Cuttack 145,777 149,946 152,486 148,313 The reason for variation is our inability to trace (b) Particulars of population- the changes in the jurisdiction of districts, par (l2-S) SUMMARy TABLE OF POPULATION OF ticularly of border districts. The area obtained LOWE}{ PROVINCES OF BENGtAL, 1822 by superimposition of the old map on a map of 1961 as presented earlier is as follows : srI. item particulars no. (11-S) AREA OF SOME COMpONENT PARTS OF -1 BENGAL,1822 2 3 provinces area in sq. miles 1 area in square miles. 2 number of villages 1 2 157,384 3 population: persons 37,577,927 Bengal 94,473 males Bihar 53,814 females. Bengal & Bihar 148,287 4 number offamilies Cuttack District 8,056* 5 number of houses Bengal, Bihar & 7,516,108 6 population per square mile Cuttack 156,343 7 aVerage size ofa village Apparent discrepancies in area at different 8 average size ofa family points of time cannot perhaps be resolved easily. 9 average size of a house 5'0 *Taken from the estimate of Cuttack District 1818. 10 females per thousand males 16 ,I. Year-1822 2. Place-Lower Provinces of Bengal (13) ABSTRACT STATEMENTcOFTIIE NUMBER OF HOUSFS AND THE rOPUlAlION OF THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS IN THE pl\OV1NnS OF BENGAl, BAHAR AND ORISSA INCI.UDlNG 'lifE CITY OF CALCUTTA AND THE FOREIGN SETTLEMENTS total number total number amount of division names of the districts of villages in of houses in population remarks each district each district I 2 3 4 5 ----6 Burdwan 3,202 237,516 1,187,580 Jungle Mohauls 6,492 260,948 1,304,740 Midnapore R,536 382,812 1,914,060 Cuttack 10,511 396,924 1,984,620 CALCUTTA Jessore 5,199 236,718 1,183,590 Nuddca 4,348 237,432 1,187,160 Hooghly 3,787 247,830 1,239,150 24 Pargunnahs 2,891 119,919 599,595 Suburbs of Calcutta 710 72,072 360,360 Ramgurh 12,721 450,597 2,252,985 Behar 6,312 268,122 1,340,610 Tirhoot 10,241 339,540 1,697,700 PATNA • . Sarun 6,118 292,815 1,464,075 Sahabad • 4,185 181,770 908,850. Patna 1,098 51,141 255,705 Bhagulpore 3,667 159,558 797,790 Purneeah 4,948 272,433 1,362,165 MOORSHEDABAD Dinagepore 11,564 468,284 2,341,420 Rungpoor 4,231 268,070 1,340,350 Rajshahye 9,170 817,431 4,087,155 Beerbhoom 5,287 253,413 1,267,065 Moorshedabad 2,342 152,538 762,690 Mymcnsing 7,904 290,934 1,454,670 Sylhet 5,717 216,744 1,083,720 Tipperah 7,529 274,452 1,372,260 DACCA. Chittagong 1,108 140,160 700,ROO Backergunge 2,454 137,328 686,640 Dacca Jelalpore 2,543 117,675 588,315 Dacca 2,569 102,477 512,385 Total 157,384 7,447,653 37,238,265 City of Calcutta 53,000 265,000 Vide para 12 & 53 of my report on the Police of Calcutta in J822. Foreign Settlements Chinsurah 3,996 18,679 Census taken in 1814 but the population said 10 be considerably reduced since that period. Chandernagore 8,484 44,538 Census taken in 1823. Serampore (in 1814) 2,975 11,445 Census taken in 1814 popu- Jationsaid to have increas- ed since that {ime. Total 7,516, t.08 37,577,927 -- _---- Sd.f-H. Shakespear Calcutta Office, Supdt. Police, Supdt. P.L-P. Lower Provs. the 1st Nov., 1824. 17 1. Yea,.-1822 2. Place-Lower Province'S of Bengal 5. METHOD- eI_lll:~eration of the houses in each village of his Remarks on the Population of the Provinces oj dIVISIon. To prevent a me(.e -vague guess without Bengal, Bahar and Orissa some knowle~e or enquir3', -N - o- 00 -0 o '" I 1-I~ 'I IO'I~~ IM~~ I M IN 1M I~ I M - -on 19 1. Year-1822 2. Place-Lower Provinces 0/ Bengal [Explanation of the form] (16-S) METHOD OF FINDING AVERAGE HOUSES PER VILLAGE To explain the above form, it has been stated that "the number of villages is multiplied by group multiplier or average houses per 150 or lrd of the number of houses in excess village of the class entered in the preceding column". The total number of villages in the Thannah 1 2 jurisdiction of Katwa is 153, of which 104 villages contain less than 100 houses, etc. The less than 100 • 33 sample data given in the form may be conve 103-250 '. 1O?+[(250-100)-;.-3]=150 niently rearranged as follows. 250-500 • 250+[(500-250)-;-3]=333 (15-S) DISTRIBUTION OF VILLAGES. IN THANNAH 500-1,000 . 500+[(1,000-500)-;-3]=666 CUTWA BY FREQUENCY OF HOUSES 1,03J-2,500. . 1000 +-[(2,500-1,000)-;-3]=1500 number of average total h)use group villages house per houses Statistically, what is peculiar is that instead of village using the midpoint of a class internal they used some other point, viz. the point which is equal to lower limit + t x length of interval. We have 2 3 4 never seen . such a procedure. This is before statistical procedures became stabilized. Still we do not think this procedure is wrong. It may be noted tnat tIle distribution is J-shaped, the less than 100 104 33 3,432 frequencies falling rapidly as we go from lower 100-250 • 32 150 4,800 vaIues to higher 'values. In such cases, for any class interval, the actual average of observations 250-500 13 333 4,329, falling in an interval is certainly lower than the miOpoiIit of that interval. It appears, the choice 500-1,000. 3 666 1,998 of averages 33, 150, 333 etc. made here is not at all absurd. In fact, it seems to be a- good I,OJ3-2,500 1,500 1,500 choice, though subjective and not justified by 2,500-5,000 any detailed argument. 5,000-10,000 • 6. EXPLANATION more than 10,000 [Please see Bengal, 1815] 7. GAPS total . 153 16,059 N.A. 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- Under row 1, the average number of houses Walter Hamilton made an elaborate discus per village is assumed at 33 " or a fraction of sion on population history of Bengal- since 1820 less than lrd to obtain the total number of hou and formulated an estimate for Lower Provinces of Bengal at 39, 679, 150 (including the estima ses contained in that class". In the next row, ted popUlation of Benares at 3 million). In other "shewing the number of villages containing words, Hamilton's estimates. are almost identical above 100 and less than 250 houses, the number with those of Shakespear for 1822 though me thods and basis are entirely different. Hamilton is multiplied by 150 or lrd of the number of cited return of 1801 collected at the instance of houses in excess of the class" entered the prece Lord Marquis Welleseley, the Governor General, ding row and so on in the remaining classes. for 17 districts, accepted estimates by W. B. Bayley for the district of Burdwan in 1814, ad That is, 250-100= 150; one third of 150=50, • ded results of Buchanan's survey (1807-12) and thus the multiplier for this class is 10.!>+50= himself estimated population of Ramghur dis trict. His table is presented below with con 150. In this manner, the following reslilts c~uding remarks. He also mentioned population emerge: of some cities: 20 1. Year-1822 2. Place-Lower Novlnces 0/ Bengal Population of the Province of Bengal Inhabitants The 24 Pergunnahs, inciudingCalcuttn, 1801 1,615,000 Midnapoor district, 1801 1,500,000 Hooghly district, 1801 1,000,000 Burdwan district, 1814 1,~50,00O Jessore district, 1801 • 1,200,OeO Nuddea district, 1801 • ------800,000 7,575,000 Dacca JeJalpoor district and the city, 1801 l,140,OGO Backergunge district, 1801 . 926,000 Chittagong district, 1801 1,200,000 Tiperah district, 1801 , 750,000 Mymunsingh district, 1801 • 1,360,000 Silhet district, 1801 500,000 5,876,000 Moorshedabad district and city, 1801 • 1,020,000 Birboom district, 1801 700,000 Raj'snalIy district, 18(Jl J ,WrJj(]aa Rungpoor district, 1809 2,735,000 Dinagepoor, 1808 3,000,000 Purneah district, 1810 ,2,900,000 11,855,000 Bahar Province Total Bengal 25,306,000 Boglipoor district, 1811 2,755,150 Bahar district, 1812 2,019,000 Sarun district, 1801 . 1,200,000 Shahabad district, 1801 2,000,0(0 Tirhoot district, 1801 , 2,000,000 Ramghur, district, by cstimate 1,000,000 10,974,150 ------Benares province, 1801 • 3,000,000 Containing 162,000 square miIes Total old provinces 39,679,150 "B~ngal comprehends within its geographical Micro-regional evidences such as Buchanan's limits, three very large cities, Calcutta, Dacca, survey, Bayley's survey, Adam's survey, efe. and Moorshcdabad, besides many prosperou'i tond to show that there was little growth between inland trading towns, such as Hooghly, Scraje early decades of the 19th century and 1872. gunge, Bogwangola, Cossimbazar, each con Asok Mitra writes, ..... though no estimate of the taining a great population, but of which nl) popl~latjon of the PrOVillC~ made before the authentic returns have been as yet discovere_d." census of 1872 [after Francis Buchanan] is worth "The following are the number of inhabitants quoting, the early official reports and the cor reported on very probable grounds to b;! resident respondence of the East India Company's ser in the cities and towns respectively to which vants give a clear impression that in the carly the numbers are attached days of the last century, the population was Calcutta 500,000 distributed in a manner very different from its Dacca . 200,000 distribution today. "foday the population is Moorshedabad 150,000 distributed ov~r the whole area of the state with Burdwan . 53,900 unusual thickenings in certain parts. There are Chandernagore 41,377 Purneah 33,000 very few waste places ldt other than those that Rajamahal 30,000 arc rocky and under heavy timber or are mar Dinagepoor 28,000 kedly salin~. A hundred years ago there appear Narraingunge • 20,000 to have been stretches unbroken by cultivation Maulda . 18,000 Gour . 18,000 for considerable distances in parts of every Jist _C_h_anc!erco_n_a____ _ 18,145 rict due largely to the depopulation caused by the famines of 1770-86. W. W. Hunter writing (Hindostan Vol. 1, p. 47-48). his Statistical Accounts as late as the 1870's was The territory represented by the Lower Pro able to say for almost every district that "the vinces of Bengal contains two basic characteris area under rice cultivation has greatly extended tics-firstly, its economy as well as size of popu within the last twenty years, large tracts of land lation was effected by vagaries of monSOGn. formerly covered with jungle having been rec Secondly, it is an area under the Permanent laimed ana brought under rice" ...... (Census Settlement. of India 1951. Vol. 6. Part lA. p. 199). 21 1. Year-I822 2. Place-Lower Provinces of Belll?al A geograpnical identlft;c.ll(io~ was attempted (4)1 Cuttack District (already mentioned under item 4 (a) Geographi ------cal location) by 1)llperimposing old maps ,on year p6pulatioh petcentag'e -annual later maps. In aadition, census data were var1a t'i'on pt!rcentage ~sted. to pre1AA'e tIme- series covering the variation years 1881, 1921, 1g4f and 1961 on the basis of 2 3 4 constant area representing the territory termed as Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in the year 1822. 1822 1,984,620 The followJ:ng table shows the trend. 1881 3,57h932 79'98 1'36 (17''3) VARIA'11lONIN P6PUL~'11ION OF BENGAL, 1921 3,996,833 1I '90 0'20 BIHAR AND CUlI'11ACK DlS1RICT, 1812, 1Slf1, 1941 4,562,796 14'16 0'71 1921,:.1.941 AND 1961 1961 6~341,682 38'99 1'9'5 (on the basis of territor) a9 in 1822) . . (tJ Bengal P'rovin ces ~--- It is better to avoid comment on 'the combined year population percentage annual trend obtairred sinee 1822 for the three provinces variation percentage as a whole. Taking Bengal proper first, it is noted variation that the "annual growth rate was 0,71 per cent between 1822 and 1881 against 0.57 per cent 1 2' 3 4 during 1881-1~ZL 'Fhe pre.-census rate o'btain~d seems to be plausible, but ac~ual growth was -perliaps rower. 1822 37,577,927 1881 67,666,630 80·07 1'36 It appears that the population of Bihar was 1921 82,915,502_ 22'54 0'38 mucR underestimated in the official estimate for 1822. The results of the survey of three districts 1941 104,533,060 26'07 l'~O of Bihar by Francis Buchanan -Shahabad. Bha 1961 132,318,784 26'58 1'33 galpur. Bihar and Patna--show a different picture. (2) Bengal Proper (18~S) PERCENTAGE INCREASE 'OF PO,PULt\TION PER ANNUM IN THE TflREE BIH All. DISTRICTS, IStO-72, ~:ts72-1911 AND 1921-19'61 year population percentage annual variation percentage percent~ge variation peLannum vaHation, districts 1810-1872 1812-1921 1921-1961 3 1 2 4 2 3 4 1822 27,673,382 Shahabad. 0'20 0'11 1'89 1881 39,360,411 42'23 0'71 Bihar & Patna 0'07 0'09 1'86 1921 52,892,419 34'38 0'57 Bhagalpur 0'44 0'66 I' 53 1941 67,626,265 27'86 1'39 1961 83,930,090 24'11 1'20 One will perhaps agree that given the historical conditions, rates obtained from Buchanan'S survey seem to be more plausible. The figures (3) Blhllr for Cuttack district seem difficult. The details. however, have been discussed in the estimates for year population percentage annual Orissa Province and Cuttack bistrict presented variation percentage elsewhere in this volume. variation Without entering into the merits of varying concepts and definitions at different points of 1 2 3 4 time, it is quite interesting to sec that: (1) the averag~ size of a village in Bengal proper was 1822 7,919,925 nearer in 1822, 1921 and 1941, but much lower in 1881; the average house per village was a bit 1881 24,734,287 212'99 2'24 lower in 1881 than that in 1822, (2) the average 1921 26,026,250 5'22 0'09 size of a house in all cases is higher in 1881 com 1941 32,343,999 24'27 pared to 1822; the figures for 1822, 1921 and 1.21 1941 are relatively close to each other, (3) popu 1961 42,047,012 30.00 1'50 lation per square mile shows naturally increasin8 tendencies over timy, 22 ll'. Year-1822 2. Place-Lower Provinces of Bengal The rele~ant tables presented below show the (3) AVerage Size of a House position. (19-S) SOME COVIPARABLE RATIOS IN THE srI. place average size of a house LOWER PROVINCES OF BENGAL, 1822, 1881,1921 no. AND 1941 1822 1881 1921 1941 (1) ,AVerage Size of Villages 2 3 4 5 6 average size of villages in square srI. place mile no. 1 Bengal . 5'15 6'04 5'16 5'46 1822 1881 1921 1941 2 Bihar 5'12 6'37 5'22 5'29 Bengal & Bihar 2 3 4 5 6 3 5-14 6- i(} 5-18 5-41 4 Orissa 5-00 ~'40 4'70 4-77 Bengal 0'81 0-55 0-79 0-84 5 Bengal, Bihat' &. 2 Bihar 1-22 0-67 1-05 1'05 Orissa 5.:.14· 6'12 5'15 5'37 3 B~ngal & Bihar 0'95 0'60 0'88 0'91 4 Orissa 0-86 0·33 0'68 0'76 5 Bengal,Bihar & (4) Popuiation Per Square Mile Orissa 0'94 0'57 0'87 0'90 (2) Average Number of Houses Per Village srI. place population per square mile no. ------average number of houses per 1822 1881 1921 1941 srI. place village no. ------2 1822 1881 1921 1941 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Bengal 327 506 641 798 1 Bengal 51 46 98 123 2 Bihar 174 412 440 547 2 Bihar 42 43 89 108 3 Bengal & Bihar 262 465 557 695 3 B:mgal &Bihar 48 45 95 118 4 Orissa 220 443 486 4 Orissa 38 27 70 79 495 5 Bengal, Bihar & 5 Bengal, Bihar & Orissa 48 43 93 115 Orissa 260 464 553 683- The population of Benares is included in estimates of BCl}gal provinces 1812 and 1815. We ~have -not" discussed Benares as it is located out side the zone. Benares hflS not been consider- ed ln preparing the time series also. S. KACHAR OR HEERUMBA, 1819 1. YEAR-1819 Z. PLACE-Kachal' or I1eeruntba 3. SOURCE- Sibsagar district; ] ,888 of North Cachar Hills Account of the Kingdoni of Kachar or sub-division; 596 square miles from Khasi and J aintia Hills district. The present Cachar con Heerumba. (In the Friend of India. 1819. Nl). tains 2.688 square miles, the United Mikir and X. p. 83-90 and No. XI. p. 136-139). North Cachar Hills 5,878 square miles, both [NLjP. 1159] together contain 8,566 sq uare miles. from this 4. MATE.RIALS- should be subtracted in area of 709 square miles added to Cachar from Sylhet in 1947. Thus the Kingdom of Kachar as in 1819 contained (a) Geographical lOcaJl'on- approximately an area of more than 7.857 square miles. The Kingdom of Kachar. or more properly of Heerumba. lies within that space which in Arrowsmith's map extends from North Latitude 24 0 to N. L. 27" and from East Longitude The political geography of Kachar. 1819 0 0 92 to E. L. 94 • It is therefore about a hundred changed on several occasions. In an account and forty miles in length from north to south, presented in the Imperial Gazetteer of India. and about a hundred miles in breadth from east from 1706 onward. "Kachari prinCes seem to to west. On the north it has for its border the have settled in the plains of Cachar. their Court Brumhapootra, and the Kingdom of Assam. Its being located at Khaspur. but the Kapili valley west border is formed by the territory of Jyuntya, in Nowgong District also remained Kachari inhabited by the Khashya tribe; its south bor territory till it finally passed into the possession der by the districts of Sylhet, and Tippcrah or of the British." (Hunter. W. W. The Imperial more properly Tripoora; while eastward it Gazetteer of India. New ed. Vol. IX. Bomjur extends to the small but ancient Kingdom of to C.-entral India. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908. Munipoor. in reality held by the Burman p. 250). government. [Geographical identification] In another account it is stated that "In 1824, when the British declared war against the The Kingdom of Kachar extending from 92° Burmese. the Cachar Raja. Gobind Chandra. to 94 0 E. Long and 24 0 to 27 0 N. Lat according applied to us for assistance to enable him to to the text. probably defines the extreme limits regain his Kingdom. Gobind Chandra was then of the border in 1819. The 'boundary given in (1826) reinstated by treaty. Govind Chandra was the text above with Brahmaputra and the King finally assassinated in 1830; and as he left no dom of Assam on the north, J aintia on the west. legitimate son. the British took possesssion of the district of Sylhet and Tripura on the south. the country in accordance with the condition of Manipur on the east represents. more or less, a treaty of 1826" (Hunter, W. W. Statistical account territory corresponding to the recently formed of Assam. Vol. 2. Districts of Goalpara. Garo. United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District Naga, Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Sylhet and perhaps with some minor addition and su~tr3:c Cachar. London, Trubner & Co .• 1879. p. 361). tion by the north and north-east plus the dlstnct But. "a large portion of the North Cachar Hills of Cachar minus the territory annexed in Cachar had. however. been seized seventeen years before from the district of Sylhet in 1947. by a man called Kacha Din. who had originally been one of the Raja's table servants. He was Taking account of changes in political geo enticed down into the plains and killed; but his graphy identified by natural boundaries, we son Tularam succeeded in holding his own come to the conclusion that "The Kingdom of against the various attacks made upon him. and Kachar, 1819", broadly, is somewhat equal to in 1829 Govind Chandra was induced by Mr. the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District Scott. Agent to the Governor-General on the plus the present Cachar district minus the North-East Frontier of Bengal. to recognise his territory annexed in Cachar from the district of independence and, assign him a separate fief. Sylhet in 1947 plus probably something from This territory was subsequently resumed by the Naga Hills; the exact boundary on the north and British Government in 1854. in consequence of west cannot be identified. the misconduct and incapacity of Tularam and his descendant". (Hunter, W. W. The Imperial The United Mikir and North Cachar Hills Gazetteer of India. Vol. IX. Bomjur to Central District was formed by taking 1.707 squarc miles India. New ed. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 19Q8, from Nowgong district; 1,692 square miles from p. 251). 23 1. Year-1819 2. place-Kachar or lleetumba There were more changes in political geogra Eastern Portion phy. "In 1854 the northl!rn part of CachaI' The Eastern portion retained by Tularam is a known as the Asalu Sub-division, whlch Had "tTaet of country bounded on the west oy the b€Gopie ,British territ9ry in that year by tIie Diyung river and a line to i:;e determined here arlion of ,the tcrritory seized by him Lat. Now Duboka is situated on the batik of from Govmd Chandra. Juniuna about 92° 52' E. Long, and 26° 7; N. Lar. and Hajace is situated at 92° 52' E. Long. "Kachar. 1819.. " is perhaps, equal to, the ter 26° N. Lat. A line along this points means a titory of Govind Chandra that lapsed to the paral_leI to 93 ° E. Long. at a distance of about Bfitish in 1830 including those area surrendered 8 miles. by Tularam in 1834 plus the territory retq_ined Th~ northern boundary of the easkrn pottion by Tularam and finally taken over by the British. was dctermin~d by the Janiuna and Diyung River Western Portion North. Jamuna River flows around 26° N. Lat. a border along Jamuna m~ans major part of By an agreement dated 16th Octobet, 1834, Diphu Thana and a very small part of Howrah Tularam agreed to forego all claims between the Ghat Thana of the present United Mikir and "Morihur and Dyung and Dyung and Keopoli North Cachar Hill" Districts. It is difiicult to rivers ... " (Aitchison. C. U. Treaties, Engage understand how Diyung River flowing around ments and Sat1ads ... Vol. 2). 94 ° E. Long. to meet Dhansiri River on its right It is wry difficult to indentify or to define bank can form a northern boundary where it is this western tract on the map. In a Survey of stated that Dhansiri River forms the eastern India map (Hind 5,000 sheet NG-46, fifth boundary. Or does it mean that the northern edition) one Diyung River rises from near the bound'lfY was stretched along a line of Jamuna. Mahur railway station situated about 7 miles Dhansiri and Diyung rivers ? To the south and east of 93 ° E. and 11 miles north of 26° N. southeast it is said to be bound by the Naga moving northward around 93 0 E. for 45t miles Hills and Mowheir River". to be received by Kopili River. In 1854 the tract was resumed by the East Another Diyung River rises from Mao Song Tndia Company. In 1866 "it was divided between sang, about 8 miles east of 94°E. and 35 mile~ the Jaintia and Khasi Hills, South CachaI' and north of 25° N .• moves with a gradual right Nowgong; and that portion of Nowgong lying to bend up to 8 miles north of 26°N. and about 24 the west of Dhansiri and the country on both banks of Diyung were amalgamated with part of miles east of 94 Q E., then takes a: left bend moving north-west and then again mows the Naga Hills i11to the Naga Hills (Adminiskred) towards the junction of 26° N. and 94° E., there District with Head Quarters of Samaguting." after moves towards north around 94° E., meets (Aitchison). Dhansiri near Golaghat. It may not be improper to say that the boundary Morihur River rises approximately at 25° 15" of the Kingdom of Kachar (1819) fWIn Brahma N. and 93° 10' E. The tract between the Morihur putra River on the north to Sylhet on the South and Diyung in the western portion of thc district along 140 miles include~ the present Cachar m(:ans some territory in the Diyung valley district minus Karimganj thana on the south. and around 93 ° E. The tract between Diyung and at kast a portion of the tract between Brahma Kopili Rivers obviously means the eastern tract putra River and the United Mikir and North of Kopili bctween 25° and 26° N. and between Cachar Hills District on the north. It is said to 92!-0 and 93° E. Here Diyung is certainly not the extend 100 miles from east to west, that j!>, it Diyung flowing the around 94 ° E. The above agrees with the pn:s.:nt maximum breadth with is the territory on which Tularam gave tip his United Khasi and Jaintia Hills District on th~ right. On the map of Assam presented in the west and Nagaland on the east. . census report of Assam, it may be broadly said It is difficult to say what was the north-eastern that nearly three-fourths of Haflong and more boundary. Sincc a portion of the country on than half of Baithalangso thana and perhaps some both banks of Diyung was amalgamated in 1866 portion of Jowai of the United Khasi-Jaintia with part of the Naga Hills. it is logical to con HiIl<; more or less represent the western portion. clude that some portion of the present Na~aland 1. Year-1819 2. Place-Kachar or He.erumba also perhaps formed a 'part of the K{ngdom of The ~mcient capital of Heerumba was the city Kachar. of Gooa-baree. situated in North Latitude 25" 45', about twenty miles north of ,the present For the sake of simplicity, we have assumed capital, Khaspoor. It wa~ erected on the skirts that the "Kingdom of Kachar", 1819 is equivaknt of the main ridge of mountains, amidst a numbel; to the presen.t District of Cachar minus Karim of small hills. Although nearly deserte.d now. it ganj subdivision, and the United Mikir and North is held in much veneration; and from the preva Cachar Hins District.* . lence of a singular idea among this nation, it is supposed to b.e the repository of great riches. The (b) Particulars of populat;on- idea is this, that it is unworthy' of a king to take (20-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF possession of and enjoy fiches' amassed by the KACIIAR OR HEERUMBA, 1819 labours of his. predecessors. Hence it is generally believed among the Kachareese, that the riches of srI. no. item particulars th0 former sovereigns of the country lie buried among the hills in the vicinity of Gooa-baree. 1 2 3 [capital] area in squares miles 7,857 The present capital of Heerumba i~ Khaspoor. 2 numbJr ofvUlages whieh is situated upon the banks of the 3 population: persons 500,000 Mudhoora, a small stream just emerging from males . the mountains, and famous for the clearness of females. its waters. Under the former sovereign, Raja 4 number of families . 80,000 Krishna Chundra,_ this capital flourished greatly. 5 number of houses and was ornamented with buildings of brick and 6· population per square mile 64 wood. But upon his death, about the year 1811. his successor Raja Govinda-Chundra, from the 7 aVerage size of a village idea of being more safe in proportion as he 8 average size of a family 6'25 approached the British territories, removed his 9 average size of a house court to the city of Dood-patili, (if such a place 10 feml1es per thousand males may be said to deserve the name.) situated on the banks of the Boorak. about twenty miles The number of families throughout the whole of south of Khaspoor. In consequence of this step, the Kingdom is supposed scarcely to exceed the lattcr capital was immediately deserted; and eighty thousand, which at six individuals to each the buildings it once boasted. are now nearly family will fall short of half a milljQn. level with the ground. . 5. METHOD- [decline of economy] [Houses were perhaps estimated and population Dhurmapoor was formerly a place highly was worked out by taking six per family.l important. It is, situated in a fine extensive valley upon the banks of the river Kupili, to the 6. EXPLANAT/ON- north of the main range of mountains. It lies [geographical features] about sixty miles north of Khaspoor. It ance The ancient and proper name of the country is contained a strong fort, and in extent and popu Heerumba, although the peopre are known by the lation rivalled the capital, forming the chief seftt term. Kachareese. The word Kach~r is probably of trade between J yuntya to the west, Kachar to the same with kachar, a steep place or a preci the south Assam to the north, and Munipoor pice. The people seem to have derived their eastward.' Its importance however is greatly name therefore, merely from the circumstance of lessened with the decay of its trade, thmugn the some of them inhabiting the skirts of the lofty unsettled state of the country and the jucursions mountains of Heerumba. of its predatory lleighours, particularly those on the side of Munipoor. It has oftt'B xevolted This Kingdom small as it is. includes two pro through the oppression of its sovereign. the vinces quite. distinct from e~ch other; that gene Raja of Khaspoor. The revenues of this rally termed Kachar, which is the most southerly province, while it retained its trade. more than part. and borders on the British territories; and equalled those of all the rest of Heerumba taken the province of Dhllramapodr; which lies north together. ward of t4e main ridge of mountains. From the great difficulty which attends crossing these [river system] mountains, the intercourse between the two The principal rivers in this small kingdom arl;, provinces of Kachar .and Dhurmapoor is almost the two already mentiDned, the Kupili and the wholly suspended during the r~(ny seasgn. Boarak. They bQtb ori¥inate in the mO!1IJtc;tins >/lIn 1971, Mikir Hiils and Nor(h CachaI' Hills were two separate districts. 5-439 R.O. India/79 26 :r. Ytar---:1819 2. Place-KacMr or Heerumba to the· eastward, and running westward through of the various officers of government, who like these provinces. empty themselves into the those of their Burman neighbours, receiving no Bruhmar)ootra. kind of salary, are left to pay themselves ad libitum, by fleecing the people whom they Tliat part of this country which lies profess to govern and defend. Such however is immediately under the mountains, as it receives the fertility of the country, and the numerous iheir various rills and streams in the rainy advantages it possesses within itself, that its season, froin its low situation abounds with revenues under a wise government, which should bogs, an5i marshes, and large sheets of water. administer justice impartially, and encourage These supply th~ country with fish in abundanGe: trade and agriculture, might be increased to five but they render it almost impossible to travel times that sum, witp real advantage to t}J.e from one part to another without boats, during people. the rainy season. The mountains in general are skirted with forests almost impenetrable, or The southern country of Heerumba small as with jungles fanned by long grass in some it is, contains ten districts or petty Governments; instances, and in others by the bamboo. and these again are divided into smaller portions or purgunnahs. Of these the largest District. [physical features] Boor~k.POo/' that watered by the Boarak, J'he northern parts of the ~ountains. of contalnS nme; and the smallest, Ootlurbund Kachar are those which appear III the vanous contai~s tht;ee ~ivisions. As the Khaspoor maps of India under the name of the Garrow cou!~ Issl!e !lo s5llari~s, this subdivision of the mountains. Those in the south or more co~ntry lnto more tlian fifty purgunnahs, with properly the south east part of Kachar, are in thelt atte~daht .officers, costs it nothing, .whatever reality a continuation of the Tripoora or may be Its welght on' the people. Tipperah mountains, which after running northward as far as Khaspoor, turn abruptly Among other sources of revenue to the king to the west until they teach the Brumhapootra. of Heerumba are the various Salt pits in the The utmost altitude of any of these mountains is country, which furnish a sufficient abundance of scarcely a thousand feet above the sea; and tbat valuablt? a~t\cle ~or the consumption of the many of them scarcely exceed six hundred feet wh?le of the kI1!gdo~ and~. surplus for the in height. Those which run westward, how purposes of trade WIth their neighbours to the ever, though no higher, are so steep that the east. the south, and the west. The number 'Of water-falls formed by the various precipices. pits where salt is continually made, are about render the passage to Dhurmapoor mmost twen~y-four. These are in the hands of the impracticable in the rainy season; and add ReceIvers of the Royal revenue of which tJiey greatly to the difficulty of traversing the country, form a considerable part. ' for the sake of business, or of observation. - " [production] [important places] The produ~ of this country is so abundant . There are however a few places 'in the country as to render It dependant on other countries for which are somewhat fortified. The chief of scarcely any thing beside betel-nut and a little these • in the southern part are Goomra, fine cloth. These articles are gene;ally obtained -Vickrumpoor, T~lain and Khaspoor; and'il1 the !rol? Bengal. The articles of trade which are northern part, Dhurmapodt and Deson. These mdlgenouS to the country are among others a places are strong oy nature, and at a small ?oarse kind o~ silk termed Moog; bees' w~x; \ixpense might be rendered nearly impregnable. IVOry; co~ton; tlIDber of various kinds; tame el~ phants; l~e-stone; and kind of iron ore, capable Ab6ut forty miles to the south-east of Khas of produclDg a considerable quantity of that poor lie the 'BhooYUna mountains, which are metal, were !he ~ines properly wrought and the remarkable among other things for a famous art of s~eItmg It properly known. As this Cflve, for generations the resort of a number of howeve~ IS not the case, they are not very religious devotees, who are often a terror both producttve, · J'" .,..,:0 to' passengers, and to their own neighbou.rs. It I n t hlS country Jhere are several water-falls is within a few miles to the north of thlS that one of which is particularly remarkable as it '~he noted nass to Muniooor lies, which. as that bears the name of KupiIi the celebrated sage country borders on the - Burma empire and is now indeed held by them, may be regarded as Some say that thf; height of the water-fall i~ ne~rIy two. hundreCl feet; but .this is far from the kt!y to the country. bemg certalD: To the south, near the indepen [fiscal divisions] d~nt part of Trip?ora, there is a very large tunk wIth a ghaut built of brick. 0n these bricks The revenues of this thinly peopled territory are characters so ancient, that no native of the have amounted in some instances. to .. a lac of country .is able to decipher them, nor to say rupees annually, independently of the expenses more respecting these inscriptions, than tbat 27 I. Yea1'-1819 2. Plaee-Koehar or Heerumba they dif!er from any thing ever seen by any of again in~o a~y other hands than those of the the natIves of the country. In the vicinity are brahmamc tnbe. observable the vestiges of several buildings of ~he origin of which the natives are equ'ally In c.onsequence of this adoption of Hi.ndooism Ignorant. the Hmdoo deities are .of course worshipped i~ Heerumba. The w.orshlp of. Doorga is said to be celebrated occasIOnally WIth human sacrifices [characteristics of people] The presen~ king at his accession, about s~ In their persons the inhabitants of Heerumba y~a~s ago. IS said to have seized four unhappy are. ~ &eneral strong and robust, which charac viCtIm~, an~ to h~ve sa~rificed tbem to his terIstIc IS nearly as applicable to the women as favo_unte deIty. WIth ammal sacrifices sbe is to the men. Their countenances and features contmually propitiated in Heerumba. Beside bear a strong resemblance to these of the her. they also worship Kalee. or Doorga under Chineses. Their complexion is much fairer than another form. They also worship her as the that of the natives of Bengal. In their dress tIle go?dess ~ho presides over the small pox. Their women imitate tbe Burman women. and like cluef objects of worship besides. are Krishna. them, are extremely fond of the bettIe-nut. and Lukshmee. [language J I~ additi • Year-1819 2. Place-Kachar or Heerumba area in sq. districts mile ------'-.------1819 1891 1921 1961 1 2 3 4 5 6 ~~dom of Kachar 1,857 500,000 446,691 .62 3. SOURCE- _The whole country of Orissa ~omprises very Letter of John Richardson, deputed to m~arly. an area, of 22,500 sq. mIles about half Cuttack, dated 20th December, 1814 to Sir ~f WhICh. area" ~s under the immediate jurisdic George Nugent Bart, Vice Presidcnt-in-Council tJOn of tOe BrlLJsh Government and the other Fort William (In Bengal.) Original Consultation~ balf. is at present possessed by tributary Reyenue Department PJOceedulgs- I lih to 25th zC~1lJndars called "Ghurjants" or "Hill Rajahs 01' March, 1815. chiefs" who pay: ~ flxc.d re!lt or Tribute. subject. however. to Br1t~sh mfiuence and protection. [WBSAj ] Some of the dllels and possession alluded to 4. MATERIALS- ~re subj~cted to the British Laws and Regula: (a) Geographical location- t)on. and some not. The British half compre ~tellds. all the low lands situated along the coast, This important province which had long been the t~lb1;1tary land; all the inland (ront.ier. :rhe ~ubject~d to the yarious fortunes of the pow,ers first, lS m general a plain fertile; but not wen In lndla, was ultimately Cedesl to the lionour cultIvated; or possessing a numerous population. able Company in 1803 by the Rajah of Behar. T~e second is almost entirely a barren tract, a aft?~ havlllg been taken. possession of by the y.'lId ~xpense of rock, [or7st and jungle. thinly Bntish Troops almost without opposition. 1l1hablted and not producmg much mOre grain This natural barriers which form the frontiers -than suffieient .for the maintenance of the of Orissa on the ocean on one side. with a inhaoilants. difficult and scarcely accessible coast. and a wide and hilly forest on the other which opposes [Geographicai identification] such a desert to the passage of an army a~ would make its progress extremely precarious. John Richardson estimated the area of Orissa This province is therefore capable of an easy at 22,500 square miles. The total area of Orissa . defence, with no lerritorial changes in between was m~ntionc~ in the census of 1872 at 23,901 square The di.~trict of Orissfl in its geographical mIles. RIchardson distributed the area equally position. forms nearly the feature of a bow, of between the British portion and Indian States. which the Bay of Bengal on one side, dl',seribes He mentioned 29 states. The British portion the chord, and the district of Mahratta frontier wa~ denominated as Orissa prope-f or Cuitack. on the other- arc. The British Territories of Onssa was ceded to Marhattas by Alivardi Khan Balesore, Hirlgellee, Midnapore and MQhur in 1751. "It continued to be under the sway of bhunj, bwder it on the N. W. Chuta Nagpoor, the Mahralt,as for about half a century till 1803 and the Mahratta di.stricts o( Burhcy and and was then conquered by th!,':' British in India. Bhamdah, 011 the north. The Berar Frontier of Orissa was then attached to the Province of Kob, Outmullick Boad, the Kuud Mountainers Bengal and in 1804 a Board of two Commis and (Joomsur, on the West Ganjam on the sioners was appointed to administer the territory. S. W. and the Bay of Bengal on the S. and E. It was constituted into the district 01 Cuttack The importance of this territory of the British in 1805: but In 1823 it was first split up into Government consists chil{fiy in its geographical three regulation districts of Cuttack, Balasore situation •.the .possession of which connects the and Puri and 17 non-re_gulation tributary Mahals two Fr€sidencies of Fort .William. and Fort St. administered by native chiefs under the respon- George. secures an uninterrupted intercourse sibility at a Commissioner." (Census or India between the two coasts of Bengal and Madras and 195). yo!. XI. Orissa. Part I -Report p. 4). The places the whole range of coast, on this side of fol1owmg table. prepared by the editor. shows the Bay, under the immediate eye and control the territorial changes of. former Princely States of the British Goverpment. between 1814 and 1961. (23-S) TERRITORIAL CHANGES OF PRINCELY STATES OF ORISSA IN 1814-1961 states area in changes sq. miles 2 3 1. Athgarh 168 2. Tigiria 46 Nos. 1 to 4 existed as States from 1803-04 upto their merger in 3. Baramba 134 19~8·49; No, 5 Banki was ad~d to Cuttack in 1840, n..owa P.St '4. Narsingpur 199 under Cuttack district. '5: Banki 116 ~"------29 .t Year-1814 2. Place-Orissa Province (23-S) TERRITORIAL Cf{t\NGES OF PRINCELY STATES OF ORISSA IN 1814.1961-'Concld. 1 2 3 6: .Nilgiri 278 7. NaJagar ~ 588 Nos. 5 to 9 existed as States from 1803-04 up to their merger in 8. Daspalla 568 1948-49; No.6 merged with Balasore; Nos. 7-10 with Puri. 9: Khandpara 244 10. Ranpur 203 11. Angul 881 12.,bhenkanal 1,463 Angu! (No. 11) was annexed in 1847,showed separately in 1.881 13. Talcher 399 from 1891 Angul and Khondmals (area 1,681 sq. m.) continue 14. Pal Lahara 452 as a district; by 1936 Angul went to Cuttack and Khondmal to Ganjam, continued as such up to 1948-49; Angul and the 1S. Athmallik 730 States numbered 12 to 15 formed the'distriot of Dlienkanal inI94~1. 16. Hihddl 312 17. Keonjhar • 3,096 Keonjhar (No. 16) continued as a State upto 1948-49; there were exchanges of small enclaves with Cuttack and Balasore, and is formed into a district by 1948-49. 18. Mayurbhanj ' .. 4,243 After a transt'er of 12· 9 'squart! miles to Balasore, Mayurbllanj (No. 17) formed a district in 1948-49. 19. Baudh 1,264 Baudh (No. 19) continued as a State up to 1948-49; KhondmaI 800 and Balliguda were taken from the Ganjam district and the out 20. Khon~-M!Vs post of Dhalia from SoIiepore together with Baudh formed the district of Phulbani, named differently as Baudh distric(.'Baudh Phulbani district or Baudh-Khondmals district; of the territory contained in this district named Baudh-Khondfuals, only the area under Baudh and Khondmals sub-division was under Orissa in 1814-1822; Khondmals (area 800 sq. miles) was under Baudh, came under Britis4 influence in 1855-56, taken out of Baudh by 1891 to form AnguI-Khondmals district, by 1936 Khondmals was added to Ganjam, by 1948-49 the diStrict of Baudh- Khondmals formed in Orissa. . total area 16,184 N.B.-Thus of the 1961 distriots, only the arca under Cuttack, Balasore, Puri, Dhenkimal, Baudh-KhondmaIs (part only the Baudh and Khondmals sub.division), KeonjlIar and Mayurbhanj existed in Orissa in 1814. ' Thus of the States that existed within the John Richardson at 22.500 square miles is short politidll boundary of tlie Province of Orissa in of the area worked out as above by 1.740 squate 1947. Bamra. Rairakhal.' Sonepur. Patna. miles. The British portion accounted for Kalahandi. Gangpur and Bonai were transferred roughly one-third and the States for two-thirds to Orissa after 1905 and therefore were outside of the total area. In 1961. the districts of the boundary of Orissa around 1814. Three Cuttack, Balasore; Puri, DhenkanaI, Keonjhar districts, Sl11nbalpur, Ganjam and Koraput were and Baudh and Khondmals sub-division of also outside the pre-census boundary. Detailed Baudh:Khol1dmals district having'a total arlj:a,; territorial changes that occurred between 1901 of 24.175 square miles'1'epresent the territory of: and 1961 were elaborated in Table A-I of the Orissa as in 1814 outlined by John Richardson. 1961 Census General Population Tables of Orissa (Census of India 1961 volume XII Orissa Walter Hamilton attached· a map of Hif}dostan Part II-A. p. 29). and the adjacent countries t~ his publiCation entitled A Geographical, Statistical and Histori Thus in 1881. the three British districts, cal Description 'Of Hindostan published in 1820. Cuttack, Pooree, Balasore plus Angul and Banki Superimposing the said map on-.a map of 1961. constituteq as area of 9053 square miles. Since an area of 26,351 square miles were obtained Angul and Banki (area 881 +,116=997 square by counting squares. each '-square ·repreientin'g miles) were not British districts in 1814. the mea 193 square miles. The discrepancy of' 2.176 of the British portion in 1814 should be around miles between figures worked out from celJSUS 8,056 square miles and the area of the States data and from superimposition of maps may be including AnguI and Banki around 16.184 square due to imperfection of earlier maps. The miles and the combined area around 24,240 following table shows the results obtained from square mHes. Anyhow, the total area given by superimposition. 31 1. Year-iBN 2. Place-Orissa Province ([(24·8) IDENTIFICATION OF TERRITORY BY SUPERIMPCSI'IION OF AN OLD MAP OF ORISSA AS IN 1820 ON A 1961 MAP states 1961 province~ districts of 1961 as districts of 1820 measured in sqUlreS 1961 excluded squares (col. 6) dis- 1820 under provinces of total area tributed in the provinces of 1820 1820 included exclu- total area in .. area ex .. area (sq.m.) in dedfrom eluded eluded (sq.m.) Orissa, Orissa (sq.m.) (sq.m.) 1820 1820 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Orissa Orissa 26,351 26,150 52,501 52,211 Singbhumj 2.5 24.0 26.5 482 4,632 5,114 5,191 Gundwana 19.0 Bahar 2.0 Bengal 3.0 Sambalpur 6.0 27.0 33.0 1,158 5,211 6,369 6,763 Gundwana 27.0 Puri 19.5 1.0 20.5 3,763 193 3,956 3,999 Northern Circars 1.0 Balasore 12.5 0.5 13.0 2,412 96 2,508 2,500 Bengal 0.5 Mayurbhanj 4,022 4,022 4,022 Keonjhar 3,206 3,206 3,206 Cuttack 4,236 .. 4,236 4,236 Dbenkanal 4,177 4,177 4,177 Ganjam 4.0 25.0 29.0 772 4,825 5,597 4,824 Gundwana 2.0 Northern Circars 23.0. Baudhl 6.0 1&.5 22.5 1,158 3,184 4,342 4,248 Gundwana 16.5 Sundargarh 3.5 16.0 19.5 675 3,088 3,763 3,751 Gundwana 16.0 Midnapur 1.5 25.5 27,.0 290 4,921 5,211 ',258 Midnapore 25.5 (b) Particulars 0/ population- popUlation of 1,125,000; the second division only 5,625 villages with a population of 337,500. (25-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF ORISSA PROVINCE, 1814 The total amount of the revenue of the sri. item particulars Cuttack district termed Mogulbundee is the sum no. of [Rs.] 1,363,668-5.12.3; that the estimated. 3 measurement of the lands assessed that is t 2 supposed to be in cultivation, and arable 1 area in square miles 22,500 amounts to only 1,200,220 Begas. The number of Estates are 2,349; and the number of inhab1· 2 number of villages 16,875 • 1,462,500 tants I think not above t of the actual 737,922 3 population: persons of which 715,990 are Hindoos and 21,932 males . Mosulmans. [By the term "actual" the author females. means the total population of Orissa at 1,462,5001 4 number of families • 5 number of houses 5. METHOD- 6 population per square mile 65 [See also under 4(b) Particulars of population.] 7 average size of a village The time and manner of acquiring this 8 average size ofa family valuable accession to our dominions it is 9 average size ofa house unnecessary to describe. I shall therefore 10 females per thousand males proceed to state that the "Mogulbundee" or that portion of the Cuttack district which pays To define exactly the actual state of the revenue tc Government, and the rents of which produce and population throughout th_is pfO'vin~e are not get fixed is divided into one hundred would be i task not only extremely dlflicult; but and eighty three pergunnahs, or Revenue scarcely, perhaps, possible .. This however, may Divisions. These pergunnahs are of different 1" think be estimated suffiCIently near the t~~th magnitudes and their divisions appear quite to answer all practicable purposes. The Bn~lsh arbitrary and perhaps whimsical. An abstract half may be said to contam 11,250 square mlles statement of the produce, the amount of the of which 2/3 is in a state of culture and 1 /3 revenue, the estimated measurement of the unproductive, one village on an avera~e m~y be number of Estates, town, villages and inhabitants, given to each square mile, a.nd 100 lllhablta!lts distinguishing the number of Musulmans and to each village. The tnbutary half wInch Hindoos, etc. has been arranged by aumoons or comprises an equal area of ~ound may ~e native agents deputed by the Collector by my calculated to have only 1/ 8th of It barely cultI orders for the purpose, from information acquir vated and 7/8 totally .unproductiv~. ~alf a ed on the 'spot as will appear from Nc. 1-the village in each square ~lle an~ 60. mhabitants accompanying copy of a letter from the acting in each village, at thIS estImatIOn the first collector to my address under date the 2nd division, will contain 11,250 villages; and a November 1814. [The letter is not printed here.] 11. Year-1814 2. Place-Orissa Province The tlboVe ttetailt!d 5tatemellts 'in~the Pe'rsidfi =affords the propl-ietor a considerable excess, language do not, I fear, after all Cmlla1fr~ beyond Hi€> consumption. Of this excess a part accurate information, 'on the above points which is exported; and the remainder furnishes a stock s\lc& a scrUtiny is capable . of. Thcl. are very for years of dearth, or is left untouched. to waste voltiril1nous 'ana tb6re being 'One for eaCD aw~y: ~ Tlicre is"no tiefi"iency of all the minor Pergunnah, their great number ·and 'size, articles of general consumption, every description precludes the practicability of submitfing tne"m of .. , graiIL is raised in their due proportions; in English, an abstract has therefor.e been made and such common manufactures establish of the infomnation contained iR each; according ed throughout the pro,(ince as ~re requir~d for to -the accompanying form No. 2,* as stated in internal consumption render the inhabitsll1ts of it the acting Collector's letter abo.ve alluded. to. almost independent of foreign assistance with all Even this abstract fo·rms -8. document of-great these advantages, alld a full enjoyme:ilt of bulK, which ~t is Jhough unnec~ssary to transmit, security, with the additional blessings of a mild under th.e.,s!lpposjtio~ the ~~com1?~nying form of al1i:t toletating Government; we are naturally to the abstract dej:!lil of one PergunQ~1i will )Je conclude, and expect what I believe to be the sufficient fOl: the information 01 CWvernment. case, noConly that tne ,resources of this province The Engli..,;;h.,ab,;;t!a~t, al\d the <;,\!i..gmal "f'e~';;lal\ ate i..mpmvin.g, bl.l..{ ~l'.at ~e iub.abitallt'>. them 1. Yeor-1814 2. place-Orissa Prol'ince Having already stated the tolerable 'ferti1i~ t1f land6 depend ale'l1ot aiways !tl1fI4;ipll-tly ;S1rong the British Territory bordering the coast, it is to resist the sudden overflowing of the rivers, necessary to II remark that often the happiest they very frequently give way, and open a prospects of a rich harvest are blastt:d by the passage for the flood, which carries away intervention of storms, which are particularly everything it meets. violent and frequent in this province, and some- times destroy in one hour, the -best hopes of Of the Ghurjaut Mohauls or tributary Estates the farmer. The low lands are also very paying a fixed Revenue to the Government subject to i~!.. mdations, which altho' provided there are twenty-nine as follows: against at a great expense by Government, the [The following tables have been prepared by Embankments on which the prosperity. of .. the th..: editor from descriptive materiiils.] (26-S) SOME PARTICULARS OF TRIBUTARY M@HAULS OF ORISSA PROVIN~E, 1.814 length and anmlal -a;nnual produce, minerals and manu- ·,remarks name of stateS breadth in tribute revenue of factures miles (in Rs.) proprietor (in Rs.) ------~~~--.------_.------2 3 4 5 6---- ._._ 150 N·S 1,00l. 40,000 timber, iron, tar. lac, rice, capital·Hurriarpoor, no ma J 1. Mohurbhunj 100 B-W 6,000* or bows and arrows terial to estimate population 150 N** 50,000 75 N-S rice; salt;n abundance, cot- capital-Kunka, atea not as- 2. Kunka. 50 B-W 19,132 100,000 ton, sugarcane,honey,wax certained. 80 B 15 N-S paddy, common grain, sugar- 13 B-W 6,853 10,000@ cane, tobacco, oil, cotton 3. Durpan 28 N 9 N-S 4. Manickpore 6 B-W 3,120 29,000@ 40 S.-E 12 N-S rice, common grains tobacco, very unhealthy 5. Autghur 15 B-W 6;848 .1O,000@ cotton, sugarcane oil. 14 N-W 87 N-S rice, cotton, sugarcane, tim- 6. Denkanal .JllZ·B-W 4,780 50,0130@ ber, tar, honey, 'bee waX 40 SoW 30 N-S coarse rice, sugarcane, cotton, 7. Bankie 25 B-W 4,162 20,000@ oil, tobacco 30 W -:12 N-S 8. Kundeaparah 25 E.W 3,948 15,OOO@ cotton, various sorts of grain, .. 28 W tobacco, coarse cloth 9 N-S rice, grain cotton, oil .. 9. Joremoo 17 B-W 620 4,doO@ 75W 10. Neelgeer 20 N-S 3,656 19,000 rice, sugar cane, bee wax, there are 8 small ghu'r; crt 18 B-W oil, timber zemindaries dependent on Neelgeer 125 N-S rice, cotton, oil, wax, honey, rupees ten thousand· conec.; 11. Ungool 10 B-W 1,550 25,000 iron timber ted from tax levied at pergun 80 N-W nah ghaut on goods and merchandise 12 N-S 12. Hindole 17 B-W 60 N-W ;!'qJit rent. **third row in this column agaimt each estate' indicates distance from Cuttack. Sometimes it is mentioned that the distance' is that of capital from Cuttack, somteimes it is similarly mentioned as distance from Cuttack, @eltclusiVe Of tribute. 34 i. Y'e~18U 2. Place-Orissa Province ~26·S) SOME PARTIGULARS OF'TRIBO'fARY'MOHAULS OF ORISSA PROVINCE, 1814-Conclrl. length and annual annual produce, mineral and remarks name of states breadth in tribute revetiue of manufactures miles (in Rs.) proprietor On Rs.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 50 N·S rice, grain Of sorts, tobacco, 13. Hoojung 25 B-W 1,034 6,000 salt, !sugarcane, oil, betel, .. [or KoojUng] 40 honey, wax 80 N-S paddy, cotton, oil, sugarcane. 14. Hurrespoor • 50 B~W '34,08j •8;OOO@ salt to bacco . 36 B 15. Sookunaah 8 N"-s firewood, oil, paddy, tobacco 5 B-W 1,279 4000@1 .' • . " " .. 182 N-S , paddy, sugarcancf, iobacco; 16. Keonjhar . 125 B-W 2,790 30,000@ timbei; fuel, sait, tar, gums; 70 N wax, iron, honey 15 N-S paddy, grain of sorts, cotton; 17. Muddoopoor ,13 B-W 5,818 25,000@ sugarcane, oil I, 36'N 3N...s 18 .. Chodra[or~hodra] 2·50.B-W 2,1~4 ,2,000@ paddy, cotton, sugarcane 35 N-B 25 N-S cotton, paddy, various grain; 19. Neyaghur • 75 B-W 5,179 30,000@ oil, sugarcane, timber 40 SoW. 15 N-S 20. Nursinghpoor 17 B-W 8,000@ paddy, sugarcane, cottob; 35 tobacco, oil 10 N-S 21. Runpoor 15 B-W 1,313 10,000@ paddy, cotton, various grains, 45 B oil 15 N-S 22. Talcher 15 B-W 974 '8,OOO@ paddy, cottob; oil, timbet 85 N-W 12 N-S 23. tigreah 15 B-W 826 3,000@ paddy, tobacco; cotton prop~ietot asked to ptoduce 45W pal?er Tot settlement 5 N-S 24. D:>o'Ul)arran 7 B-W 776 8,OOO@ sugarcane, straw, bamb06;' do. 15 W paddy, cottoti, oil, etc. N.A. 25. Pattoo Doomparah N.A. 145 N.A. paddy', sugarcane, etc. extl:int not known; but small 15 W .. 8 l'.f-S 26. Burmba 12 B-W '1,310 8;O)O@ paddy, sugarcane, cottortl • 30 W oil, tobacco, common grain 3 N-S 27. Bissenpoor • 5 B-W 1,740 1,200@ paddy, sait, sugarcal1e 34 B 1'50 N-S 28~ KukuUah ~ 1 B-W 123 250@ only paddy of 2 sorts etc. .r 14 N I' .20 N-S "'3;luable es~ate, although 29. Aul 10 B-W 26,680 15,000@ trIbutary, sItuated with the 50 N-B Magulbundoo • • @ exclusive of tribute. Note on the table: The table has been prepared from descriPtive materials. Spelling may not be correct as different kinds of speiling for the same place appeared in the document. Col. 2: the rows indicate (1) extent NOlth to SOJ.lth~ 1. Year-1814 2. Place-Orissa Provi1lce The annual Land Revenue of the province is position as they stand in the register received above 14 lacs of rupees exclusive of the amount from Mr. Trower, the Collector. as I have no derived from the tax on Pilgrims which last map to enable me to form any geographical year was upwards of one lac and seventy arrangement." In a letter [incorporated in the thousand rupees, of this revenue there is seldom original consultation dated 18th March, (1815), more than 1/9 and scarcely over more than 1 No.3!, pp. 199-203, available at West Bengal in the Treasury at one time. The annual revenue State Archives] from the Acting Secretary to cannot furnish quite conclusive grounds cf the Mr. J aim Richardson, the opinion of the Vice whole capital in circulation. If we consider, President-in-Council is quoted as follows: however, that the payment of the whole revenue is so divided into such periods, as to admit of "From the result of your exertions to the greater part returning into circulation obtain information on the several subjects between the periods of payment, we may con detailed under the 2nd Head of the district of clude that the whole capital throughout the Cuttack proper, it would appear that the land province, cannot greatly exceed the whole of revenue at present payable to Government, is the annual revenue. I am led to think that the in the average proportion of Rupees 2 as for circulating capital in this Province does not each Begah supposed to be in cultivation, that exceed the sum of 20 lacs. or 250,000 English the number of Estate is 2349: and of inhabi money, of this reckon 1/40 to be gold, 24 J 40 tants, 737.922, of whom 21.932 are silver, 4/40 copper and 11 /40 couries. i~ other Mahamedans, and the remainder Hindoos or words, the amount is gold half a lac, sllwI of about 1 Mahamedan to 33 Hindoos". lacs, and copper 2 lacs, coudes 5 and a half lacs. "It is obvious that entire dependance ["Pooree"-the seat of Juggunnauth] cannot be placed on this infonnation, which is stated to have been obtained by native This Temple [of JuggunnauthJ is situated 50 agents deputed under your orders into the miles distant from the town of Cuttack in a several Pergunnahs. If however the result Southernly direction; and is directly in the high can be supposed to approximate to the truth, road from Cuttack to Ganjam. It is surround the information is still valuable." ed by a large, and populous, ill built and filthy town, caned Pooree, occupied entirely by Hindoos. The prodigious number of offices, "The detailed account of the Ghurjaut or belonging to, and connected with' the Temple tributary mohals under the third head, stands about a mile and a half from the sea contains many useful suggestions, and is side. The Pagoda of Juggunnauth is a considered to be extremely creditable to you, familiar beacon to tne navigators of the Bay as well as to Mr. Trower, who is stated in your report to have assisted you in collecting of Bengal. For 5 coSes or 10 miles. in s~mi circumfercnce round the temple on the land sIde, it. This part of your report will be communi and taking the Temple for the Central point, cated to the Superintcndent of the Tributary the sea shore. making the line, which marks Mahauls and to the Collector of Cuttack."] the semi circle, is termed the Holy land, and is hold in a very high degree of sanctity. 8. EDITORIAL COMMENl'- (characteristics of people] John Richardson, Member of the Board of The great body of the peoplc are Hindus .and Revenue on Deputation to Cuttack, estimated the distinguished amongst themselves, by the -yanous population of Orissa on certain assumptions. The tribes and castes, common to the natIves of assumptions are: India long accustomed, however, to peaceful (1) the British half contains 11,230 square habits. tfiey are tolerably good cultivators, and miles of which two-thirds are in a state of are sufficiently industrious. In other respects, cultivation, and, one-third unproductive, they are a quiet inoffensive people. one village may be given to one square mile, and 100 inhabitants to each village; 7. GAPS- (2) the tributary half comprises an equal area, (Data relating area, number of villages. awrage i.e. 11,250 square miles of which one size of a village. popUlation are conjectures as eighth barely cultivated and seven-eighths admitted by the author in a plain language. He unproductive, half a village in each square says, "to define exactly the actual state of the mile and sixty inhabitants in each village; produce and population throughout the provinces would be a task not o~ly ~~trem~ly (3) at this estimation. the first division will difficult, but scarcely perhaps pOSSIble. WIth contain 11,250 villages with a population regards to 29 Estates of the Tributary sector of of 1.125,000 the second division only Orissa, the author says, "The Estates above 5,625 villages with a populati\)n of DetajJed are .set down wjiliout any regard 10 337,500 giving a total of 1-462,500. 36 ...... ( N ..... 0 t-- 0, I M -< 00 ..... l~ .... 0 ('1- \0 '!Cl ~ VJ ..... i Z "'" 0,\0 m .... N ... 0 Ir) I:l .....0\..... V f:! ] ..... 0, .S IN ~ ~ ~ 00 .._~ =0 M '.0 t-- ci< 0\ ..... ~ I ..... I"- 0 .... ~.: Ir) ? ~ 0 oo~ N V '" ><1$ M N .9 I ... ~ ~,...., ..... V co::l - <> I,..., <') or. .,., ",0.. '"bJl _0 0 0- 100 or. or. M 00 <- ' 00 v N 00 0 \0 <'1 ' N t"- V) Ir) 0\ N ~ N 00 ' 0 0 on M 0 \0 N - '" Ir) 01 .,., ' The data derived from these assumptions of Conditions governing the growth of population Richardson have been presented under column§ were more or less similar between 1881-1921 and "1814-R" in the Table (27-S). The actual are~l 1814-1881. It is possible that given a similar pre-cen~lls of Orissa in 1814 as worked out by us wa~ objective conditions, the growth in the around 24,240 square miles of which 8,056 period may be somewhat larger than that in the square miles belonged to the British half ancl census period, because, sparsely populated area 16,184 square miles to the Tributary Mahals. grows faster than thinly populated areas. But tQ Applying Richardson's assumptions regardin~ it is perhaps impossible for the tract grow at an broad land utilisation pattern, size of village§. annual rate of 3.81 or 4.52 per cent in pre and average population per village, the figure, census years against 1.31 per cent in the years presented under columns "1814-R" have b.::erl between 1921 and 1961. The growth in British recast under columns "1814-A". The data {of districts occurred at less than one-third of one 1814 have been made comparable to those vI per cent per year in 1881·1921 against 3.46 or 1881, 1921 and 1961. The territory that existed. 5.42 per cent in pre-census days. The growth within the boundary of Orissa in 1814 has beer1 in Princely States occurred at an annual rate of considered at all points of time. 5.00 per cent or 3.02 per cent in pre-census days a-g II Population Estimates DISTRICTS 39 1. DISTRICT OF SYLHET, 1813 AND 182.2. 1. YEAR-18i3 and 1822 2 3 Z. PLACE-District of Sylhet 3 population: persons 1,500,000 l.C83.720 3. SOURCE-- males (1) Pemberton. R. Boileau females Report on the Eastern Frontier of British 4 number of families India. with an appendix and maps. Calcutta, 5 number 0 r houses Baptist Mission Press, 1835, p. 200-201. 6 population per square mile 524 307 [NLJ 164 BIJ 7 average size of a village (2) Assam 8 average size ofa family Assam district gazetteers. V. 2. Sylhet. By 9 average size of a house B. C. Allen. Calcutta, Clasdonion Steam 10 females per thousand males Printing Works, 1905. p. 53-66. ------[AS/91O.3 / AS 844] 5. METHOD- 4. MATERIALS- [In 1813, population figures were supplied by the Collector; basis is not known. Data presented (a) Geographical location by Pemberton actually refer to the year 1822 and [Geographical identification] nol to 1829. It appears that the estimate is Walter Hamilton in his East India Gazetteer the same as collected by Henry Shakes pear in 1st edition, 1815 mentioned the location of the 1832 presented jn the Appendix to the Report district between 24 oN. and 25°N. In the secollli from the Select Committee of the House of edition of the Gazetteer (1828). he mentioned Commons and also reproduced in this volume Sylhet as "a district in the province of Ben~al, from primary sources. The methodology is dis of which it occupies the north-eastern extremlty. cussed in the estimate for the Bengal Presidency, Ol} the north it is scparat~ from Assam by an 1825J. extensive range of mountaIns, some pea~s of which are 6,000 feet above the level of adjacent 6. EXPLANATION- plains, and inhabited by Cos~ea~s and sev7ral [Muneepooree emigration: source (1)1 olher wild tribes...... The pnnclpal passes mto [Pemberton mentions an emigration of Munee Assam are Luckhat, eighteen miles north from pooree settlers to Southern Cachar between 1825· the town of Sylhet and Bhookoola, in Cachar. On 1835. These Muneepooree settlers are "pre-emi the east Sylhet ill separated from the Burmesl' nent for their industry and enterprise, as culti empire by the two small hill states of Munipoor vators; and for orderly and quiet domeanour, on and Cachar; an independent portion of Tippearah all ordinary occasions."] They consist, generally, rajas territory. inhabited by Kookies, bounds it of such individuals and their descendants, as fled on the south. The eastern and southern portions from Munecpooree to Sylhet, during the disas are hilly; but the northern, central and western trollS reigns of the sons of Jaee Sing, when they parts &re flat, and submerged during the rain ...... continued for many years to earn a livelihood Its llctual dimensions since the dismemberment of as wood cutter, fishermen. and agricultural pio several pergunnahs have been computed at 2,861 neer!;, to the wealthy zemindars of that district; miles divided into 146 small pergunnahs. held by from whom they suffered every species of in an eqt1al number of remindars". Attempts were justice. Unable to obtain land in the densely made to identify the district of Sylhet as in 1811- populated district of Sylhet, and unwilling during 1830 on a modern map. It appears that the the continuance of Govindchundruh's life to ex boundary was approximately similar to that of pose themselves to the evils of his capricious and the present truncated district of Sylhet now in tyrannical rule, they have come forward with East Bengal. An area of 709 square miles was alacrity, since the annexation of Kachar to the merged with Caehar district in 1947. British territories. and have contributed largely (b) Particulars of population-- to that improvement, which has already produced (29-Sl SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATlON OF so marked a change in the genera1 aspect of the TIlE DISTRICT OF SYLHET, 1813 AND Ian province. srI. item particulars It is. however, from the densely peopled district 1\0. 1813 --1822 of Sylhet, that we must look for settlers, for the extensive tracts of stiH unoccupied land in Kachar, 2 3 which lie on the southern side of the Barak river. I area in square miles 2.861 3,532 There is perhaps no district in India, in which 2 number of villages the Sub-division of land has been carried to so ------great an extent as in that of Sylhet, anq "'h~re. 41 6-439 R. O. India/ND/79 42 1. Year-I8I] and 1822 2. Place-District of Sylhet as Captain Fisher has justly observed, in one of hardly even took place. Even as late 1829! his letters, "a great proportion of the population there were but sixty"t.hree estates SQld. by th.~ is wasting its strength, in the cultivation of inferior Collector; in 1834, the number of estat~s ~olg lands,. which afford but.a miserable subsistence rose to about 250; the next year. -tne .nUmber to th~ rayu! and contril;>ute little or nothing to was doubled; and iIi the past year, it;:had) the public revenue". Ten years after the perma reached the extent of 1,004. At the close of nent settlement, the district of Sylhet, which then the last accounts, it was found: th~t ~hQqgh contained 2,168 square· mBes, was estimated the assessment of the entin~ district did "Qot by Mr. Achmuty, to have u populalion much exceed three lakhs of rupees, two lakhs of 492,495 souls, or a ratio of more than of this sum rem~ined unpaid, and that it be:. . 172 to the square miles. In 1829, with an area came necessary to advertise 26,250 t~l).ures forl increased to 3,552 square miles, itS population sale. But what is to restore comfort and seeu had .become augmented to 1:83,720 s_ouls, [the :rity- to the vast populil-tic)fl w~ose §ole depen figure should be 1,083,720] giving a ratio of no dance is on the' foocl raised il1. a dish;ict,. in less than 306 inhabitants to the squ_are mile--a whir;h every estate. with the exception of a_ pl1Oportion exceeding that of every country in sman fraction, is put up to sale? To complete - Europe, with the exception .of the Netherlands, the misery of the district, these' sal~Sljt ;appear1l where it is as high as three hundred and tw¢nty. are attended by a set of speculators. w.hq, l;>id In any agricultural country, so dense a popu for the forfeited estates, though not themselves lation, confined within such an area, would find possessing more than the amount of the deposit its emergies almost wholly paralysed; and know money; and whose hope of ,gain in this lott'cry ing as we do, that within these limits, there are of desolation, is built on their being .able tQ numerous extensive tracts of wholly unprofitable sell their purchase. to advantage, before the land, occupied by jheels and marshes. which scttlihg day arrives"~ can n~yer be rendered productive; any compre [population history: source (2)] hensive scheme. which could be devised, fo~ The earliest estimate of the populat~Q1} js ,one) inducing a proportion of this redundant popula mfl.de by Mr. John Willes in 1789. Be repQi"te'd tion to seek a settlement in the fertile but un that there were altogether 492,94$ people' in,' tIic.~ occup~ed plains of the adjoinIng district of district; b\lt his figures, were evidently very mu,ch' Kachar, would be productive of the most essen below the m~rk, and in 1813 the CoUect9r .made I tial benefit, both to the country receiving such a much more reasonable estimate of 1,500,000.' an accession of agricultural strength, and to thai persons. In 1853, Mr. Mills calculated that the which was relieved from the incubus of so large populatIon was 3lbout 1,393.590 t!tis figure pein~, a body of petty proprietors, and consequent evils appareQtly o1_)tamed by multIpJymg by ;fivy'-·t,h~ of a sub-division ·of land carried to an almost number of houses repOrted QY the police. This. eV;lTIeScent extent. estimate was much more plausible tli~m 'one [prosperous past: source (2)J framed by the Survey Department in 1860, \vhicb. only amounted 795,272 souls. In 1866, the .Col In the Friend of .India oil February 9th 1837, lector stated that, including the Jaintia ParganAS~. the following gloomy account is given of the th~ wJw.le population of the district might be condition of the district. The writer seems to falrly eS1ll'Wted at 1.000.000 or half a million less infer misery and deterioration from the fact that than the guess made. by his predecessor 50 ye~rs the, revenue is not easily collected; but the diffi before. The census taken a few years hte;r ·in culty experienced in realising the very small GOV" 1872 .showed. that his estimate was ridiculously, ernmeilt demand, 'a di_fficulty which is e!{perien low." . . ced now and then, is due to other causes. [cowrie currency: source (2)1 "In the sitting of the Board of Revenue on the JO!h ,~f Januarv last, the present state In the eady days of our ad ministrationr'l the:, of the dIstrIct 'Of Sylhet was brought under reyenu~ of the district was paid in cowries.' As consideration. That district during the iast Mr. L1l1dsav says, it is difficult to undel'stand forty 'years 'has been subject to a gradual dete how they became the circulating medium:" 0'( a ri(lration; and has at length, reached that point cpupt.t;y three hundred miles distant from 'the~·sea. of :vretchedness which naturally produces a re The only explanation he could offer was thai" the achon. Forty years ·a!!c;Y. it was comparatively peOPle were so poor. and their rents so small. speaking, in a .flourishing state: now it is it that. a currency of ex1remely low values !Was complete pauper warren. In the whole district reqUIred. The rate of exchan!!e varied at different there are not fifteen landed pronrietors Possess times, but in Mr. Lindsay's day. fonr kahans or ed of Rs. 5,gOO an~ t~e cO.ndition of the great 5.120 cowries went to a rnnce. and, a<; the revenue amounted to Rs. 250.000 the Collector 'had t6 bulk of zemmdars IS 111 the last degree wretch ed. ;But it is, of late years that the oeteriora rt'l;~ive nearly 1,300 millions of these little shells'. tion. has taken tthe most rapid strides. Tn TI:'e inconvenience o~ such a currency was indes: 1821. the district wa.~ in so pro~perous a 3tate. ~nh~bk The ~OWf1es were r-enerallv re('eivecl that a -sale of land for arrears of revenue m h::tskets. anci woen they changed hands the baskets were divided into ,grQUps ()f -ten. ~he.- 43 1. Year-1813 and 1822 2. Place-District of Sylhet payee then counted one basket in each group, and in different periods. The district as described by whatever deficiency was found in that basket, Walter Hamilton appears to be something like was supposed to run through the remaining nine. that of the present truncated district of East Ben They were not received by weight. as the addi gal. The area is mentioned at 2,861 square miles tion of a little sand would at once have turned for 1813, 3,532 square miles for 1822 and the scale, nor by measure, as a little shaking 3,000 square miles for 1872. As the survey work made them settle down. They were fragile, and progressed, area measurement was gradually cor the Government of Bengal found it necessary to rected. As early as 1840, Captain Fisher in his import shells, at a cost of more than a lakh of Memoir of Sylhet, Kaclzar and the adjacent dis rupees per annum, to replace those lost and trict, (The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Ben broken in the Presidency.* They were cumber gal Vol. IX. Part-IT. July-December 1840. New some to receive, and troublesome alike to store Series) wrote, "the survey of Sylhet, though un in Sylhet, or to export to Dacca. Efforts were finished has yet been prosecuted far cnough to accordingly made by Government to induce the show, that the area of the district is more consi landholders to pay their revenue in rupees, and derable than had been supposed. As the external by 1819, two-thirds of the people had agreed to boundaries towards the Tippera hills, Kachar and do so, and only 30,000 kahans of cowries were the Kasia mountains have been traced, and the in store. This result was not attained without outline is only incomplete on the western side, much difficulty. The price of cowries was raised on which it is not likely any material difference by declining to issue them from the treasury, from the old delineation would be discovered, it and at one time the Collector had nearly ],l00 is likely that the contents (4,500 square miles) millions of these little shells in the godowns at now assigned for it is pretty near the truth. Sylhet. Arrangements were made to send them Captain Fisher says that on many points the to other districts, to distribute them as diet money position of Rennell 'On the South was 10 to 40 to prisoners, and to sell them locally: and gra miles to the north. Perhaps the boundary did dually this medium of circulation, which asSu not change to any significant extent through the redly must have been one of the very worst on period. Without any adjustment of area, move earth was banished from the district. ment of the populati'On of the district stands as follows over the period. The number of villages 7. GAPS- in the district was mentioned as 5.717 for 1822, Nothing mentioned. i.e .• the area of each village came to 1.6 square miles with a population of about t 90. Population 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- per square mile stood at 307. Population increa- It appears that the area of Sylhet district was sed very slowly upto 1921. The following table estimated at around 3,000 to 4,500 square mile~ shows the movement of population. (30-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SYLHET, 1813, 1822, 1872, 1921 AND 1961 year ,1 rea population changc per~eT.'tage annual p.c. VaflUllon variation ------...... ------_ 2 3 4 5 6 ------.~- 1813 • 2,861 1,500,000 1822. 1,532 1,083,720 -416280 -27'75 -3'08 1872 . 3,000 1,719,539 635,!!19 58'67 +1'17 1921 • 3,500 2,541,241 821,702 47'79 +0'97 1961 . 3,282 14,094,848 11,553,607 454'64 +11'37 ------The population of t 872 is I!enerally believed to The decade 1871-1881 was generally not good. be an under-enumeration. The following table The highest growth rate as recorded is shows the growth at each decennial point between 1872 and 1901. therefore not corroborated by conditiom. (31-S)PERC.ENTAGE VAlUATION IN POPULATION The next decade 1881-1891 is supposed to be OF THE DISTRICT OF SYLHET, 1872,1881, 1891 better, the following worse. In the light of the AND 1901 above facts, it is very difficult to accept an annual year population percentage growth rate of 1.17 per cent between 1822 and variation 1872. Because of the probable under-enumera 1 2 3 tion in 1872, the actual rate is still higher. The 1872 1,719,539 figure of 1822 is based on an enumeration of I8!!l 1,969,009 --_.-'i +14· lR91 2.1 <;4,593 +9·4 house<; and assuming the average size of homes 19:>1 2,241,848 +4·0 at 5. There may be some sort of under-counting _------_._------*Letter No.1 64 A, dated 6th Septembcr 1819, from of houses and, the actual house size may even be the Board of Revenue to I he Collector. The Colleclor of larger The fi!!Ufe of 1813 fits better in the pro Cu~toms at the three ~eaports reported that 43,000 lQaunds of CoWries were imported over year. cess, thoup,h the methodology is not known. 2. BURDWAN, 1813-14 1. YEAR-1813-14 2. PLACE-Burdwan 3. SOURCE (4) A map of the Burdwan Division cpmpris.... Bayley. W. B. ing the districts of Burdwan. Birbhum. Statistical view of the population of Burdwan Bankura. Hugli with Howrah and Midna... (In Asiatic Researches. V. 14, 1816. p. 511· pur under the jurisdiction of the Lieutt;· 565.) Governor of Bengal published under the direction of Colonel H. L. Thuillier, R.A; [AS/PP 853A] F.R.S.• Surveyor General of India. StJfve~ 4. MATERIALS- yor General's Office, Calcutta. June. '1814 (a) Geographical location attached with A Statistical Account of [Geographical identification) Bengal, Vol. IV. by W. W. Hunter. , The district of Burdwan, according to W. B. (5) Map of the district of Burdwan compiled Bayley, contained an area of 2,400 Square miles in the Bengal Drawing Office (rom Survey~ in 1813·14. The district of 1813·14 was identified made during sessions 191~·21 and ,1926·31 by the Inspector General of Registration in his with corrections up to December. 1837 .. General Report on the Census of Bengal, 1872 (6) Changes in ~ur~wan. Ho?gly, ~owrah arid as follows : Bankura Dlstncts contamed 1ll A Sum· "It is not easy to identify the limits of the mary of the Changes in the Jurisdic(ipn of Burdwan district as it was then constituted, but Districts. in Bengal, 1757·1916. by Rai it seems that We ought to exclude from the M onmohan Chakrabartti. present area the Raneegunge Sub·division and thanas Soonamookhy, Iehanabad, Goghat, The district of Burdwan in 1813·14 contains Katugram. and half of Ousgram." roughly the following police stations of Buidwan On the basis of the above information. identi. artd Bankura in 1961. fication of the district as in 1813·14 was attempt· ed on a. map of the district of 1961 with the Burdwan: Burdwan. Bhatar. Memari. Khm\da· help of the following maps : ghosh. Raina, Selemabad. Galsi. A\1llgr~ll)l>. Katwa. Mangalkot, Kalna. Purbasthali, (1) A thana·wise map of West Bengal. 1961. Monteswar. . prepared at the Pre·census Population Stu· dies- Unit. Bankura : Katalpur and Indus. (2) Maps of the districts of Burdwan and Bankura as given in the District Census The following table shows roughly the positions Handbook of 1961 (the police stations of of police stations in the years 1813.14,1822,1871, Kotalput and Indus of 1872 forming a 1921 and 1901. Changes in the Jurisdiction 'of part of the district in 1813·14 are in the Police Stalfions and history of _creation and aboli· district of Bankuta in 1961.) tion of Police Stations are not readily available. (3) A dist.rict map of Burdwan contained in The table is based on maps and 1961 District Rajendra Lal Mitra's A tlas of Bengal Census Hand Book of Burdwan. published in 1870. (32.S) CHANGES IN THE POLICE STATIONS OF BURDWAN DISTRICT, 1813·14 TO 1961 police station SrI. ----.~------remar.k& no. 1813·14 spelling 1822 spelling 1871 spelling 1921 spelling 1961 sP.ellin~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . 1 Burdwan Bordwan Burdwan Burdwan Burdwan 2 Catwa Catwa Katwa Katwa . Katwa 3 Mang'llcot M11ngulcote M'lngalkot M~ngalkot Mangalkot 4 Chandghose Khandghose Khandghose KhandghClse S Calna K'llna Kalna Kalna G Salimabad Sulumabad ,Satemabad Jamalpur(Mayne) Salemabad Jamalpllr 'was a villake in other years. 7 Pubut'hal Pooblhal B'l'lturla Purbasthali Purbasthali Bhaturia was a ~iI;ge under Purbasthali .S in other Years. . 8 Caithi 'Raina 'Raina 'Raina Raina Ca!thiwas ~ village \Inder RalJ1a P.S.tn otherY~,rs. 44 ; ! ...... z ~ c t 0 u c is ...! 0 .... z ! •z '"~. ~ .. _, ® ~ \= .~:'\. ~ .. ~. ~o •• ....~ ..I: . 0 I.. -, ,~ \ " ,~ . '_-' ~ ',-" .. .~ II: -...... ~. .0· I I I • I : : I I : i• :I I I 'I11n.snd 1. Year-1813-U 2. Place-Burdwan 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sahibgunj Sahibgunj Bhatar Banpasin 1814 and Sahib 9 Banpas gunj in 1961 were yilla.ges linder Bhatar P.S. Bttdbud Galsi Galsi Sondah was traced in 10 Sondah map under Gals and Budbud was also located under this P.S. 11 Bersul traced under sadar P. S. in 1961 12 Dignagar traced under sadar P. S. in 1961 Amoosgaon Ausgram Ausgram Ausgram Somondergher was traced" 13 Som~ndergher a 'v Wage under Ausgra P·S· 14 Bllkrissen Balkrissen could not be traced Gmgooria Gangutia later on a village under Monte- 15 swar P.S. 16 Monteswar Monteswar Manteswar Manteswar 17 Pooteenah co uld not be traced Indus 18 Indus Indus Indus } now in Bankura 19 Kotalpur Kotalpur Kotalpur ill A'1l:)ooa it mlY be 'Amba' a village under P. S. Khandahose (b) Particulars of population- (33-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF BURDWAN,1813.14 srl.no. item particulars On an average each police jurisdiction contains 2 3 about 218 mauzas, each mauza about 75 houses. each house contains aboUJt 5! inhabitants. The 1 area in square miles 2,400 proportion of Hindus to Mahomooans is as 5 of 2 number of villages 3,496 the former to one of the latter, and of males 3 population: persons • 1,444,417 to females about 100' of the former to 98~th males females of the latter. The total number of inhabitants in the district at the average, of 5{ to each house 4 numberof families will be 1,444,487. The jurisdiction of this zillah 5 number of houses 262,634 includes an area of about 2,400 square miles and 6 population per square mile 602 the proportion of inhabitants to a square mile is 7 average size of a village 413 more than 600. (34) TABLE NO. 1- RETURNS OF THE POPULATION OF NINETY·ElGHT VILLAGES, AND TOWNS SITUATED IN THE WESTERN PARTS OF BEN(;AL, PROCURED WITH THE VIEW OF ,.\SCERT AlNlNG THE GENERAL AVERAGE· PROPORTION OF INHABITANlS TO A 'DWELLING 1st [fourteen villages] srI. n'lm;: of the villages where situated no. of no. of male no. of female total p'opu- Proportion of no. hOll~es inhabitants inhabitants lation'male inhabitants to and female a house 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 GopalNagar Zillah Burdwan 8 19 21 40 5 2 Jamal mat. Ditto 11 30 32 62 5! 3 Bedchala Ditto 13 36 32 68 51 '4 Bhagwanpur • Ditto 15 37 37 74 5 ,S".Qlirial Nagar Ditto 17 46 50 96 5l :tL'i~cata . Jungle Mehals 20 78 75 153 71 46 1. Year-1813·14 2. Place-Burdwan 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 Mathurapur Zillah Burdwan 21 0 0 137 61 [70] [67] 8 Defferpur Ditto 24 70 58 128 51 1 9 Bamunpur Ditto 26 61 74 135 5 /. 10 Mulra. Ditto 27 74 69 143 51 11 Asapur Ditto 23 88 73 161 51 12 Mlncunda • Zillah Birbhum 29 0 0 152 51 [77] [75] 13 &'ldnaramlnpur . • Zillah Burdwan 30 73 76 149 5 14 Hershapur . Ditto 31 0 0 180 6 nearly [91] [89] total of 14 villages 300 612 597 1.678 51 [295] [850] [828] (34) TABLE NO. I-REf URN; OF THE POPULATlON OF NINETY-EIGHT VILLAGES AND TOWNS, SITUATED IN THE WESTERN PARTS OF BENGAL, PROCURED WITH THE VIEW OP ASCERTAIN I NG THE GENERAL AVEltAGE PROPORTION OF INHABITANTS TO A DWELLING-Contd. 2nd [fourteen villages] ari. name of the villages where situated no. of no. of male no. of female total popu- proportion of no. houses inhabitants inhabitants latian male inhabitants to and female a house 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Zillah Burdwan 32 0 0 1 Moradpur . . 229 7 /. [123] [106] 2 Gopicant'pur Ditto 34 101 88 189 51 1 3 Nagargachi • Ditto 37 97 94 191 5 /. 1 4 Dhunai Ditto 39 110 104 214 5 /. 5 Bijipur. Ditto 41 118 106 224 6[5.J 6 Daemnagar • Ditto 42 150 140 296 7 [290] 7 Ak'huliya Ditto 43 122 107 229 51 8 8 Kaimnagar • Ditto 44 122 125 247 5 /. 9 Bhasapur • Ditto 46 109 113 222 5 10 Rambati Zillah Birbhum 47 0 0 305 61[61] · [163] [142] 11 Mohabetgerh · Zillah Burdwan 48 112 114 226 41 12 Patpur. • Jungle Mehals 49 133 13 264 51 [131] 13 Palasan Zillah Burdwan 50 146 117 263 51 14 Naranga Zillah Hugli 53 131 138 269 5 total of 14 villages 605 1451 1383 3368 51 [1737J [1625J [3.362] (Serial numbers ada column numbers are inserted by us. It may be noted that in some rows under column (5) and (6) O's are given in the original table perhlp because separate figures for males and females were not available. The total of cols. (5) and (6) is not, therefore, equal to the total of (7), i.e., 612+597=1.678. To make good of this deficiency figures have been inserted agaInst O's by working out m:tles and femlles for respective rows under cols. (5) and (6) trom th~ corresponding row of col. (7) on the ba~is of mlle-femlle ratio of actlialtotal of cols. (5) and (6) as given in the ori,h.' document.] 47 1. Year-1813~14 2. Place-Burdwan (3.1:1) tApf,E NO. I-RETURNS OF THE POPULATION OF NINETY.EIGHT VILLAGES AND TOWNS, Sl'tuATEn , '. IN nlE WESTERN PARTS OF BENGAL, PROCURED WITH THE VIEW OF ASCERTAINING THE GENERAL AVERAGE PROPORTION OF INHABITANTS TO A DWELLING-Contd. . .. 3rd [fourteen villages] srI. name of the villages where situated no. of no. of male no. of female total popu- proportion 0 no. houses inhabitants inhabitants lation male inhabitants to and female a house 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cutruci Zillah Burdwan 55 204 206 410 7t 2 Babuishol Ditto 56 157 143 300 51 3 Baggispur Zillah Birbhum 59 0 0 322 5t [164] [158] 4 Jhijra . Zillah Burdwan 60 172 145 317 5i 5 Ramcrishenpur Ditto 60 0 0 423 7 [216J [207] 6 Radhacrishenbati . Ditto 63 181 169 350 St 7 Gerh Simlapol Midnapur 65 179 169 347 51 8 Depur • Ditto 66 184 163 [348] 51 347 9 Mankihota Ditto 67 175 177 352 51 10 Abudanga . Zillah Birbhum 68 0 0 331 5 [169] [162J !1 Bhagwanpur • Zillah Burdwan 69 172 166 344 5 . [338] 12 Baumonia Ditto 69 166 185 349 5 [351] 13 Berdaba Ditto 70 157 169 326 4i 5 14 Srigaon Ditto 73 201 177 378 5 / 1 total of 14 villages 900 1,952 1,868 4,896 5t [2,497] [2,396] [4,893] ~31) 'fABLE NO, I-RETURNS OF THE POPULAl'ION OF NINE'fY-EIGHT VILLAGES AND TOWNS, SITUATED IN THE WESTERN PARfS Oli' BENGAL, P~OCURED WlfH THE VIEW OF ASCERTAINING THE GENERAL AVEiH.GE P!l.OPORTlON OF INHABITANTS TO A DWELLING-Contd. 4th[fourteen villages] srI. nameof the villages where situated no. of no. of male no. of female totalpopu- proportion of no. houses inhabitams inhabitams lalion male inhabitants to and female a house 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Bhagwanpur . Zillah Burdwan 76 283 266 549 64/& 2 lJubrajpur Jungle Mehals 79 239 212 451 Sf 3 Shicarpur Zillah Burdwan 84 275 234 509 6 4 Gangadaspur . Zillah Hugli 84 0 0 667 71 [337] [330] 5 Blricha Zillah Midnapur 91 300 335 635 7 6 Bll.ticrishenput Zillah Burdwan 93 231 222 ' 453 5 nearly 7 Glwaltor Zillah Midnapur 113 295 278 573 5 above 8 Dhancaror Zillah Burdwan 120 315 356 671 53/& 9 Nandgaon Ditto 128 318 350 668 5 2 10 Sultanpur Ditto 129 345 352 697 5 / S 11 Angariya Ditto 136 411 420 831 6 12 Ramcrishanpur Ditto 140 362 327 689 5 not quite 13 Sudersanpur • Ditto 143 426 382 " 808 §f 14 Mohanpur Ditto 147 376 383 759 5 total of 14 villages 1,565 4,176 4,117 8,960 51 [1,563J [4,513] [4,447J 48 i. Yeitr-1813-14 2. Place-Burdwan (3..&) TABLE NO.1-RETURNS OF THE POPULATioN OF NlNETY·ElGHT VILLAGES AND TOWNS, SITUATBD IN raE WEsrEllN PARts OF BENGAL, PROCURED WlTa rHE VIEW OF ASCERTA1.NlNG tHE ~ AVERAGE PROPORTION OF INHABITANTS TO A DWl'LLlNG-CQntd. 5th [fourteen yillages] srI. naltltl of the villages where situated no. of no. of no. of total popula- proportion "r no. houses mlle inha- female tionmale inhabitants to bitants inhabitants and female a house 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Caraunds Zillah Burdwan 153 406 359 765 S 2 Alifnagar Ditto 154 478 484 962 6i 3 Hirangaon Ditto 164 440 400 840 5. 4 kames warptir Ditto 171 445 457 902 51 5 Gopinat'h Bati Ditto 178 465 505 970 st 6 C'handari Ditto 187 634 695 1,329 6, 5 7 Jamtara Ditto 187 446 457 '903 4 / S 8 Crishennagar Zillah Midnapur 200 484 516 1',000 S 9 Uchhgaon Zillah Butdwan 204 514 494 1;008 5 10 Bersul • Ditto 209 664 607 1,271 6 11 l'hicra • Jungle Mehals 216 691 517 1,308 6 and above [617J 12 Rascund . Zillah Midnapur 218 560 662 1,112 5 above [552] 1 13 Cilgaon . Zillah Burdwan 253 686 620 1,306 5 /8 14 Savanti Ditto 257 827 777 1,604 61/. total of 14 villages 2,751 7,740 7,540 15,280 51 (j4) TABLE NO . .t~H.ETURRS OF THE POPULATION OFNINETY-ElGHT VILLAGES AND TOWNS, ilTUATEn IN T'ftE WESTERN PARTS OF BENGAL, ~ROCUkED wITH rHE VIEW OF ASCERATfNThlG THE GENERAL AVERAGE PROPORTION OF INHABITANTS TO A DWELLING-Conrd. 6 th [fourteen villages] srI. nam! of the villages where situated no. of no. of male no. of female total popu- proportion of no. houses inhabitants inhabitants lation male inhabitants to and female a house -----1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Daroghapara Zillah Burdwan 267 698 709 1,407 51 2 Betagerh Zillah Midnapur 284 138 764 1,502 S1 3 Iral Zillah Burdwan . , 310 844 859 1,703 5* 4 Deriyaput Ditto 319 778 789 1,567 5 nearly 5 Sudpur Ditto 323 872 887 1,759 S1 6 Caiti Ditto 338 1.051 900 1,951 5f 7 Rajgaon Jungle Mahals 342 1,134 1,142 2,276 (if 8 B~dengunJ . ZiJlah Midnapur 365 1,220 1,186 2,406 6i 9 Cayapat Ditto 389 1,112 1,154 2,266 6 neady 1 10 Amaragerh Zillah Burdwan 415 1,088 1,067 2,155 5 /. 1 11 Satgachis Ditto 422 1,482 ~,516 2,998 7 ;"0 12 Sencari Ditto 443 1,178 1,143 2,321 51 13 Palasi . Ditto 448 1,108 1,187 2,295 51 14 Maro • Dino 474 1,272 1,100 2,372 5 total of 14 vi I1ages 5,139 14,575 14,403 28,978 5. 49 1. Year -.i813·U 2. P/ace-Burdwan (14) TABLE NO. I -~ErURNS OF THE PO?UL<\TION OF NINETY·ElGHT VILLAGES AND TOWN~ SITUATED IN THE WE~TERN PARTS OF BENGAL, PR.OCURED WITH THE VIEW OF ASCERTAININ THlt Gruq- ERAL AVERAGE PROPORTION OF INHABITANTS TO A DWELLING-ColICld. 7tb [fourteen villages] srl. rl!lm~ of [he villages Wllete situated no. of no. of male no. offemale total popu- PiOl>ortion of no. houses inhabitants inhabitants lation male in abitants to and female a bouse I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 ~hajuanwer . Zillah Burdwan 496 1,466 1,528 2,994 6 and upwards 2 Bancada Ditto 501 1,251 1,195 2,446 5 nearly [4751 3 Catlo1i • Ditto 581 1,387 1,358 2,745 51 4 Mendelgaon • Ditto 524 1,273 1,218 2,491 5 nearly 2 1 S Elambazar Zillah Birbhum 544 1,463 1,487 2,950 5 /. [5 / 5] 6 Bijar Zillah Burdwan 610 1,618 1,745 3,363 51 7 Bhalci . Ditto 656 1,640 1,680 3,320 5 above 8 Chandghos Ditto 744 1,892 1,826 3,718 5 nearly 9 Dianager Ditto 941 2,493 2,456 4,949 51 10 Blinchi Zillah Hugli 1,074 _ 2,930 2,910 5,840 5t 11 Man:aur and its sul.)urbs Zillah Burdwan 1,562 4,417 4,265 8,682 51 12 Keerpoy Zillah Hugli 1,776 0 0 10,525 6 neatly [5,289) [5,236) 2 13 ChandeTcona Ditto 2,836 9,120 9,025 18,145 6 /. 14 Cba:ndernagar French settlement 8,484 20,829 20,548 41,377 5 nearly total of 14 villages 21,266 51,779 51,241 1,13,545 51 [21,303) [57,068] [56,477] ABSTRACT OF THE PRECEDING TABLES [Stli total of 1st to 7th] srI. number of table total houses male female total average propor- no. inhabitants inhabitants population tion of inhabi- tants ----- 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 1st [fourteen villages] 300 612 597 1,678 5t [295] [850] [828] :1 2nd [fourteen villages] 605 1,451 1,383 3,368 5! [1,737] [1,625] [3,362] 3 3rd [fourteen villages] 900 1,9$2 1,868 4,896 5! [2,497] [2,3961 [4,8931 4 4th [fourteen villages] 1,563 4,176 4,117 8,960 5t[5£] [4,513] [4,447] 5 5th [fourteen villages] 2,751 7,740 7,540 15,280 51 6 6th [fourteen villages] 5,139 14,575 14,403 28,978 51 7 7th [fourteen villages] 21,266 51,779 51,241 113,545 5; [21,303J [57,068] [56,477] total ef 98 villages 32,526 82,285 81,149 176,705 5. [32,556J [88,980) [87,716] [176,696] 50 1. Year-18IS-H 2. Place-Burdwan (35) TABLE NO. II-STATEMENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DWELLING HOUSES kESPEC 2 3 4 5 6 TIVELY INHABITED BY HlNDUS AND MU3ALMANS, IN THE DISTRICT OF 4 Banpas 92 11,554 10,096 1,458 BURDWAN, ARRANGED UNDER THE 5 Balcrishen 115 9,218 7,528 1,690 HEAD OF THE SEVERAL POLICE JURISDIC 6 Cuchat 310 22,847 19,786 3,061 TIONS 7 Mengelcot 235 19,331 15,954 3,377 8 Calna 336 24,811 20,817 3,994 9 Sondah 121 10,934 8,978 1,956 number thannas total total of total of total of 10 Salimabad . 458 29,341 23,188 6,153 of tha of houses houses houses 11 Pubet'hal 265 15,033 12,671 2,362 nnas* mauzas inhabi- inhabi- 12 Dignager 145 19,814 17,533 2,281 ted by ted by 13 Somander Gher . 160 8,239 6,049 2,190 Hindus Musalmans 14 Bersul 110 8,981 6,895 2,086 15 Town of Burdwan 9,805 7,651 2,154 1 2 3 4 5 6 and suburbs 72 16 Cutalpur 470 24,342 21,326 3,016 1 CltW.l 230 20,790 18,688 2,102 2 Clithi 157 13,046 9,923 3,123 total 3,496 262,634 218,853 43,781 3 C:nnd G:lO'S 220 14,548 11,770 2,778 [* actually, it should be serial number.] On an av;:ragc each police jurisdiction contains about 218 mauzas. Each mauza about 75 houses, each house con tains about 5} inhabitants. The proportion of Hindus to Mahomedans is as 5 of ~he fo~mer t~ 1 of t~e latter, and of ma les to f.:males about I~O of th~ form~r to 9~'/s of.th? latter. 'fh~. tota! ilumb~r of tnhabItants 10 the district, at .the average of 5f to each house will be 1, !44,487. The JurisdictIOn of thiS Zillah Includes an area of about 2,400 square miles, and the proportion of inhabitants to a square mile is more than 600. (36) TABLE NO. IH-ABSTRACT CLASSIFICATION OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF IDNDU INHABITANTS IN 26 VILLAGES OF BURDWAN, ARRANGED UNDER THE HEADS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CASTES OR PROFESSIONS females males females total proportion sri. castes number of males houses above 16 above 12 below 16 below 12 number of inhabi- no. years years years years of inha- tants to bitants house G 7 8 9 2 3 4 5 2,356 2,738 1,266 947 7,307 5f -1 brahmins J,297 5 2 27 51 cshettries-militarymen & agriculturist 5 10 10 2 9 121 151 53 47 372 5 /, 3 rajputs-agriculturist & military 69 42 42 26 14 124 7! 4 vaidyas-physicians 17 701 839 421 288 2,249 51 5 kayesthas-scribes 408 500 581 260 191 1,532 51 6 gandh banias-druggists . 283 25 58 65 31 22 176 7 7 cansaris-braziers 1 16 16 12 6 50 4 / 6 8 sancaris-shell ornament makers 12 981 1,113 538 359 2,991 51 9 aguris-farmcrs 557 36 40 16 12 104 51/5 10 m~lacars-florists 20 221 243 131 115 710 Sj 11 napits-barbers 128 85 159 181 71 53 464 51 12 cum~rs-potters 162 199 .78 50 489 41 13 mairas-confectioncrs 108 271 265 142 77 755 5 14 lantis-weavers 149 258 339 145 97 839 5 15 carmacars-blacksmiths 167 2 4 5 5 2 16 8 16 barrooes-paun-sellers 1 161 193 83 74 511 5 / 6 17 tambulis-venders of bete 1 leaf 99 1,463 1,630 854 547 4,494 51 18 sat-gopis-cultivators 826 623 680 333 221 1,857 51 19 gwalas-herdsmen 352 175 197 88 58 518 3f 20 bayestomes-religious mendicants 139 3 7 1 . 3 14 4i 21 mohants-priests 3 63 80 41 28 212 5 22 bhats-encomists 42 4 6 3 1 14 31 23 panc'hias-a class of beggeri 4 74 86 46 18 224 5} 24 daibagis-astrologers 42 90 100 43 31 264 5} 25 kayebartas-cultivators 50 -51 I. YeoI'-18/3-/4 2. Ploce-Burdwon (35) TABLE NO. III-ABSTRACT CLASSIFICATION OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF HINDU INHABITANTS IN 26 VILLAGES OF BURDWAN,ARRANGED UNDER THE HEADS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CASTES OR p RO~ESSIONS-C oneld. srI. castes numl.nr mlles femlles males females total proportion no. of ab:JYe above below below number of ofinhabi- hou>cs 16 years 12 years 16 years 12 years inhabitants tams to a house 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ------26 sonarbanias-bankers or money- 61 120 137 62 38 357 5t changers 1 27 swernacars-go Idsmiths 63 132 143 62 53 390 6 /. 28 telliyas-oilmen 250 427 512 224 136 1,299 51/d 29 calus-oilmen 158 276 322 145 134 877 6H5t) 30 jellias-fishermen 55 98 99 57 34 288 51- 31 chutars-carpenters . 81 135 147 64 43 389 4t 1 32 dhobahs-washermen 44 77 86 41 2.4 228 5 / 6 33 jugis-weavers • 15 36 36 15 12 99 6! 1 34 bayutes-mat makers 19 32 31 21 15 99 5 / 6 3S saratis-carters 14 22 27 12 14 75 51 36 chunarias-lime burners 12 17 61 7 41 3! 1 [86] ~ [7 / S] 37 lohars-[blacksmiths] 9 16 20 3 4 43 4!- 38 bawuris-[cultivators] 197 262 306 248 175 991 5 39 cotals-watchmen 263 435 476 216 142 1,269 4t 40 haris-[sweeper, day labour] 109 203 215 118 77 613 5t 41 blgdis-[cultivator, fisherman) 841 1,205 1,384 858 641 4,808 4t 42 dulias-:pllanquine bearer] 57 90 113 50 36 289 5 43 mllis-snake catchers 5 6 6 7 3 22 4t 44 chlndalls-as cotals. • 39 53 53 18 22 145 3i (146) 45 domes-basket makers • 201 285 321 254 174 1,034 5f 286 305 III 63 765 2 46 suris-distillers • 137 5 / 6 47 muchis-curriers 80 158 165 97 104 524 6 ------. total 7,605 12,922 14,726 7,382 5,208 40,238 5} (7,599) (12,923) (14,771) (40,284) S. METHOD- 51 inhabitants to each dwelling, the total popula [The detailed enumerations of 98 towns and tion was worked out at 1.444.487 in area of villages were obtained (through the agency of 2,400 English square miles. The detailed method some respectable native proprietors of estates and as stated by author is presented under explana partly by the aid and influence of European tion. It should be mentioned that his statements gentlemen residing in the several districts). relating to prices have not been reproduced.] From the data of 98 villages, Bayley ascertain 6. EXPLANATlON- ed average proportion of inhabitants to each [In submitting the result of his enquiry to dwelling. Then he tried to ascertain the number Mr. H. T. Colebrooke, Presidellit; of the Asiatic all dwelling houses in Burdwa,n distinguishing Society, Mr. Bayley wrote:] them as occupied by the Hindus and Mabome dans respectively. The proprietors of lowery I have the honour to submit to the Asiatic mauza or village in the district or their resident Society. the accompanying statements arranged agents were supplied, through police officers. principally from materials whieh I collected in with a form in the Bengali language intended to the year 1813-14. while in charge of the oli:icc show (1) the name of village, (2) of the per'gull of judge and magistrate of the district of nail, (3) of !the police jurisdiction. (4) the total Burdwan. number of dwelling houses in each village, (5) the number o~cupied by Hil1du,~ a\1~ Maho The document marked No.1., exhibits an medans respectIvely. Thus Burdwan seemed to uh"tract statement of the population of 98 towns contain 262,634 dwelling houses and at the rate of and villages situated in some of the western 52 1. Year-1813-14 2. Place-Burdwan districts of Bengal, procured with ·the view of sure, and frequently contain distinct fa~iU.es .of ascenainmg the general average proporhon ot several orothers or other near relations. A dwel innabitants .0 eaCh dwelling. hng of this description whatever may be the number of buildings included in it is intentionally The document marked No.2, oontains an considered and rated as one dwelling both ,in. abstract statement of the total number of dwel thIS .statement and in that marked No. 2 exhi ling houses respectively inhabited by Hindus and biting the total number of dwelling houses in Mahotnedans in the dIstrict of Burdwatl, arrang the dIstrict of Burdwan. With reference to these ed under the head of the several police jurisdic CJfCUIllstances. the proportion of 5t inhabitants tions. to a h9use resulting li.t;om the general average of the paper marked No .. 1, appears smaller than; The paper marked No.3, exhibits an abstract might have been reasonably expected, and is in classification of the Hindu inhabitants of 26 fact less than the average proportion of inhabi"~ villages in the district of Burdwan, arranged tants ·to each house in England. under their respective castes or pr9fessions. The number of males appears from, the sJElt~.: The paper -marked No. 4. exhi~its the aver~ge ment tQ be somc;wbat greater than that ,of, the: price of some articles of common consumptwn females being 82,285 of the former, to 81.149 In the town of Calcuttra, in each year from 1753 of the latter. The population returns of qlher to 1814. countries generally exhibit a larger number of' The papers respectIvely numbered ~, (> and. 7. females than of males; in England: howeve'r. if contain statements of the average pnce of nee the males employed in the army may be included. and some other articles of consumption in each the sexes are very nearly equal in number. year from 1783 to 1814, at the tuwns of Surul and Elambazar. in the district of Birbhum, and No.2. The Statement marked No.1, having' at the town of Mancaur, in the district of ;fwni~hed me with t:he avtbrage prOportion. or Burdwan. inhabitants to each dwelling, I ptoceeded fo as- . certain the actual number of dwelling ]louses in . 1 proceed to offer such remarks in explanation the district of Burdwan distinguishing thelll as of each of the annexed statements as appear occupied by Hindus and Mahomedans. re~pcc necessary. tively. No. 1. The detailed enumerations from which The proprietors of'every miluza or village in this paper is formed were obtained partly th~ough the district or their resident agents were furnish~ the agency- of some respectable native propne~ors ed through the 'police officers of each division of estates with whom) was personally acquamt With a form in the Bengali language, ip.tertded ed, and partly by the aid and influence of Ei~ro to show the name of the village of the pengulJhah, pean gentlelPen residing in the several. distncts and of the police jurisdiction, the total number [rom which the returns have been furmshed. of dwelling houses in each village. and the number occupied by Hindu~ and Mahornedalls I have reasonrto be satisfied that few of these respectively. returns are inacGurate, and none o( the.m mate rially so. The towns and viJIages in.cluded in Such inst.r;uctions and explanation~ w\!re at the this paper are situated in various parts of the same time furnished as appeared necessary to district~ of Burdwan, Hughli, Midnapur, Bir prevent mistakes and omissions, and to remove, bhum, and other circumstances; some of them are marked towns or places. of eslablish\!,d manu all grounds of suspicion and jf 1. Year-1813-14 2. Place-Burdwan According to the statements so furnished, the No.4. This statement has been prepared from district of -Burdwan contains 262.634 dwelling accounts preserved in a respectable Hindu family houses, of which 218.853 are occupied by Hindus in CalcuJt!a. The average is deduced from the and 43.781 by Mahomedans; allowing 5! inhabi sunl total annually expended in the purchase of tants to each dwelling, the total population of each article for the ordinary consumption of that Burdwan will amount to 1,444,478 souls. The family, compared with the total quantity of each area of the district of Burdwan. at its boundaries article purchased within each year. are at present arranged. comprises about 2,400 English square miles. On an average therefore. No. S. I am indebted for this document to each square mile contains a population of more Mr. Cheap, the commercial resident at Surul; than 600 persons. it contains the current price of coarSe and fine rice, of salt, oil, ghee, molasses, and turmeric in The total population of England gives an ave the month of Pus. during the last 30 years at the rage of near 200 inhabitants to each square mile, town of Surul. but if some particular countries are selected, the proportion will be found to approximate much No.6. The accuracy of this statement whiCh more nearly to that of Burdwafl. The country was obligingly furnished to me by a gentle of Lanca.ster, for instance, contains about 1,800 man residing at Elambawr in the distrid square miles, and its population in the year 1811 of Birbhum, may be relied upon. The difference amounted to 856,000, furnishing an average of in the price of rice in the respective months of 476 inhabitants to a square mile. Pus and Asarh of each year is worthy of observa tion : a similar variation of price at those periods , It should be observed however that ,the district is general throughout the inter10r of the western of Buidwan is one of the most proiluctive and districts of Bengal, and is a source of abundant highly cultivated portioos of Britij;h territories in profit to the more opulent mahajans or specula Ilidia. and that it contains scarcely any jungJe or tors in that article, and of considerable injury waste land. to the indigent classes of cultivators; these last are generally in debt to the village mahajans; The materials. from which I have calculated they procure rice for food and for the consump the population of the district of Burdwan appear tion of their families either by a runious mOlt to, pe sufficiently solid and accurate for every gage of the ensuring crop, or at an exhorbitant practical purpose, and I am satisfied that the rate of interest in the month of Asarh, a periods total population of British India and the propor when the price is almost uniformly higher than tion of Hindu to Mohomedan inhabit,ants might art any other period. In Pus when the principal Be, a~(,-ertained hi a similar manner with little harvest is gathered, they are under the necessity difficulty or inconvenience. ' of immediately disposing of the produce of their . The result of such a general enquiry conducted fieldll to enable them to discharge the heavy all uniform principles, would not merely be grati instalments of their rent which then become due. fying to public curiosity, but might eventually They have neither resources sufficient to dispose prOV() of great practical importance in the im o.f the grain at a distant market, nor to postpone provement of the police, and in the general admi the sale until a more favourable period. they nistration of the extensive territories subject to are thus compelled to throw nearly the whole the BrNish government in India. produce of the village into a confined market at the same time. and the only purchasers are the No.3. This ,statement exhibits the total Hindu mahajans of the village, who are thus able to popula.UOl,l Qf 26 villages in the District of Burd fix the rates almost at their own discretion. This wan. the inhabitants are classed under the heads evil is o~ course lells felt in the neighbourhood of their respective castes or professions, and of navigable rivers, (Elambazar is on the bank according to their ages the males as being above of the Ajay) and in the viCinity of large towns, O'r below 16 years of age, the fem.ales as above and the prIce in Calcutta does not essentiaJly or 'below 12 years of age; the villages, from which vary at those seasons which in the interior of this abstract was formed, were selected in the country ~e respectively the cheapest or preference to others as 90ntaining more than the dearest periods. usul11 proportion of Hindu inha'bltants; the state ment sh~ws almost all the classes and professions No.7. I procured this document from a respec into which the Hindu popUlation is generally table grain merchant residing at the town of divided in the western parts of Bengal, but it Mancaur, in the district 0[ Burdwan. From the cannot be considered to furnish any accurate enquiries which I had an opportunity of making average 'of the proportions which the different on the spot. T have rea~on to beJieve that it is c1asse!' bear to each other: it may be remarked prepared with perfect acouracy, th~t the proportion of females to 'males is ~ene r~l1v larger in the higher classes, while in the From the papers marked No.4, 5, 6, 7 it mav l()wer ·clasf;es the males are more numerous than he observed that the period of ten years from the fema1e~: . 1793 to 1803, was generally a cheaper period. 54 1. Year-1813-14 2. Place-Burdwan than the ten years preceding or following it, and against the predatory incursions of the Maha that the price of rice, and generally of other ratta horse, during the native governments. articles has not experienced a very material or There are few villages in Burdwan in which permanent augmentation from the year 1761 to there is not a school where children are taught the present time. [The letter was dated Calcutta, to read and write. but there are no regular the 17th September, 1814]. schools for instruction in the Mahommedan or Hindoo law. The most learned professors of 7. GAPS- the latter are procured from the adjacent dis Nothing mentioned. trict of Nuddea, from whence and from Bena 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- res the other stations are chiefly supplied. The Mahommedans bear a considerable proportion Waiter Hamilton quoted Mr. Bayley's census to the mass of the inhabitants, and receive their of the district of Burdwan (Geographical Statisti d IIcation in the common branches from the cal and Historical Description of Hindostan & the village school masters." adjacent countries, Vol. I. London, John Murray, 1820. p. 153-157). Some particulars are extracted "That this district continues in a progres below. ~ive state of improvement is evident from the "Along with the other ceded lands it be number of new villages erected, and the in came subject to the British Government in cr~asing number o£ brick buildings, both for 1760. and has since thriven so prosperously, reI igious and domestic purposes, nor is there that in proportion to its dimensions, it may be :-my other portion of territory in Hindostan reckoned the most productive territory in India. thnt can compare with it for productive agri It is environed by the jungles of Midnapoor. cn1tural value in proportion to its size. In this of Pachete, and Birbhoom, and appears like ,-vmect Burdwan mav claim the first rank; the a garden surrounded by a wilderness. The second may be assigned to the province of most valuable articles of produce are sugar, Taniore in the southern Carnatic." indigo, pawn, cotton, tobacco, and mulberry trees. all of which have progres:;ively increased in quantity; and in 1801 it was calculated, that A very lively discussion on Burdwan occurred the general cultivation had extended one eighth in the General Report on the Census 01 Bengal, subsequent to the commencement of the decen ] 872, p. 93-94. Giving a summary of Mr. nial settlement of the land revenue, afterwards Bayley's method and results, it was said, rendered perpetual: the uncultivated being to the cultivated in the proportion of one to ei,ght. "It is not easy to identify the limits or The revenue lands are of a better quality, and the ~urdwan district as it was then constituted. under superior tillage oompared with those but It seems that we ought to exclude from called rent-free, or exempted from the land the present area the Raneegunge sub-division tax; but the latter appear to be a very consi and th:mnahs Soonamookhy, Iehanabad. derable proportion of the whole. being esti CToghat. Katugram, and half of Ausgram. The mated at one-fourth. Many of the principal area of the remainder of the district is 2.137 zemindars reside in Calcutta, and have their square miles, having a p()pulation of 1,305,316 affairs managed by an agent. There are also souls. or 610 per ~Quare mile. These figure! a considerable number of merchants who deal would seem to prove that the population of in tobacco. salt. grain and cloth, and commerce this district. whatever it mav have been befor~ has been greatly facilitated bv the opening of the outbreak of the late epidemic, i~ now not three grand roads to Hooghly, Culna, and much in excess of what it was in 1814." Cutwa; Burdwan. although so opulent. not having the advantage of an inland navigation. It is worthy of notice that the number of Most of the principal Bankers of Calcutta nave houses in this tract is 322,830, as compared factors established for the conducting of their with 262,634 in Mr. Bavlely's time and that the money transactions: but the indigo works are avera!le now is only 4t instead of 5~ persons to entirely managed by Europeans." a dwelling. No great reliance perhaos can be "The original zemindary of Estate, known placed upon estimates based upon the number by the name of the Burdwan zemindarv. was of houses in this country, the term being rarely roughly estimated .at 73 miles long -by 45 und~rsto()d by any two people in the same hroad, comprehendmg about 3.280 SCHmre miles sense .... " nearlv the whole of which was in a high state of cultivation. and wen stocked with - inhabi, Confirming that the definition of a bouse is tants .. same as used by Bayley and at the census of 1872, the census report continues, "A.t nresent there are no brick or mud f()l't~ in this district: but thl': remains of several "while the number of houses has already in are visible, originally constructed for protection creased, the average per house has fallen, SQ S5: 1. Yeti~til13-14 2. Place-Burdwall that the total population is not more properly identified, some are five times as large than it was in Mr. Bayley's time. When we as they were, while others have fallen off to take into account the mortality which the same extent. In a large majority, how has been ranging in Burdwan for the past three ever, the number of houses is approximrutely or four year!,!. this result is probably just the same, and in the most of these, the popu what might have been expected. The 300,000 lation has diminished. It would require consi 'iouls, by which the population falls short of derable local knowledge of the District, how what it should be if we apply Mr. Bayley's ave ever, to be able to express any decided opinion rage to the present number of houses, may re as to the completeness of the identification." present approximately the number which have been carried off by the epidemic fever of the The district of Burdwan in early nineteenth past few years. That the mortality has been ex century appears to be prosperous as described by cessive, does not admit question. The medica1 Walter Hamilton. The history of population bet officers who have lately been in charge of the ween 1813-1814 and 1872 is one of little growth district, assure me that in the southern thannahs or a decline, and this declining trend continued it would be no exaggeration to ~ay that two in the years 1872 and 1921. The decay was to thirds of the people have fallen victims to the the order of 9.19 per cent in 58 years between fever. In the census papers a large number of 1813-1814 and 1872 and 19.88 per cent in 48 houses were returned as uninhabited, the in years between 1872 and 1921. The following mates having either died or migrated between table shows the movement of population over the date of numbering the houses and that 146 years. of taking the census." (37-S) VARIATION IN POPUlATICN CF lll'RD W. W. Hunter discussed Bayley'S census WAN, 1813-14,1872,1921 AND 1961 thoroughly (A Statistical A ccount of Bengal. year rOi" ulation variation percentage Vol. IV London, Trubner & Co., 1876, pp. 29- variation 39) ,following the Bengal Census Report' of 1872. .-~.~--. "In order to test the accuracy of thc present 2 4 figures, I have endeavoured* to compare the 1813-14 1,444,487 returns of the 98 villages of which Mr. Bayley procured a detailed census. In 54 villages 1872 1,303,091 -141,396 -9.79 which I think I have succeeded in identifying, 1921 1,043,994 -251,097 -19 ..88 find that there are at present 16,121 houses, 1961 1,946,125 +902,131 -1-86.41 against 16,200 in 1814; but the inhabitants only number 76,510, against 92,725. The ave It is interesting to note that the average size rage number of persons to a home. therefore, of a mauza was almost constant at 0.69 and 0.65 is 4.7 instead of 5.7, or just one inmate per square mile in 1813-14 and in 1872; but increased house less than in 1814. This supoOrts the t? 0.83 in 1921, to 0.88 in 1961. The average accuracy of the general result for the whole Size of a house, however, shows a decline from district. At the same time, it should be stated 5.5 in 1813-14, to 4.69 in 1872. to 4.27 in 1921 that the size of some of the villages in the list and furthu to 4.03 in 1961. Females per 1,000 appears to differ sO considerably from what it males were 986 in 1813 .. 14. 1,044 in 1872 and was in Mr. Bayley's time, that. even though thereafter declined to 925 in 1921 and to 858 in we may be satisfied of their identity. there may 1961. The fol1owing tables show thana-wise be room to doubt whether the village boun movement of population along with data on daries are the same .. If. th~ villages have been mauza a,nd ,houses and sex ratios. "'The same Jines are contained in general report of the census of Bengal. 1872. Perbap~,- "I" here means the Magistrate, Mr. Me1C 'O~ :::l g..c:·0 ...."" o 00 on 00 ...... 00 0\ .... o.... "" ....o ,,",Oil o~ .;:1 00 ~..c: N 0\.... 00 0\ 00 .... 0 .... N 00 ...... ; ...... ""'" ....00 00 g ....'" ...."" .... "" .... ....O~ '" .;:1 00 ~..c: 0\ ....'" .... 1. Year-1813-14 2. Piace-Burdwan (39-S) AVERAGE SIZE OF MAUZAS, HOUSES AND 1933, Basu wrote, "there is no doubt that the FEMALES PER 1,000 MALES IN BURDWAN, 1813-14, 1872, 11)21 AND 1%1 village is .dyi!l_g." The_dec~y fr0!ll __ }874 to 1933 was attributed partly to epIdemIc and srl. items . 1813-14 1872 1921 i961 endemic diseases, and, partly to migration of no. the well-to-do families. Population, however, had increased enormously between 1933 and 2 3 4 5 6 1959 when Basu resurveyed the village for the ------~-.------second time. The population was given as 1 Average area (sq. a·69 0·65 0·83 0·88 1,500 in 1874; 872 in 1931; 1,466 in 1959; and mile) of a mauza 1,601. in 1961, showing. first an annual ,decrease 2 'Average size of a 5·5 4·69 4·27 4·03 house or 5 or4 or 4 of 0.91 per cent between 1874 and 19,31; and secondly, an increase of 2.79 per ceilt between 3 Females per 1,000 986* 1,044 925 858 1931 and 1961; resulting in a recovery to the males same level of population, as in 1874."" , .,------_.__ ._-----_. __ ...... -._---- '''on the basis of 98 villages Twenty fO,ur villages of 1813-1814 were ide!lti P. C. Mahalanobis and D. Bhattachatya tied on 1961 maps. It appears that population (Growth of populaJion in India and Pakistan, increased in twelve villages and decreased in 1801-1961) discussed, the population trend. at another twelve; in aggregate however, population llurdwan with special reference to a legendary decreased by 34.03 per cent between 1813-1814 village: . and 1961, while number of houses temaiiled al ."Kanchanpur Burdwan, 1825-196l: Lal most constant showing a decline of 0.60 per. cent . Behari Day (Day, Lal Behari. Bengal Peasant The average ,size of a house declined from 5.50 Lite. 2nd ed. London, Macmillan & Co., 1892) tb 3.65. . . gave a detailed Sitory of a village which he called Kanchanpur, later identified as Palasi. Such a decline may not appear to 1;>e strange under the Police Station and the district of when overall population of the district (1813- Burdwan in the present State of West Bengal. 1814 area) increased during the period by 34.73 Day started with a "prosperous village" in per cent only; 1825. and ended in 1870's with a picture of gradual decay, partly due to harassment bv The decrease in the aggregate population of landlords, and partly because "the demon at twenty-four villages may be due to various the epidemic. stalked '. from .village to village factors. Some of the villages were thana head and its ghastly_ form spreaq dismay and con, quarters or commercial centres formerly. The key sternation wherever it \vent". He concluded, feature to be nbted is the declining size of houses. "there would be no question of that the epide, The number of hGuses per niauza in the whole mic carried off a large percentage of popula, district was 75 in .1813-1814, 85 in 1872, !j.nd tion". Tarakrishna Basu resurveyed thi!\ 212 in 1961.' Popufation per'mauzawa's 413' in village -in 1933 (Basu. Tarakrishna. Lal Behari 1814, 397 in 1872 and 852 in 1961 The area of Day',~ 'Kanchanpur' Revisited. Calcutta. Orient a mauza was 0.69 sq. miles in 1813-1814 and Longmans. 1958) and again in 1959 (Basu, 0.88 sq. miles in 1961. The following table shows Tarakrishna. Bengal Peasant from 'time to time, the cOmparative situation obtained in twenty Calcutt~, Asia Publishing flouse. 1962.). In four villages. 7-439 R. G. In~ia/ND/7 S8 1. Year-1813-14 2. Place-Burdwan (40-S) HOUSES AND POPULATION OF SOME VILLAGES OF BURDWAN, 1813-14 AND 1961 village 1813-14 1961 srI. spelling spelling --houses population ayerage houses population average no. 1813-1814 1961 sIze of ------size of persons mlles femdes houses persons males females houses 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 Ak'huliya Akulia 43 229 122 107 5'32 76 303 155 148 3'99 2 AUfnagar Alefnagar 154 962 478 484 6.25 509 1,063 520 543 6.61 3 Angariya Angariya 136 831 411 420 6'11 46 304 157 147 6'61 4 Asapur Asapur 28 161 88 73 5'75 29 186 90 96 6'41 5 Babuishol Babuisol 56 300 157 143 5'36 245 405 ~ 192 213 1'65 6 Bllagwanpur Bhagabanpur 15 74 37 37 4'93 4 15 7 8 3'75 7 Bijar Bijra 610 3,363 1,618 1,745 5'SI 152 914 455 459 6'01 8 Bijipur Bijipur 41 224 118 106 5'46 182 669 330 339 3'68 9 C'handar Chandra 187 1,329 634 695 7'11 17 81 41 40 4'75 10 Deriyapur Deriapur 319 1,567 778 789 4'91 34 182 97 85 5'35 11 Dhunia Dhunai 39 214 110 104 5'49 70 299 170 129 4'27 12 Dignagar Dignagar 941 4,949 2,493 2,456 5'26 1,373 4,236 2,134 2,102 3'0 13 GJ;Jicantpur GJpikantpur 34 189 101 88 5'56 280 1,125 573 552 4'0 14 Gopinat'hbati Gopinathbati 178 970 465 505 5'45 uninhabited 15 Jamtara Jamtara 187 903 446 457 4'83 389 1,321 655 666 3'40 16 Mare Mera 474 2,372 1,272 1,100 5.00 185 718 364 354 3·88 17 Mohanpur Mohanpur 147 759 376 383 5'16 326 1,375 684 691 4'22 18 IIbgargachi Naglrgachhi 37 191 97 94 5'16 83 528 263 265 6'36 19 Palasan Palsana 50 263 146 117 5'26 179 878 417 461 4'90 20 Palasi Palasi 448 2,295 1,108 1,187 5'12 347 1,610 794 816 4'64 21 Ramcrishnpur Ramkrishnapul 140 689 362 327 4'92 222 854 422 432 3'85 22 Ram~swarpur R'lmeSWarpuf 171 902 445 457 5'27 67 474 244 230 7'0 23 Satgachia Satgachhi 422 2,998 1,482 1,516 7'10 70 214 113 101 3'06 24 Sultanpur Suitanpuf 129 697 345 352 5'40 71 341 167 174 4'80 total 4,986 27,431 13,689 13,742 5'50 4,956 18,095 9,044 9,051 3'6i ·.. .''. BHAGALPUR-1811· 10UNOARIES: _._._ STATE DISTRICT 1.71 '1 1111 THANA 197J o 5 10 15 K.M. 8A5£0 UPON SURVEY Of INDIA MAP WITH THE PERMISSION @ GOVERNMENT 01' INDIA COPYRIGHT, ,ttl 0' THE SURVEYOR GEN£RAL 0' INDIA. 3. DISTRICf OF BBAGALPUR, 1810-11 1. YEAR-1810-11 2. PLACE~jjist;ict of Bhaga,lpw 3. SOURCE- Every proprietor of land alleges. that his boun (1) Buchanan. Francis dary extends farther than his neighbour in that direction will allow; and as the whole boundaries An account of the District of Bhagalpur in of the jurisdiction have been fixed by the extent 1810-11 printed from the'Buchanan's MSS in of certain properties. and not by any great lines the India Office Library... Patna, Bihar and marked by nature, the whole outline of the dis ,Orissa Research Society, 1939. , trict is uncertain, except where decisions of the . {ISIj915.41 B918 Bhl courts of law have determined the disputed parts. Even where that has happened, in no case, I (2) Buchanan, Francis believe, have the zemindars desisted from their An account of the District of Bhagalpur in claims, and it was their agents who pointed out 1810-11 ... Micro-film manuscripts. ' the boundary. that I have adopted. It may be therefore expected that I have extend~ too far [ISI/ ] the boundaries tOWards Virbhum, Tirahut, Behar, 4. MATERIALS- Murshedabad and Ramgar, as I had with me nOne of the' people of these districts to mention (a) Geographical location ..J-. their c1ai!lls .. ' Towards Puraniya I have heard Extent, .General Appearance and Soil both parfles. ". , This district forms the jurisdiction of :a 'Judge and Magistrate; and not only includes the whole ,The turbulent state of the inhabitants and the extent, which is under the management of the difficulty of access into the country. wh~n Major Collector residing at its capital; but also part Re~nell made his survey., oppOSed Obstacles of the lands of which the Collectors of Mursheda whIch have rendered his map of this district l~ss bad and Puraniya receive t,he income. This is valuable than most parts of his excellent work. attended, with some inconvenience. both in the and I have. to regret that the copy of a more administration of justice, and collection of reve recent survey, which had been deposited in the nue; for the judge must have occasional need to office of the Collector, has been lost. Owing to consult the records of the collector. and the these circumstances, to the very uncommon laltter officer has also sometimes occasion to apply ~a~ner in which I?any of the subordinate juris for the assistance of the magistrate, and while dIctIon have been mtermixed. not only with each they reside at a distance, these applications must other, but with other districts, and to the dis be attended with considerable delay. and addi P.uted and undetermined nature of the bounda tional trouble. nes, I have not been able to trace these in a manner that can be at all satisfactory. and in This district occupies the S, E. corner of the almost eve~y case I haye been under the necessity Mogul province of Behar, together with a small of proceedmg by conjecture, and that in many portion of Bengal; but would appear at one cases of a very vague nature. time to have been entirely included within the Muhammedan kingdom of the latter name. Its The form of this district is tolerably compact, greatest length, from the boundary of Virbhum except that towards the East it is most miserably on the Dwarka to that of Tira]mt on the Tilawe, intermixed with Puraniya, Dinajpur, Nator. is about 133 miles in a N.N.W. and S.S.E. direct J\;furshedabad and Virbhum, that the capital is tion; and its greatest breadth, crossing the above sItuated towards one of its extremities, and that line at right angles. from Rajmahal to the boun the whole, which is beyond the capital towards dary of Virbhum Qear Chandan is about 80 miles. the. nOl;-th, is separa~ed from ~t by the Ganges. According to Major Rennell its southern extre whICh IS attended WIth much mconvenience and mity, at Chandrapur on the Dwarka river. is in danger, I am persuaded, that by uniting all the 24° 4' N; and its northern extremity. on the parts beyond the Ganges, to Tirahut and by Tilawe. extends to 25° 49' N. Its eastern extre placing the remainder, Virbhum, and part of mity on the Ganges near Gaur is 15' West from Ramgar under the care of one Judge and one the meridian of Calcutta; and on the hills of Collector whose jurisdictions should be commen Gidhaur it extends about 2° West. surate, J?ot only the saving of a Zila establish ment mIght be made; but that by this measure By tracing the boundaries, so far as could as were the <;apital removed. to Deoghar, som~ certain them on the Map of Major Rennell, I degree of Improvement mIght be introduced find that it contains about 8224 square British ~mon~ the inhabitants of both districts, as well miles; but I have to regret much. that the extent 10 theIr manners as in a knowledge of the arts. cannot in this manner be ascertained with much precision; for in the whole district there ar~ verv The s~b~ivisi:ms for ~he purpose of police and few boundaries that are tolerably well defined. th~ admInIstraiJon of Justice have been made 59 60 1. Year-'1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur with a want of care and knowledge that is alto (b) Monghyr (1961) minus the whole or Jamir gether astonishing. Their boundaries, as I have Subdivision (1961), Begusarai Subdivision already gaid, are totally und~fine~; their siz~s and Jamalpur, Lakhisarai, S)1eikpura of and population ar6 of vast dlspanty, and their the 1961 Sadar Subdivision: . jurisdictions are intermixed in a manner that is (c) Santal Parganas (1%1) minus tRe whole of altogether ridiculous. Their number in some Deoghar Subdivision (1961) 1- lamtara sub parts is totally superfluous, while in others they division (1961). ate placed at -such remote distances as to be quite out of' reach. A very large proportion of the (b) Particulars of population- district is not under the sup~rintendence of the (41-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF ordinary officers, but is placed under the 'Charge T·KE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11 of Suzawul to whom has been entrusted the care srI. item particulars of the police among two tribes of mountaineers. no. I 2 [Geographical identification] 3 1 area 4n square miles 8225 l'h.!:l District of Bhagalpur, 1810-11 identified on a 1961 map approximately comprised not only 2 number of villages the whole district of BhagaJpur (1961) and a 3 population: persons l,019,~ part of Saharsa (1961) but also greater parts of males Monghyr (1961) and Santal Parganas (1961). females The area calculated by Buchanan stands at 8,225 4 number of families 333,245 square miles approximately.. It includes in its S number of houses fold three districts of Bihar State of 1961 in the 6 popUlation per square mile 246 proportions given below :,-1 7 average size of a village 8 aver&ge she of afamily 6.06 {a) Bhagalpur (l961)+Sabarsa (1961) minus 9 average size of a house Thanas of Suphod, Bangaon and Madhe . 10 females per thOWland males pura. BHAGALPUR len \ LAND UTILIZATION PATTERN l...... ) '-. :~"'111"" I I, I, I, , IANGICA ,, , ...... ,...'-.\i..... ~ ...... " ~ _, •.J '" i/ C ...... --,.--, : ~.' " , , ~ 'I- ,------~~~ AREA 1M SQUARE MILES '" ..i ....) UKARDE_NI I ,,_, r;;= .l- ..•....., \ ~\. :\t... /"', ."" '- ~=... "'"" ."...... , ...... , - \.. I , ---'t MOUNTAI.R IOUNOARIES,. CULTIVABLE ~- ; J DlSTIIICT ',"'--, r ~._. \ ---' ,.·1 THANA CUcrtVATEO -.... c:--..... Gill \." ...... ) NOT CULTIVABLE ~ KJII. 0 10 20 !IO k.M. lASED UPON SURVEy OF INDIA MAP WITH THE PERMISSION ® GOVERN.,.ENT OF INDIA COfIYRIGHT, Itll OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF INDIA. 6:1 • <'I :;g :a • ,.. 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'"o g '" 8 ....,,; ,,; '",,; M .... g 00 '" '" 8 8 '",,; on'" g M .... g o o on oro ,..: ..:.... 00 ....on 8 on ::::: '" 00 .... g a, .". onM '"0 ....on ~ 0 on .... .". on.... ,.; .". .: o >, '"o.. ~ on " '" '" "E" "8" o" o" ..,or> ,.~ ~...... ,~ ~.g o ....on 00 ....on M a, 8 vi.... o on .... 00 ....II'> g 8 8 g ....a, ~ ~ ~ ~ o on.... 00 o II'> ~ ~ ~ ~ g & ..: ~ ~ M 00 00 .c '" ""00 8 8 6' ~ ~ ~ vi on ~ S rJ ~ '" .... 8 8 ~ ~ ::l vi.... ~ &:; ~ M o o o o on II'>.... '" 8 8 8 '" ....vi on M '" "" o 8 on :q 8 8 ::l 8 .... M vi' ~ 'Li ~ ~ M ....,; ... ~ 5=: b1 ~ 00 M ~ ~ ..c o II'> ...... :00 00 00 o o M M 'on on a, a, .,.: '" M ~ o o on on ..:00 ~' ." g o .8 on vi vi ..: '" ...... 00 o • 00 on -ci a, & '" ~ .. • '" .. . ~- i 1 o o 15' ~ 0'o·* o o o V) V) g '" g 8 on '" o on g o '"'" ::; 01 o = .. v). 'le:>.OS" - ::f g g o on g ..... on 00 ..... 8 g .....V) 00 00 00 ..... '" -..... - '" o o V) V) ..: ~ 00 o 00 .....'" '"oi 00 " '. .' ' . " 77 1. Year-18IO-ll 2. Place-District 0/ Bhaga{pur (52) TABLE NO. ll-AN ESTIMATE EXPLAINING THE EXTENT OF LUXURY IN ATTENDANCE AND CONVEYANCE IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR srI. type of conveyance prevailinll and total srI. type of conveyance prevailing and total no. classes of domestic servants number no. classes of domestic servants number 2 3 2 3 (Part-I) (Part-II) 1 tameelephant 14 10 m'lle free domestic servants . 2,115 2 camels 2 11 femlle free domestic servants 570 12 male servants who get only food and rai. 3 saresahorses 208 ment, some plough, & some are dome· 4 ponies ofthekindcalledtanggans 10 stic 28 13 men slaves entirely domestic 604 5 ponies of the kind called tatus 2,980 14 men slaves partly employed in agricul- 6 rath or4 wheeledc'lrriagesdrawn by oxen 9 ture partly in domestic service 1,300 7 carriages with 2 wheels drawn by one 15 m~n slaves employed entirely in agri· horse andcalled ekka. 13 culture 2,560 8 majholi and haharu two wheeled 16 poor women who bring water to wel:lIthy carriages drawn by oxen. : 447 ,familj,j:s. . 915 9 palanquins 267 Nlte : Thlnl filures have been omi~ted and total figures given by us adding thana figures-ed. 78 t .... "., o o 00 00 ..... "., "., ..... "l...... ; - o "., "., o o "., o N N o "., g ...... "., ... ~..... "., o 0 "., o o ..... t "., ..... "., N N ...... N ..... - - "., "., o 0 o "., ..... g N ...,N N ...... o "., "., o o o "., "., "., o o 00 N N -, ..... · - o .....o 00... 00 ·• ..., N o . - - • o g o o o o g o "., o <:> ;q N ..., "., -q ...... o o 0 o o o t o o "., "., ...... ' o V'\ o o o o 'n ..., ' ("') o o '" 0 ..... o 00 o N - ...... , o "., o o 0'- "., N "., "., ~I;Q .... ("') "., o g "., -o N ..... "., "., o o N o N "., "., .... N -o('") 8.... <'> 0 o o "., 8 '" '" '" ..... ..... 01:1o ..... ~ 1:1 OJ <1>0. S"t:I >'<1) 0 ..... -"'0. 0 fl,g <1)<1) o ... N..., 00 .... PQPIMTPN 1I0000 HINDU 0 IIIlSLlM • ::AND BELOW EMf!.0'MENT IDLERS DfSTItICT CULTIVATORS THANA ARTIFICERI F I I ~ K-"O 10 ao 10 ..'" MilO UPOII IUlVIV 01' ''''A MAP WITH INI 'UMllllON ® tWEI_MT OF INDIA COPYIIIIMI, Itli or '.1 IUIIYI\'O .. ".1""" Of' IIDIA. 79 1. i'ear-181O-11 2. Place-District of BhagalplIr (54) TABLE NO. 13-EXPLAINING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CUL1IVAUD I Al\'D OF TIlE DISTR.lCT OF BHAGALPUR ARE OCCUPIED sel. no. of new manner of area in sr]. no. of new manner of area in original srI. occupation bigha original srI. occupation bigha table no. table no· 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 1 houses 62,475 203-204 46 bora or ghangra by itself 15,150 2 2 trees • 59,535 205 47 but by itself 79,450 3 bamboos 935 3 206-209 48 but mixed with other crops . 33,825 4 4 kitchen garcl'tlns 42,700 210 49 kabli but by itself 6,490 5 5 vegetable in the field 5,615 6 6 broadcast summer rice by 211-215 50 sarisha by itself . 2,23,320 itself ' , 1;9J,loo 216-217 51 sarisha mixed with others 590 7-4) 7 broadcastsummerricefollow- 218 52 linseed by itself 16,250 ed by otherotops. 1,20,950 41 8 transplanted summer rice by 219 53 linseed mixed with otherctops 100 itself. - 43,775 220 54 senti sarisa by itself 1,100 broadcast sati !"ice by itself 9,385 42-43 9 221-222 55 til by itself • 27,655 broadcast kartika rice by itself 1,550 4~ 1V 223 56 sargujeya by itself 5,100 45 11 transplanted winter rice by itself. 7,72,775 224 57 patuya or meghnal by itself. 2,560 225 58 emliya and kudram by itself 46 12 transplanted winter rice follo- 2,315 wed by other-crops. 1,43,550 226-227 59 patuya followed by others 100 47 13 broadcast winter rice by itself 15,13,310 228 6') san or kasmira by itself 1,280 .:18-50 14 broadcast winter rice follo 229-230 61 tobacco by itself 8,365 wed by other crops. 1,80,180 231 62 ganja by itself • 30 51 15 spring rice • 5,690 232 63 betel leaf • 261 52 16 kangni by itself • 2,840 233-238 64 sugarcane by itself 18,873 53 17 kheri samora by itself . '36,950 239-244 65 cotton by itself : 1,580 54 18 kheri by itself 35,470 245-256 66 cotton mixed with others 2,946 55-72 19 kheri followed by other crops 28,625 257-259 67 indigo byitself .~ 23,015 73-14 20 marua by itself • 61,410 260-271 68 indigo mixed with other 32,760 75-98 21 maruafollowed by other crops 59,225 272 69 mulberrya by itself 2,350 1,39,290 99 22 maize by itself 273 70 safflower by itself '. ~. 390 1,35,830 10J-124 23 maize followed by other crops 274-278 71 safflower mixed with others. 305 125 24 kodo by itself 14,300 279 72 ricenus by itself 1,960 126-140 25 kodo followed by other crops 13,555 280-282 73 ricenus mixed with others 1,560 141-142 26 janera by itself 9,405 283 74 suthni byitself 215 143-145 27 janera mixed with other crops 750 284-287 75 suthni mixed with others 745 146-150 28 china by itself 15,950 +289,295 151-156 29 china followed by other crops 4,000 288 76 ginger by itself • 550 157-158 30 gundly by itself 10,540 290 77 turmeric ~ itself • • 810 159 31 gundly followed by others 2,860 291-293 78 turmeric mixed with others 140 160 32 bhetmus by itself . 925 294 79 piyaj or onion by itself 1,035 161-162 33 wheat by itself 3,94,185 296 80 garlic by itself 530 163-166 34 wl1eat mixed with other crops 19,200 297 81 jira by itself 60 167-168 35 barley by itself 2,32,400 298 82 dhaniya by itself 240 169-175 36 barley mixed with other crops 94,950 299-300 83 ajoyan by itself • 1,290 176 37 masur by itself 32,850 301 84 mouri by itself 120 177-185 33 mlsurmixedothercrops 1,43,865 302 85 methi by itself 305 135-187 39 khesari by itself 32,950 303 86 chandone by itsel f 340 133-19J 40 ma3kalai by itself . 2,83,690 304 87 kalojira by itself 40 191 41 kulthi by itself 1,47,930 305 88 seedling land by itsel f . 23,775 192-193 42 mungbyitself 2,450 194-195 43 kalai by itself 4,700 TOTAL 56,81,280 196-197 44 araharbyitself 22,280 198-202 45 arahar mixed with other crops 2,495 Note: Please see Preface para 47. 80 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (55) TABLE NO. 14-GENERAL ABSTRACT OF THE VALUE AND PRODUCE OF LAND OCCUPIED BY FARMERS WHO CULTIVATE_ WITH THE PLOUGH IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR srI. items quantity quantity remaining value for total no. (md. &sers) for consumption production after deduction seed (rupees & anas) (md. &sers) 2 3 4 5 1 fruit trees 215895-0 2 bamboos 2357- 8 3 veJ;:table &c. in garden and field 254385- 6 4 !Fains (a) rice 19235950-30 18399605- 2, 10259757- 8 (19332346- 0] [18497626-2,] [10259757- 5] (b) china, kigni,kheri,maruya maize. kudo, 2664791-10 2566998-30 1306395-13 janera and gundly. [2664941-10J [2605115-12!J [1303345-13J (c) wheat & barley 4305092-20 2974309-25 2810272- 4 [3987081-25] [2810254~12) (d) pulse 3768152-20 3538570-20 2270465- 5 [3825352-20J [3538230-10J [2270645- 5] (e) ~arisha, linseed & til 891807- 0 874092-22i 1028422- 0 [893591-20] [875797-61-] [1028552- 0] S sugarcane 148380- 0 278108- 9 6 plants fur making tread and rope (a) Pata & sone . 18093-30 22715-14 (b) cotton • 20974-0 57881-11 7 plants for smoking and chewing (a) betell~af . 36700- 0 (b) tobacco 29806-10 [63247- 5 (c) ganja • 130- 0 1866-10 8 plants used for vying 00 o o o o 00 00 00 o ' 0) «1:1 o o '0"'; o o ... > 0\ r-:'" - N o o .;N 000 o o <'>00 o o o NO q r--;, o ...... :-r-: .....'" v) N ' 000 o 0 o 000 g o 0 o ' , til til '0 :;? 8 rJl «I ,...., «I 0 00 000 , II) II) 0 8 oonll) 'N 1£. NO ONN N'N' 00'" ...... 4 - - -M - o o 00 000 II) II) 00 N N 11)0 ~. ~8~ N' - -00 ...... 0 o 00 8 NO N 8 00 II)~ q 00 ' 000 o 00 o 00 00 0.,.. \O~O g ~8 ' - _N 00 0\0- - 0<[0< ., 00 o o o o toO N too o o o o Nto ..... to-:t ex. ' 0.,., ~I" o 0", ..... o 00 ..... 00 o ~... ,("f")'" ...... " ..... o o 0\ 00 N o 00 o o .'~ ...., 00 :;q N to o \0 to o ..... ""'to o ('1 -:t".., 00 o ,/ 00 o 00 o , . ...., o to o . 88 00 Oto ..... o 00 00" vi ""'N or) 'r) \0..... 0 o 0' o o 0000 '0 o 8 0 o o It)OQOO '. ,00 N ...... o ~N 0" .... N12 N N o o o o to ~, ---: ...,.'...... 00 00 o 0'0 o ~'~ to \0 9'" ..... ""',ffl 00 0 0 o o too too oto to o ..... 0\ ""'0 ....,-:t o ~ ...... to, "," .... -:t" o 00 '0 ....,to ....,o to ....,N 00 -:to o Oto 00 ..... 0 ON ...... ,N ~, ..... 0\" N ...... " ...... t • Oto ...., toO -:to 0' too o o N,:", NO NO o N to to to N N ...... , ...., N -"" 84 ~ 0 § ..: ~ ;;;;l Cl. ...;I -< 11'\ ~-< 0:: - 1'1;0== 0 ~ U; ~ ILl.... Q f;il 0:: ~ ....Z I;il ...;I ~ 00 ~ 00 9o -< N tAo M '-'l 1'--0 o 11'\0 - or) v:S ~ - ILl - ~ ~ - f;il o 00 0:: o 11'\ ~f;il ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~§~§8 ~N ~ ~~~~ N ...: "";:J - ==~ ~> ~1Ll 81:: ~ Cl. ::c ...;I 00 i ~ ~..."" ~""' 5 f;il 0:: ~ 1'1;0 0 f;il :g~ ..:::: =ILl oS- f;il o:s o:s ... ~"" -"..s.C\ I:t:I 1 10 0E t'l 1.... ::1 C c:: -... 0 ...... _ ....., .." z ...o ~ ...... ::: CIJ ...;I =..soc .;:; ~ ~~ -<== .>0£: L ~ !-I ;a ~~ R ;>.,Q.. In _;N '-' i8 85 M o M o :5 :5 on V) or: N N .... on N il' :5 -M -..., ~ g o M 00 00 o o § :5 00 § N :5 § o 0 V) V) rJ ~ on N -..., o o g V) .... on N o V) on :5 g :5 g on o .... M on ..., 10 ::: II) lI) 0 M N V) § r o o g 0 s:: V) ::! .... 10 00 o V) on o .... N § o o .... § ....on ..., .... ;.. 86 ...... ':::1 o o .0 .0 .0 .0 I/") I/") 8 N I' - .1' .N 00 00 ~ :~ ::q ~'" E'"v .1/") .1/") .1' .N M IQ ~ 0\ o • ooW .N 8 .5 8...... 0 .0 •. • 1/") .1/") ::;; G:l :gg) t ..... M 0\ N - r '0 'M ..,...... 0 .0 o o- ..., 8 o o I/") I/") ~ N N I/") : .... N 00 oe M .0 .0 • I./') • V') I' N 00 - ...... 1/") 00 o .t">on o 8 • .,.,1/")0 o ,.." Ii") NN.r. I/") --I' • ...,00 00- '000 ;.,~~ I/")NN o o on Ii") N I' IQ M fo .~ ~ :; ,r! 'v t:S.!? ~ o ~o ~ ~ .~ ~ ....0. ....0. o o v u " '0 ~ ~ Z 87 0. 0 0 0 0 ~.~· 10 0 0 0- 0 Cl:rIl .... d c: 0 01-< ~::s 0 .r. .,., .... 0 Ill) .,., '-' ~~ 0:; t'l N 0 ~ ''1:1 ,- -0 .... 0 O~ .,., .,., 0 0 0 0 r..lr..l ... ..0 .,., .,., .,., 0 c: Z\.!) N 0 ~~ M r..: r..: N '-' 0 M 0< Il.~ M ~ ~\.!) - - Z ~ 0 ...... · 0 .,., 0 .,., :;:: .... 1iIil ::s ::s 00 o '" • on • N 00 '" -on • M 8 ..... • on .. M 'N o on • on N .,... .", N • on o o ... on . :~ ""...... "'.c o 00 ..... til"" .. on .... .0 ~ · '" '" '" o '" '0 ..,. · ... ;"" 00 o -on on 00 o 0 ..... on :~ -"! '" • on o ..... o,... o · - on ...... - 'N :00 o on 'r; " ""'o ...... -I - .... 89 co ...... '" N'" o... ...... on .,.,o o ... on o o on 00 '" N <::> o N .,., s... .,.,o o o M on N GO .,., '" .,., o v> N 0 0 g on N ",\0 on <:> 00 o o on on N ... o on o o v> N '" ... "'0co 00 o M o o o g .:q' '" on o ... M '" <::> ... 0 o g v> 00 o o '" '" .,., 00 ... o o o ""0 o on on v> Nv> o ... N o o on o '" CI CI " CI CI !l a a a El a a N .~ '" ~g ~""'u on .... 00 '" ...... 9-439 R. G. Lndia/ND/79 90 ... o '" M ....o .... M - '" '" '" '" on 10 .... '" 00 '"M '" : - '" 10 - ... '" 00 on '" '"on o on '"- 10 ....'" M 00 o M 00 '" '" '"'" '"on 0on - M '"M '" 91 o ... o N 00 ... '" N o V> ....o VI N o N ., ....o ..,o ... 00 o o o V> 00 g ..... 00 N "l .... ~. .... .....on ..... 0 00 N '"' o N on o..... - o .... o VI '" g ...... 92 1. Year-1810·J] 2. Place-District oj Bhagalpur (62) TABI,.E. NO.Ai-VALUE IN RUPEES OF THE GOODS EXPORTED AND IMPORTED ANNUALLY .' . • FROM AND INTO THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR srI. total.. srI. total no. commodities -~-.------no. commodities export import export import ------~------~--. ----- 2 3 4 2 3 4 rice 84,900 137,525 51 pewter or justah 16,050 2 wheat. 421,700 84,500 52 tin or rangga 2,250 14,525 3 barley 3,650 1,200 53 lead 2,300 9,500 4 maize. 4,859 1.700 54 ifCIn 13,750 36,100 5 janera 8,O0l> 2,200 55 brass and bell metal vessels 15,000 49,850 6 china . 200 56 iron wate:; 6,000 100 7 maruya :.:. 2,100 1,600 p7 pata ~r hamp o( corchorus 2,115 8 jaokaras mixture of barley 58 sack doth and bags 3,950 and pease 11,600 7,000 59 Kasmhmiri san or hemp of 9 chana or but 89,400 30,000 crotolaria 400 885 10 kabli but 4,700 60 cotton wool 283,000 11 arahar .: 44,940 5,200 61 cotton thread 1,450 12 pease. 18,300 2,600 62 cotton cloth 6,500 45,800 13 bora 3,400 63 cocoons or tasarguti 10,300 10,000 14 mung. 1.606 64 Bhagalpuri cloth tasar and 15 urid or mashkalai 46,950 4,400 cotton mixed 201,000 16 khesari 8,750 4,500 65 silk cocoons 50,000 17 masur 15,300 2,200 h6 pure silk cloth 300 7,300 18 kulthi. 1,100 67 silk thread 52,000 500 19 rape and musterd seed 123,150 21,650 68 Maldehi masni and other cloths of silk and cotton mixed 3,500 20 til 8,000 350 69 tasar cloth 100 21 limeed 25,500 2,000 70 chints. . . 8,350 22 castor oil seed 900 71 woolen carpets and blankets . 1,930 23 oil 2,200 1,250 ~2 gold thread 100 24 ghiu or boil~d biltter 122,950 70,200 73 s11als 2,000 25 milk • 10,000 74 perfumes 700 26 coast salt or karkach 1,100 75,900 75 shoes . 600 27 bengali salt or pangga 193,600 509,450 76 chank shaHs and ornaments 500 1,900 28 sugar 9,860 77 monihari goods 800 3,320 29 extract of sugar cane 17,150 19,450 78 papers 150 30 treacle or chhoya • 3,750 79 wooden furniture . 5,300 31 sukkur or coarse sugar. 6,550 80 timb~r of sakuya sisan & etc. 5,725 32 honey 350 81 timber for post or beams and 33 betle nuts 1,800 28,130 plants. 2,200 2,100 34 cocoanuts 460 82 fire wood 17,150 35 tobacco 9,150 51,000 83 charcoal 47,450 36 hempbuds ~r gapjas 3,800 84 canoes. 220 37 indigo 712,100 85 nalsap and kusmats 1,400 750 38 opium 3,200 86 reeds and grass 600 2,100 39 mahua flowers . 1000 87 sabi rope 50 40 turmeric 600 88 salleaves 50 41 dry ginger 200 89 dhuna 200 42 be tie leaf 60 375 90 fish 2,800 1,500 L!·3 safflower 310 91 swine 200 II 4 j ira seeds 6,000 6,250 92 buffaloes 1,000' 45 ajoyan. 6,100 200 93 oxen and cows 5,500 1,500 46 pasari goods 18,750 56,650 94 lime 700 47 wax 700 280 95 hone wares 2,800 200 48 carechu or kath 22,000 96 kharimati 2,600 49 lac 9,900 97 singing birds 500 50 copper 1,400 total 2,502,810 1,688,450 93 1. Year-J8JO-lJ 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur 5. METHOD- coarse bad grass. The woods may perhaps amount to 70 square miles, exclusive of an equal [Buchanan resorted to various methods for quantity of rose trees, which do not rise to a collecting ~ocio-economic data. Direct and height that can entitle them to be called woods, systematic investigation was the principal one. although the perversity of the English language He was never satisfied with the data and there requires that a bush bearing roses should be fore tried to verify them in as many ways as called a tree. possible. His methods have been presented under ExpialUJtion where he discussed the statis In woods, thicke:ts of bushes, and deserted tical tables.] villages, which have become totally wild, there are 1,731 square miles of land sufficicll tly level 6. EXPLANATION- for the plough, and there are 1,146 square miles of hills, that are covered with woods. Including [topographical particulars] the tamarisks we have therefore in all for forests and thickets almost 3,100 square miles. In this, there is a great variety [of s0il], but on the whole the parts of it that are fit for the [General description, housing patfern and urban plough seem uncommonly rich and want only centres of topographical divisions] pain to become highly productive ... Section 1st. Divistion of KotwaU In the first statistical table I have supposed [1. general description] that there are in thiS! district 2,974 square miles In Ithe centre of the district, round the town, actually occupied for cultiv 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District 0/ Bhagalpur ruinous, they are in by far the best taste of any houses of brick, but there are no buildings that such as I have yet seen in .the course of this can at all be considered as an ornament to the survey. country. (3. urban centres1 (3. urban centres1 The town of Bhagalpur, or the abode of re Aroarpur, containing about 200 houses is the fugees, although reckoned to extend two miles in only place in the division that can be called a length, and from one mile to half a mile in width, town. except that it is in a beautiful situation, is a Section 3rd. Division under Thanalt Kodwar very sorry place. The houses of the Europeans and the Moslem places of worship, as I have [1. general description] said, are great ornaments; but the town consists The division consists of three parts, the first of scattered market places, meanly built, and low land surrounded by the Ganges, or near its owing to the declivities of the ground, very in bank, tolerably well cultivated, but very bare; conveniently situated. Through and round it this occupies the northern parts. Secondly, the however there are tolerable roads. and a few central parts which are fine high swelling land, trifling bridges. The most compact part is the remarkably well occupied, and finely planted with market place called Shujagunj, in which there are mangoes but few palms or bamboos, yet still three or four streets closely built. The other mar very beautiful. Thirdly, the southern parts are ket places are Saray, which has also some com naked plains, in some places low and flooded pact buildings, Yogeswar, Munshurgunj, and during the rains; much neglected and very dis Khunzurpur, in which last the courts of law are mal, much of them being Qvergrown with stunt held and the office of the collector is situated. ed trees and thickets of prickly hushes, but abounding in game, and very favourable for the No estimate could be procured from the native chase. Ncar the Thanah are two small Jhils or officers of police concerning the number of lakes, that contain water throughout the whole houses contained in the town. My people, after year. examining the whole, think that they may amount to about 5000, but rather more than less. [2. housing pattern] and the alleged importation of commodities from all the vicinity would imply a very considerable In this division there is no brick house nor population, at least to the rate of six persons for temple. each house. The markets are very badly sup plied, and the price of almost e,:erything is enor Colonel Hutchinson, who once had the charge mously high, when compared WIth that demand of the invalids in this district, built here a sman brick inn for the accommodation of native tra ed in other parts of the country. vellers. It is a pitiful looking place, not in the Lakshmigunj and Champanagar may be con best order, and the people for whom it was in sidered as one town, are exceedingly populous, tended seem to prefer straw huts. and tolerably compact. They may contain about [3. urban centres] 1500 houses, mostly occupied by weavers, who have SQIDe religious buildings of brick. Kodwar, although a small town containing about 200 hOUseS, has neither shop nor market. Nathnagar, a little south from Champan~~ar, The only other place in the division that can is also for this country a good town, contallllDg be called a {own is Soulutgunj, a little east from perhaps 900 houses, and is the residence of the Thanah. It is about the same size with traders. Kodwar. Section 2nd. Division of Thanah Ratnagunj Section 4th. Division under Thanab Lokman!lpr [1. genjeral description1 (1. general description1 This is a fully occupied and very beautiful Although there is a good deal of marshy land country, especially towards the N.W., where there there is no one marsh of any considerable size. are some rocky hills finely wooded, while the The country may be divided into four parts: 1st, adjacent country is thoroughly. cleared,. ~nd -a narrow space near the banks of the Ganges, adorned with numerous plantahons, consIstmg bare, but tolerably occupied; 2nd,-a very fine almost entirely of mangoes, intermixed with populous well occupied tract, beautifully planted palms. with mangoes intermixed with some bamboos and a few palms, and extending from the above [2. hOUSlllg pattern1 to the Tilyuga; 3rd,-a very low, dismal, neglect The villagers however are poor, and the ed country, on both sides of the Ghagra, ~ome of wretchedness of the huts is concealed by fences it overgrown with thickets of stunted trees and and bushes. There is no lake nor marsh of the bushes, or with reeds and coarse grass; and 4th, least note. Two of the Zemindars have small -a higher and better cultivated tract towards 9S 1. Year-J8JO-lJ 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur the North, or rather a poor soil, but well planted, At the east end. some part of the division cofi mostly how;;:ver with mangoes alone, and pro sists of low lands surrounded by the Ganges. At ductive chiefly of rice. the west end are some hills and rocks finely wooded, and at their bottom some high rice land; [2. housing pattern] but the great part of the jurisdiction consists of The chief Zemindar has in his premises a two long narrow lands running parallel to the ruinous brick huuse, very unsuitable to the ex Ganges, and of very different descriptions. That tent and value of his estate. There are besides next the river is high, and consists of a strong four halls (Dalans) and four temples of the same red clay, containing in some places calcareous material, belonging to men who have forsaken concretions. This is very fully occupied, and the splendour of the world. most beautifully planted with mango trees inter [3. urban centresJ mixed with a great many Tal and Khajur palms; but this is very narrow. The interior is very Bihipur, the residence of the Darogah Com low, overwhelmed in the rainy season by water, missioner and Kazi, is a large scattered place, and in the dry it becomes bare and dismal, and containing ahout 300 houses. four of them brick, is almost totally neglected. and carries on some trade. Besides there are the following small towns: Mathurapur contains [2. housing pattern1 about 400 houses, Krishnagunj 150 houses, Chor Two brick houses belong to natives, and there handa 100 houses, Bhawanipur 150 houses, are two religious bUildings, that are sume orna Panchgachhiya 1(JO houses, Sibgunj 250 houses, ment to the country; more however from the and a subordinate factory belonging to the agent fineness of their situation, than from any ele for supplying saltpetre. The above places have gance or grandeur that they possess. The villages weekly markets. Alumnagar has no market, but arc not concealed by plantations, so that the contains above 200 houses. wretchedness of the hut is fully displayed. [3. urban centres] Section 5th. Division under Thanah Gugri The largest place is Sultangunj, where there [1. general description] are, ab')ut 250 houses, and a good deal of trade. Like the last division, this consists of four Two of the houses are built of brick, and three parts, a narrow tract near the Ganges bare, but are tiled. Next to Sultangunj in size is Chich tolerably cultivated. except where the squabbles raun, a town of invalids, containing about 220 of contending landlords have prevented the grant houses. ing of leases; a rich finely planted part bound The only other place that can be called a mg the former on the north, but less ornament town is Kumurgunj, which may contain 100 ed with bamboos than the similar portion of houses. Lokmanpur, a low neglected dismal portion on the banks of the Ghagri here wry extensive, and ~ction 7th. Divillion under Thanah Batemau more overrun with stunted woods and thickets; gunj or Haveli Muugger and finally high rice grounds, towards the north, [1. general description] rather poor, but well planted, almost entirely with A little west from Sitakunda is a lake, which mangoes. at all times retains a little water; but in the dry [2. housing pattern] season does not look well. as its banks are dirty. In this vast extent are only two wretched In the rainy season it is a very fine object, as houses of brick, one of them ruinous. There is it is surrounded by hills, woods and . rocks. The one neat but small mosque belonging to the fort of Mungger itself is situated on a rocky emi Kazi. nence, and all towards the East and South the district, although finely cultivated. contains many [3. urban centres] rocks, in some parlts rising into little hills. and, Gogri, the capital, has much the resemblance being finely planted, is perhaps one of the most of a Bengal village, being buried in fine groves beautiful parts in India. The plantations how of trees, and the houses being concealed by ever consist chiefly of mangoes and palms and hedges; but it scarcely contains 100 houses. are not ornamented with bamboos. On the most Rasulpur, Raghunathgunj, and Setonabad are considerable of the hills in a grove. is the monu about the same size. ment of a Muhammedan saint, and near it is the house of an European, that are great ornaments Section 6th. Division under Tbanah Kumurgunj* to the country, as is also the house of the Com [I. general description] mandant of the garrison which is by far the hand It consists of a miserable long narrow strip of somest building that I have seen in the cours~ land, very badly cultivated, extending along the of my survey. The western part of the division bank of the Ganges, and having its boundary with is level and rather too low to be well planted; Lokmanpur totally undefined. but in spring it looks very rich, being then cover ed with one uninterrupted sheet of wheat and * [or Kunwarjgunj, as in tables] 96 1. Year-lBIO-J1 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur barley. The parts surrounded by the Ganges, and tied by hills and woods, and the cultivated parts beyond it, are very low and bare, and in some are ornamented with numerous grOVeS of the places rather dismal, owtng to disputes between mango and a few palms, but no bamboos. the proprietors, which have prevented cultiva tion. [2. housing pattern] [2. housing pattern] 'The houses, as usual in the western parts of this district, are no ornament to the country; Besides the houses of Europeans the natives on the contrary their meanness is very disgust have 210 dwellings of brick, which together ing, nor are they hid as in the EaSitern parts of with several ruins and the fort, add much to Bengal, by hedges or tlrees. The Zemindars of the ornament of the country. There are in the Gidhaur, although a very powerful family, do vicinity of the fort a good many small bridges not dwell in brick houses; but they have office of brick, made I believe by Europeans, and in for collecting their rents built of that material, good repair, and these, exclusive of the neces as a safety for their papers, and five shops are sary storehouses in the fort, some of which art! also built of the same. There is no public work good and very neat, are the only public build that is any sort of ornament. ings worth notice. [3. urban centres] [3. urban centres] Mallepur, the residence of the Darogah and [Mungger town has been treated separately] Commissioner, contains about 300 houses, finely situated on the banks of the Angjana river, and Section 8th Division under Thanah Suryagarha not on the Kiyul as represented in the Bengal atlas. Jamuyi contains about 150 houses, Sono [1. general description] contains about 200 houses. No other place can This is a beautiful and well occupied country. be called a town. The southern parts contain, or are skirted by Section 10th Division under Thanah Tarapur some low hills covered with wood, and are pro. ductive of rice, and well planted with mangoes. [1. general description] The western parts, towards the Ganges and The northern parts of this division are of the Kiyul are finely planted with mangoes .and same dismal appearance with the interior of palms; but are rather poor. The plantatIOns KumurgunL on which they border, and ",hieh are not ornamented with bamboos, but som~ have been already described. South from thence are surrounded by Sisau trees, that add a very is a very beautiful level country, well occupied, be1mtiful variety. This practice has also begun and finely planted with mangoes and many in some other parts, but is nowhere else so palms. It contains a few scattered rocks, that . common. The eastern parts are low and ban~ add to its beauty; but is in general low, and of trees, being deeply inundated, but in spring well supplied with water, which can be raised are covered with one continued sheet of corn. by machinery from canals or wells, the water in many places being found a few feet below the (2. housing pattern] surface. The western parts are hilly, composed There are two houses and one shop of brick; chiefly of portions detached from the great mass but the habitations are no ornament to the described in the northern parts of the East country, the misery of the villages being too Division. much exposed to view; nor is there any pub lic building worth notice. (2. housing pattern] [urban centres] The houses. as usual in the western parts, are very mean. Even that of the Raja of Kharak Besides Sherpur, where the Thanah is, Surya pur, although it contains some small portions garha contains 3 market places, Bazar SUiya of brick, is but a very sorry place. The Dewan garha, Bazar Moulanagar and Bazar Jakatpura. of the Raja has also a brick house, the only The whole contains about 500 houses, but is s() other one in the division. Among the forests of much scattered, that it has little appearance of the interior of this district (JanggaItari) the a town. houses make a still worse appearance than in Medanichauki, N. E. from the Thanah, con the open country; not that the huts are much tains about 300 houses; Nawabganj S. W. about worse, that bdng scarcely practicable; but the 2 coses, contains about 100 houses; and Ram. extreme jealousy of the men, in order to con pur, S. W. about 4 coses, contains 250 houses. ceal their women, has erected a thick fence of the withered branches of trees that make the most Section 9th. Division under Tbanah Melepur dismal appearance possible, and entirely conceal the huts, which in most other places are rendered [1. general discription] somewhat more agreeable to the eye, by being This division, where it is properly occupied, covered with gourds, pumpkins, or a climbing is very beautiful, being rich land nnely diversi. bean. 97 1. Year-I8IO-ll 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur [3. urban centres] caves. There are two or three miserable brick There is no public building of the least note. bridges, but no public work in any degree orna Tarapur. where the native officer of police mental. resides. contains two market-places, Bazar Gazi poor, and Hat Tarapoor, with about 200 houses [3. urban centres] very much scattered. Kahalgang is for this country a good small town. containing about 400 houses rather regu Arjusgunj, the residence of the Commissioner, larly and neatly built. The only other place has more the appearanc 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur that is uncommon in India. In its present neg [2. housing pattern] lected state, however, a great part of the division There is no house, nor temple of brick, nor is extremely uismal, especially between Udhwa any public work, that deserves notice. nala and Rajmahal, and between Musaha and Sakarigali, where it is covered with lon~ harsh [3. urban centres] grass. There are however many plantatlOns of mangoes and palms with a few bamboos. The Kharidangra and Jamur, con:aining each woods are all stunted. about 100 houses, are the only places that can be called towns. [2. housing pattern] The residence of a prince of the houses of Section 17th. DMsion under Thanah Pratap Timur, and of sundry other personages of very gunj high importance, has left behind many buildings, [1. general description] that would have been highly ornamental, had This country is all level, and a great part they nat in general fallen inta ruin; and the 220 of it inundated; out except in new-formed land, dwellings of brick, that still remain, are in gene the villages are finely sheltered with trees and ral so slovenly as to impress the mind with little bamboos, and a very few palms. It contains less regret than even the common huts of the several small lakes or marshes, that never peasantry. become entirely dry. The largest are at Cl!an [3. urban centres] dakuri and Tarapoor, the fornler containing 1500, and the latter 1000 Bigahs. [Rajmahal has been treated separately]. Atapur, containing about 500 ho~ses, anel [2. housing pattern] Kaligunj, containing 600, are the amy other It contains seven private buildings of brick, places that can be called towns. partly dwelling houses, partly chapels. There is Sedion 15th. Division under Thanah Phutkipur no public work of any note. [1. general description.] [3. urban centres] Part of this division pays its revenue to the Shumshergunj. containing about 200 houses, Collector at Bhagalpur, and part to the Collector is the only place that can be called a town. of Puraniya. Section 18th. Division under Tbanab Aurang At the northern end of this divisioD. is o~e small hill, and a long marsh extends altion] Section 19th. Di~sioD under Thanah Kalika- The whok of this district is level; and somc pur of it. owing to the chan&es produc.e~ by the [1. general description] Ganges, is rather bare; but m general It IS tole~a 1 have said that this division consists of bly occupied. and, where. exempted from the m fluence of the river, the VIllages arc finely shelter two portions. One is well cultivated, chiefly with winter rice, and finely planted with man ed w~th trees and bamboos, as in Bengal. goes and a few palms, but no bamboos. The This division pays its revenue ta the Co} villages are mare naked than is usual willI lector of Mqrshidabad. those inhabited by Bengalees. Another portion 99 1. Year-18IO-II 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur is almost in a state of na!turc, and mostly cover and half a mile wide, and are very steep and ed with forests, which are kept stunted by fre rugged. Among them there are many springs quent cutting for fire wood. A little towards and small streams, but in general the people are the N.E. is inundated, but in general the land is badly provided with water, as they live on the high though level. All Ambar is free from hills, tops of the hills. and the springs are usually at but there are a few scattered through the wastes the bottom. The villages are neater. and the of Sultanabad. huts better than those of the ordinary farmers [2. housing pattern] on the plain. In many parls the views from them are exceedingly fine, although the woods almost Both of th;! Zemindars have some brick everywhere are stunted. This on the hills arises buildings in their houses; that of Ambars is very from their being cut and burnt after growth of uecent, and is gradually improving by additions, from six to eight years, in order for the fields to made as the owner can afford. Several farmer~ be cultivated. On the plains it arises from the have small brick places of worship, which they trees bein3 Gut for firewood, which keeps low all keep in neat order. towards the North and East. but on the West [3. urban centres] side there are some forests of a tolerable growth. There is no place that can be called a town. There are but few bamboos. Virkati is the largest; nor is there any public [No information is available on housing pattern building that deserves notice. or urban centres.] S.ecHon 20th. Division under Th~nah Chandra [2JSUB-DIVISION 2: Lands occupied by the pUt' Southern tribe of Mountaineers [No information on the items available] [r. general description] Se'ction 21st. Division under Thanah Lak~rd~~ This is a much more fertile territory than that wani occupied by the Northern tribe, being much less mountainous; but it is less populous, as from [1. general description.] fear of disturbance, it is the hills alone, that The country is naturally very beautiful. as it either tribe is willing to cultivate. knowing that consists of very rich lands. finely interspersed on these the lowlanders will make no encroach· with detached rocky hills, that are covered with ment. Except in the South West corner the wood. Near Nuni these form a small cluster; hills are low and detached, and roads frequented but in many directions it is intersect"d by level by carts or oxen pass through them· in many passages. The country, nowever, has been directions. Owing to the vast demand for miserably neglected. and is overrun with forests. charcoal, on account of the iron mines in and the houses are very mean. The most usual Virbhum, the woods are very much stunted. The fences, as in Bangka. are formed of dry villages of the hill people are much inferior in branches and leaves, so as to conceal the huts neatness and comfort, to those of the northern altogether. The forests, as in the adjacent parts tribe. of Bangka, consist chiefly of Mowal a bout the villages, and of Sakuya and Asan in more remote [No information is available on housing parts. Many of these trees are stunted by pattern or urban centres] extracting resin or by feeding Tasar; Qut in som;; [TEMPORAR Y ASSEMBLAGE OF PEOPLE parts the trees attain a tolerable size. There AT PLACE OF WORSHIP*) are only a few bamboos. The cultivated parts Section lsl. Division of Kotwali arc finely planted. with mangoes chkfly. and a few palms. Durgah lof Mogldana Shahbaz-The place of worship that in general is considered as most [2. housing pattern] holy by the Moslems in the brick rnonument There is no house of brick, nor any public (Durgah) of Mogulana Shahbaz. close by the building deserving notice. thanah; many strangers frequent it in the month [3. urban centres] Aswin (September to October). Kengduya is the only place that can be called Dllrgah of Pir Shah Junggl Shahhaz-It is town. and may contain about 100 houses. situated on the top of a small hill about a mile Section 22nd. Of the Territory belonging to the from the office of the police. About 1,000 Mountaineers people assemble from the vicinity on the day of the saint, and no less than 20,000 on the day [1] SUB-DIVISION 1: Of the territory of the of Karbala ... Northern tribe of Miountaineers Barari-Among the Hindus the chief place of [1. general descript1ion] worshi p is the Ganges. On the full moon in the This territory is on the whole exceedingly month of Magh, about 25,000 people, of whom hilly, but the hills are neither high nor extensive. 20.000 are strangers assemble on the bank near In general they may be two OT three miles long Barari. and bathe at what is called Diraghat. - *These materials from S~ction 1st to Section 18th were compiled by the editor from details in the text. 100 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur Champanagar-On the last day of the month Section 6th. Kumurgunj. Bhadra, a small assembly (Mel a) of five or six Sultangunj-The places of worship most thousand people meet at a temple of Bishahari frequented by the Hindus is the bank of the in Champanagar. Ganges, immediately above the hill occupied by the mosque of Baiskaran, and opposite to the Yogeswar-At Yogeswar, in the town is a rock in the middle of the river occupied by a small brick temple which was erected by the temple of the Gaibinath Priapus. late Dewan of the collector; but the Phallus, which is the chief object of worship has been At the three usual full moons from twenty to long there, and is much respected. Only five or thirty thousand persons may in all attend to six hundred assembled at the Sivaratri or festival bathe, but the great emolument of the priests of the God. arises from about 50,000 pilgrims who at various times come to carry away a load of water which they intend to pour on the head of various Section 2nd. Ratnagunj celebrated images in distant parts. Banhara-At the Kurbala, after celebrating the memory of Hoseyn and Hasan, the Moslems Section 7th. Batemangunj or Haveli Mungeer throw the pageantry into a tank at Banhara, Kashtaharani or Kalghari Uttarbahilli-It is and on this occasion about four or five thousand the chief place of Hindu worship. In all, at people assemble. the three full moons perhaps 30,000 people assemble in the colirse 6f the year, and a few A temple of Siva-The largest place of wor carry water from hence to throw on the image ship among the Hindus is a small rude temple of Baidyanath. built of brick, and situated on the west side of S~takunda-About four miles East from the Chandan river, just where the hill Jethaur Mungger there are five pools lined with brick. nath descends to its bank. It is dedicated to One, containing a fine spring of hot water is Siva, and at the festival af the God there is a called Sitakunda; ... MJst of the 30,000 people small assembly. who bathe at Kashtaharani retire afterwards to Sitakunda and worship there; and on the birth Dhanakunda-There is a Priapus at Dhana day of Ram about 1.000 people assemble to kunda, reckoned 14 miles east from the police celebrate the memory of the event. office. At the annual festival of the great God (Mahadeva) about five thousand people Section 8th. Suryagarh assemble, and the contributions may amount to Suryagarha-The chief place of worship 1,000 rupees, of which the priest a Rajput, takes is at Suryagarha, where the river takes a small one-fourth; the remainder goes to the zemindar. bend towards the nJrth; but as there is no rock in contact with the water, it is considered as Section 3rd. Kodwar very inferior in efficacy to the place where the river washes the rocky foundations of the Purani-The Moslems chiefly worship at a Vindhyan mountains; 20,000 people may how wretched monument (Durgah) sacred to H uzrut ever bathe at the 3 assemblies, which ~nnually Makhdum Shah situated at Purani in the S. W. take place. corner of the division. The keeper has an endowment, and about a thousand people Section 9th. MaUepur annually assemble to celebrate the day of the Simriya-At Simriya S. W. from the Thanah saint. about four ooses, is a temple founded by Puran Mal of Gidhaur. It contains a Priapus called Uday-Rampur-At Uday-Rampur is a Dhaneswar, and at the annual festival of the Priapus named Burhanath, and about 500 God three to four thousand people assemble. people assemble at the festival of the God. Barsan hill-At Barsan hill, on the northern face to the great mass in the northern cluster of Section 4th. Lokmanpur hills, and facing a narrow valley between that Sibgunj Ghat-The chief place of Hindu and the long ridge is a fine spring of water worship is Sibgunj-ghat, on the Ganges where which is not hot. It falls into a small pool from 25 to 30,000 people assemble annually on surrounding a . Priapus. -The place has not the full moon of Magh to bathe. At the full acquired great repute, and not above a hundred moons of Vaisakh and Kartick 5 or 6,000 assemble to celebrate the (Sivaratri) festival of assemble at the same place. the Great God. Bihipur-The only image of celebrity is a Section 10th. Tarapur Thana Priapus near Bihipur, which is called Bhojes T arapur-A place of worship of Priapus. At waranath. It belongs to a Dasanami Sannyasi. the Sivaratri ~b9ut 1,000 people assemble at About 1,000 people worship on the festival of Tarapur; and every full-moon from one to two the God. hundred make offerings. 101 1. Year-J8IO-lJ 2. Place-District of BhaRalpur Madhusudanpur or Devghara-South from attending to the singing and dancing of musical Tarapur is a very picturesque rock of granite, at boys, many of whom attend. a village called Madhusudanpur or Devghara. On its summit is a small temple... The hill is Kaligunj-At Kaligunj such another fair is now considered as sacred to Siva, and a Priapus held, on the last of Vaisakh, at a hut where is placed in a small temple, ... At the Sivaratri there is an image of a male God named from 200 to 400 people assemble to worship the Sarbeswar. Priapus. ON THE POPULATION Section 11th. Bangka In the FusH year 1209 (A. D. 1802) Govern Madhusudan-Madhusudan is a place of ment, it is said, ordered a Khanah-Shomari or pilgrimage, to which about 10,000 people list of inhabitants to be prepared. It was in assemble on the last day of the solar month two divisions only that I procured the result, Paush (Tiluya Sangkranti) and continue perform, and the nature of this satisfied me that I had ing their devotions for three days.... The no(bing to regret in (be want of tbe record. chief object of the multitude is to bathe in the pools on the hill, especially in Monohar, and In forming an estimate of the population I to worship Papaharani. have not been able to rely much on any general statements procured from the natives, because I Dhamsaing-At Dhamsaing is a Priapus often found them unwilling, and not unfrequently under a tree, where about 1,000 people assemble unable to give me such information as I wanted. to celebrate the (Sivaratri) festival of the God. I have proceeded in the first place by e~timat Section 12th. Fayezullahgunj ing the number of people required to cultivate the extent of land occupied in every division, Patharglull-At Patharghat just where the river having taken into consideration the various turns round to the east. a rock of granite natures of the soil and crops, the different projects into the channel. ... The temple of quantities of stock, and the various degrees of Bateswarnath, now attracts the whole attention. industry among the people. I have then of the pious and has superseded some old plac~ compared the proportions between the agricul of worship. The image of Bateswaranath is a tural population and the other classes of society. Priapus. Almost every passenger of pure birth as given by the natives; but with this I have stops to make offerings. About 1.000 people seldom found occasion to be satisfied. and have assemble to worship at the" full moon of Magh, endeavoured to correct the numbers in these and 500 at Sivaratri. classes from very minute inquiries made by the Pandit of the survey; because I think his Section 14th. Rajmahal inquiries concerning the various castes occasion Nageswarbag-About ten or twelve thousand ed less suspicion than those respecting the Moslems assemble, in celebrating the memory of number of hoses occupied by cultivators, the grandsons of Muhammed carrying pageantry artificers. and idlers. such being immediately to Nageswarbag. probably considering Kasemali and evidently connected with the value of each as their last prince and regretting his overthrow. estate. Motijharna-At Motijharna above the hills, It must be observed, that "(Ihe proportion of is a stone in a cave, which although it wants the land cultivated twice in the year is here much shape of Priapus is called a lingga, and about smaller than towards the east, and that in many 300 people assemble on the Sivaratri. parts a very large proportion is sown either without a previous ploughing, or with very slight Nimgachhi-A Priapus is supposed to have cultivation, while the stock of cattle is ftrong. placed itself under a tree at Nimgachhi and On this account, notwithstanding an Illlcommon about 500 people usually attend the festival. indolence and want of skill, one man in general cultivates more land than is done in Bengal. Section 17th. PratapguDj Have I indeed taken the reports of the farmers, Chtmdpur-At Chand pur is an image of Kali, I should have in some cases allowed .10 bighas made of clay which is attended every Tuesday for one plough; but in such cases the ploughman and Saturday by about 200 people, Hindus and does no other work, and people are hired to Moslems. perform every other part of the labol\r. Section 18th. Aurangabad In the 3rd Statistical Table will be found the Duliyan-At Duliyan about 5.000 people results of my inquiries concerning the population assemble on the first of Vaisakh ... The assembl~7. of this district. together with an estimate as usual at fairs. is chiefly employed in buying resp~cting some of the causes by which it is and selling, gaping at strange sights, and affected. lo~ 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagaipur A few (500) of the young men, chiefly from [declining population] Mungger and the villages occupied by invalids, The drains on population are very small, and have entered into the regular corps of the army; in general the mam~ers of both women and me? but this number is so inconsiderable as not to are exceediIigly stnd. The number of prostI affect the population. A large proportion of the tutes is trifling, and in most parts the women northern hill tribe belong:; to a military corps; are watched with an uncommon care and severity, but as this seldom, if ever, leaves the district, while they are so slovenl~ as iIi _gre~t meas~re and as many of their women live with sold~ers to lose all personal attractlOl1s. Notwlthstandmg in cantonments, this does not in any considera bIe these circumstances, and an uninterrup:ed peace degree affect the populati,)fl. In fact this trib;) for a number of years, with a larse extel1t of is much more flourishing than the sou,her;l, very fertile territory unoccupied, it would appear scarcely any of whom enier into service of any from the reports of the natives, that the. popula~ kind. Many of the p=ople would wish to be tion is in some place on the diminution,. a?d considered as by birth qualified for the profes scarcely anywhere is advancing with, tha~ r~pI~Ity sion of arms, and on that account mest of them which ,might be expected. For th1s dlmmu~lOn excuse themselves from manual labour, at least or slow progression of pOpulatio~ vanous of any severe nature, but some condescend to reasons are assigned, and deserve espeCIal notice. hold the plough, and all have farms either free or rented. They endeavour as much as [reasons of declining population: 1. premature possible to have these cultivated by servants, and marriages.] prefer much to agriculture the casual employ ment of acting as daily messengers (Mohase.l or The system of premature marriages is carried Muzkuri). In general they are not well qualIfied to a vcry destructive leng~h, and no doubt contributes to check populaUon; but not to a for their profession by personal en.dowmel~ts. and they cannot endure the restra111ts which greater degree than in many parts, where the European discipline requires. They fill up population has made a rapi~ increase. .The however the enormous police establishment widows, who adhere to the rIgid rule of Hmdu which is here maintained, and, I believe, would c2libacy, are here more numerous than in Bengal. be exceedingly willing to assist any [>a1't in a This however is probably not more than suffi cient to counter-balance the superior strictness predatory warfarc. The. men servin~ in the regular police (BurukandaJ) are supenor both in the moral conduct of the wives of Bhagalpur. in knowledge 'and appearance to .tho~e '[2. prevalence of diseases.] commonly found in Bengal, but those p:lld m The practice of inoculation is almost univer lands for military service are very indifferent. It sal; but the few familes that reject it. will in was reckoned that in th:! whole district there all probability continue obstinately to adhere to were 9210 men dedicated by birth to the lise of their refusal; for it has become a rule of caste. arms and willing to be employed in this kind Some of them are Moslems of rank, who adhere of service. Of these only 4045 had found to their folly from a knowledge of the doctrine regular employment at home, 1580 had gone to which their prophet taught. The greater other places in quest of employment, and 1110 prevalance of inoculation in this district than strangers were here in addition employed. T~e in some of those already surveyed ought to have military service, therefore, makes very lIttle dram produced an increase of populatic~; .but o~her on population. diseases are no doubt common and It IS to SIck ness that many attribute the decrease in the The civil service rather gives an increase of number of people. This I am persuaded is a population. In the whole district it was estimat mistake; for in the first place, the diseases ed that 1107 men had gone to distant parts in peculiar to India, especially, the Koranda which quest of this employment, and that 1260 chiefly affects propagation are not near so strangers had Q_ere found service. common as towards the east; and fevers, the most common destroyer of mankind, are not Commerce makes little change en the near so common as in Puraniya. In the next population. A few Bangalese traders are settled place, the most populous part of the district, in the wilder parts, but most of the commerce near Murshedabad. is just that where these two is carried on by natives. The number of boats diseases are the most severe. It is true, that is very Sm.11l, and even these are mostly manned in Rajmahal, Paingti and Fayezullahgunj by people from the Puraniya d~strict. In fact fevers are stated to be more common, tut they the people are of a very domestIc turn, exceed are not near so fatal. The western parts of ingly unwilling to go abroad, a?d .at pc:me make the district are, for a warm climate, uncom very lit Ie exertion; but there IS m thIS a good monly healthy, yet many parts there are very deal of d:ffer;::nce. In the western parts near thinly inhabited. the Galli;~", and in the eastern corner towards Murshedabad, the people are more industrious Fevers in general are not so dangerous as in than they are about Rajmahal, Kaha!gang, al1q Europe, and it is only in the Ea~tern ~orner of through what is cll11ed the Janggaltan. the distri<,:t that a great proportIon assumes l! 103 1. Year-I81O-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur bad form. This indeed is said to have been success which shameless beggars have had in only the case for about 17 or 18 years; for until fleecing passengers on a road that is much then the vicinity of Murshedabad was by the frequented; but it must be chiefly attributed to natives considered as rather salubrious; but now habits of former times when a predatory anarchy a sad reverse has taken place, and almost every existed throughout almost the whole country. year there is in that part of the country a severe Although this has been almost entir~\y checked, autumnal epidemic. Everywhere in the vicinity yet the habits of idleness, which always accom of the hills and woods the vernal epidemic is pany such a state, have not yet bee.1 overcome, more severe than in cultivated plains; but I no and the means taken to allay the forment by where heard that it equalled in severity the keeping up a vast establishment of ml!n paid in epidemic of autumn. land to support the PJlice, have tended to support the spirit of indolence. In my account Fluxes, pituitous and bilious (Aong and of the hill tribes I have mentioned the number shekumjari) are more common in spring than of them that receive a monthly brih~ to induce autumn; but are neither very frequent nor them to be quiet, and I have also mentioned destructive. Choleras are far from common. that aboy'e 2500 men under Ghatwals receive [Buchanan mentions of leprosy. chronical lands to watch their conduct; but this is not all dwellings. rheumatism. etc.] the men of the district that are employed under the police officers called Ghatwals. In the wild [3. plunder by military.] Parts every Zemindar formerly assigned lands To return to a consideration of the causes of to men of that name, who held them by military the want of people, in some parts of the district, tenure, and assisted him to carryon the as from Rajmahal to Kahalgang, it is by many depredations which then they all committed. On attributed to the frequent marching of troops the establishment of order these G!latwals and and to the passage of travellers. especially men were continued in their lands, and bound Europeans. and it is alleged that both have so to assist in keeping the peace and nccording to shamefully plundered the country that it has the original view of the settlement made by been deserted. Captain Browe, were intended tc) act as a force for the protection of the frontier against ... I am not only convinced that most of these irregular cavalry. Both these purpos~s being no complaints are groundless; but farther. that such longer of use, the sooner this sort of tenure is depradations arc not the cause of the country abolished the better, as the men I.:mployed still wanting people, I conclude with confidence from keep up a spirit of contempt fer labour; and the very best inhabited parts of the districts wherever they are numerous, this spirit extends being on the sides of roads which are just as to all classes. much frequented by troops and by European travellers, as those in which the complaints The third and great cause of the low prevail. population of this district is the bad management [4. "real causes" of a declining population.] of the landlords, who arc in gen3ral not only unwilling to take the least trouble or to incur The real causes in my humble opinion. that the smallest expense in improvement, but act have principally checked the progress of towards their tenants in a most unjust and population are as follows. capricious manner, and the constituion of our First the people in the more civilized parts are courts of law has not yet held out means most miserabley attached to their native spot, adequate to remedy so great an evil. and destitute of adventure. M!lngger and Suryagarha are now overstocked with inhabitants ON THE CONDITION AND MANNER OF yet the people cannot be induced to settle on LIVING OF THE PEOPLE the west of Mallepur, that are quite adjacent In my account of these I shall chiefly confine and enjoy a very good climate. One of the my remarks to the manners of the people most urgent reasons that such people mention inhabiting the more civilized parts on the banks for their unWillingness, is the want of barbers of the Ganges, and who sPeak: the Hindi and washermcn in remote places; for in this language. When I treat of the ruder tribes of district almost everything is attributed to some the interior, I shall mention the circumstances cause that is absurd. Washermen in fact could that are most remarkably different. b~ of no use as very few of the people's clothes pass through their hands; and barbers are not As in Puraniya I shall chiefly confine myself here so haugllty a:; i:1 Bengal, and both they and to some general observations on the different washermen would no doubt follow the multitude. heads of expense Secondly, in the wilder parts the p~ople are I directed a native assistant in every division most miserably indolent. This has been partly to make an estimate cf the proportion of owing to the profusion of government in bestow families classed according to the number of ing pensions and lands on idlers, and to the persons, which each contained. with the average 104 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalput expense of each class; but after some time I In the three considerable towns of the district. pereeived that less relianee could be placed on (he former residence of Moslem chiefs seems to the results, than in Puraniya I had expected have introduced the custom of building hOl:lses might have been the case. The people consult of briGk, which as will appear from the 6th ed indeed almost uniformly increased the ratio Statistical Table, are pretty numerous. They are of expense in proportion to the number of in general occupied by traders; and no Zemindar people in each family, but, although th:s may has a house becoming the rank of a gentleman. answer in some ranks of society, it will not do The best are in the parts belonging to Bengal. anlong the lowest, where poor labourers have The brick houses of the towns are in the very often as many children as farmers in easy cir wrost style, and the meanest that I have seen cumstances. I afterwards desired my assist,lllt to anywhere except in Maldeh. Some of them enter more into par~iculars, and to divide the have tiled roofs, but in general they are covered families into classes of each number, and then with plastered tertaces. All have wooden to divide each class by the different rates of doors, and if there is any window, it is carefully their usual expenditure. The results of his closed with wooden shutters. but such means of inquiries will be found in Tables No. 4 & 5, gratifying wanton curiosity are not common. upon the accuracy of which, however, I place little reliance. The houses that are not built of brick, but are covered with tiles, have in general mud It must be here also observed, that the e;;.pense walls. and are Very well suited for this country. of the lower classes seem to be greatly over-rated, so that it is unfortunate that their number should for on the 1110st careful examination I have not be so small. If whitewashed, or painted with been able to learn how such incomes can be reddle. they might be neat, and wmfortable procured; and the exaggeration seems here vastly enough. greater than in Puraniya, as the pec'ple there The natives in some parts of this district have undoubtedly live better. while the rates of expen taken advantage of the abundance of clay with diture are here higher. The expense of the which nature has furnished them, and have higher classes again are here also diminished, built many of their houses with this material, although perhaps not more so than in Putaniya. which is of a very good quality. In other parts again even where clay is abundant, it has been The people. of rank here are still more fond entirely neglected, as too troublesome and than in Puraniya of going out with a numerous expensive. attendance, especially of armed men; but in every other respect their appearance is very The clay houses are of two kinds. one having mean and squalid, and their marriage ceremonies two storeys, and the other only one. The former are so enormously expensive, as to render the usually consists of one chamber on each floor, utmost parsimony on other occasions absolutely and most commonly it has in front of the lower necessary. Funerals are conducted on more storey an open gallery supported by small wooden rational principles, but still are exceedingly posts. The stair is extremely wretched, and burthensome. The practice of hoarding bullion indeed the most common means of mounting to is supposed to be very general, especially among the upper room is by means of a ladder. The the middle ranks, whose external appearance is in most usual dimensions are from nine to fifteen general very mean. This however is only a cubits long, by from seven to ten cubits wide. common belief, and its truth may I think be very In the upper room a person cannot always stand much doubted. At any rate such hoards are erect; the lower is generally six or seven cubits totally lost to society. and could only be of use high. There are always wooden doors. The to an enemy of society, who would hesitate at roof is thatched with a frame of wood and no means for extortion. In all estimates of the bamboos. The walls are not whitewashed, nor in wealth and prosperity of a country such resources Behar, especially, are they well smoothed. The should be entirely laid aside. floor is terraced with clay. A house of this kind costs from 20 to 25 R. and will last 15 [housing pattern of the district] years; but it requires annual repairs. If tht~ f(lof is burnt, the walls are not materially injured. In the topography of the divisions I have and much of the property in the lower apartment given an account of the buildings of the natives may be saved. [reproduced below for each division], so far as they affect the appearance of the country; and The houses with mud walls and consisting of here as we]] as in Puraniya I mjght have added one storey are thatched, and have no ceiling the Indigo factories. which are the best looking covered with clay to lessen the danger from fire. places in the country. In this district their These houses consist of one apartment, of the numbers are so inconsiderable as to produce same size with thos.e of two storeys and have little effect, and are confined almost' entirely to seldom any gallery. The roof is in general of the banks of the Ganges. the same shape with that ill th~ eastern parts 105 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur of Beng~l. consisting of. two .sides meeting in an a number of buildings. each of one apartment. arched rIdge; but the pItch IS usually very low. or perhaps one of the number may contain two and they are commonly of the structure called rooms. Wherever the owner can afford it. the Chauka. of which I have given an account in whole is hid by walls or fences. which are treating of Puraniya. In Kalikapur most of generally very unseemly. The best are mud r 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagaipur ~llowed only one piece of cloth in the year, and here are most commonly visible. Some new It is not woven of a breadth sufficient to hide fangled people, however, especially among the their nakedness, so that two breadths must be women of the Brahmans, b.::gin to think that the stitched together to make one wrapper, which, black marks disfigure their skins, and these make after all, is very scanty, and is called a Kiluya, no more stains than just enough to satisfy the which while that of proper dimensions, woven of conscience of those who would not drink water full breadth, is called a Sari. In the estimate, from the hand of a nymph whose skin was what is called silk, consists often of the Maldehi spotless. cloth, made of silk and cotton mixed. Some Women and children blacken their eyes with cloth of Tasar silk is made use of by women lampblack and oil put under the lids. Men only of rather a low rank; but very little of the use this mark of effeminacy at their marriage. Bhagalpuri cloth, made of silk and cotton, is The women tie their hair as in Puraniya. used in this district. Although the clothes of the people are very All men that can afford it use leather shoes, dirty, I do not think that they are so much and it is considered so essentially necessary to affected with cutaneous disorders as towards the enable them to work that ploughmen are East, or as in the South of Bengal. usually provided with this article at the expense [diet] of their master. The Hindus of rank, who can not pray or dress their food with their feet in In the eighth statistical table is contained the leather, use on such occasions wooden sandals, result of my enquiries respecting the diet of the Muhammedan women also use shoes, but the natives. At Bhagalpur, Mungger, and Rajmahal, HIndus of rank would be as much disgusted bv meat is every day to be had in the market; but seeing one of their women shoed as z. true it is so wretchedly lean that it is unfit for the Englishman is by seeing a barefooted lass. Low use of an European, farther than that soup may women and even some of pure birth but be made of it. The meat commonly sold in laborious professions, such as milkmaids, save these markets is mostly goat, but beef is their soles by leathern sandals, but no Hindu occasionally procurable. At Mungger on account woman, except some trulls from the camp, would of the Europeans, a good many sneep are kill here consent to hide the beauties of her feet and ed. In the other places very few, as the natives ankles, which in fact are very neat. prefer goat flesh. A few young buffaloes, Chiefly males, are brought to market. The [ornaments] Hindus of this country, except the very highest Ornaments of the precious metals are not so castes, would purchase meat from the butcher, common as even in Puraniya. The Hindu could they afford it; but by far the greater part women usually ornament their arms with rings of the meat used in the district is that offered of coloured lac, and paint their foreheads with by the Hindus or Muhammedans to their gods red lead. The women of the milkmen, however, or saints. None of the sects of Vishnu ought to and some to other caste of labouring people, eat meat; but here many of them defer taking use rings of bellmetal or brass, either for one or Upades until they arrive at a good age, and until both arms. The Muhammedan women also use they indulge their appetites; and on occasions chiefly rings of coloured lac, of a shape different of festivity do not prevent their wives and from those used by the Hindus; but many of children from indulging theirs. There are, how them use rings made of glass, such as are worn ever, many that reject meat, and in the Table in the south of India. Both religions give these are included among those who cannot ornaments of tin to their children. afford it. The helplessness of the people prevents them from procuring near so much game as they The custom of anointing the body with oil in might easily have; still, however, this forms a the western parts of the district is not very very considerable portion of the meat that is prevalent; but ploughmen, as almost every used. The impure tribes in the greater part of where in Bengal, during the rainy season, never the district are not so well provided with pork work without rubbing their feet. as in Puraniya. In some parts of the, .district fish is seldom In the parts of the district towards Murshede procurable; and in most ~rts there is a consider bad, the people, especially the women, are more able proportion of the inhabitants that reject its cleanly; they almost all anoint themselves use. In most parts, near the Ganges, fish is frequently, and the women use much gold, silver not procurable during the inundation, and it is and shells as ornaments, nor do they daub their only in Rajma~l and the divisions south from faces with red lead, except a small mark at the thence that there is a regular abundance, or upper part of the nose. They also make only that the people are disposed to avail themselves a few marks of the kind, that in the South Sea of this kind of food, so much as is usual in Islands is called Tatooing, but the women of Bengal. This of course greatly diminishes the Behar are almost as' fond of this ornamlo!l1t as nutrition which they receive, although they use those of Otaheite, especially on the parIs that more meat than is common in Bengal. 107 1. Year-181O-Jl 2. Place-District 0/ Bhagalpur Milk, however, is a more common article of tion; but the higher classes using a much larger food than in most parts of India; but it is proportion for the two former purposes than the almost entirely used after it has become add poorer, there is less difference in the quantity and has curdled, which very much diminishes used as seasoning than would appear in the its nutritive qualities. above estimate. In Bengal every kind of curry, whether made The whole of the salt being used ior season of meat, fish, pUlse. or fresh vegetables, is called ing. the difference in the proportions used by Byangjar; but in the Hindi dialect, which seems different classes is much greater; but as the rich vastly inferior to the Bengalese in copiousness. use three or four dishes. while the poor use they have no cornman word for this part of only one, their dishes are not higher salted; but food or seasoning, although it is here in alm06t their food is much better seasoned, as they have universal use. Twice a day almost everyone four dishes in place of one, to correct the insipi prepares his grain, either by boiling it or by dity of the grain. which forms the basis of their grinding it to flour without parching, and food. The people here never use ashes to supply making it into cakes (Rot i) or by parching it, the place of salt. Very little of the salt from grinding it, and then forming it into a paste the coast of Coromandel is here in demand. The which is not baked (Chhattu). The first js quantity said to be abundant for the daily always eatcn with some kind of curry, the two consumption of five persons, young and old. latter by all those who can afford it are eatel1 varied in different divisions from 7 to 23 s. w.; either with curry or with curdled milk. but hut the average was rather more than 12! s. w. perhaps one-eighth of the poorest people in the and the people were commonly divided into four Behar part of the district. for eight or ten days classes as with -respect to oil, diminishing in in the month. must content themselves with a various proportions; so that the second class little salt to their cake or paste. Their commol1 varied from 4 to 17t s. w., average 8 s. w.; the curry consists of a little pulse or fresh vegetables' third class varied from 2 to 12 s. W., average fried with a very little exerable oil, salt, 4t s. w. The lowest class varied from 1 to S1 capsicum and turmeric. Many of the Moslems s. w., average 3 s. w. and low Hindus add onions and garlic, but the higher castes of Hindus. however poor, abhor R ice forms the staple article of food with all this savoury addition, though admirably fitted to that can afford it; but the rich sometimes, for diminish the insipidity of their food. the sake of variety, eat wheaten cakes. The poorer ranks must for a great part of the year The portion of oil and salt. which the poor content themselves with wheat, or still coarser are able to procure. is vastly too small. The grains. Some of these grains they boil in rich have it in greater abundance, and the imitation of rice; but in general they are made wealthy have from two to four curries at each. into cakes or paste as I have before mentioned. meal. Those in middling ranks have this and the paste is often made of different kinds of luxury five or six times a month; and the poorest pulse; but this is not included in the Table, at their marriage feasts or such high. ('ccasions. where the pulse, stated to be used, is entirely By consulting the Table. the proportions of these dressed as a curry, and eaten as a seasoning with different classes may be seen. Oil and salt. grain prepared by boiling or as bread or paste. capsicum. and turmeric, are the grand articles of In the wilder parts of the district, some of the seasoning; acids are little employed. The poor, for some months in the year, cannot quantity of foreign spiceries, chiefly blac\{ procure grain, and use in its stead the dried pepper, is very small. and the number of those flowers of the Mahuya tree (Bassia latifoJia). the who use them may be seen in the Table. seeds of the Sakuya (Shoraea robusteJ), and some other natural productions. that will be Ghiu also, or melted butter. is a luxury, the mentioned under that head. This I look upon daily use of which falls to a very small propor, as a most decided mark of the most extreme tion of the community. indolence and want (If skill in agriculture. as these people are sun ounded by fertile lands With respect to the oil, the quantity consider, totally waste, and whil:h they might procure on ed as a full allowance for five people, yeung and the most moderate temlS. old, varied in different places from 11 to 50 s. w .• the latter in the capital where much business ig The quantity of cleaned grain stated to be done by the lamp. The average is about 20! sufficient for the daily consumption of people, s. w. The second class consumes from 5 to 17i young and old, varied from 72 to 40 fl. w.• and s. w., average 10! s. w. The third class uses the averag~ is 52! s. w. a trifle less than the from 2-t to 11-t s. w. average 5{ s. w. The average of Puraniya. lowest class procures from I! to 5 s. w. average 3 s. w. As usual, this allowance contains the [intoxicatiol1 ]. whole consumption for lamp, unction and In the ninth Statistical Table will be found kitchen, and no one can ascertain the pro\,or- an estirna1]e of the extent to which the \lS~ of 108 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur various stimulating or narcotic substances is and many Brahmans have the sense to use this carried. conveyance. Pandits however reject the abomination. A great majority of them are Fuel in almost every part of the district is employed for the conveyance of goods, as well abundant. as there is no place far removed as for travelling, each carriage being provided either from forests. or from sandy banks over with two bodies adapted for the two purposes srown with tamarisks. In fact charcoal and to which it may be applied. Very few of the firewood form a considerable part of the exports carriages are of the same structure with that of the district; yet in almost every part cow used in Puraniya but the wheels are fastened to dung. mixed with the husks of rice and oth~r one axle tree as common in Europe. In Puraniya grain. forms some part of the fuel. because It I was led to think that the great load taken by is collected close to the house, and costs less the carts there was chiefly owing to their trouble to bring home than wood, which may be structure, but the load taken here seems to be two or three hundred yards off. Wherever the nearly the same, and there is little difference in country is tolerably clear. the poor burn the strength of the cattle. scarcely anything else, except towards Murshedabad, where they are still worse Palanquin bearers in this district are very economists, and burn much straw. In the cold numerous, and are chiefly employed at marriage &eason almost every family burns a fire all night. ceremonies, which here is the grand occasion for and sleeps round it. In the 10th Statistical show and expense. In general they are totally Table will be found an estimate of the propor unwilling to leave their own home, but near the tions of different kinds of fuel used. great road are many who live by conveying In the same Table will be found an estimate those who travel post. Those have very high of the kinds of oil used for the lamp, and of wages, but in the interior the wages are lo~. the various degree in which the inhabitants of The planquins are exceedingly rude, and thetr different ranks and places enjoy this convenience. number small, for the bearers very often keep The consumption of lamp oil. in religi(;)Us one for each set. and this is' let out to whoever ceremonies is much smaller, even m proportIOn employs them, and at marriages by far the to the number of inhabitants, than towards the greater part; of the bridegrooms ar~ ca~ried in East. a kind of htter called Chaudol WhICh IS made for the purpose of a ~ew rough sticks .and The natives of this district are very fond of bamboos. The planqumes are of the vanous a numerous attendance and showy equipage; fashions mentioned in my account of Puraniya. but their poverty prevents the~ from vying in this point with those of Puramya and the only [domestic service and slavery] persons that make any show are the Nawab Mudarukud Doulah and the Rajas of Kharakpur The free male domestic servants of the great and Gidhaur. An estimate of the manner in are of three kins kinds: Bhandaris who are stewards, and take care of all the household which the people here are provided in this ~rt~cle effects·' Khedmutgars, who dress their master, of luxury will be seen in the 11th StatistIcal attend' him at meals, supply him with tcbacco Table. and betel, and make his bed; and Tahaliyas, who Four of the fourteen elephants, it must be clean the kitchen and its utensils. bring wood observed, belong to Dular Chaudhuri of and water and buy provisions; but in common Puraniya, and are not kept for s~ow, but a~e one man does everything, and take care also of employed to destroy the wild. ammals of thiS the horse, and of any cows and goats that may kind with which his state was mfested. live in the house. Their wages vary from 8 to 24 annas a month, besides food and clothing. Oltnel just begin ~o . appear in the w~stern About 1 r. is however the average; the food extremity of this dlstnct, .and . the Raja of may be as much and the clothing may be 4 rs. Gidhaur keeps two for carrymg hiS baggage. a year. The whole allowance seldom exceeds The people here are less addicted to horseman. 30 rs. a year. ship than in Puraniya, and th~ greater part of Female free servants are in general not the ponies mentioned in the lIst are used as procurable and those that can be had are beasts of burden. They are, if possible, more commonly' old woman who have lost all their wretched than those of the districts hitherto kindred and attend as domestics for food and surveyed. Twelve natives have one.-horse raiment~ They are called Chakranis, Dasis and chaises with two wheels, two somewhat m the Kamiyas. In some d~vis~0!1s poor ~v01!len, who fashion of what in Bengal is called a buggy, the live at home, earn theIr hvmg by bnngmg water others (Ekka) after the manner of Hindustan. for the rich, who have wives of whom they are Five carriages after the fashion of Hindustan suspicious, and who thus take away. all. excuse with four wheels (Rath) are drawn by oxen. The for going abroad. Women of thIS kmd are inhabitants here however use many two-~he~l called Panibharin, and they qsually engage to carriages drawn by oxen (Raharu and MaJholl) supply a family with so marty pots of water a 109 1. Year-J8JO-ll 2. Place-District of Bhagalpllr day, at I Paysa 0/64 R) a month for each pot. to girl belonging to the same master but some A woman can in this manner earn eight annas times the master has no girl of an age fit for a month, besides spinning and managing her marriage, and cannot purchase, in which case he family concerns, including ,tihe supply of fuel. allows his boy to marry a girl belongin8 to another master, or a free girl, in either of which The invalids have in general servants, male cases he gets no share of the children. If a man and female whom during their service they either has a marriagable girl, and no slave t('l whom he purchased, or acquired by the force of arms. can give her, he allows her to marry another Although such might be called slaves, this word person's slave, or even a free man; but in both would convey a very different idea concerning cases retains all the Children. In general a free these persons, from what is the real case. In man marrying a slave girl is not personally fact these boys and girls are looked upon by degraded to slavery as in Puraniya, in other the old soldier as his chldren; and when he dies, places he becomes a Chutiya-Gulam (cuhno he in general leaves them the whole of his servus), but cannot De sold; he works for his eHects. If the gir] acqujrt's a prDper age, before wife's master at the usual allowance that a slave the veteran's death, she often becomes his receives. Slaves may be sold in whatever manner concubine; and many of them as wives, receive the master pleases; but they are 110t often a pension from the Company. brought to market. Proper slaves of the male sex are in this district called Nufur, and their women are called The abominable practice of slavery seems to Laundis. They are confined to the part of the be a fair object of taxation, and the owners are district included in Subah Behar. In general they in general the persons who of aU others, ill every belong to the owners of land, chiefly on free point of view, are most able to bear additWnal estates, or to wealthy Brahmans, who rent land. burthens. They are mostly drones, who either None of them are employed as confidential pay no land tax or who rent land, which on servants, such as in Puraniya receive a good account of their supposed sanctity they get for farm for the subsistence of their family; on the almost nothing. Six rupees a head for every contrary they are generally very poorly provid able bodied slave might annually be very well ed, and the greater part of the men are employ afforded, and easily collected by rendering a ed in agriculture. Some of them, when 1here is register of slaves necessary to secure the nothing to do on the farm, attend their .master property. The register of slaves might be kept as domestics; others are employed entirely as by the Kazi, who should collect the tax, and all domestics, and living in their master's house slaves omitted to be registered should be held receive food and raiment; finally, others are free, if they claimed their lWerty, or should constantly employed in the field, and these get belong to the informer who discovered the no allowance, when there is no work on the farm, attempt at deceit. In the Table I have only but are allowed to cut fire-wood, or do any mentioned the able-bodied males, and I have other kind of labour for subsistence. When old, here found it also impracticable to separate their allowance is in general exceedingly scanty, entirely the domestic from the agricultural and commonly depends in some measure, and portion, on which account the whole has been sometimes in a great part, upon what. their mentioned in this place. AU the slaves are eitlher children can spare. If they have no chIldren of the Dhanuk or Rawani .castes. Free men 'Of they are sometimes turned out to beg. The the former caste, if very poor, sell their children, usual daily allowance is about 3 Sers Calcutta but in this district this is not dODe by the weight, or about 6 lb. of rough rice, or of the Rawanis. The slaves here are in general mdrJil coarser grains, the great quantity of the husks trious, seldom run away, and are se1d0illlll beaten. of the former making it of less value than the latter The slave from this must find clothing, I have procured no estimate of the mere salt, ~il, and other seasoning, fuel, and cooking domestic slaves, either male or female, that are utensils. His' master gives him a wretched hu!. kept by Muhammedans of rank, and of which where he lives almost alone; for although he IS class I have given an account in treating of always married, his wife and children live in Puraniya. There are no doubt many such, as the master's house, and there receive food and the chief persons in the district are Muhamme clothing. The women when young, a~e usually dans, and some of them have, I understand, alleged to gratify their masters' deSIres; and, dealt in this commodity .to a ruinous length. I when grown up, sweep the house, bring fuel and saw two Abyssinian boys in the train of one water, wash, beat and winnow grain, and in fact person of rank, and he told me he had are women of all work. At night they go to commissioned them from Calcutta on aacount their husbands' hut, unless when young and too of the character for fidelity, which this \lawon attractive; in which case they are only allowed holds throughout the East. In the division of to make him occasional visits for the sake o~ Mungger alone I understand that the M0&lems decency. Tare bays, sa soon 8S lj.t, 8rf! emp~oy~ have 5a male, and 7(} female domestic -slave. ed to tend cattle, are early marned; If .possible (Golam and Laundis). 110 1. Yeur---I8IO-Il 2. Place-District oj Bhagaipur [beggars] (63-S) SOCIO·OCCUPATIQNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUHAMMED AN POPULATION OF THE The number of common beggars, that were DISTRICT O};' nHAGALPUR, 1810-11 estimated to be in the district, amounts to about 4000. I have certainly not seen this class more sri. caste number occupation and other numerous; ... no. of families particulars 2 3 4 [prostitutes] 1 Kazis 30 two of the most essential duties the taking charge of distrained Prostitution is much on the same footing as property and payment of small pensions--very seldom entrusted in Puraniya. The number of common prostitutes to them in this district; the Kazis is uncommonly small. and in general they make are in general men much superior a very poor living. to the ordinary native officers of police and law; their duties are now confined to the perfor mance of ceremonies and the [education] attestation of deeds, and they have been deprived of the pro fits arising from the sale of In the plan of education here, science, or any stamped paper, which has been study that can enlarge the views, or improve given to zeminders. A the heart, has been most deplorably neglected; regulare slablishment of one and the chief object seems to have been to lay for each division and a neces in sity imposed of his attestation to a stock of chicane, in which even the most all solemn contracts, especially stupid are very profound adepts. I have been in the transfer of landed pro often tempted to think that the stupidity was perty, mortgages and marriages, feigned, as a cloak for design; but my native and the actual appearance before him of the real parties, .... assistants, who must be better judges than seems to bc highly proper, in myself, are of a contrary opinion. order to check those transactions under feigned names (Benam) which are so great an evil and disgrace. In Table No. 12 will be found the result of my inquiries respecting the extent of common 2 Nayeb or 19 in some piaces,the Kazis 1 ave education in this district, and in the first Statisti Mollas regular deputies called Naycbs or MoJlas v'ho officiate for certain cal Table will be found a list of the school portions of their respective masters or teachers. jurisdiction. 3 Pirzadahs admitting people into the order of Murids is somewhat like the Religion and Sects confirmation of the Church or the Upades of Hindus, seems Of the Muhammedans more respected here than in the districts hitherto .. surveyed, Buchanan calculated the Muhammedan although the number of those who profess Murids is by no population at 4,58,000 persons or 23 per cent means greater; the office is of the total population. In the 5th Statistical hereditary. Table, he presented the result of the calculation 4 Fakir (Mu- 550·600 begging; all religious mendi- for each division together with the proportion of slim) . cants, Hindu and Moslem are Muhammedan and Hindus in different parts of called Fakirs and Padres;' they the districts. arempnerous and mostly mar ried; the'country is overwhelmed with vaBf~ts of this Dame most of wtiom want women and The number of Moslems, he observed, seemed are Bcnawas. to be diminishing. "The doctrine of caste is 5 Concubin· number alwa~s united with keepers by fully more extended among the Moslems here es not a religiOUS ceremony and their than in Puraniya ... of the tradesmen, who in this (Nelaahs) ascert children are entitled to share district are excluded from inter-marriages with ained even by a virgin spouse. the Sheykhs I heard the following" [from the 6 Saiuds 2,300 Saiuds, Moguls and Pathans are series number 10 in the following table]. gentry, none chooses to apply his hand to labour and there fore under given circumstances may be classified as renters The table IS prepared from descriptive very numerous, especially in ma:terials giving the caste (often offices held Bhagalpur and Suryagarha. hereditarily) or occupational type under column 7 Moguls 900- J ,OGO half of whom settled in the 2, number of families where available under capital. colutnn 3, occupation and allied characteristics 8 Pathans 3,400 large portion settled in capital. under column 4. 9 Sheykhs N .A. mostly employed in airicultut"; 111 1. Year-J81O-JI 2. Place-District of BhagalplIr {63-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUHAMMEDAN POPULATION OF 2 3 4 THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-€oncld. 36 Kungjra 1,450 retailers of grain. 37 Takiya-furo 5 retail the charcoal balls used in 2 3 4 sh smoking tobacco. 38 Retailer of 280 retail tobacco prepared for being tobacco smoked. 10 Momin 4,300 weavers. Jolahas 39 Bhakos 47 retail spices. 11 Tape- wea· 140 tape weaving and string knitting 40 Besatis 80 same'as above. versand (Patwars). string kni t 41 Bhathiyaras 86 keep inns (sarays). ter 42 Bakers 16 prepare bread. 12 Weavers of 3 weavers of cotton carpet. Carpet 43 Bhat 17 Bardfe 13 Dnuniyas 1,680 cotton cleaners. 44 Damphalis 140 play on the Damph and beg 14 Jat 100 prepare and retail curds confi ned to the division of Fayez hawk trinkets and spices. ulahgunj. 45 Hijras or 11 mendicants. 15 Taylors 330 tailoring. eunuch (com 16 Washerman 108 pany) 17 Washer of 3 cleansing or scoming shal. 46 Dhotis 20 m\lsicians, but do not beg. shals 47 Bhangr 32 mendicant who amuse the people 18 Barbers 45 by making wry faces and gesture 19 Jarrah 20 barbers who are a kind of and singing ridiculous songs. surgeon-barbers. 48 Badiyas 4 play tricks with serpents. 20 Buchers 45 kill both beef and mutton 21 Abdals 35 gelders who deprive usually . 49 Chambas 63 tame monkies and bears for the male animal of generative powers. amusement of the public. 22 Nalbund 2 horse shoers. 50 Helas 4 low class of muslims, keep dogs 23 Cutlers 28 only workers in the metals and the women are midwives that are excluded. to the rich, a great many of ornament makers. female attendents, that Euro. pean ladies can procure in 24 Lac India, are said to be of this class. 25 Glass 25 26 Turners 7 51 Prostitutes 112 prostitutes excluded from communion. 27 Patwar 13 painters. 52 Piranis 10 high class of dancers and sin. 28 Rungsaz 20 painters. gers, to be found at Rajmahal 29 Paper mak 96 where they pretend to exhibit ers before persons of high rank only. 30 Tube mak- 20 prepare tubes for smoking tob ers acco. 31 Dyers 87 Of the Hindus 32 BeJdars 150 converted, but make a separate [In tLe 2nd section of the chaPter, BUchanan mentionS caste. Hindus. The following table has been prer ared from des- 33 Mahifurosh 280 retail. fish, no fisherman among criptive materials-coi. (1) serial no., col. (2) nllime of cas' or Pajari moslems. tes, col. (3) number of families/houses, col. (4) occuption, migration and other particulars. Under this column, item 34 Mir Sheka· 20 live by catching birds and 1) contains information on occuption, item 2) place of ars managing hawks. settlement in the district, 3)original country from 35 Mukori 62 petty dealers of grain. which migrated and 4) miscellaneOl:'s information.] (64-S) SOCIO.OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF 'THE DISTRICT OF BHAGAlJPUR, 1810-11 Sl'!. caste number of occupation, migration and other particulars no. families/houses 1 2 3 4 1 Brahman 1.1 Gaur Brahman 36 (l} chiefly m&rchants and shop keepers, some act as Gurus and purohits for . several tribes from the West of India. (2) 25 of them reside at Rajmahal reckoned as Gaur. 1.2 Maithila Brahmans • 5,00-06,000 (1) same occupatioIl as in Puraniya, some act as Panda. (2) 10 per cent reside in the par~ of district in the province of Bengal, the remainder reside in the Western and Sourthern part of the district. 112 1. Year-IBIO-ll 2. Place-District 01 Bhagalpur (64-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Contd. 1 2 3 4 1. 3 Barendra and Rahri 500 (1) caste occupation. (introduced from Kan (2) nine-tenths Rahri, and less than one-tenth Barendra; the portion of the yakubja) district in the pro"ince of Bengal was assigned to them by Bollal Sen; half of Rahri settled in the district under Mughal Province of Behar. 1.4 Brahmans who are de 200-300 (1) priest for low tribes, kaibartas, etc. graded to the rank of (2) south-east part of the district. Varnas (3) they degraded themselves by officiating for low tribes. Baidik Brahmans of 3 Bengal. 1.6 Kanyakubja 1,300-1,400 (1) a gr~at pa~t of them have land, f~ee of ~e~t, by. cultiva~ion of which they chIefly lIve; some of them. gIVe reltglous InstructIOn to own tirbe Khatris, Rajputs and Kayasthas. ' , (2) some of them call themselves merely Kanyakubjas but some others dis tinguish themselves by the subordinate and inferior denominations of Antarbediya, Saruiya and Sanoriya. 1.1 Saraswat Brahmans. 20-30 (1) preside over the ceremonies of high ranks from the West of India. 1;8 Utkal Brahman 1 1.9 Degraded Brahman. 400-500 (1) act as priests for low castell. (2) in Western parts of the district. (3) they are not Mithila or kanyakubja. (4) They were degraded by acting as priest of low castes. 1.10 Kantha, Mahapatra or 200-300 (1) perform the office of Kantha, or Mahapatra, or Agradani. Agradani (4) in general, the nation to which these degraded Brahmans belong is not known, but they are called by their office or by the name of tribe for which they officiate. 1.11 Sakadwipi Brahman • 200-300 (1) mostly practise medicine; in search of employment many of them go abroad to other district, a few have studied Persian and entered into the management ofwordly affairs. (2) emigrated from Sakadwipi colony. 1.12 Sakals 18 (1) priests of the sect of sauro 1;13 Magas 10,000 (1) seldom performs the sacred duties. (4) there is a confusion theses Brahmins with those of Magahis, Bhungihar or zemindar Brahmans. ' 1.14 Magadha Desi Srot. 100-200 (1) act as Gurus or Purohits for pure castes. riya Brahmans. (4) they have no learning. 2 Daivaggnas 40 (1) hereditary astronomers. (3) they live in the eastern corner of the district; considered in rank as next to the Brahmans. 3 Brahma Bhat • 500-600 (1) bards of Hindu religion, most of them have small endowments and they all have some land, that they rent ~rom z~mindars, or hold from govern ment, employed at funerals or marnages; If poor, resort to open begging. 4 Kshatris .. 80 (1) military tribe. S Rajputs. 5,000-6,000 (1) military tribe, some hold plough with their own hand, but these are de graded. (4) in the parts which belonged to the province of Bengal, they are considered as inferior to the scribes, physicians and merchants, but in Behar they are considered as next in rank to the Bards and are allowed t~ be Kshatriyas or pure militarY tribe. 5.1 Baksariya Rajputs 500 (1) peculiarly warlike, plough with their own hand; considered warlike bold from Baksar (Buxar) and plough with their own hand. ' (4) wherever considerable number of them live together, it is called Katgar. 5.2 Rilmzani prostitutes. 3 or 4 (4) presented to be Rajputs. 5.3 Khedoni prostitutes 14-15 (4) presented to be Raitar Rajputs. 6 Rajput .• 100-1iO (1) said to be ~iffereJ?t from Rajpu~s, and lo~er in rank,. but presumably the same havlilg a slIntiar oCcupation and dIfference arISeS merely from the imperfect pronunciation. (3) settled in the :Bangalese part of the district. 113 1. Yeor-18JO-11 2. Place-District 01 Bhagalpur (64"S) SOCIO-OCCUPATro~AL CHt\.R.\CTERlSTICS OF THE .IDNDU.POPULATlON OF THE DlSTItIt:T OF BHAGALPUR; 18I.-ll.:-erm,d. 1 2 3 4 7 Kshetauris 3,000 (1) miiitary rank, try to avoid hold plough, but holding plougb Is not looked down . . (2) in the ~rn and exterrttitlated; live chiefly in the middle parts. (4) io many parts, placed oeltt in rank to Rajputs. 8 Baldyas lS-j5 (1) medical tribe. (2) live in Bengal parts ot the district. (4) held to be hl8her than tbe Scribes. 9 Kayeth or Kayastha. 3,000-4,000 (1) pell"nie'll. (4) placed deltt to KShetaurls giveit rank of Sudras. 9.1 Bengalese extraction 1,500 (2) spread all over the district. mostly of uttar Rabri 9.2 Ambasthas 1,000 9.3 Karan tribe 100 (3) considered as baving come from the west. 9.4 Scribes of Mithila 300-400 9.5 Etanak . S (3) both names (5) and (6), derived from the original residence of these tribes. 9.6 Bhattanagar • 20-30 9.7 Karkaris 40-50 9.8 KrishnapakshiYIl 100 10 Pure sudras 10.1 Baniyas • 10.11 Baniyas : Tradesman (1) devoted entirely to trade. 10.111 AjltWaIaHs 2d 10.112 Agraharis 30 10.113 Puri Agarwalehs S 10.114 Vaisya Baniyas • 1,300-1,400 10.115 Swarna Baniks of Ben- 30 (2) reside in the Benltal part of the district. gal 10.116 Gandha Baniks of 300 Bengal 10.117 Kbattba Gandba Ba- 30 niks 10.118 Berendta Baniks 95 (2) reside mostly at Bahalganj and Rajmaha1. 10.119 Bangadeshi Baniyas . 80-90 (2) live mostly fn the wilder parts of the distri'ct. 10.1110 Barnabares 150 (2) settled mostly in the division of Malepur. 10.1111 Nuniya tribe . 35 10.1112 Kambal-Baniyas 75 (2) chiefly settled In wilder parts. 10.1113 Kasarani-Baniyas . 150 (2) many at Mungger. (4) speak dialect of Bhojpur. 10.11l4 Elababad ({asarani!! 20 or ElatiliSi K~ 10.1115 Raslokis to 10.1116 AYodhyavasi-Baniyas 80 (2) settled in the division of Goati. 10.1117 Joyanpuni 180 (1) petty traders. (2) settled mostly in Kotwali and Banka. (3) original abode in the west of India. (4) their widows beeome eotiCubines. 114 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (64.S) SOCIO.OCOUPATIONAI. CHARACTER1STJ(S OF 1HF H1NDU ImUIATIONOFIHEDlSIRKT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Contd. 2 3 4 10.li1S Kasodhan-Baniyas 300 (1) petty traders. (2) settled chiefly in Kotwali. (3) according to some. people, they originally came from Kashmir. (4) divided into two classes, their widows do not become concubine, though permitted by social rules. . 10.1119 Vishnuwar 20 (2) settled in Rajmahal. (4) widows frequently become concubines. 10.1120 Maghaiya-BaniYils 60 (2) settled in the part of district belonging to Mithila, none in Magadha. 10.1121 Kath-Baniyas • 60-80 (2) chiefly settled in Gogri. (4) they are divided among the Dasnamis, Nanak and Ramanandis. 10.12 Baniyas : Artists 10.121 Sangkha-vaniks of 16 (1) shell-cutter and dealer. Bengal (2) live in the Bengal part of the district., 10.1-22 Kangsabanik 14 (1) coppersmith of Bengal. (2) live in the Bengal part of the district. 10.123 Thatheras-one part of 500 0) live entirely by working in copper, brass an~ bell;metal. the coppersmiths of (2) almost everywhere in part that belongs to Behar. Behar (3) considered as a tribe of Magadha. (4) considered as pure castes, but keep concubines. 10.124 Kasera, another part 150 (1) work in gold and pewter as well as copper. of coppersmiths of .(2) cbieily settled in Kotwali. Behar (4) they are of the same rank with others, but do not intermarry with the tha- theras. . . 10.2 Sudra Mali or Mala- 500 (1) make garlands. kars 10.21 Bengalese 170 (2) mostly settled in Rajmahal. (3) are called Rarhi Malis. (4) reckoned equal in rank to Baniya, the remainder speak Hindi and ranked with barbers. 10.22 Kanoj-mali 50 10.23 Tirahuti-malis • 35 10.24 Magahis. 200 10.25 Desi-malis 30 (1) native garlanders. (2) settled at capital. 10.3 Sudra : Potter 10.31 Pot makers of Bengal. 160-170 (1) potter, may plough with their own hands. (2) reside in Bengal part. (4) abstain from concubines like other pure tribes .. 10.32 Western Hindu Pot- 2,160 ters 10.321 from Kanoj 300 (1) potter, many of them hold the plough with thierown hand. (2) keep concubines, reckoned inferior in rank to coppersmiths. 10.322 from Tirahut 100 10.323 from Magadha 1,700 10.324 from Yasoyar • 60 10.4 Weavers. .(1) weaving. 115 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhaga!pur (64-8) SOC!O·OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE "'NDU POPULATION OF lHE DJ51RICT OF. BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Contd. 2 3 4 10.41 Proper weavers of 70 (2) settled at Gaur. Bengal 10.42 Aswiniyas 150 (2) settled mostly near Bhagalpur. 10.43 Tantrabay 70-80 (1) pure weavers. 10.5 Blacksmith of Behar . (I) work both as carpenter and blacksmith. (3) all western tribes, keep concubines. (4) highest ran\l: of artificers. 10.51 Of Kanoj 140 10.52 Of Mitbila 15 10.53 Of Magadha 1,750 10.54 Of Rarh in Bengal 170 (1) exclusively weaving, do not work in wood. (2) settled in Bengal part. (4) do not keep concubines. 10.6 Sutars (carpenter) 120-130 (I) carpenters of Bengal, impure. 10.7 Goldsmiths 1,000 (1) the goldsmiths?f the west area pure tribe of artificers, while in Bengal tradesmen are Impure. 10.71 Of the west 800-900 (3) the Kanoj, Maghaiya, Ayodhyavasi, Tirahuti, Khatri. 10.72 Bengalese 100-200 (1) sonar or goldsmith, impure. 10.8 Baruis 1,300-1,400 (1) cultivators of betel leaf. (4) rank in Bihar between the potters and barbers; admit of concubines. 10.81 Of Tirhut 40 10.82 Of Kanoj 25 10.83 Of Magadha 130-140 10.84 Of Chaurasi 700 10.85 Of Yasoyar 120-130 10.86 Unishima 50-60 (2) Unishiml and Vishnayi settled in central parts of Behar. 10.87 Vishnayi 80-90 10.88 Bengalese 180 (2) mostly settled in Rarh. (3) originally from the province of Rarh. (4) widows do not become concubines. 10.9 Tambuli 180 (1) retailer of betel; never cultivate. (2) never cultivate in Behar and Bengal. 10.iO Confectioners 10.101 Mayras of Bengal 20-30 (1) maker of sweets. (2) settled in Behar part of the district. (4) same rank with nine tribes of pUN artificers. 10.102 Muraris ofPurniya same as above. 10.103 Halwais 1,700-1,800 (1) makerofsweets. (2) settled in Bihar part of the district. (4) ranked above the grocers, gandhabaniks, keep concubines. 10.1031 Ganapatiya 1,350 . 1,0.1032 Bhojpuriya 90 (3) town of Bhojpur in Madhyadesh. 10.1033 Magadha 150 (3) Magadha, a part Madhyadesh. 10.1034 Kanoj 100 10.1035 Bhojpuriya Kanoj . 10 (3) having left Kanyakubja, settled at Bhojpur and Kanoj prior to arrival here. 116 1. Year-JBJO-ll 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (64-8) SOCIO·OCCUPATIONAL CHARACn;RlSTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISllUCT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Conta. 1 2 3 4 10.1036 Banarasi Kanoj 16 10.1037 Lakhnau 24 (3) came from Lakhnau or Lakhmanpur. 10.1038 Purba 25 (3) the geography of Purba is unknown to Buchanan. 10.11 Kandu (1) greatest part cultivators, at many places build houses for hire, a few parch grain. (2) mostly settled in western parts of the district especially on the north side of the river. 10.111 Korach-Kandus 260-270 (4) no explanation of this tribe available. 10.112 Maghaiyas 1,500 10.113 Kanoj 2 10.114 Tirahut . 25 (2) settled in the division of Kodwar. 10.12 Tilis of Bengal 200-250 (1) oilman. (2) divided into Ekadasi and Madhyadeshi, the last have longest settled in this district. (4) abstain from concubines. 10.13 Goyalas or Cowherd (1) rearing of cow and milkman. Western-tribe. (2) settled in western parts. (3) tribes from western provinces. (-4) considered the sudras next in the rank to the Baniyas. 10.131 Majroti 9,000-10,000 10.132 i(rishnat-gop '. 2,000 10.133 Goshin-Gop • 1,400-1,500 10.134 Goyaria-Gop 1,100-1,200 10.135 Maghaiya Goyalas 2,000 10.136 Jayit-Gop 100 10.137 Ahiri-Gop 150 (2) division of Kalikapur. (3) Brindabad. 10.14 Beng'a:tese C6whetd • 10.141 Sad-Gop 2000 10.142 Pallab-Gop 400-500 10.15 Hindu Cultivators 10.151 Koeri 40,000 (1) cultivation. (2) entirely confined to Bihar parts on both sides of the Ganges. (3) ofman¥ kin~s in origin: Maghaiyas, Chiramait, Banaphar, Kanoj, Dangbe. and TuahutIyas; about half are of the first class; many settled in the parts of the district belonging to Mithila; of the remaioOec~ two-thirds are Chiramait, and one-third Bhonaphar (the term have no explanation). (4) they are pure Sudras, rank there above all artificers; their widows may be come concubines. 10.152 Ganggot 4,000-5,000 (2) all settled near the Ganges on both its banks between Mungger and Bhagalpur. (4) rank equal to Koeri. 10.153 J{urmi 14,000- (1) cultivation. 15,000 (2) mostly settled in the western parts, south from the Ganges, but a good many are also to be found in 1he division of FayezuJla~ . .(3) they are several kinds, Sangsawar, Kurmi without any additional appel lation, Chandani, Ayodhiya, and Yasoyar; more than half are 01 the first kind; of'the remainder one half is of the secomi 'kind, and about a quarter of each of the third and fourth kinds; of the last there are few. (4) s.everal castes of artificers intervene and the Kurmis are considered as equal ti1n'ty to 'tbe cultiVlU'ots Imd retailers of betel.; 117 1. Year-18JO-lJ 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (64-S) SOCIO·OCCUPATIONALCHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DI~TlUCT OF BHAGALPUR, 181O-U-Contd. 2 3 4 10.154 Dhanuks S,OOO-9,OOO (1) cultivators, a great many of them are slaves and employed in agriculture and most of the slaves belong to this tribe. (2) scattered throughout the district. (3) they are divided into Silhatiya, Maghaiya, Yasoyar, Tirahuti, and Kanojia all local distinctions. (4) next in rank to Kurmi. 10.16 Gongr or Sungturas 60-70 (1) stonecutting. (Stone cutters) (2) reside in Maghadha part of the district. (3) reckoned to be originally from Bhojpur, and call themselves Rajput. (4) stone-cutters and barbers follow nearly in the same rank. 10.17 Barbers 10.171 Napits of Gaur 360-370 (1) only shaving. (2). settled in Bengal part of the district. 10.172 Rarh 70-S0 (4) Gaur and Rarh Napits of Bengal are pure. 10.173 Napits of Rajmahal. 100 (2) settled at Rajmahal. (3) from the west. 10.174 Other Barbers 2,000 (1) some of them are also surgeon barbers. (2) settled in the western part of the district. (3) a few from Kanoj, most from Ayodhiya, a good many are Maghaiyas and Tirahutiyas. (4) in Behar, those who confine their operations to shaving are considered pure but surgeon-balbers are considered to be lower in rank. 11 Nearly impure castes (1) most of them fish a~d cultivate land, but some follow other professions of unascertained ranks (4) next to the barbers follow a class of many castes, not far from being impute respective ranks not ascertained. 11.1 Kewat 2S0-300 (1) live by fishing, managing boats and cultivation. (2) settled in the Bihar part of district. (4) reckoned to be tolerably pure. 11.2 Kaibartas 200 (1) live entirely by agriculture. (2) settled entirely in the division of Lokmanpur, where they are called Khantas or diggers. (4) allowed to be pure, but Brahmins performing ceremonies are degraded. 11.3 Kaibartas of Bengal • 3,000-4,000 (1) all farmers except very few accompants and writers. (2) s~ttled in thz Bengal part of district. (4) ceremonies performed by Brahmans of their own, not reduced to the rank of varnas but called patit or excluded. 11.4 Amat 30-40 (2) settled in the division of Fayezullahgur\i. 1,900-2,000 (2) 11.5 Nagar !l1ostly settled in the district of Lokmanpur, and some in the Bengal part. 1 \.6 Gongrhi . (1) many of them are cultivators but most of t~em are fishers apd boatmen. (2) diffused through the district and are most numerous in Lokmanpur and Rajm:thal, that in the Gaur and Mithila. 11.61 Kurin 1,300-1,400 11.62 Banpar 400 11.63 Kanojiyas 100-150 11.64 Tirahutis 60 (2) settled in Bangka and Tarapur. 11.65 Maghaiyas 60 (3) settled chiefly at Mungger. 11.7 Rawani Maharas . 1,600 -1,700 (3)' a few in Mungger call themselves Maghaiyas, this tri be seems aboriginal of that country. (4) in Magadha, they are considered to be of pure tribe, in Mithila are conside red to be low, and in Bengal held altogether vile. 118 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (6:1-S)SOCIO'()CCU~:)ATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DIS11UCT OF B!;-{AGALPUR, 1810-11-Contd. 1 2 3 4 11.8 Gangreri 160-170 (2) very much scattered through the western parts, on both sides of the Gan£cs. (3) they claim Magadha as their original country. 11.9 Tiwars 150 (I) fishermen, boatmen, and cultivators. (2) settled in Mungger. (4) considered impure in Puraniya, but pure in Magadha. 11.91 Tiwar in Gaur 150 (2) settled in Gaur. (4) considered impure. 11.92 R'ljblngsi Tiwars 1,200-1,300 (1) Rajbangsis are divided into two kinds-Gananjugias, who are all cultiva tors, and live tolerably pure; and Govariyas who fish, cultivate, eat pork and drink strong liquor. (2) settled in the vicinity of Gaur, 300 families emigrated to Mithila and Magadba. lLlG Chabi 100 <1) tribe of fishermen. (2) settled in part of Mithila. 11.101 Chabi (Gaur) 30 (2) settled in Gaur. 11.102 Muriyaris 400-500 (1) live by fishing, cultivation and mangement of boats. (2) greatest part settled in Mithila belonging to this district. (4) reckoned to be an impure tribe in PuraniY.l, but not so in t is district. lLlI Suraiyas . 300-400 (1) impure tribe of fishermen, many of them cultivators. (2) mostly settled in part of Mithila. 11.12 Khattiks 180 (1) petty dealers. (2) mostly settled in Rajmahal and central parts of the district. (4) petty traders generally considered as imPure. 11.13 Kamanis 3 (1) petty dealers. (2) settled in Mungger. }1.14 Banats 300 (I) tribe of cultivators. (2) most numerous in the part of the district comprehended in Mithila, seemed to have extended south through the middle parts of the district. ILlS Ramaiyas . 2,000-2,200 (1) a tribe of cultivators. (2) confined to the vicinity of Rajmahal hills, on both east and west sides, partly in Bengal, mostly in Behar. (3) it is generally admitted that they are a tribe from the west of India. (4) on the verge of impurity. 11.16 Banawars or Wood- 100 (1) a class of cultivators, but tbey aho cu t timber and bamboos, and collect men drugs. (2) settled in the wilder parts of Behar. 11.17 Parighas • 3,000 (1) pretty numerous tribe of cultivators, also rear Tasar, collect the resin of the shorea robusta and act as armed servants. (2) settled in the hilly parts of the district, especially in Bangka. (4) seem to be aborigines. 11.18 Kantwars 170-180 (1) thh ani cultivate the earth, many employed as domestic servants. (2) settled in Lakardewani towards the frontiers of Virbhum. (3) they are probably of an aboriginal tribe. 11.19 Markandiyas 700-800 (1) manners (and perhaps also occupation) same as Kantwars. (2) mostly settled in part of the Mithila that belong to this district. (4) reckoned pure. 11.20 Torbas • 350 (1) tribe of fisherman, frequently carry the pai<:nquin. (2) mostly settled in Rajmahal. (4) considered as pure here. 11.21 Kharwar 3,000 (1) cultivate, fish, and carry the palanquin, mostly employed in agricultUle. (2) very numerous below Bhagalpur on both sides of the river. (4) considered as pure. 119 1. Year-1810-1I 2. Place-District of Bhagalpul' (64-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POFULATI 2 3 4 11.22 Chotaha. 90 (1) fish. cultivate, man boats. (2) settled in part of the district situated in Mithila. 11.23 Laheris 200 (1) live entirely by working in lac. (2) mostly in the vicitiny of capital. (4) admitted to be pure, many have become Muhammedans. 11.24 Patwars . 30-40 (4) admitted to be pure, adhere Hinduism. 12 Impure tribes 12.1 Bhar 20 (l) same as Puraniya. (2) confined to the part of the district included in Gaur. 12.2 Pllngra 115-120 (1) impure tribe of cultivators. (2) settled in Gaur. , (4) customs similar to those of the tribe in Puraniya. 12.3 Chasat . 1,500-1,6()O (1) numerous class so of cultivators. (2) in Gaur. (4) in the Bengal part of the district, they are reckoned a branch of washermen who have abandoned their pure profession. 12.4 Kungraj or Khattiks 30 (1) mentioned in Puraniya. (2) settled in Gaur. 125 Kawalis . 1 (1) settled in same vicinity. (4) among the impure tribes of Magadha, the cultivators and fishermen hold a superior rank to the artists and traders contrary to what happens in Puraniya. 12.6 Malos or Jalua Kaib- art as 170-180 (1) fishermen. (2) gre_lte,t num'Jer settled in Suryagarha and Pratapganj. 12.7 Kewats of Bengal • 200 (2) settled in Gaur. \2.8 Bcldar3 500·60:) (1) fish, dig and plough, some of them are hunters, and kill or catch deer for sale, others are employed in the woods to collect drugs. (2) scattered through out the district. (4) they are described as Hindus in Puraniya. 12.9 Khodoyas (Bel dar) 450 12 10 Wuniyas (Bel dar) 450 1 2.11 Sa mba I (Beldar) '130 12.12 Bagdi 24 fishermen. 12.13 Patani 24 boatmen. 12.14 Kandal or Kandar 25 (2) settled in the part of Gaur which this district contains. 12.15 Barahai Kandal 50-60 (2) settled chiefly in Kalikapur. 12.16 Chaings . very nume- (1) some fish, many more cultivate the ground, both as polughmen and rous class gardeners. (2) mostly settled in Rajmahal and the division south from thence, but mme are scattered towards the west, along the bank of the Ganges. 12.18 Chandals 200 (2) confined to Rajmahal. 12.19 Nat 10 . (1) women balance and perform sleight of hand tricks to amuse the populace men beat a drum and sing. (2) very thinly scattered .. 12.20 Oilmen (Telis) 5,000 (I) oilmonger, many are mere traders, a few of them hold the plough. 12.201 Rahris 700 (2) settled in Gaur, few in Mungger and Suryagarha. 120 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (64-8) SOCIO.OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTEIUSTICS 011' THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 181O-U-Colftd. 2 3 4 12.202 Maghaiya 2,400 (2) all settled in Bihar part of the district. 12.203 MUI1ggeri Ma~haiyall 400 12.204 Ariyar (Pedlar) 1,100 (2) in the central parts of the district. 12.205 Kanoj Telis 200 (2) mostly in Mungger and Rajmahal. 12.206 Tirahuti Telis 50 (2) chiefly in Bangka. 12.207 Maghaiyas 12.208 Joyanpuri Telis so (2) in Mungger. 12.209 Yasowar 10 12.2010 Desi Telis 250 12.21 Sungri or Sau 3,500 (1) many of them call themselves Baniyas, (4) their Brahmans degraded. 12.211 Rahri or Gaur Sahee . 250 (2) all settled in Gaur or Lakardewaal. 12.212 Bangadesi Sau 40-50 12.213 Kolsungri 1,500 12.214 Yasoyar Sungri 1,600 12.215 Ariyar Dhankata Su· ngri 600 12.216 Maghaiya·Sungris 250 12.217 Kalwar·Sungris 70 (1) proper distillers, but some of them trade in other articles 12.218 Vishnuwar·Sungris 60 12.219 Mathuraseni·Sungris. 25 12.2110 Ayodhyavasi.Sungris. 14 12.2111 Tirhuti.Sungris 6 12.22 Banodh . 2 (2) settled in Bhagalpur. n.23 Kllwar (1) Kal wars are proper distillers. 12.231 Behat 500 (2) scattered through the district. (4) a distinct caste from the Kalwar-sungeris. 12.232 Yasowars 280 (1) manners and occupation similar to Sungeris. (2) 'Jettled mostly in Pratapganj, some of them first settled in Bhojpur, they are called Bhojputl Yasowars. . 12.233 Pa~is 600 (1) ex;act palm wines, some of them employed in cultivation, all are employed as hbourers when the palms produce no juice. (4) c!remonies performed by the degraded. 12.234 Rantasis. 350 12.235 Kamanis 116 12.236 Tasoriyas 100 12.237 Beyads 30 12.238 Maghaiyas 30 12.24 Washermen • 1,200-1,300 (1) resort to cultivation, aspro~essional ~mo~uments are not adequate to su!,~ort them, but none entirely cultlVator except Chusut mentioned earher. (4) ceremonies performed by de~raded Mithilll or Kano) Brahfllan~. 12.241 Malbaiyas 800 12·242 Ayodhiya ZOO 121 1. Year-1810-lJ Z. Place-District 01 Bhagalpur (64·S) SQCIQ-OC;CUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU FOPVLATION OF THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR. 181I1-U-Contd. 2 3 4 12.243 Kanojiya. 12 12.244 Bhojpuri 8 12.245 Tirahutis 3 12.246 Rahris . 230 12.25 Yogis 30-40 (1) a few weavers, rest cultivators. (2) all settled in Gaur part of the district. 12.26 Chunari • 45 (1) prepare lime from shells. (2) settled in Gaur part of the district. 12.27 Pagun Jolas (1) about a fourth part live entirely by weaving; a few are entirely cultivators butin general the remaining 3/4 have a loom in each house and the men livepartly hyIV Javing, partly by cultivation; they are also drum beaters (3) 12.271 Kanojiyas • 1,600-1,700 12.272 Tirahutis 1,6')0-1,700 12.273 Maghaiyas 500 12.274 Chanurs. 300 12.275 Palwans. 140 12.276 Chapotas 20 12.28 Dholis . 120 (1) tribe of weavers and musicians. (2) settled in Gaur. 12.29 Dhuniyas called Nu- 4 (1) clean cotton. daps (4) adopted the faith of Muhammad. 12.30 Dosads. 3,000 (1) cultivators. (2) very numerous in Mithila, half belong to the division of Lokmanpur. (4) almost all call themselves Magahai, a few are Kurins, Kanojiyas, an Desis. 12.31 Dhari 32 (1) tribe of watchmen. (2) settled in the divisions of Kumurgunj, Mungger, and Suryagarha. 12.32 Musahars 3,000 (1) another tribe of watchmen. (2) settled specially in the division of Tarapur, as numerous as Dos?ds. 12.3~ Baud 32 (1) carry the palanquin and cultivate the ground. (2) settled in the frontier of Birbhum. 12.34- Korandiyas 80 (1) catch birds and mainly beg, sometimes employed to carry the palanquins. 12.35 Kangjar. 14 (1) public executioner; make straw or grass ropes, and brushes for weavers their women stain the skins of the Hindu gIrls. 12.36 Kallar 25 (1) catch birds, bring firewood for sale, hire themselves as day labourers. 12.37 Dabgars. 5 (2) confined to Mungger. 13 Beef eaters 13.1 Kurul 1,000-1,100 (1) workers in leather, but a great Part of them have betaken themselves entirely to agriculture. (2) settled in Bengal part of the district. 13.2 Chamar or Mochi . 2,200 (1) common tanners and workers in leather, many of them are employed in agriculture; the midwives of the district are mostly of this caste. (3) subdivided into several kinds that do not intermarrY-Dhusiyas amount to a half of the whole; Dohar more than one third of the remainder; Maghaiyas not quite so numerous as the Dohar; Guriyas, Kanojiyas and Joyanpuris. (4) there are several who have been converted to the faith in Muhammed 13.3 Dom basket m~kers, some work in bamboos and ratan, and sometimes in straw others are sw.'}ep~rs, and others act as public executioners and remove dead carcases, tnese differences of professiQn have produced It cli$tinction of caste" . 11-439 R. (J. India/NI;)/7~ 122 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (64-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU fOPULATION OF 'IF": r tS'JRJ( 'I OF BHAGAUPUR, 1810-11-Concld. . . . - . 1 2 3 4 13.31 Bangsphor 13.311 Magahis. 700 13.312 Tirahutis 10 13.313 Mahauliyas 150 13.315 Rahri 6:)-70 13.316 Deswar • 150 13.32 Hu alkhor 150 (1) act as sw~epers. 13.33 ],lIlad, Mord:lfurosh 2JG (1) pllblic e'tecutioners; also sweep. Dapra or Dome a 13.34 Hari or Hlllaikhor or 800-9JO (1) m~re sw~epers, do not cultivate the ground. Mukiyaras 13.4 Saryuriyas 11 (4) the Bmgal famine of 1176 gave rise to this unfortunateracr, they will eat the rem!1ants of the food of all others. ------_----_ ---' [Mountain tribes] and language are very different. and with whom The most remarkable of these mountaineers they cannot eat nor intermarry, nor could I hear is the tribe which occupies th~ northern part of any tradition concerning the two tribes having of the Rajmahal hills. ever had similar customs; but probably their customs at no very remote time wee.:: the same. They are fully as well dressed and ckanly as their traditions going back to no distant periods. the neighbouring peasantry, and their wom.;n They have, for instance. no tradition concerning have a greater quantity of ornamwts, and th..:se the introduction of Maize, which is now their more valuable. 111eir houses arc morc roomy principal food; and its introduction must have and airy, and fully more clean. The principal been the greatest improvement on their condi ornament of their huts consists of the skulls tion that has ever taken place. and has occa of the tigers, deer hogs and poncupincs, which sioned the addition of a new god to their worship. the owner has ~lain, and on the numb::r of these All other tribes they call Galer; but among trophies he prides himself with all the exaltation these are comprehended several tribes that shall of a keen sportsman. Their chief art is. the be afterwards mentioned, with whom they some preparation of what they call Pachoi, that is, times intermarry, many' of whom retain their fermented grain, from which 1hey prepare their language and all eat in common, and join in liquor, and which differs considerably from the the repast on beef. operation of malting. The grain, either maiz:.:: or janera (Hole us Sorghum) is boiled, and spread The Nat before mentioned. are usually called out on a mat to cool. It is then mixed with the Pahariya (hill) Nat. in order to distinguish them ferment of vegetables \:alled Baker, whiCh I from those who amuse the ?eople by performing have described in my account of Ronggopur, and tricks. I have already mentioned that in my kept in a large earthern pot for eight or nine opinion they are descended of Maler, who were days. Warm water may at any time be added taken into the service of the Nat Rajas, to whom to this, and in a few hours it ferments. and is Kahalgang. Teliyagarhi, Madhuban. and the ready for being drunk This liquor they can adjacent parts of this district belonged. At Pachoitadi. Some of them .can distil it. and Majhuya, in the centre of the hills, it was prepare Patkatadi. In the southern parts of admitted by both parties that the Nat and the the hills this tribe possess many oxen and cows; Maler eat together and intermarry; but at but in the northern parts they have Gnly domestic Parsanda this last was denied. At Maihuva swine and goats, as mentioned hy Mr. ~haw. A the Nat said ihat they were the same with the few of them can read and write the Nagri Beherbhungiyas. and at Parsanda they were said character. to be numerous not only there, but also in Manihari, Barkop and Godda; but at the last two [divisions: Nat. Maler and Galer] places I heard of none of them. because then: These people call themselves Maler; but they they were probably called Beherbhullgiyas, while admit that this name is also applicable to the this name is totally unknown at Parsanda, and southern tribe of Il1ountainecrs. whose manners in Godda the people have never heard of Nat. 123 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District 0/ Bhagalpllr Many of the Nat men speak the Makr languag\!, five or six; but a man may prevent any other but the women in general use the Hindi. They from cultivating his fallow land. have betaken themselves to cult~vate with the plough, but many of the men are in the service Every family has some land, but some have of Government, as guards to prevent the incur not enough, and these at spare time work for sions of the hill people. In eating and drinking wages. There are no slaves. they adhere to all the abominations of the Maler. Their chiefs, as those of the Maler, are A field thus cultivated after a fallow is called called Majhi. There may be in all about 300 a Vari and in the hills is not ploughed; but in families, exclusive of those called Beherbhun the low country it is often ploughed, and there giyas, if these be different. some of the Mal possess rice lands. that every year are regularly cultivated. Their huts are (Southern tribe of Rajmahal mountaineers] usually contiguous to the Vari, and near them I have already mentioned that tIle northern they have small gardens, in which they rear tribes consider their southern neighbours as plantains, capsicum, and green vegetables. On brethren, and call them Maler, tb\! name which the hills the Vari is not ploughed nor hoed. they give themsdvcs; but the southern tribe, The men cut the trees and burn them, and the shocked at the impurity of the uthers, deny this women sow the seed. On the first year they consanguinity, and most usually call the northern scatter over the surface seed of the kinds of tribe Chet, while they assume to themselves the millet called Kheri and Kangni; and with a denomination of Mal or Mar, which however stick pointed with iron, form small holes. in is probably a word of the same derivation with which they drop seeds of the Maize, of Janera Maler. The Mal howewr divide themselves and of a pulse called Bora or KalaL In the into three tribes, Kumarpali, Dangrpali, and second year they plant only the Maize and Marpali; and they often call the northern Janera. In the Varis on the low lands, which mountaineers Sumarpali, thus, as it were ack are ploughed, they raise the same articles as on nowledging a common origin, which I have the hills with the addition of rape-seed and little doubt is the fact. The manners and the sesamum. They collect wild yams, and besides language of the three southern Pali are the (lame cows and oxen, for milk and labour, they rear and they speak a very impure dialect of tbe swine, goats, fowls and pigeons for eating. They Bengalese. ferment both Maize and Janera, and usually drink the liquor without distillation; but some I shall now proceed to give an account of their are acquainted with the art. They make no manners, taken mostly from Sumer Singha, their cloth, and cannot work in iron. principal chief and his attendants. during a visit with which he favoured me at Dumka. They have most of the instruments of music commonly used in the low country, and have The three Pali were originally local distinc adopted inoculation for the small pox. Although tions, but now all live intermixed, h[!ve exadly their progress in agriculture is greater than that the same customs and langauge, and intermarry of their northern neighbours; their huts are but there are five real hereditary distinctions, much more wretched and dirty, their clothing is which descend in the male line. more scanty, and their women are less cleanlv and worse provided with ornaments. This i: [employment and occupation] presume, is owing to a consciousness of impurity All the five ranks now follow nearly the same and sense of degradation which has taken away occupations. They cultivate the ground, hunt, the pride that induces men to labour for and make charcoal, which last is their grand distinction: resource for procuring salt. cloth, iron and tobacco, the articles which they chiefly import. fmarriage and sex] Few or none of this southern tribes are in the Company's service; none are employed by the Among the rich. who have Hindu priests, premature marria.l!'es are in nse; but the poor oost office, and only four men, as far as my often wait until the !!irl is 20 years old; her info~mants ~new, are soldiers; very few also inclination however is never consulted. Her recelv~ !,enslons. But they are abundantly quiet narents alwavs receive some money from the and CIVIL and are fast improving in their agri bridegroom. but not enough to defray their ('11lture. Thr,Y h~ve manv cattle. and many of expense. A man may marry several wives. A them culttvate WIth the plou~h. Tnoculation fur the small-pox has been introduced. widow may live as a concubine (Samodh) without any reIigiou~ ceremony, but the connec [hind relations and cultivationJ Hon is permanent. Adultresses are turned away. hut may become concnhines. If an unmarried The land seems to be the proPl!rtv of the culti wom~n orove with chiM. her pammour mu~t ~ator'!.. On the hills and swelling land the field 111al'ry her. The eldest son at present succeeds IS cultIvated two years. and then lks fallow for to all digniti~s an~ land, but he gives his brothers 124 1. Year-1810-J1 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur a share to cultivate, and a father's moveables from 20 to 30 hundred families. They ~re are divided equally among his sons. The wom~n probably aboriginal, and are quite impur~, eatmg are left to be provided for by t~e sons untIl beef, buffalo. pork and fowls. They. hve by they !lre married, or become concubmes. cutting wood and bamboos, by collectmg honey and rosin. and by cultivation. They. spe~k. an INaiyas] impure dialect of the Hindi, scarcely mtelhgible My informants have no tradition concerning to those who are not acquainted with them. They their tribe having emigrated from any other pray to Nilamata and Dano, an~ have prIests called Bhungihar, Japah~r, or P~Jahar. ~hey do country, nor hav~ th~y ever ~card o~ any emigration from theIr hIlls; but m the hills of not marry until the gIrlS attam matunty, and burn the dead. In my account of Puraniya I have Mallepur south from Mungger, ther~ are about 100 families of a similar rude tnbe called mentioned a tribe of fishermen named Kat. They there informed me that they originally came Naiyas, the ll:ame l!sually given t 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur Majhi. There is no distinction of family rank [Bhungiyas] between the Majhis and their inferiors: all eat [Buchanan desoribed the following para with in oompany and intermarry. They say that his account of the northern tribe.j formerly they had chiefs called Ghatwals; but that the whole were caught and put to death I have just now mentioned that I thought it by the Marhattas. probable that the Beherbhungiyas were the same people with the Pahariya Nat, and they seem [marriage and sex1 pretty evidently to be the same with the hill They marry very early, wmally when from Maler, for at Barkop they are called indiscrimi three to five years of age, and always before the nately Beherbhungiyas, Desi-bhungiyas, and Desi.. age of ten. The father iQf the girl receives maIer; and they not only eat and intermarry money, but not equal to the expense which he with the Maler of the hills, but speak the same incurs. If a man has no children, he may obtain language, although they all understand the Hindi his wife's consent to marry another, who has dialect. serving as interpreters for those who equal rank with the first: the vixen sometimes. come fmm the wilder recesses of the mountains. however, refuses leave, and without t.hat a They have adopted the use of the plough, but second marriage cannot take place. A widow, in feeding retain all the impurity of the mountain who has had no children, may marry a widower; infidels. The Beherbhungiyas are chiefly COR but if a widow has children, she must continue fined to the eastern parts of the estate belonging single. Formerly the cuokold put both his wife to Kaderali, and called the pergunah of Godda. and her paramour to death ~ but ihey are now where they have no authority or wealth to afraid of the law, and abstain from going render their conversion worthwhile, and where to such lengths. The guilty parties are expeJled they are living in the immediate vicinity of those from society, and the deserted wife and her who glory in their impurity. On the adjacent children are taken care of, as if she was a widow estate of Chand we, which belongs to one -of their and they were orphans. In fact they seem to own chiefs, the people have taken the name of be excessively jealous, as the women were kept Anwar-hhungiyas. They live entirely by culti totally out of sight, while the men flocked round vation with the plough. and have no other to satisfy their curiosity. language except an impure dialect of the Hindi. Their huts are uncommonly clean. They have abandoned the abominations of beef and poultry. {occupation1 and are contended with the less odious repast The Saungtar use the plough in cultivation. and Df pork. employ the female buffalo and cow in both plough and cart, an abomination that on their [Thl! following extract contains in Buchanan's first arrival occasioned resistance but they have account of Southern tribe.] been able to persist. Now to return to the Bhungiyas, we find Uleit greatest numbers extending in a line west from The Saungtars play on two kinds of drum, and the hills of the Mal to those occupied by the on a flute made of bamboo with six holes. The Naiyas of Mallepur, along the southern boundary second is soft, but their airs are very monotonous. 01' the district, but some are settled among the To remedy this defect, they often sing and play Mal of Kalikapur. These last oall themselves the same air alternately. They use the plough. Ghatwali-Bhungiyas, but evidently hold with and have cattle. Some of them rear Tasar. Their regard to the Mal the same connection which the huts are very mean and slovenly. the roofs low Behar Bhungiyas do with the Maler; that is they and flat, and the walls made of small sticks eat with them, intermarry, and speak the same placed on end parallel to each other. language; but, living on the plains, they have adopted entirely the customs of the impure tripes [Dhanggar] of Bengal. The Dhanggar are another mountain tribe, The Bhungiyas are addicted to arms and originally from Chhota Nagpur but Dhanggar is plunder, cultivate with their own hands, collect a Hindi word. In their own language they are wax and rosin, and rear Tasar. They are very called Urau. Some years ago they began to jealous of their women, with I believe very come here. looking for temporary employment little reason. They seem to be somewhat from the Indigo planters ; but liking the service, attached to their chiefs, but this virtue is said about 45 persons have bl'ought their families and to have diminished since they have lost the tie taken up a fixed abode. They have a language of being exposed to common danger, and the peculiar to themselves, and are a very industrious sweets of predatory war. The person of by far active people, who cultivate, act as day labourers, the greatest power among the Bhungiyas is and are willing to carry both burthens and the Rupnarayan. but as he has only the rank of palanquin. They eat swine, beef and fowIIl. Thakur, his authority is. beheld with envy by the They have no Guru not Purohit. Tikayits, who are by birth his superiors. 126 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur All the Bhungiyas. except the Behers and Cajan; Khesari or Lath yrus sativlls; twd Angwars. speak a kind of Bengalese. but many, varieties of the Cicer arietiniull, that with red even some of the Tikayits speak it so corrupted flower is called But or Chana, that with white and so intermixed with a Hmdi equally impure. flower is called Kulthi; common-pea (Pisum), a that my assistants scarcely could make out their kind called Kabali or Kusi Matar, field pea-Maghi meaning. and Vaishaki Matar or Kera or Masur or the Eryum lens or lentil, Bora or Bbangra, Meth . Of the whole Bhungiyas there may be m the Kalai ; Harimug, and Seha mug or Mahananda ; district between 7000 to 8000 families. Such Tulbuli; Bhetmas, Sutrakalai.] confusion prevails among them. owing to their various claims of purity that I have not been [3. plants giving oil] able to form any conjecture concerning the [Buchanan mentions Sarisha, Teuri, Lotni, respective numbers of each kind. Their hnts Gota, and Maghuya or Moghi Rayi, Gangrayi, m general are the cleanest in the district. Sarshong or Piri; Ghora Rayi, linseed. Til eharak til etc.] [land use and production] . In Table No. 13 will be found an estimate of [4. plants cultivated as vegetables] the manner in which the lands are disposed, and in the 20 Tables. from No. 14 to No. 23 inclu In the 13th Statistical Table it will be seen sive. will be seen an estimate of lhe quantity and that I have estimated the land in kitchen garden,c; at 42,700 bighas, and that about 5,565 bighas in value of the produce of the district. omitting the division of Chandrapur. uoo trifling to admit the fields are cultivated with vegetables for the of calculation. and the lands belonging to the table, and besides, as in the account of Puraniya, two tribes of mountaineers. In Table 34 will ( have here given under separate heads all such be found an estimate of the total produce of each as are cultivated on so large a scale as to admit article of cultivation. together with its value. and a particular estimate. The roofs of the huts are the quantity required for seed. and left fOl not here so generally covered as Puraniya and the people have few arbours covered with WllSumption. twinning plants. [various plants: 1. riccJ [5. plants used as warm seasoning] • Rice. although of less importance, than in the districts hitherto surveyed, is by far the greatest [Bucl~anan -., m~ntions the following: Ginger, crop. It is of six kinds, which differ in season TurmerIC, CapSIcum, Onion, Garlic Methi of reaping, but some of them derive their names Ajoyan, Channani, Dhaniya. Saougp. Ji;a, etc.] , from other circumstances. [6. plants cultivated as tarkari] [Buchanan mentions various kinds of rice. [Buchanan mentions Baygun, Jhengga. Bam 1. Boro or Bora; 2. Jali rice; 3. Summer rice mashya, Potato, etc.] called Bhadai in Behar. and in Bengal Bhadui or Aus ; 4. Sathi rice; 5. Karktika or Khangdi; [7. other plants} 6. Winter rice called Aghani; 7. Aman rice broadcast in spring; 8. Sali. Next to rice, he [Buchanan mentions other plants: (1) culti mentions culmiferous plants cultivated in the vated as. greens, (2) used as an acid seasoning, most considerable quantity. Barley is mentioned for makmg thread or ropes (under this item he as next to wheat followed by maize, called in allot 18,000 bighas most of which during' the Hindi dialect Barka-Janera, Makai and Bhutta. year produce other crops also, (3) cultivated for In order of importance, he mentions Maruya saccharin~ juice, (4) for smoking and chewing, or the Eleusine of Gaertner, which by the (5) for dymg, (6) for reasing in sects.] northern tribe of mountaineers is called kodom. The next important crop is Kheri. 'It is a very [number of fishermen] poor grain, and can only be used boiled like rice, .Th~ n~mber of firshermen stated to belong to its meal is very bad, and the straw is bad fodder. thIS dlstnct was 3800 or 3900 ; but many of these The poor millet called Kodo is next to Kheri. a_re employed p~rt of their tim.:! gathering tama Next he mentioned China which is the P(lniclI1rl rIsks for. fuel, m harvest, and in working the millaceum of botanists. J anera is mentioned hoats which beLm~ to thi' oiotrict, h1t all the next. Next to Janera the most considerable of people employed in these are not natives, and a the culmiferous crops is the gundles but it is g_reat many people, even of those who have the chiefly confined to the southern parts of the rIght to ~sh for a ~xe~ sum, are employed in district.] the fishenes of thiS dIstrict but reside in Puraniya, Dinajpur, Nator, ~nd Murshedabad. [2. leguminous plants] The number actuall~ employed may therefore [Buchanan mentions the following: Mash be 7000; and allOWing, that each fishes eight Kalai or Urid or Makh; Arahar or Cytisus months in the year. and catohes five rupees 127 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District of Bhagaiplir worth of fish momhly, the total value will be contains not only the tenantry who are willing Rs. 2,dO,000, of winch the owners of the fisheries to labour with their own hands, but servants, may be able to secure a third part. No fish. day-labourers, and slaves. In Kalikapur I saw so iar as I heard, is sent to Calcutta. The sales some wealthy men of this class, like the great are managed as in Puraniya. Muhammedan farmers of Dinajpur, and these also were of the same faith; but in general this The fishermen seem to live much as in that class is very poor. Most of the more wealthy district. It is said that during the fishing are pett~ dealers, and are distinguished from the season they can clear from two to six rupees petty dealers of commercial tribes by being a month, that is, on an average four rupees, called Grihastha-beparis, in place of Beparis. and the people whom I employed merely to buy such fish as I wanted, oomplained of four rupees [4. under-tenants] • a n1onth, as being hard wages. The fourth class of tenants, mentioned in the OF FARMS account of Puraniya, and which consists of under-tenants, except in the southern parts of tsocial classes based on agriculture. 1. high castel Lakardewani, contains in this district very few The high castes do not enjoy the same privi persons, who in the Hindi dialect used here are leges as in Puraniya. In no part are they more called Kutali and Kolayit. lbese also are exempted than others from paying rent for the included among the plougbmen. ground oocupied by their houses; but in most parts of this' district it is from few only that [stock of farms] ground rent for houses ~s demanded, and it is In Table No. 35 will be found an estimate of only in some parts, chiefly in the portion of the the proportion of live stock belonging to the high district which belonged to Bengal, that they castes, to tradesmen, and to farmers; and in are allowed to oocupy land at a lower rate than Table No. 37 will be found an estimate of the others. A certain part, however, of the military proportion of rent paid by the three first tribes hold land by military tenure either, free classes, and of the proportion of ploughs held by of rent, or for a mere trifle, and the lands of both who cultivate for a share, by hired servants or such are most miserably neglected. But besides slaves, and by under-tenants. This will explain these a great deal of the land is rented by the many circumstances relative to the stock of high castes; and a great deal of this is supposed farms, and will enable the intelligent reader to to be at the same rate with what is paid by judge in what manner the burthens fall on each common cultivators; but their rent is seldom class of tenantry. I shall proceed now to explain levied with rigour, and the kinsmen of many somewhat farther the nature of the stock. of these farmers being employed in the manage ment of the estates, various shifts have been The expense of implements is next to nothing, invented to lighten their burthen. None of them so that, as in Puraniya, the only stock worth work with their own land, and it is not custo notice is plough cattle, and the observations mary in this district, except just in its southern made on these in my account of Puraniya apply extremity, to relet land to under-tenants, neither equally in this district. The average amount for are those who cultivate for a share numerous, each division may be found by dividing the whole so that most of the lands rented by the high value of plough cattle, which will be found in castes are cultivated by their slaves or hired the 35th Table, by the number of bighas actually servants. The higher rent paid here makes them occupied., which will be found in the Tables from more industrious and attentive than in Puraniya. No. 14 to No. 33. and their stock of cattle also is very large. In the 38th Table will be found an estimate [2. tradesmen and artists as tenants] of the number of cattle allowed for each plough, The next class of tenants as in Puraniya con' and constructed on the same principles with the sists of the tradesmen and artists. Among these 36th Table of the account of Puraniya dis I have only included such of the Goyalas as trict, and the remarks which I made in the deal in milk, for in this district a very great account of that, concerning the quantity of labour number of that caste does not deal in milk marC performed by the cattle and expenses of cultiva-· than any other farmers. All that I have said tion will be found nearly to coincide with the in the account of Puraniya concerning this class state of this district; a more accurate statement of tenants is here also applicable, but I must may, however, be procured of the former by com add, that in this district a great many tradesmeI1 paring the number of plough cattle of each divi work part of the year in their art, and the sion, which will be found in the 35th Table with remainder at their farm. Here a great part of the quantity of work which they perform, which the petty traders (Beparis) are included amon" may be readily extracted from the Tables ex planatory of cultivation. the Paungniyas (or tradesmen). P [3. ploughmen or Chasas] [share of produce] The third class of tenants consists of C11asaS in many parts the tenant pays, nominally at or ploughmen ; but this denomination of persons least, one-half of the produce as a rent; but this 128 1. Year-J8JO-ll 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur is on valuable crops. The expense of cultivation and on this subject in particular, the utmost however, even allowing for the frauds, to which pains were tab!n to keep me in the dark. In the high castes are incident, cannot well exceed general, however, it must be observed, that upon the whole, one half of the gross produce, except in a few places, and on rice land, it is and this was confirmed by many statements too low to act as a sufficient stimulus to industry; which I procured, and by the calculation founded and it will be observed, that it is only the rice on the custom of the servants called Athoyaras, lands, and the parts which are high rented, that which has been mentioned in the account of are in a tolerable state of cultivation. Puraniya, and in this district there are some such servants, although not so numerous as in the What I have said in Dinajpur and Ronggopur former. The cost of harvest is here in general concerning the illegal exactions, alleged to be smaller; but on the whole, even where the tenant taken by the Zemindars, or their agents, are does no work himself, every charge is, I am cer entirely applicable to this district; and, although tain, defrayed by half of the gross produce; nor the landlords have not here the excuse of the can the rent paid to the landlord amount to one privileges granted in Puraniya to the higher half of the remainder. castes, r am persuaded, that There are fewer great or wealthy farmers than In general the people are worse used than in in Dinajpur, of at least they conceal their wealth that district, and Ito this chiefly must be attribut so carefully, that it is unknown, and in fact ed the miserable condition to which many parts becomes useless either to themselves or others. of it are reduced. Owing, however, to the system of advances having made comparatively less progress, the The tenants of Behar in general transact their people are not so much involved in debt and own business with the agents of the Zemindars, difficulty. In Table No. 39 will be seen an esti and it is only among the rude tribe called mate of those who pay their rent as it becomes Saungtar, and in the Bengalese parts of the due, from their own stock; of those who borrow district, that a kind of chief tenant is employed ready money; of those who take advances fot the to transact the whole affairs of the community, purpose, but who at crop season complete their a practice, as I have mentioned that is common engagements; and of those who, having taken in Ronggopur, and which seems to have been advances, are annually falling more and more in once pretty universal in India. debt. Similar tables have not been formed for the districts hitherto surveyed, but in all of them, The rents of this district are levied in two I am persuaded, it would have appeared that the manners, Nukudi and Bhauli. The former is a first class would have been less numerous, and money rent, and is collected by messengers in the last class more predominant. Money, bor {he same miserarble instalments that have been rowed in small sums to pay rent, usually pays at mentioned in my account of Puraniya and which the rate of 1/32 part per mensem. The arrears give rise to all the vexations that are liable to of rent due to landlords are a trible. such a mode of colleotion: but here this rent is free from the evils that in Puraniyu have arisen There has been no attempt to regulate the from inequalities of assessment. size of farms, which are nearly of the same size as in Dinajpur or Puraniya, but it is not so com Bhauli, is a rellt paid in kind, and is confined mon a custom here as in the latter district, for to the parts of the district which is comprehend poor farmers to unite stock, to enable them to ed in Behar, and is chiefly confined also to rioe. complete what is requisite for a plough; each with a very little on other kinds of grain. ll1a,n, in by far the greater part of the district, has as much of his own, or borrows it. The tenures. by which farmers in this district hold their land, are extremely various. Scarcely any of the landlords make advances to the tenants, and those who follow this practice, With regard to the duration of the leases, are chiefly confined to the eastern parts of the some part is perpetuity. district, and it is given only to new comers. It would be more useful in the wastes, where poor It must be observed tthat, except in the leases men alone can be expected to come, and where in perpeuity, few or no tenants, especially in new settlers are much required. The advances Behar, have any proper document either for the which are made are usually in the form of a loan extent of their possession or the amount of the for one year, at the rate of 2 anas interest on the Zemindars' claims. The leases, as they are rupee, or 12-!- per cent. called, are granted to two or three chief men of the village by name, with an etc., comprehending The rents are much more equally assessed than all the others; and they do not specify even the in Puraniya; and in the same vicinity are in gene total of the lands, nor the total amount of the ral somewhat in proportion to the value of the rent, but merely the rate of rent; and sometimes land, btlt.in different parts vary astonishingly; not even that, but only command the tenants to 129 1. Year-JBJO-J1 2. Place-District 0/ Bhagalpur work, assuring them that the customary rent fact sell themselves for that time; for they receiv alone will be demanded. At the times of payment ed from 5 to 20-R. as a loan. without interest. bills are made out according to this rate, for each and. until they can repay that. they ought to tenant, and after having paid these for one year work every ploughing season for their master, his rent cannot be increased without its being receiving daily about 3 sers. Calcutta measure of alleged that he had cultivated more or better land rice in the husk~ or of some coarse grain. If the than he at first did. Great room, however. is master has 4 beasts. the ploughman works 6 left for unjust demands of this nature. as in the • hours; if there are 6 beasts he works 9 hours. bills there is nothing specified but the amount of He does nothing for his master but work the the rent in money; and the practice of such cattle, either in the plough. or with the plank or vague agreements eXPQses the Zemindar as much rake; so that, if he is industrious, he mny do as the tenant to fraud. as his agents and the little jobs in the afternoon, but in many places tenants may enter into collusions in forming the the men are too indolent to take advantage of first bills. Such practices in letting leases are. I this. When there is no ploughing, the servant is believe. contrary to law but I do not know that usually employed to weed, or transplant. getting it is any officer's duty to bring the· guilty to a trifle more than his common allowance of punishment Or to investigate the matter without grain. The whole profits on harvest is secured a formal complaint being entered before a Ju,Qgc. by the master to his own ploughman. as far as possible, and many contrive to have the advan Having now finished what I have to state tage of two harvests; as in the southern and concerning the tenantry, I proceed to give an northern parts of the district the seasons of the account of those who cultivate lands in which prevailing crops are different. so as to admit of they have no property. When treating of the same persons sharing in both. Although the domestic slaves I have already said all that has allowance for harvest is smaller than in Puraniya. occurred to me concerning such of these as are yet the sharing in two harvests, and the higher employed in agriculture, I shall now therefore allowance given daily, render the condition of give an account of those who cultivate for a the ploughman here somewhat better, SO that a share of the crop, of those who are hired by the man and woman who have two children. can month or season, and of those who are usually spend 2 rupees a mQnth; .and jt is p.ot ~llcged, that hired by the day, only premising that. as taking many of them run away. The money advanced hire is considered as very disgraceful, few. even defrays the expense of marrIages, funerals. . and of the poorest farmers. will acknowledge that such ceremonies, and is lost when the labourer they perform. any wnrk except on their own dies. His allowance of- grain and htlrve~ may farms. It is. however. usual to bring as many amount to 15 R a year. The woman makes the ploughs to work OIl· the ~. fields as possible. remainder, in which sh~. is very much assisted by for it is alleged that six ploughs in one day will gleaning, most of the reapers having a strong I?rod~Ce more effect than one plough in six days; fellow-fl!eling ih leaving 'her it large quantity _.. , .. and It is the custom tp transplant, weed, and reap ...... Owjng to the extravagant jealousy of the a field at once. plIQbably for the sake .of tumult men the women here can, on the whole however, and bawling in which the natives deli~t. Poor gain less than in Puraniya. In the Bengalese neighbours. therefore. usually unite on such part of the district the ploughmen usually receive occasions. and by tunas w~ in. CGmpany OD from t to 1 R. a month, b6Sides fooa and clOth their respective possessions. ing~ but are engaged the whole year. and perform every kind of labour. Of course their condition I have already mentioned that mtUly 'tenants is better:than in the western parts. who have leases may be said to cultivate for a share. and are often supposed to give mor;e than In the southern corner of the district, Belpatta a half of the produce to the landlord; but there and Kalikapur. although the language spoken is are very few who cultivate the lands of tenants a kind of Bengalese. the ploughmcn are called for a share, and in the Behar part: of the district Kamiya, and Krisan, the usual term, is applied they are in general confound with under-tenants, to another class of labourers. These have neither who pay a rack rent. under the general name provisions. land, stock, nor seed, but borrow the Kurtali; while small tenants. who have only stock whole, and cultivate as much as they can. When for half a plough, are called Adhiyars; but in the crop has OOea reaped, and the expense of this Bangalese part those who cultivate for a share operation deducted trom the general mass, the are called Adhiyars. while under-tenants are master takes double the quantity of the seed. called Kolayit. It is there that those who culti The remaining produce is divided into three vate tenants' land for a share are most common. equal shares, of which two go to the master, and and none of. the reDIt there consists of a share of one to the Krisan;· and out of this he repays the crop. whatever provisions he has borrowed, with an addition of 50 per cent. 'Such people are exceed In the Behar part of the district, ploughmen ingly poor. The reward for those who tend arc seJdom hired by the year, but general1y for cattle is very lJearl¥ th~ same as in. PlIraniya; the ploughing season alone. They usually j:J1 old men) women. and boys can at least procure 130 t Year-l8iO-ii 2. Place-District of Bhagalput a supply of food by tendiJlg the cattle that re i11 Puraniya; that of the ploughman is better, nor main in the villages; and those who tend calttle have I heard, that day-labourers here are paid in in the wastes have higher wages than ploughmen; advance, except when wanted by Europeans. and it is alleged, derive very considerable advan Their number is very considerable. tages from the milk, of which they defraud their masters; but, as I have said, they lead a hard life, although not one of severe labour. [Arts in Bhagalpur] There are in this district a few Chauthariyas, During early nineteenth century, an elaborate who, as in Puraniya, plough twenty days on their network of household industry met the entire master's field. eight on their own, and two on consumer( demand of the country as wen as of that of the person who tends the cattle. the export. achanan made an elaborate survey of 'master furnishing the plough and cattle. these industries and of persons engaged therein. His Book V of "Account of the District of Bha Day-labourers here receive about the same galpur" is an accoU1lJt "of the state of arts and allowance as in Puraniya. that i.,,· about 3 sers commerce." He firstly deals with arts. For an of grain a day, or money and grain to the value estimate of the number of artists, he refers to of between from i ana to 1 ana a day. The the Statistical Table No. 40. The word 'Artist' condition of ~he labourer is here no worse than is used in a broad sense to represent the artisans. (65-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11 srI. designation of artists type or nature of work no. 2 3 I, Of the Fine Arts Painters • • Employed as in puraniya. 2 Mirasis • A kind of dancing and musical girl s Who perform before Muhammedan worr.en . of rank; confined to Rajmahal havini two sets containing five girls. 3 BaL • The common dancing girls, much on the same footing as in Puraniya, profefs • the faith in Muhammed except two sets who are Rumzani. 4 Kheloni • • A few sets of Hindu dancing girlsin the southern part of the district. 5 Jhumuriyas Sets of dancing boys. Each set consists of two or three men, who are musi cians, that beat the drums called Tabla and Mandira, and of two boys who dance and sing dressed to represent Krishna and Radha. They are mostly weavers and, when not employed in their musical profession, exercise the shuttle. These sets are emploYed at marriages and receive about eight anas a day, and food. 6 Natuya • Sets of weavers of the Jolaha tribe, employed as in Puraniya. 7 Domna Domni • Sets of 6 or 7 men and women, or of men dressed like woman and of very • low caste, who dance and sing at great festivals, especially at Ghetu puja Confined to the eastern part of the district. 8 Bhangrs • Imprudent fellows who make wary faces, squeak like pigs, bark like dogs and perform many other ludicrous feats, also dance and sing, and are empl oyed on great occasions. 9 Bishlhari.i' • Confined to the Bengalese part of the district. Described in the accounts of • Dinajpur and Ranggopur, serpant charmers. 10 Kirto:1iyas and SJngkirtoniyas or D~scribed in accOllllts of Dinajpur and Ranggopur. Here they are often caUld Mora-Kirtoniyas; Mora-Kirtoniyas on account of their being employed in funeral rites. 11 Bh:daniya Kirtaniyas of Behar. Described in the account of Puraniya, singer of devoted songs. ~ 12,13 Pirergayan • • Singers empolyed by the Moslems to sing the praises of their saints; there is only one set; at Rajmahal1 0 houses of Piranis perform the same function. 14 Badfakars, Bajaniyas Common musicians described in the accounts of foregoing districts. 15,16 Ta>aw:1iehs, Nahabatwalehs • • Described in the account of Puraniya; beats tasa and Nahabat. 17 Daphalis • A kind of low Muhammedans, begging on the strength of singing amorous ditties accompanied by a tambourine. 18 Nariyals., .' • Men of Goyala and Beldar tribes, employed to dance at marriages and receive .' • a share of the feast. i31 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (65-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, IHO-ll- Ccntd, srI. de3ignation of artists type or nature of work no. 2 3 19 Blzigurs,Nlten Ju~\:I~rs, tumblers and balancers who amuse the people; fixed their resi~e ill the wildest part of the country; some of this district called Naten are of the Rajput caste. - . . . , . . 20 Chambas • • Amuser of the populace with tame bears and monkeys. • II. OJ Common Artists I. Personal artists' services 21 Washerman Nearly on the s~me footing as in Puraniya; a faw at Bhagalpur make good • • wages by washtng the cloth manut'actuIi!d at'that . place. 22 Washers of shals On the same footing as in Puraniya. 23 Coarse soap maker At Mungger,one house consisting Of 4 person~ live ~y making a coarse soal'. 2J Tallow ~lndle maker Threefamilies at Munggerlive by Makingtallowcandlesused by the invalid Europeans and Muhammedan. 25 Maker of torches of old rags • Four families at Mungger live by this profession. 26 Taylor who make army clothing A great many strangers are employed at Mungger; a man working constantly Cin mike Rs. 4/- to Rs. 5/- a month; his wife working at home, can eam half as much; their profits in other parts are higher, but employment is not so constant. 27 Tent maker Only one tent maker is at Bhagalpur. 28 Napit, Nai,Jurrah • Barbers of the Bengalese part of the district are called Napit; Nais of Behar are better operators; a few Muhammedan; make good wages' some having acquired wealth are ashamed of their profession and betaken themselves to the study of liberal sciences; lurrah is a kind of surgeon barbers. . , , . 29 Helas • The men extract blood by cupping and the women by applying leeches' described as a very 'impure' tribe. ' 30 Nat • The Nat women tatoo or stain the skin of the sable belles while their men • • • castrate various domestic anima-Is. 31 Missiwaleh Makers of tooth-powder. 32 Redlead m'lker Most common female ornament is ted lel\d; sl1pplyis unequal to demand. 33 Lac ornlment makers They are numerous, mostly Hindus; their work is ~xcee~ingly coarse. 34 Glass ornament makers In the B~har part of the district bracelets (churi) of a coarse kind of glass ~alled ~angch are a good deal u~ed; there are several kinds of glass used In maktng ornaments. • . . . 35 Workersin shell Confined to the eastern part of the district; neither reach'llor dexterous. 36 Malis Prepare garlands, and work in the pith of the Sola; far inferior in skill to those of the N. E. parts of Bengal. 37 Ink-makers • Theartists collect the lampbla~k,of which theinkis made, by investing an • earthen vessel over a burnIng lamp. 38 Mat-mlkers Mit-makers of Gogri make chiefly mats of tke' common reed or Narkat which they split often and interweave; also make mats of sacred gras~ called Kus; part of the mat-makers of other divisions makes mats of the leaves of khajur or wild date. 39 . Hut-thatching workers • Those who I ive by thatching huts and constructing walls of reeds and straw live at the three chief towns. 4~ Dom Blngsphor BlSket-makers, make mats of the slips of bamboo neatly inter-woven' their • chief employment for the ordinary supply of market is making b~skets (Oalis), winnowing fans (Sup) and fans for cooling the air (Pangkha) when ordered, they also make umbrellas, screens for doors (chik), and larg~ circular baskets that serve as granaries. 41 Paper-makers. Making of papers, much of the same quality with that of Ronggopur and Use • the· same materials. 132 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (65-6) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1819-U-Contcl. srI. designation of artists. type or nature of work no. 1 2 3 42 Book-binder '. • Only' one lmok-binder at the capital. 43 Muchi, Chamar The tanners who make shoes, ropes, drum-heads and saddles and COVer baskets in the western parts are called Chamar (lnd in the eastern Muehl. Th()seitl the yiUa.esform ing the great mass,live chiefly by making shoes and ropes for the farmers .... are paid chiefly in grain and each family may make 3 R a month. Agood workman in towns make 5 or 6 R a month. 44 Dabgar . • Tanners who makeieather Oais- fOl'holding eJltract~f sllgar-cane, molasses , boiled butter and' ott Centlned to Mungger. A family may make 4 or 5 rupees a month. 45 Atushbaz • • Makers of fire-work; nearly on the same footing as in Dinajpur. 46,47 To~cconist • Preparation of tobacco for the pipe, sell also betel; the same people us ually l'repare the charcoal balls used in smoking; in Mungger and Rajmahal the making of these articles constitutes a separate art. 48 Maker of intoxicating sweetmeat One man at Mungger prepares intoxicating smetMeatS'from bemJ> leaves. 49 Disti11ers The distillers are, in proportion to the population, more wealthy and numerous tnan in any district hitherto surveyed; they distil entirely from Mahuya lfowers. 50 Fermented liquor-makers In Kalikapur, one family prepares a fermented Jiquor from grain which is not distiHed; this is called Pachoi. 5t Palm wlne-makets • • Those who make palm wines also 'make' mats- of palm lell'Ve6 i11" the rniny season. 52 Oilmakers Making ()f oil. At Mungger and Rajmahal a few have two mills, and many mills are provided with only one beast. About 60% purchase the seed and sell the oil,40% grind for hire, except the mill and beast, with perhaps one or two rupees worth of seed and oil, they have no oeapital, some eVen have not a beast, but turn the mill with their hands, they are generally poor. Dlhiyars. Makers of curds and boiled butter, they have more capital 'than those in Pura 53 niya; some have few cattles, but not large herds. ~hkk.hanwalehs . • At Mungger 3 milkmen prepare butter after the European fashion for the Ufe 54 of the Europeans in garrison. Mayra One man only makes sweetmeats after the fashion of Bengal and resides in 55 the capital. 56 Muraris • The Muraris make another kind of sweetmeats and parch various grains. Halwais. • The Halwais prepare sweetmeats after the fashion of Hindustan. They also 57 make a small quantity of sugar called' Chilli, and also some ofa coarser kind called Shukkur most commonl~ used in th~ district. 58 Makers of Puya andPhulauri • At Bbagalpur this profession gives employment to 100 families. In other parts of the district, these articles. of food are PJ'epar.ed by Htlwai!i or by Bhardhunas or women of poor families who parch grain for hire or sale. S9 Bharbhunas, Chabenafurosh.Bhunaru, Bharbhunas are called by two other names mentioned,under the preceding .Bhujaru column, they live chiefly by parching pulse and maize. 60,61 Maydapesa • ln this district those who make flour for sale are considered as a different profession from those who split pease (Daihari), some of tho!je who deal in flour are rich and hire labourers; confined 63,64 Bukurkussab, Kussab Butchers; as in Puraniya there are two kinds of butchers, the Mukurkussab killing sheep and goats and the Kussab killing beef. • The cooks are on the same footing as in Putaniya: and at entertainments 65 Bawarchis are hired to dress food by the hundredweight. 133 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (65·S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Contd. srl. designation of artists type or nature of work no. 2 3 2. Workers in more durable goods : manufacturing-cum-servicing units 66 Blacksmiths and Carpenters Both two intermixed to treat them separately, those making implements of husbandry called Barhai, and others Lohar; in some places, the same per sons make the whole implements of agriculture, wood and iron, and coarse work of both kinds, while in others, the two professions are separate, al though considered to belong to the same caste; these country tradesmen form a regular part of manorial establishment, and are usually paid in grain for the implements of agriculture. 67 Carpenters-makers of household At Mungger and Bhagalour, some workmen make vastly superior household furnitures furnitures like chairs, stools, bedsteads, tables, etc. sold often to passengers with some export to Calcutta; they also make often pa lanquins and carriages with 30 workshops at Bhagalpur and 40 at Mungger, each one employing 2 to 10 workmen. 68 Other Carpenters • Make coarse furniture for country use; number of boats built is very consi derable; building carts give considerable employment commonly made of axles and wheels. 69 Furniture painters Formerly, nearly all the work of carpenters was painted and often ornamented with flowers in imitation of gold and silver; this kind of painting called Jappani, being out of fashion in Caicutta and the workmen being poor, they are chiefly employed to paint stools for natives, small turned boxes, the shafts of spears; they are also occasionally employed to paint houses, boats, palanquins and other carriages, with common oil colour, most of them are Moslems, for merely employed as Kamangur to make both cannon and small arms; they were compelled to change profession. 70 Nukas At Mungger, three families always paint houses, boats, palanquins, or carriages they are bad performers owing to a want of proper oil; they were never kamangur. 71 Goyla paint-maker At Mungger, seven houses of GoyaJas or cow-herds, each having from 5 to 15 head of cattle, collect urine, boil it until it becomes thick and strained through cloth; what remains on the strainer is the paint called Piyuri and is made into little balls, each house makes from 3 to 4 mounds valued at Rs. 120-160 when dear and Rs. 98-128 when cheap during a year. 72 Sawyers . Sawyers, who do no other kind of work, are in this district not at all common Most of the carpenters saw their own timber. 73 Turners At Mungger and Bhagalpur, there are good many turners, all Muhammedans in many parts of the district, the carpenters also turn. 74 Hair comb maker At Mungger, and one or two other places are a few men who make hair combs of Karam wood; their work is clumsy and the teeth very wide. 7S Potters Both at Rajmahal and Mungger, they make some wares of fine quality. especi ally a kind of bottles for holding water (Sarahi), generally they make corns mon wares. 76 Toy makers Those who mould images in clay are chiefly employed to make toys of children. Very few images of the Gods are made of this m~terials. , 77 Brick-makers Their work is generally of a low quality. 78 Bricklayers They are execrable and are especially defective in preparing their plaster, whkh often, even when new, does not turn the rain. 79 Baruyi • The Baruyi, who 'sell betel, prepare in general in the lime that is used with that substance. 80 Stone cutters • They are more numerous than in other districts surveyed because there are several quarries; their operations are now entirely confined to hornblende or indurated potstone, and to milstones; Bhagalpur workmen employed in the Jain temple of Champanagar for several years; those of Ratnagunj make only stones for handmills; those of Mallepur chieflY quarry milstones and hornstone, and form these materials into rude blocks, which are after wards finished at Mungger, plates, cups, mortars, and weights are made, for common sale, of the hornblende or hornblende slate, and images of Siva, when commissioned, are made of the former; in general they make ~ood wages. . 134 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (65-S) STATE OF' ARTlSANS IN THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Contd. sri. designation of artists type or nature of work no. 1 2 3 81 Gold smiths Small number found in: most parts of the district indicating poverty; in Mung ger, the number is large and some are exceeding neat workmen comparable to those of Calcutta, they make high wages, half a rupee a day but often it is not above tW{J annas. 82 Workers in Copper, brass or Manufacturing of vessel is poor, the workmen are chiefly employed to bell metal mend those imported from Murshedabad, and to make female ornaments, at some places makers of vessels are called Kasera, and those of orna ments Thathera, but generally the terms are used as synonymous; all are poor. 83 Worker in Bidri At the capital, there is one man who works in the alloy called Bidri. 84 Rangdhaluyas or Ranggarbuyas They work in tin and pewter, (Jutah) making ornaments for women, and tin leaf. 85 Kalaigars They make tin, brass or copper vessels. 86 Tube-makers for smoking tobacco They make flexible tubes for smoking tobacco. 87 Smelters of iron Their skill is too crude to perform the job with any reasonable quality; the same people mine, prepare charcoal and smelt so that no account of ex penses in different stages available nor any estimate can be formed regarding nlture or the richness of the ore as they are never weighed or measured; at Bangka, 150 smelter families reside, work five months in smelting and in collecting Mahuya flowers for the remainder except during 2 months of marriage feasts; 100 families reside at Tarapur, 70 houses at Lakardewani; in the whole district production is estimated to the order pf 96C0 maunds or 6336 cwt. A family can make about Rs. 2· 75 a month, and cultivate 4 or 5 bighas of high land. Each pays from Re. 1· 00 to Rs. 1· 25 as rent for ore and charcoal and about 12 annas for the fields, which are generally culti vated for a few years, and then fallowed, as the smelters often move in search of ore. 88 Forgers of iron The iron of Kharakpur is reckoned the best that comes to Mungf;er, it is forg ed into various forms, that intended for plough shares (Phal) is the highest priced; in working for coarse goods it loses one-third, and wrought into fine goods, it loses one half, some blacksmiths exclusively 'forge the crude iron, some make the implements of agriculture and coarse utensils used in the country, they all reside near the mines, five or six men are employed at each forge (Maruya); crude iron is heated and hammerea three or four times, and is then fit for sale, being formed into wedges, bars or plates; each man, it is said, could make two annas a day. 89 Blacksmiths making finer goods • They generally make spears, swords, matchlocks, and a rude kind of cutlery at Mungger 40 houses make goods after European fashion. 90 Koftgurs. At Mungger,thereis a house of Koftgurs, who plate tea kettles, and inlay gun burels, sword blades or spears with ~old or silver. . 91 Needle makers. At Bhagalpur are two houses of needle makers, who live entirely by this pro fession. 92 Cutlers . They are divided into two kinds: Saugur who grind razors, knives and other instruments, and Sikulgur, who cleans arms wl'th korondum. 3. Workers manufacturing cloth 93 D:luniya. They generally clean and beat the cotton wool; they purchase at once a small quantity, clean it and retail it to. the spinners. 94 Sl'inners. All castes are permitted to spin, women predominating the profession; spil'n ing is done by small wheel; the number of women on the whole estimated at 160;000; but according to Buchanan's another calculatkn only 71,450 women can be employed on the basis of the value of cotton wool imrorted and produced. These women could make thread to the vah.:e of abcut Rs. 792,600; about Rs. 198,000 worth of this will be required for mixed cloth carpets, sewing, etc .. the remainder according to .he average of estima1es received, would make abollt 832,000 rupees of cloth. 135 1. Year-181O-11 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur (65-S) STATE OF AIH[SAN3 IN THE DISTR.ICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11-Concld. srI. designation of artists type or nature of work no. 2 3 95 Dyers The dYers in the most parts of the district are chiefly employed to dye the clothes of thos! who attend marriageparties that-are exceedingly numerous and during the three months which the ceremonies last, the dyers make very high wages; but at other times they have Htde employment, they dye chiefly with the safflower, with which they give two colours, Kusami, a bright pomegranate red, and Golabi a pale but fine red like the rose; and each colour is of two different shades, they also dye with indigo, but blue is notin much demand and with the flowers of the Tungd and Singgarhar. 95 Tasar Silk weaVers Weaving of pure tasar silk is rare; the type of mixed silk is called Bhagalpuri because almost whole of it is woven in the vicinity of that town, out of 3275 looms in the district, 3000 are said to be in Kotwali, women mostly wind the thread. 97 W~:lVers of cotton cloth • -Weavers of cotton cloth in this district are stated to be 6,212 houses having 7,279 looms The average value of their work is Rs. 7/- worth of cloth mon thlyor Rs. 70/ - a year for each loom, which would only give them Rs. 20/, for a subs stence, and their women are employed in warping, so that they bring little or no addition. In good many divisions, value of cloth woven monthly from each loom is estimated around Rs.8-10/-, the quantity of cotton yarn di~posableforthis mlnufactureis estimated worth RS.594 600 and the thread being 5 of the value of the cloth, this will amount to'Rs. 832,440, which will give about Rs. 114/- worth for each loom, in the year or not quitc 11~ rupees a month for the ten months of labour. The profit will be ~s. 32/- a year for the labour of each man and his wife; Buchanan thinks that the number of weaVers has been under estimated e,pecially considering the number of women supposed to spin, the weavers are also the musicians employed on almost every occasion, [nd especially at the tumultous marriages of this district. 98 Weavers of cotton carpets. Weavers of cottoncarpets(Sutrunjis) are much on the same footing as R::>nggopoor and Puraniya. 9') Tlp~!lllker • Tne tape maker of Bhagalpur makes also ropes of cotton for tents. 10:) Knitter of Patwars Thosewho knit ~trings(Patwars) use not only proper silk, but also tasar silk and c:>tton, and mlY mike about three rupees a month. 101 Cltintz mlkers . Theyare on the same footing as in Dinajpur. 102 Bhnket weaVers T~::: bllnket w~avers work entirely on the wool ofthc long tailed sheep. *4. ManuCacturers oC sugar 103 Sugar Manufacturer Ccmfectioners of this district prepare from the extract of sugarcane not only some of the kind of sugar called Chini, but they make a good deal of a cOl!rk ser kind called Shukkur. 5. Iudigo manuCacturer 104 Indigo manufacturer. Purely European enterprise, work carried out by wagelabourers. 6. Manufacturers oCsalt 105 Salt maker. 94 houses of workmen on the north side of the river are regularly employed l-y the commercial resident at Patna on account oflhe Company; tho~e on fhe south side work on their own account, but dispose of part of their nitre to the agent of the ci)mm~rcial resident residing at Sibgunj; the actual manufa cturersare herccllled Nuniy as or saltmen and are of many different castes. * No srI. no. was given by the author for sugar manufacturer-ed. 13~ 1. Year-J8JO-lJ 2. Place-District of Bha~alpur [pasture] [fisheries] The pasture in this district, exclusive of that In the interior of the country south from the belonging to the hill tribes, consists of the follow Ganges, fish are very scarce; the rivers, for a ing descriptions; 1st high land covered with great part of the year, are almost dry, and there reeds or coarse grass, 418 squar.e miles; 2nd are few marshes, ponds, or lakes. In the rainy woods, 1468 square miles; 3d. 116 square miles season, however, a few are generated, and are in fallow; and 4th broken corners among culti mostly caught by the farmers, as the waters vated lands, 229 miles. The grass in the two dry up. ~ear the Gange~ again, and especially former i~ coarse, and ~n the first, during the dry near the Tdyuga or Ghagn, on the north side of season IS almost entIrely parched up, but in the great river, there is a great abundance of the woods the shade preserves a little moisture. fish; but during the floods, owing to the want of so that in December the cattle are in tolerable skill in the fishermen. the supply is everywhere condition. but even there in March, vegetation scanty; and at Bhagalpur, owing probably to is almost at a stop. In the lands of the two last some defect in t~e police, the scarcity prevails at descriptions the herbage is much finer. but is all seasons, whIle at Mungger and Rajmahal quite burnt up, except during the rainy season, not more favourably situated, the supply during when it is very good and is a grand resource. the dry season is uncommonly copious, and the I have not included the 362 square miles of quality tolerable. hills. because large cattle are never fed on them 7. GAPS- , as they' are neglected, even for goats. of which they might rear very large flocks. Of the inun The gaps and shortcomings were mentioned dated land there are including broken corners. by Buchanan under appropriate subjects. For 117 square miles of clear pasture. and there are example, about his area, Buchanan said, "I have 585 square miles covered with xeeds, bushes and to regret much that the extent cannot in this trees, chiefly on the north side of the river. manner be ascertained with much precision ...... In the dry season, especially after th(' first It may be expected that I have extended too far showers of spring, these are much better pasture the boundaries towards Virbhum. Tirahut, Behar, than the higher lands, and are then the chief Murshedabad and Ramgar as I had with me resource. but in February and March the vege none, of the people of these districts to mention tation is everywhere very trifling and the condi their claims." His reservation about the esti tion of the cattle is extremely wretched. The mates present, whether that of population or supply in the rainy season is amply sufficient for of consumer expenditure have been dearly stated many mme cattle than are kept. by himself. Such comments have been repro duced as and when necessary. 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- [milk] The boundary of Bhagalpur as indicated by An estimate of the whole quantity of milk Francis Buchanan contains certain obvious limi that the owners of the cows receive, and of its tations as stated by himself. H. Beverley in value. will be found in 36th Table. In this Table the Report on the Census (}f Bengal, 1 S72 identi I have not divided the cows into the three classes fied the tract surveyed by Buchanan. On the adopted in Ronggopur, because the number of basis of Beverley's identification, the district of cows fed in the house throughout the year is Bhagalpur was traced from 1810-11 through altogether inconsiderable and because most of 1872-1961 at district and thana levels. The the cows pass a great part of their time in the following table shows the position of Bhagalpur, Bathan. 1810-11 through 1872-1961. 137 C\ g.g• CI 0" co - ",- ... '"~ ...o ...oc '-' e',,~ " EJ &l 3 ~ ~ l '" -c ':0",d 12-439 R. O. India/ND/79 138 J. Year-J81O-1l 2. Place-District of Bhagalpur The growth between 1810-11 and 1872 is 27.51 It appears that the overall growth in course of per cent in 62 years or 0.44 per cent per annum. 62 years ending 1872 is 27.51 per cent where the The growth of the period 1872-1921 is to the decennial growth between 1872-1881 is to the order of 24.54 per cent, meaning, a. growth of order of 32.11 per cent in 49 years or 0.66 per 2.45 per cent per annum. Such a growth did cent per annum. The growth during forty years not occur even during 1951-1961. The popula ending 1961 is 61.37 per cent or 1.53 per cent per tion of 1872 thus appears to be understated. The annum. Assuming that the factors governing the annual growth between 1810-11 and 1881 is to growth rate were more or less similar between the order of 0.88 per cent against 0.61) per cent between 1872 and 1921. The following table 1810-11 and 1872 and also between 1872 and shows the movement of population betwet'n 1872 1921. let us compare the figures. and 1961. (67-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF BHAGALPUR, 1810-11, 1872,1921 AND 1961 year population variation percentage annual rate of variation variation (percent) 1 2 3 4 s 1810-11 2,019,900 1872 • 2,575,580 + 555,680 + 27'51 0'44 1921 • • 3,402,555 + 826,975 + 32'11 0'66 1961 5,490,632 + 2,088,077 + 61'37 1'53 aGUNDAllt1!S DISTRICT '.'2 ...... n'61 .ASED UPOIC SURVEY OF INDIA M'AP WITH THE PERMISSION'. @ GOVERNMENT 01' INDIA COl'Y"U;~T, 1."1 OF 'THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF INDIA. 4. DISTRtCTf) OF BtflAR AND PATNA, 1811.12 1. YEAR-I8II-12 2. PLACE-Districts of Behqr and Patna 3. SOURCE- The Collector of Behar has under his care the (I) Buchanan, Francis revenue of by far the greater part of the territo An Account of the Districts of Bihar and ries that are under the two magistrates, but a Patna in 1811-18]2. 2 V. Patna, Bihar and small portion of the division of Behar called Research Society, [193-] Duriyapur which constitutes Pergunah Melki. pays its revenue to the Collector of Tirahut, [1SI/915.41 B918 B(1 +2)] which is attended with considerable inconve nience. The district under the management of (2) Buchanan, Francis the Collector of Behar is, however, vastly more An Account of the Districts of Bihar and extensive than the jurisdictions of the two magis Patna ... Microfilm manuscript<;_. trates, as it comprehends.. I believe, the whoJe of the Ramgar district. He resides at Patna, [ISI/ ) which is the most convenient residence that could 4. MATERIALS- have been adopted, as all considerable zemindars require at any rate to have an agent at that city (a) Geographical location- to attend the court of Appeal; but the immense distance of many parts of the territory from the Extent General Appeararice and Soil treasury and the p.!tty nature of numerous pro The survey, which I have now made, inclUdes perties have rendered it necessary to appoint the districts under \the authority of two judges Tahasildars, or native assistants to the Collectors, and magistrates; one who presides over the city nor without great inconvenience to the petty of Patna and a small adjacent territory, and landholders could their services be avoided, the other who presides over what remains after although in certain instances their employment several dismemberments of the distriot of Behar. has undoubtedly given rise to evil practices. This last is more usually known among the natives by the name Gaya, from the residence The territory of which I am now giving an of the chief officer of police. and this would be account occupies the central parts of the Mogul no doubt a more proper denomination than province of Behar. Its greatest extent from the Behar, as avoidin~ ~e ambiguity of ~pplying the banks of the KiyuI to its south west corner near same name to a dIstrIct and to a proVInce. Behar the Son, in the direction of east northerly, and was formerly much more extensive, but some west southerly, is about 120 miles, and its time ago a judge having found the extent of his greatest width, crossing the above line at right jurisdiction burdensome, persuaded government angles. from Patna to the boundary of Ramgar that his charge was too extensive, and in one upon the Bardi river is nearly 80 miles. Accord sense this was no doubt perfectly true, as the ing to Major Rennell its southern extrettrity is in labour that would bave been required for the about 24° 30' and its northern in 25° 39'N. lat. full and proper execution of the duties of bis Its eastern extremity is about 2° 3' east from office vastly exceeded the ordinary powers of the meridian of Calcutta, and its extends 1 ° 46' man; but then th~ district 011 which he com farther in that direction. plained was not attended with more trouble, either from extent or population than others By tracing the b3undaries on Major Rennell's usually are; and the expense of the establish map I find that it contains 5,358 square miles, ment already kept up for the administration of which about 403 belong to the city jurisdic of justice and police is quite enormous, tion and 4,955 to Behar, but it must be confessed and probably ought not to be increased. Part that the southern boundary towards Ramgar could of the district of Behar was therefore separated, not be traced with any sort of precision and that and placed under the management of the Judge the boundary between the two jurisdictions is very and ma8istrate of Ramgar and still continues ill defined. The errors in some parts however annexed to that jurisdiction. Another portion will probably be compensated by other errors of was annexed to Shahabad and continued for a contrary nature in other parts, so that on the some years united to that district. bUit while whole the general Jesuit is not probably far from this survey was going on this part was separated the truth; but with respect to the subdivisions, from Shahabad and partly annexed to the City the claims are so discordant, and the territories of Patna and partly restored to Behar; but at the so mIserably intermixed, that very little relianoe same, time, a portion of what had previously can be placed on wbat I have been able to trace, been under ,the jurisdiction of Behar. was placed especially as the details in the Bengal Atlas are under the authority of the City magistrate, somehow liable to many great objection~. 139 140 1. Year-181J-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar alld Palna The two districts, into which the territory that whole of the united districts, a division of duties, I am now describing has been divided, are very which, if practicable on accouht of expense, compact, except that the boundaries with Ram would be very desirable, as many persons are gar and with each other are very irregular, very well qualified for one department, and quite 'that a small corner of Saran hear Danapur pro unfit for the other. je~ts ~cross the Ganges and that a small detached corner :of Bhagalpur is included in the division The arrangement of subdivisions has not been of Sheykhpurah and should be annexed to quite so badly managed as in Bhagalpur, yet it Behar, and much convepience would arise from is liable to very great objections. The jurisdictions rendering the boundari~s straight ,and well are very iqegular in boundary; in some places ·Qejined.· The people of division Vikrampur in portions are detached and surrounded by other Behar are also very anxious ,to' be placed under jurisdictions, some are of trifling size and impor the magistrate of Patna as vastly more con tance, others are monstrous in extent and ~eniefit Jor their attendance, and being a petty population, and finally others have their superin t~rritory .I ·do not see that this could add much tending officers placed in their comers. to the oppression of his labo,riOl,ls duty. The i:e~idei1ce :is judiciously placed in the town and, The Ganges comes to the boundary of this aithough close by the boundary of his district, it district just where .it is joined by 1h.e Son, a is abundantly .convenient for all concerned. The little way above the towp of Sherpur. From residence of the judge of Behar has not 'the same thence it passes east with an undivided channel, ahd is far from being centrical. It is ~dvanta:ge, until it reaches about two miles beyond the can true that his vigilance is peculiarly required Qver tonments of Danapur, forming in .general the the and very disorderly town of Gaya; po~ulous boundary between the districts. of Patna ~ity and but the attendance of those from the eastern Saran; but immediately above the cantonments parts of the district occasions I11UCh incon a small corner of the latter is placed on the venience and Baragang, the residence of the souih side of the river. On this part of the ancient kings Qf th~ country, would have been Ganges, Danapur and Digha are the only places a mo~~ convenient situation. The old city of in these districts which carry on an ~xport ,and, Behar is also !;l very fine situation, uncommonly import trade by water. healthy, rich ahd -commodious. The change, how ever, would occasion very considerab!e tempo [Buchanan starts Chapter V with 'Topography rary inconvenience an.d expense! nor is the situa of the Divisions', 'Pre/ace containing hi~torical tion of Gaya so bad as to make a change neces notices' followed by a descripti,on of topogra sary. Perhaps on the whole, the greatest improve phical matters for each division and I,hana. For ment that could be made on the arrangement ihe purpose 0/ a geographical identification, ad of these two districts 'Would be to place the mlnistrlNive jurisdiction 0/ each division and superintendence of the pilgrims an~. -the police thana is being reproduced below.] of the -town of Gaya under the r;::harge of the , l' d t gentleman employed to .grant Icences, an . 0 [Geographical ·identification] temove :the courts from thence to Pa1:na. At present every zeniindar must have an ag'!nt at H. BeverleYI aut)1or of tbe cens).IS report of .bqth Gaya and .Patna; but were the courts Bengal, identified the tral:::t l?llrveyed by Francis removed to .Fatna, the same agent would transact Buchanan. F0110wing his line, an attempt WIll? his' business with both Judge and Collector. made to identify the Olstricts of Bihar & Patna Besides Jthe situation of Patna, although not cen- surveyed in 1:811-1812. The following table trical, would, for the greater part of the distdct, shows approximately the position of Districts .be fJUy more convenient tpan naya. As the of Bihar and Patna of 1811-1812 j,n 1961. The J.urisdictions of two judges and magistrates in old districts .consisted in !1961 of the entire the same ,places 'might! perhaps occasio~ some district of Patna, part of Gaya district and only inconvenience, one 'of the gentlemen mIght act five 'Police Stations of ,Monghyr distrjct. R. T. as Judge an~ the other ~s Ma¥istrat~ for t4~ m~ans Revenue tl),anas, ~nd P. S. Police Stations. 141 1. Yeat-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Pailla (68-S) EQUIVALENT TRACT OF THE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA OF 1811-12 IN BffiAR STATF, 1961 area .in squllre milps ---- name of area substracted or. ;t4ded area revenue thana! included total police station area g.f area of in 1811-1812 district area revenue police dIstrict thana,s statioils 2 3 4 5 6 Pafna disfrict 2,127'7 2,127'70' - Barachatti R.T. 417'80 01ya district • 4,745'7 or P.S. Barachatti 266'76 It Fatehpur 151i'04 - Sherghati R.T. 512'55 or P.S. Sherghati 196'37 " Ourua 73'13 ,j ~mamganj 119'12 " Dumada 123'93 - Nabinagat ~.T; - 30S'37 or: P.S. Nabinagar 20S'13 Kutumba " 1'00.24 - Aurangabad R.T. 722,24 or P:S. Aurangabhd ' 217'86 " Rafigapj ~ 148'24 . Obra 102'33 " if Ma~anpuf 133'93 ;, Barun i19'S8 2,734'74 Monghyr district .. (+) Sheikpura R.T. 235'56 or P.S. Sheikpura 9S'~5 78'98 " Aria.ri .. Barbigha 5S'03 Sikaridra R. T. 243'11 or P.S. Sikandra 137'OS .. Halsi 106'03 478'87 ------5,391'31 (b) Particulaf'$ of [Jofmlation- (69·S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF THE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATl".i1A, 1811.12 srI. item part!culars sri. item Particulars no. no. 11 2 . . . '3 2 j 1 area in square miles . ·5,358 . .. 6 population per square miie ~28 number of villages .!, ~ 7 average siz~ of village ] population : persons 3,364,420 ... males ~ average size of family 6,9 females 9 average size of house 4 number of families 489,331 10 females per thousand males 5 number of houses - 142 ...... '" ~ ...... on '".., o '" .... '" 00 ..,.... '".... '"N .., 00 .... '" 0\ ::l J : s .... 00 .... \0.... '" I .... 00 '" .... '" ....00 00 ...... '" '" on .... on ...... on I '" :::: '" '" ..,0\ .. ..N 00 ..,on vi' .9 'a "d .. } I = ~ ! ! I i J 1J •'" '" .... K N o 10 20 3O • . BOUNDARIES: DISTRICT-'-' - THANA------ "HI) "'011 suaVl'I' Of INDIA MAP WITH TMl PtRMiU'ON @ GOY£RHMiNT Of INOlA COPYRIGHT, 1981 Of! TNt SUttvtYOR UNtRAL Of 'NOlA. 143 1. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (71) TABLE NO. 2-PROPORTlON OF INUNDATED LAND IN THE DISTRICTS OF PATNA ClTY AND ZIl,LA BEHAR THAT IS COVERED DURING THE WHOLE RAINY SEASON AND THAT IS ONLY OCCASl.()NAILY COVERED constantly regularly in liable only to entirely exempt total under water undated thro occasional from regular area in srI. diVision or mere barren ughout the floods, but inundation sq. mil no. channels in rainy Season every year cov sq. mile sq. mile in sq. mile ered for some days at least in sq. mile 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Patna city 2 3 few 15 20 2 Phatuha 9 50 49 37 145 3 Noubutpur 1 105 106 4 Bakipar-Jaywar 4 5 6 73 88 5 Sherpur 1 2 14 21 44 [(a) sub-total ------23 60 69 251 ------403 ] 6 Gaya 20 948 968 7 Nawada 12 941 953 8 Shekhpurah 4 3 6 585 598 7 135 9 Duriyapur 13 45 200 5 98 11 52 10 Bar. 166 4 11 Behar 313 317 12 Helsa 22 67 22 246 357 4 300 13 Holasgunj 304 2 34 14 Jahanabad 240 276 IS Daudnagar 3 .. 324 327 8 253 16 Arwal 261 7 221 17 Vikram 228 -----~------303 86 4,468 (b) sub-total ------98 4,955 ] (total (a & b) 121 363 155 4,719 5,358 J ------_._------...... ----- (total (%) 2'26 6·77 2'89 88'08 100'00] (72) TABLE NO.3-STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER 1 2 3 4 OF PILGRIMS WHO HAVE RECEIVED LICENSES TO WORSHIP AT GAYA FROM THE 1ST MAY, From the lst May 1801 1797 TO 30TH APRIL, 1811 to the 30th April 1802 • 18,581 383 18,964 From the lst May 1802 number number total num to the 30th April 1803 23,003 331 of licenses oflicenses ber ofpil 23,334 issued of exem- grims who From the Ist May 1803 years for each ption issued have per- to the 30th April 1804 • 13,975 215 . 14,190 as autho- formed their From the 1st May 1804 rised by ceremonies to the 30th April 1805 • 22,119 government in the year 199 22,318 From the 1st May 1805 to the 30th April 1806 • 19,646 3,645 23,291 1 2 3 4 From. the 1st May 1806 , to' the 30th April 1807 • 23,010 1,821 24,831 From the 1st May 1797 17,577 93 17,670 From th~ 1&1 May 1807 to the 30th April 1798 • to the 30th April 1808 21,994 10,429- 32,423 From the lst May 1798 From the 1st May 1808 76 21,659 to the 30th Apri11799 • 21,583 to the 30th April 1809 . 26,632 1,320 27.952 , From tire 1st May 1809 From the 1st May 1799 o the 30th April 1810 26,663 to the 30th Aprill880 • 14,371 189 14,560 791 27,454 From the 1st May 1810 From the 1st May 1800 to the 30th April18U • 30,355 to the 30th Aprillioo • 22,276 456 22,732 759 31 ,114 144 ... '"... ...... II> ...II> o o 00 o '" , ..,r: '"00 00 .. • . o. ·0 . ...... 0\ EMPLOYMENT o 10 20 'id te."'. r J.PATNA CITY 2.PHATUHA 3.-NOUIUTPUR. 4.SHERPUR ? r: '. NAWAOA ....,. .!; ..~HEYKHPU , . l._'" . ,..~ '''.IIV'.' .. POPULATION -.. ',<:;. :';',:.';:.'. If. ~30001 AND MOVE TNA ·1\.8·~1·2/:~.... GAYA (·i''':?~.:·:~<)?~<~· \ ';. =~:; BEHAR & PA.1 AI ~1 ' .. 1' ·~.I ::::: ::' '. ~- MUSLIM HINOU .. \' \ . THE EMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE '-._', r·-·j'· \ _."- .., ._.,.\)-. \ .... j . . • ASED UPON SURVEY OF INDIA MAP WITH THE PEIiMISSION © GOVERNMENT OF INDIA COPYRIGHT, Itll OF. THl SlJRVlYOR GENERAL OF INDIA. 145 o ,..., 0'\ o o .;.. 8 ~ - N '-' o - .,...o ,0 '" ("") 00 .,., M .. g o N ..0 - .!':""!. ~ o ....o M o r- \C) s o .... .;.. o o ~ o ..... o -o \0 o o 00 .;.. ,- .... o N N - N II) '"..... N ...... 00 o 00 ;., N o ~ ... - .... N ..... o ,\0 M 00 o In ,.;, .... o .... - N ....0: 11'1 ..... o ..... N 00 o 00 -M ... ,§ .... M o N o ,.;, o - o.... ,.... 11'1 o ...... ,0 00 6 .... 0' o -o ,0.... o '"..... o 00 o M'" - o 11'1- M 11'1 -o N ..... so '"M N o 00 -.;, t:-l ,.;, ...... - <'l <"l .... '-' .§ o o N.... M'" 10 o M ... ..:. <"l <"l ....:3 M o o -.;, 6 ....o '"..... tr, .....VI 8 8 00 6 00 6 ...... M'" o N 1.0 o -o .... on o o M .:.. 11"1 .... N M :3.... o N on N ~ .... 8 N.... -,.;, -6 M 8 1.0 _ - so on t<> 8 ~ 0 '-- N :3.... -2 146 1. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts 01 Behar and Patlia (75) TAIJLE NO.6-AN ESflMATE OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSES IN THE DIStRICTS O}<' PA1NA Cl1Y AND ZIL.LA BEHAR FOUNDED ON THE REPORT OF THE NATIVE OFFICERS AND OTHER 1NTELLlG:E NT H REC ~'S srI. division or thana gentry traders artificers p)oughmc;n total no. I 2 3 4 5 6 7 !'atna City 23,000 5,000 13,000 11,000 52,000 2 Phatuha 9,730 940 2,598 14,152 27,420 3 Noubutpur 4,108 489 809 8,433 13,839 4 B.lkipur-Jaywar 7,845 1,162 2,432 9,162 20,601 5 Sherpur . 1,155 264 890 6,925 9,234 ------[sub-total] 45,838 7,855 19,729 49,672 123,094 6 Oaya 15,000 2,746 9,011 72,000 98,757 7 Nawada 18,400 1,442 3,678 50,600 74,120 8 Sheykhpurah 12,695 1,414 3,665 22,8'1 40,625 9 Duriyapur 6,084 748 1,154 16,350 24,336 10 Bar 10,170 719 1,395 14,842 27,126 11 Behar 19,035 3,352 10,563 69,795 102,745 12 H~lsa 30,480 3,342 4,278 83,820 121.920 13 Holasgunj 10,095 937 2,428 29,612 43,072 14 lahanabad 13,891 1,089 3,542 30,870 49,392 15 Dludnagar 13,008 1,949 6,138 30,894 51.989 16 Arwal 5,718 503 1,378 22,872 30,471 17 Vikram 12,955 400 2,191 25,910 41,456 [sub-total] 167,531 18,641 49,421 470,416 7.Q6,009 ------~------total 213,369 26,496 69,150 520.088 829,103 147 I ...0 "'2 8 M..; ...... ;;!; I 00 "" c , ... ..'" o on on In... ..<:> =. I . o ... on '" o VI ... 0 In 00 00 ... '" ...... .. I ... "N ...... OOOlO...... Nff) ...... t4S 3 ~~ o. 0 - ~. ~:E:;1;:~ '"3 ... Sl~ ~ 00 ..... 10'" '" '" 3.., 00 ...... 00 '" 00 ...'" ...", '" '" ... ;",...... I 3 ...o '" t... ~ .' '"00 '" o· " !;: :' • 00 0.1 QO"-' .... 00 -"l. - '?-'" .' ", ~ 00 .;::.. 10 o 00 '" r "Co .-t "'0;. 'j 149 '; III ...... N III .... ;1; 00 g r-- ...r-- ...... N ...... $ ", '" ",," "" ..° d ~ N''" ~. . or) ~ ""t>...... r-- .... 00 N ..... ' ,-00 '0....· .. ~;"" o 2 o o on '" g 8 on.... on § '" 8 g .,.; o on § on '" r- o on ~ 8 '" ..... r- 0 ", ", ,0,- 00 .... '"r-'" 0 ",r .... ", o g o '" g o ..... o 8~ 8 '" 8 o '" .; :::! on '"NIO '" § ~ ",,,, € .. 00 , ... '0"...." .. '"oi Q'" 8 g on on '" .... ~\ 8 -'" <=>on o 8 on .... M g on '" '" 00 o - 0 I on o ~ ~ o on ...: '" ... on "I'.," '" z20- o on ...... '" 8 g on on '" .... " .0 -\ ...'n ~Q {52 on on ('4 t-- ,.0'~ ..,;..;a, 8_ o 0 on• on0 0 . <'l 00• 0_ -,_. 0 ~ 8 8 :q [Q § ~ ~ 8 ~ ~ § ~ 8 ~ ~ 8 M"';M~ - <'l IC g 8,,-, : g ;Q:q8 8 - g ~ ~ ~ § ~ ~ 8 888 8 ~ r : 8 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 8 ~ 8 ~ II: 8 r ~ ~ 8 ~ 8 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 153 ,...., ,...., o « II') t"I 0 Q 0 s ono o 0 0 <'10 o ~ ~ ~ ~ I~ · . o M \0 0 0 o o on ~ g '" <'Ion In"", ~ ... - ~ g 00on on g :5 ~ g ~ g ~ to • 0 I~ on 0 ~ ~ ~ci .... ~ - «~ ~ lQ g 00 ~ g ~ g 00 g g on on ~ ~; ~ -00 ~ ~ I~ <'1<'1 ~ ~ o I~ o o ~ on 0 • on .... 0 g~ ~ g • <'I ..0 .~ ~ ~ ~ rJ ~ on 0 g g •· '"on .... 0 g~ ~ g ..0 ~ § c~ ~ § lQ ~ g g g g g g g ~ ~ ~ ~ on.... ~ § o '0 on 'on ~ 0; ~ g ~ g ~ ~ ~ ~ § ~ § \0 0 "'1' 0 V) 0 -.:to 0 g g ~ ~ ~ . g- ~ ~ o .0 o '0 o 0 o .0 o • on on 0 ~ ~ ~ 8 .... M M ~ r:: ~ on O' on 0 g g g g ::J: g <'10 .... 0 ~v) 00 ~ ~ ~ g ~ ~t '" '" - o o 00 o on ~ g o o 00 o r- on '" on § oo ~ ~ '" § r- '" '" o g g g o 0 gg o on 0 .,; on t- § ~ § ~ <'I o :q ~ -~ g on r .0 ;;: ~ ~ oo o o o ~ ~ s:: g .,; o 'l:i"; M 0 r- M 1,0 ~ ~ g o ~ g ~ 8 o r-'" 0 M"';"; 0 oon ('t r--- ~ M o § ~ '" g g ",0 ~ ~ ~ g r- on .,..: ~ ~ ~ ~ '"r- ~M . "El .,~ '1' ..~ " :~ t-000\... -- 13-439 R. O. India/ND/79 154 ("lMOII"'i ~V"IO~ ~ 0" _MIt")~ o ...... \0 0. ~ o g o ('f')IOO-_on'" o ~"':NM o o o- "'''' eo o o o o o g ~8~~ § ti~~~ § 8 o o g g sggg o o ..• 8~~~ o -10 0 10 -11\01/') '" on -NV'lM ~ -MVlN @ 0'1 "" II') iii II') It'l o -0Il'l1/") g q N N (' t-- o 8"!r:-:r-: -('MOO '" ","'-"'00 -g -('f')'II:t_ ~ ~ g 8 -o o ~ o ~~~8 o t'f')Vl_t!. Nt- § g _ 0 00 on 8 ~ t - on '" 0000 00 1I')0tt"lO N",,;r..:vi -Mt'f")M 0000 11)0011) MOv)N - It'l N _ ;::0 '" Cl ISS 00 .011'\ IV) 00 .0 ['- ~ "'''''''""':' t'~ \0. OoO~ !~ t""'> _ V', /8', SI0 00on.., <'>\l> '" I 2 "!, - I", ggg , ~ ~8~ ' , ovi_"; 1"1"''''. -"'~ "'''' .... ' ... ~gg """"'" .. ~g;2 t:l'".. .os.\; ~~~ 00 : 8 51 ~ 0", ....;N~ ,..: , oo~ N -- ~ -0;..."' 0", go :X:" ,0 o ' ~~ : ~ ~ ~ g~8~~ ~",,:.o "';~vi\C)~...... 0000 .., • 0 0 M .0"" - - 8g~~~ "';NM .... ~ .no",;,..;V>...... 00 ~~~~~ ,..:"'on , r--:f'i-I.O\O 00'" .... '" go ,0 on.... '"' '" : 8 ~ ~ § , ,"" ..,ON - ."...,.., <:> o 00 ~ <:>'" -- ('I Q 00 • O_V)M. o~ .,::- ~~M~ '-' -00 ~ i • '" 0 0", I ...... 0 6'~g :3 8 ...... ,; ~ ~ g '"M"'; '" ::.'-'~ ~ "'''' '"_' .....on :g -8 8 8 8 ~ ~ § ~~ ~ ~ ~gg~ g ~ ..o:q~~ , § a '"".~ '06::t: ... . ... 0 .... 0 '00 § '" ~ ~ : ~ rJ~ c..) or, '" '" ..... ! ~ '" 10 '" ~ !i ~~~~ 8 ~ ~ci~~ ~ ;: 00 "'0 ·0 Nv) • on -..... ::j .....on · '" · '"..0 '" NOOOO - I() 0 ~ MMo"'; 8 :a - on ... ~ g 8 ~ ~ ~ ~~g~ Mr--:.,.;...; "''''''' 8 ~ ~ ~ OOIl")V) triO" ...... Mv)~OO 8 ~ - M "d"'_ g :r o o g ~g~g~ 8 0 :Q g ~~~~M . 8 8 M - on ''0 157 i. Year-181J-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (81) TABLE No. 13-AN ESTIMATE EXPLAINING THE EXTENT OF LUXURY IN ATTENDANCE AND 2 3 CONVEYANCE IN THE DISTRICTS OF PATNA CITY AND ZILLA BEHAR Part-II srI. type of conveyance prevailing and total nb. classes of domestic servants number 8 palanquins 4;412 2 3 9 male free domestic servants 8;065 PaIt-l 10 female free domestic servants . 1 'tame elephants 84 4;5~ 2 camels 40 11 men sla¥es entirely domestic 510SS 3 sansa or other large horse 2,325 4 poIties of the kind called tatus 9,765 12 men slaves partly employed in agriculture 9,270 partly in domestic services 5 r.ath or four-wheeled I;arriages drawn by oXen 75 6 carriages with two wheels drawn by one 471 13 men31aves entirely employed in agriculture 18,495 horse and called ekka 7 mojhold and raharu two Wheeled carriages 507 14 poor women who bring water to wealthy 5,175 drawn by oxen families Note t We omitted figures fot Division or Thana and ptesefl(ed district totals Ollly,-ed. (83) TABL'ENO.14~EXPL,\NATOIt"\! OF fHESTATEOFEDUCATION IN THE DISTRICTS OF PATNA CITY ANDZILLA BEHAR men born for the use of the pen men born for the profession of arms srI. division or no. thanah m::n fit employ- employed not stra;;~tr~- ;-e;be:-e-;;t~;ct~;pIo;d-;;:;t-;tr;;-~~~": to act ed at abroad emp- employ- gers longing in the abroad emp- gers gers as wri- home toyed ed here waiting to the police in the loyed employed wai. ters as writ- f01: district or police or in the tinog born ers em- employed nwenue revenue police for in the ploy- in the or emplO6'. division ment regular revenue ment army 2 3 4 5 6 1 8 10 11 1~ 14 1 P.llila oi ty 6,500 1,500 1,000 4,000 800 400 .200 1,300 1,000 3,500 500 i Phatuha 1,700 4'50 1.50 1,100 50 125 300 625 3;809 100 .. 3 N910WIltpur 500 50 45 405 35 5 20 80 516 30 4 Ihkipur-JayWar 800 200 100 500 40 10 25 150 100 500 50 4() 5 Sber.pur 140 43 21 10 5 .. 50 100 90 185 50 6 (hYa 1,800 10() 250 850 450 30) 50 250 500 2,200 400 zoo 7 Nawada &00 400 250 150 80 5{) 250 250 1,960 125 8 SheykhpUtah. 5)) 2) 150 150 150 100 200 350 1,450 150 9 DunYapur 300 130 10 160 10 20 20 25 55 17 10 Bar 1,50) 4)) 3») 80:> 6S 50 125 100 1,070 25 1.1 l1~ar 4,7in rOJ 380 3,620 45 25 500 250 3,643 60 12 Helsa 1,100 350 120 630 65 25 200 150 1,220 6S 13 Hola$guDj 1 ..300 320 325 660 li5 10 100 120 1,780 35 14 Jahl'nabad 1,cS'){) 40) 30;) 9)0 20) 125 5()o 500 2,025 500 1,372 1'5 Dlu~na8ar 1.800 700 200 900 100 40 400 300 70 16 ·A1.'W8i 1 350 115 5 170 35 150 50 125 1.930 70 220 130 150 55 100 80 70 875 25 17 Vikram. ------500 total 25,890 6,878 3,742 15,215 2,300 710 1,150 4,545 4,635 28,()90 2,272 540 158 1. Year-18lJ-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (84) TABLE NO. lS-NUMBER OF HINDU ACA!>E 2 3 4 MICIANS IN THE DISTRICTS OF PATNA CI1Y AND ZILLA BEHAR AND THEIR SCHOLARS 150-151 35 arahar mixed with other drops - 12;100 Grammar 2; Do. and Legend 4; Astrology 5; Do. 4; 152 36 kulshi by itself 77,625 Do 3' Grammar and Legend 4; Do. do. 6; Grammar 4; 153 37 urid bhadai. . _ 3,600 Do' a~d Law 4; Do. do. 12; Grammar, Law and Lege~d.4; 154 38 bhringi or mothi .10,3~O Gr~mmar and Medicine 3; Grammar 2; Do. and MedICIne 155 39 maskalai by itself 2,180 4' Grammar 4; Do. 4; Do. and Astrology 4; Do. and Law 5', Astrology 2; Grammar 2; Do. and Le~end 4; Do .. and 156 40 mung by itself 11,340 ; Law 0; Grammar 4; Do. 5; Astrology 15, Gr.aJ?mar 4, Do. 157 41 but or chana by itself 298,200 2 Do. 3' Do. and Legend S; Do. and Medlcme 5; Gra 158 42 but mixed with other crops 61,150 ~mar 4,'Do. 5; Do. and Astrology 5; Do. do. 5; Do. and 159 43 kabli by itself 2,000· Medicine 5' Do. and Magic 2; Do. and Law 10; Do. and Legend 8; Metaphysics and Grammar 10; Grammar 4; 160 44 bora or ghangra .40- Do. and law 4; Do. and Legend 4; Do. do. 6; Do. do. and 161 45 turi ratai by itself 90,700 Law 6; Grammar 4; Do. 4; Do. 15; D? 4; Do. 2; Do. 10; 162-164 46 sarso by itself 96,425 Do. 15; Do. 10; Do. 10; Do. 2; Do. 4, Do. 3. 165 47 linseed by itself 67,(\50' Note' This table reproduced from the volume published 166 48 fil by itself 1,575 . by the Bihar and Orissa Reserch Society does not 167 49 kudrum by itself· 40 - spell out clt:arly how the number of scholars was 168 50 son or banayi 240 compiled and on what basis-ed. 169 51 tobacco by itself S05 170 52 bettleJeaf 65 (85) TABLE NO. 16-EXPLAlNlNG THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CULTIVATED LAND OF THE 171-176 53 sugarcane 20,064 DISTRICTS OF PATNA CITY AND ZILLA 177-180 54 cotton. 11,320 BEHAR ARE OCCUPIED 181-184 55 cotton mixed with other crops 4,700 185-186 56 indigo by itself book 1st year. 5,385 srI. no. of new manner of occupation areain 187-189 57 Indigo by itself book 2nd year 4,.530 original srI. bigha :190-193 58 poppy mixed with other crops. 23,850 table no. 194 S9 saffiower by itself • 1,075 195-205. 60 saffiower mixed with others 2,020 1 2 3 4 206 61 sakarkund 190 207 62 ginger. 260 1 1 houses. 105,840 208 63 turmeric 60 2 2 trees 128,750 209 64 peyaji or onion 1,160 3 3 bamboos 519 65 garlic 265 4 kitchen garden . 38,825 210 '4 dhaniya by itself 5 5 vegetables in the fiel~s '. 6,870 211 66 300 6 6 broadcast summer nce or satl 50,725 212 67 methi by itself 90 by itself 213 68 jira 4,000 7- 22 7 broadcastsummerricefollowed 116,405 by other crops 214 69 saongo 20 23 8 winter rice by itself. • 1,416,640 215 70 ajoyan by itself 60 24- 28 9 winterrice followed by other 752,350 216 71 channani 10 crops. 217-219 72 recinus -17;280 29 10 transplanted winter rice by 1,176,7P5 itself 220 73 seedling land by itself 50,118- 30- 33 11 transplanted winter rice follow- 840,700 .---~------ed by other crops total 34 12 spring rice or boro. • 35 13 kangni by itself. . . 5,070 36...... 48 14 kangnifollowed by other crops 37,065 Note: These comments apply also generally for Shahabad 49 15 broadcast marua by itself . 700 and Bhagalpur District. 220 items have been grQuped 5(),- 67 16 broadca.~t marua followed by . 24,450 other crops ... by the editor into 73. a.nd only total figures for ~h.e district presented omlttmg figures for Thana or 'Dlvl 6g 17 transplanted marua by itself. 32,670 tion. The series of tables available for each thana 69- 82 18 transplanted marua followed by 102,405 under the heading "Explaining the Cultivation of other crops grain etc., in the Division under the Thana" has also 83 19 sawang by itself. . . 11,350 not b~en presented. The thana tables contained 18 84- 89 20 sawang followed by other crops 3,150 columns: 0) manner of land use, e.g., trees, houses, 9() 21 maize by itself . . . 40,090 crops., etc., (2) labouring ,season, (3) number of 91-114 22 maize followed by other crops 137,069 double ploughings. (4) n1,lmber of hoeings, (5) seed 115-116 23 kodo by itself . . . 62,900 time (6) quantity of seed required in one bigba in 117-119 24 kodo mixed with other crops . 91,640 sers ' (7) season for transplanting, (8) nun;lber of 120 25 )anera raksa • . . 150 smo~thing with the mayi, (9) number of smoothings 121-124 26 janera mixeJ with other crops. 38,635 with the bida, (10) number of weedings,with the 125-127 27 china by itself • . 2,165 spade,(ll) number of waterings, (12) ba~vestiJ?g wheat by itself . . . 128 28 512,560 season, (13) average produced of one blgha Ill' 129-132 29 wheat mixed with other crops 74,065 sers, (14) average number of ser.s sold a! ha_rve.st 133 30 barley by itself . . . 228,650 for one rupee, (IS) number of blghas cultivated m 134-137 31 blrley mixed with dther crops 181,270 this manner, (16) total produce in mans and -se(s, 138 32 masur by itse Jf. . . 133,420 (17) total valuc in rupees and annas, (18) produce 139-148 33 masur mixed with other crops 382,355 for consumption after deducting seed for mans 149 34 arahar by itself 17,150 and sers. . 159 1. Year-181J-J2 2. P/ace- "Districts of Behar and Patna (86) TABLE No. 34-GENERAL ABSTRACT OF THE VALUE AND PRODUCE OF LAND OCCUPIED \ 2 3 4 5 BY FARMERS WHO CULTIVATE WITH THE PLOUGH IN DISTRICTS OF PATNA CITY AND ZILLA BEHAR 5 sugarcane ~ 262,279 307,975 "(307,967) 6 plants for mak srI. land occupied quantity remaining value in ing threa.d no. of mds. for con- rupees and rope sumption after dedu- (a) pata and 2,946 4,154 ction : sone (3,005) (b) cotton • 62,905 161,758 2 3 4 5 , . (58,965) i plants for fCLlit trees 645,600 smoking & ¥hewing 2 bamboos 1,856 (a) betle 3 vegetables etc. in 371,769 "23,000 (b) tobacco 1,082 garden and fields (371,762) 3,056 4 grains (c) opium • 4,013 333,569 (4,010) (a) rice 26,255,242 28,766,114 12,637,543 (344,566) (26,255,241) (25,636,110) (12,637,537) 8 plants used for d~ing (b) china, 243,121 2,343,994 1,172,825 (a) indigo • 15,806 kagni, (2,224,469) (2,139,082) (1,172,819) •• •• maruya, (15,800) maize, (b) sunflower 4,456 30,573 koda and (4,452) (30,567) janera (c) wheat 5,528,547 5,084,997 3,724,791 9 recinus 52;603 50,421 50,300 and barley (5,528,546) (5,095,995) (3,724,783) (52,553) (51,419) (50,294) (d) pulse 8,187,215 7,540,002 4,202,189 total value . 24,561,581 (7,866,987) (7,233,112) (4,202,181) (24,473,734) (e) sarisa or 769,832 755,744 775,980 turi, linse (769,829) (755,732) : (776,034) Note: we have omitted Divisicn or Thana figures ed and til and presented district totals only-ed. (87) TABLE NO. 3S-EXPLANATORV OF THE LOSS IN CLEAN~G THE RICE IN THE HUSK AS USUALLY EXPOSED TO MARKET IN PATNA, AND OF SEPARA NG THE HUSK WITHOUT BOILING sri. kind of rice 18 measures or 1944 16 mea- the preceding when beaten without boiling gives no. cLlbical inches of market sures of -----r------:.~------rice in the husk grain rice broken grains husks bran ------clean in weight when cleaned the husk give of grain or 1728 in the husk cubical inches weigp ounces inches ounces ounces inches ounces inches ounces inches ounces inches ounces 2 3 4 5 6 7 8: 9 10 11 12 13 14 purbiya aswi- 643! 18021 618 593 706! 298 103! 45t 849t 126 280 83t niya 2 ()~Ioriya 6H 1,830 6i8! 584 784 357 104 43t 1,098 115 216 68 3 s~la 555, " 1.723 532 532 693 315 78 35 '1,188 136 126 42t 4 patasilela 563 1,7J7 53~ 538 667 306 68 29t ,1,188 121 261 72 5 ramni 668 1,854 b62 617 729 334 122 55 1,143 128 324 88 6 khera 6U!. 1,786~ 595! 582! 666 315 90 42 949t 143 283! 83t 7 sela ,na~'laiya 621 1,896 606 551 743! 339 94! 42! 1,040 111 279 58 8 dolan 619! 1,836 599 563 706! 320 121! SIt 891 114! 324 70 9 gauriya • 631- 1,890 6J7 565 720 334k 81 37 931! 117 283! 62 10 basmati 606 1,791 580 560 8141 364 45 22 1,170 118 292t 60 ------~--. ------~ ------totai 6,209! 18,1141 5,?56 5,685l 7,230 3,282! 907! 403t 10,448t 1,229t 2,669t 687! -----~------~------average 621 1,881! 595 568 723 328t 90! 401 1,0441 123 267 681 160 o I '" .9 o on .j;l• 00 o~ :£ 00 0", 8 00 8 -",· "'. 8. N '" ..,o 1 0", q",0 .... \0 00 ...... '"on oil .., ... ~8 00 o gu • on 0." 00 - ... "t_ \0 - -~ 8 '"o ."...'" 8 0 0'". "'. 0: o .... 8 8 "''''00 ...o "":. ~q~~~~~1n ." '" "'- 00 00 "''''..,)'...; g~ -q- i6( ...... 00 NN '".. .., N'C .. 0'" '"2 ~~ .5.. .., -;;, o >" .... 8 8 .... "!. ~ o 8 8.., '" 00 o '"N o N o o 'C 8 <:> '" ..;'" ..,"'C '" N ono ~ .., o 00 o '"<:> 8 ", ..,'" ..;", <:>.., '"N ..,N <:> .., <:> <:> .....,., '" as.... -~ on.... 8 o '"N N 00 <:> <:> .... on 00 ;:!; 0- -:t.... ", ...... 8.... ...8 ] OIl i.. .8 'tI i .S "i::oU>Q ..... I~ 00'" ..~ •t 162 r--MOO .... 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("I r-- I"-- 000000 0'10'1 0'1 14-439 R. G. India/ND/7!? 110 00 M N ...... trl 0> M .... trl 0\ g N 0> - ...... , . trl 0> 00 trl 0> 0> 0> 0> 0> 0> trl ~ ..... N .... 1,0..... trl trl 0> 0> 0> .... .' trl ~ '. N g 0> ..... M .... 0\ trl .' M ' • 0> .... 00 0> 0> ..... trl .' :.M 0> 0> • 8 .... ('t") : • M 0> 0> trl : • trl . 0> N :. g g ...... trl 0> 0> M N N trl 0\ " .... 0>.... '. N • N ....N zc ...... 1:1 =o c0 co =0 =0 o 8 8 8 8 8 8 I C ~ o o ]. .~ . '" ..o • "CI C ::I ~~ .E~ ~~ .... r-. 00 0\ 0\ ~ g ;:; g ...... - 171 Q V> f'I V"I ~ V> l"- ~ 00 0\ Q 'J:I t"I 0() ~ ::t: ~ <"I ~ i!' .... N 8 .... ~ 0\ 'J:I I"- "'" "'" 0\ "'" ..., 0\ ~ N "'" "'l. ~ - 0 0\ r-. 0 ~ '" 0 . 0 00 V> .,., 0 '"' .... ~ 0 0 .... 0 -0 0() .... <"I ... -'. ~ ~ i:: '>0 0 <:l N 8 0 C,) ~ r-. I ~ on .... . 0 N ~ r-. .. <"I 8 0 ["I N ...."'" .... ~= 0 V> n 0 ' I '0 \0 'N N o I"' I'S.... 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"01"...... 0 NNO ..... ° ° ..... 00 ~~~g8~~ N"OI"M"OI"MN~ ;;!;'OCOMooV) ~~~~\O~\t...... ,.... .....o co , , 0°1"100""'"01"\0...... r-".,"OI" ""'"OI"NM 0000000 g~o~~""~ N~:3..:..;'O\~ -_NNN··M;:::' oS o L" .....'0 o '0 I:l ~ 176 1. Year-1811-1'l 2. Place-Districts ot Behar and Patlla (96) TABLE NO. 44-EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF mE DISTRICTS OF PATNA CITY AND ZILLA J 2 3 4 5 6 BEHAR 38 extract of (Figur~s in Rupees) sugarcane 69,700 64,250 79,951 71,300 39 treacle or chhoya 3,800 4,450 srI. articles of total of Patna city 40 sukkur or coarse no. COililmerce and all the other sugar 48,000 26,300 54,000 26,300 Patna city divisions 41 bhura a kind ------of sugar 6,600 16,500 6,600 165,000 exports imports exports imports 42 honey 200 400 200 400 43 betelnuts . 25,000 100,250 25,000 106,525 1 2 3 4 5 6 44 cocoanuts and shells 3,250 16,500 3,250 17,450 45 tobacco 152,900 235,275 1 rice in tht: hl.!sk • 10,000 182,300 74,500 l84,300 46 hempbuds or 2 rice cleaned by gangja 5,000 20,000 5,000 20,500 boiling 49,000 305,000 221,900 307,300 47 indigo 14,000 92,000. 14,000 3 rice cleaned with- .. out boiling . 139,100 34,000 222,900 38,200 48 opium 549,258 294,366 549,258 294,366 4 kodo 2,900 1,500 3,800 49 mahuya flowers . 41,800 1,000 53,500 5 maruya. 42,300 250 42,900 50 turmeric 15,600 31,250 16,500 43,845 6 kauni 700 700 51 ginger 900 5,800 900 6,300 7 wheat . 183,200 470,000 207,950 495,700 52 betel leaf 13,000 1,300 14,525 8 barley 18,000 44,000 24,400 47,600 53 safflower 2,000 3,000 2,006 3,000 9 maize 25,800 91,800 28,650 95,850 54 jira seeds 1,600 16,200 40 10 janera 22,000 80,700 26,700 81,400 55 pasari goods 74,600 163,000 74,610 170,700 11 bajra 2,900 500 2,900 500 56 wax and' candles. 27,000 40,800 30,750 44,550 12 china 2,000 2,000 57 catechu or kath • 45,000 55,000 45,000, 55,550 13 sarna 70 70 58 glass rings 100 14 jaokera,o or mix- 59 lac 4,000 4.700 4,000 10,125 ture of barley and 60 gulal 7,000 7,000 8,600 64,800 17,300 66,500 pease 61 gold. 10.000 10,000 15 but, 65,300 106,000 93,450 112,100 62 copper 36,250 58,400 36,250 58,400 60 16 bhetma&h' 60 63 zinc or justah 52,000 109.250 52,000: 109,250 38,300 162,600 54,400 162,600 17 arahar 64 tin or rangga 24,000 44,800 24,000 45,000 21,800 38,950 18 pease 24,500 21,800 65 lead. 37,900 50,500 37,900 50,500 8,300 19 bhringgii . 100 100 8,325 66 iron. 10,500 16,900 16,800 48,975 4,700 2,100 20 mung 2,100. 4,900 67 European iron and 21 urid or I!lashkalai 1,600 69,700 1,950 70,780 pholad 100 800 10& 800 22 khesari 23,900 47,100 47,450 47,100 68 bindaloha or Mur. 23 masur 34,100 42,300 43,100 42,300 shidabad iron • 750 750 24 kulthi 400 37,200 1,900 37,200 69 brass and bell me- tal vessels 10,000 32,000 17,700 41,425 25 rape and mus- tard se(ld 800 77,300 9,100 78,850 70 iron wares 1,000 .. 1,000 26 seed of !jisamum 71 pata or hemp of or til 23,900 800 24,400 cochorus. 3,1)00 9;200 3,000 12,050 27 poppy s~d 2,600 58,300 2,7:25 58,300 72 sack cloth bags 800 28 linseed 2,300 193,900 8,850 195,100 and ropes 3,500 800 4,925 29 linseed and 73 Kasmiri san or mustard 125,000 125.000 hemp of crotolari 900 4,600 900 4,6:10 30 ricinus 9,500 2,250 10,000 74 cotton wool 5,000 130,000 5,000 133,000 31 oil ,3,200 129,000 3,700 124,000 75 cotton with the seed 9,550 32 ghiu or boiled butter 71,600 184,250 80,480 207,750 76 cotton thread 1,500 2,000 3,400 33,900 33 milk 10,000 10.,000 77 cottoll cloth • 200,000 25,000 545,000 38,500 34 salambi salt 143,750 150,150 78 daiper or table cloth 175,000 35 coast salt or kar- 79 cocoons or tasarguti 60,500- kach alld saphri 260,000 337,500 260,000 356,500 80 banusa cloth tasar 36 Bengal salt or and cotton mixed .. •• 124,000 600 pangga . • 539,1001,297,000552,350 1,394,200 81 pure silk cloth 3,500 10,000 3,500 10,550 37 sugar 94,800· 1~,000 101,050 127,800 S2 raw silk 2,000 2,150 111 1. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (96) TABLE NO. 44 -EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF THE DISTRICTS OF PATNA CITY AND ZILLA 2 3 4 5 6 BEHAR-Cone/d. 124 fresh fruit 1,70.0. 8,20.0. 1,70.0. 10.,50.0. srI. articles of total of Patna city 125 hot seasonings. 4,550. 8,850. 4,550. 8,850 no. commerce and a 11 the other PJ.otna city divisions 126 dried fruits 50.0. 5,20.0. 500 5,20.0. 127 ivory 560 50.0. e\ports imports exports imports 128 broad cloth 8,o.o.e 12,0.00- 8,0.0.0. 12,0.00. 129 tush 2,500. 4,00.0. 2 3 4 5 6 2,50.0. 4,0.00 130. chaungri and 83 Maldehi masru & musk 5,0.0.0. 10.,0.0.0. 5,0.0.0. 0.,0.0.0. other cloth of ._--_._----_._---- silk and cotton mixed 12,000 30.,000. 12,0.00 45,800 total 3,259,5586,510.,5464,599,9887,145,80.6 (6,50.15,946) (7,294,30.9) 84 cotton and wool· len sutrunjis 19.0.0.0. 2,0.0.0. 22,0.0.0. 2,0.0.0. 85 chintz 121,50.0. 15,0.0.0. 123,50.0. 15,40.0. 86 kharuya cloth 2,0.00. 5,0.0.0 2,0.0.0. 5,0.0.0. 87 blankets 2,0.0.0. 50.0. 7,80.0. 2,850. (97·8) MARKET TO\\>NS IN BEHf\R AND 88 gold and silver PATNA thread or lace 15,000 15,000 650. 89 shals 4,00.0. 15,00.0 4,00.0. 15,50.0. 90 perfume and ess· srI. division name of market places number ences 3,10.0. 5,30.0. 4,0.0.0. 5,950. no. 91 leather bags and targets 1,000 25 1,0.0.0. 234 92 shoes 10.0.,0.00 10.0.,0.0.0. 20.0. 93 manihari goods 47,20.0. 61,10.0. 47,20.0. 61,435 1 Phatuha Kushah Phatuha, Samay 2,850 1,125 5,550. pur, Jafurabad, Monji 94 papers pur, JothauJi, Laklana 95 wooden furniture 3,0.0.0. 3,0.0.0 3,0.0.0. 3,0.25 and Baikunthapur. 6 96 timber of sakuya and sisau, & c .. 24,350 34,250. 2 Noubutpur KusbahNaubutt:ur, Ram 97 small posts, bea par Fayezabad and Go ms, planks, and palpur, Pitwangs, Kabai bamboos. 500 16,50.0. 50.0. 36,0.50. and Pothahi. . 6 81,70.0. 98 fire wood • 80,000 3 Bakipur-Jay- Kushc:h PhulwaIi, DigDa, 99 charcoal '5,0.0.0. 6,0.0.0. war Sekundurpur, Jumshay(d, 100. bamboo baskets 4050. Korra-Harig, ng, rr ur,L: 101 nal sap and kU$ sli (Lesley) ganj, Camp mats 4,0.0.0. 4,0.0.0. Bazar, Danapur, Ardali (Orderly) bazerin Dana 102 rattans 50.0. 1,50.0 pur, Paltan (Battalion) 10.3 re@ds or nal 900 900. Bazar in Danapur ar:d 104 reeds and, grass 400. 6,90.0. Purana(old) D, narur. 9 6,790. 10.5 sabe and muj 5,10.0. 4 Sherpur Kushab Shorapur,Dcst. 10.6 sal leaves for nagar, Maner, Raura, plates 100. 10.0. Saray, Lodipur. 107 dhuna 1,600. 1,900 1,600 1,900. 5 Gaya or Saeb Sahebganj or Morakrur 10.8 veoi.on and game 40.0 gunj and Elahabad Shah, r 109 fishes 7,0.0.0. 8,50.0. (~ity)Gaya, Buniyadgunj, 110 swine 50.0. 80.0. Chakan, Bela, Kalias 5,0.0.0. 650. 6,50.0. gunj, Pangchanarur, Ti 111 sheep and goats kari,Shahgunj,Maucngk. 112 buffaloes. 50.0. koch, Majurahanda, 113 oxen and cows 60.0. 40.,70.0. Dehari, Ang1i Mang· 114 leather of oxen raur, HarihHgunj,Bauna, and buffaloes • 3,000. Dekuli, Bodh Gaya , 32,0.0.0. 32,900 Bakraur, Lakhagur, 115 lime KeriyatpuT, Futeh- 116 stone wares 2,000. 4,0.00 2,450. pur, Kinar, Baharama, 117 soda sajji and Beruni, Chanki, Rauna, rehe matti 2,500 6,750. 2,50.0. 8,80.0. Sulimpur, Lakhanpura 118 khari salt 3,656 5,70.0 3,650. 5,700. and Ghugritangr. 31 119 fowls 1,500 6 Nawada Bazar Nawada, Kumal 120. singing birds 200 200 pur bareya, Bllree,Nam 3,800 1l.2® 3,800 20.,825 dargunj, Ak·burpur, R8- 121 red lead jauli, Amaya, Kusheh, 122 vegetables fN Hangsuya or Pangchu, eating. 3,000. 3,200 3,250. 3,200 Nardigung, Kadergunj, 123 salt petre 12,600 Warsaligunj and Aligunj. 12 178 I. Year-18II-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Pa:tna (97-S) MARKET TOWNS IN BEHAR AND PATNA*-Concld. 'iri. division name of market places number srI. name of market pla~es number no. no. 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 "1 Sneykhpurah Bazar Kusbah, Sheykh 12 Holasgunj Kusbah Holasgunj, Kus purah, Chakbudhauli, bah Islamgtmj, Ata Sa Blfabigha, Sekundura ray, ManusSaray, Maha L'lchhuyara, Nabinagar, rajgunj, Dakuyasaray, Katri Saray, Merzagunj, Bauri saray, Khoday Chauyari, Kaki Futechuk. 10 gunj, Bazarkaur, Hathi yawangbazar, Madargunj, Sarbahadasaray, Khozur 8 Duriyapur - Bazar Duriyapur, Moka yang, Siunar, Barpura, gunj, Vishnugunj,Nawab M;>r,Su\tanpur, Mekra, gunj, Kushah Lakhawar K 'In'lipur,Dumra, Barui, Kanniyagunj. 17 BlIlguzur, Lakkhi Sa 13 Jahanabad Kusbah lahanabad,Kazi ray, Marachi, Jayanat sarayand Mostorfabad, pu" Kurmichak, Kang Doulutpur, Kangxo,Da r~.·a, Acta, Hathidaha, muya, Chongra, Kurtba, Khuta, Ramchandrapur, Tebatta, Kayemgunj, Pipuriya, Indupor Dum Mukhsum Saray, Ram ri and Pratippur. 23 pur, Paibigha, Patia wang, Kshemkaran sa Kusbah Bar, Masum ray, Gopalgunj, Bodi gunj, Sadukpur, Nawa gunj, Sekura, Tali, Ki da, p ..uurak,Mubaruka nari, Masdi, Barni,Pan b:ld, Cheoroganj or Di ditgunj, Madangunj, hiri Mahal, Bukhtyar Bandhugunj, Gopalgunj, pur, Mathmangola,Sak Supi and Saydabad. 28 sohara, Chaungdi, Bara, 14 Daudnagar KusbahDaudnag~r, Aha R'lwaich, Raili and Ja mudgunj, Shumshernagar, munichak. 14 Aganurgunj, Hasunpu rah, Upraha, Humid Kushan Behar, Bazar nagar, Kusbah Doohara, Asarggar, Sosaray Bazar Moulagunj, Athrukbi, Katuspurah, Mursaray, Pranpur, Atari, Gob, Mersaigunj, Ramgunj, Sohari, Obra, Dela, Ram B lZU N lypurah, Bazar nagar, Khodaong and Silas, Kusbah Rajgriha, Tarar. 19 Blur Bhadai, Bahadur g'lnj and Meagbra. 13 15 Arwal Kusbah Wasolpur, Sab dala, Maholae, HatingJis (Invalids) Usri,Belkhara, 11 Holsa Kusbab Helsa Saydabad Tolrahat, Karpi, King and K1Zichuk, Kusbah arj, Imamgunj, Bhadasi, Bua, Nawada, Sorarhi, Fadrukpur, Mabalalipur G()raipur,Narsandaganj, 13 Nlgarnansa, Lodipur 16 Vikram Vikr 1m, Bhimnichak,SiI tina, Tharthari, Bang auri, Pansihi, Bhagawan pura, Nihichalgunj, Ra gunj, Gunj-Pali, Ekbal sisa, Kabangunj,Ekang gunj, Patat,Lai ,Viswa m gardihi, Ekanggar-Saray hharpur, Sadisopur and Nibigunj, Telarha, Ganpura, Metapur and Vogipur, Jytiya. 20 Sarasat. 14 *prepared by the editor from available materials. 5. METHOD- the people more communicative than those of I have followed the same plan that I did in Bhagalpur, but not so intelligent as those of Bhagalpur and Puraniya : From various state BengaL I took therefore great pains in travel ments and considerations I have conjectured the ling through the country in different directions, number of men required to cultivate each divi and in the construction of the General s1atistical sion, and then made an allowance fer other table (No.1) I have been much gul,4cd by what classes of socie:y according to estimates given I actually saw. . by the most intelligent persons that I c\.luld [soil] procure. In doing this, however, I experienced In this district there is much land of rather a much difficulty. ppor soil; but the proportion absolutely unfit for the plough is smaller than in Bhagalpur or Pura 6. EXPLANATION- niya. Close upto the very hills is in general l topographical panticulars] arable; there being, even in t.heir immed~ate With regard to the statements of the various vicinity, very little stony broken land, and there kinds of soil and extent of cultivation, I found are few of those extensive tracts of high sand.v 179 1. Year-JBJl-JZ 2. Place-Districts of Behar alld PaIno barren land, which in Puraniya are so prevalent. Ihirty-second part of the whole are built of mud The land occupied by rock or stolle, as I have with two storeys. and roofed with tiles; three said, is confined almost entirely to the hills, and thirty-two parts of the whole are tiled although these are in general exceedingly rugged and only of one siorey. but architecture is no orna barren. No part of them has been brought into ment to the country. cultivation, nor could it be done to advantage. In a few fields near or among the hills small The villages. as usual in this district and in stones are scattered amidst the soil; but where Behar, are built of mud. and the houses closely other circumstances have been favourable, these huddled together, sO as to render a passage do not impede the plough. through them, on an elephant, or in a palanquin, always difficult. and often impracticable. This The interior of the country, reckoning from is done from jealousy, to keep persons oC rank the Ganges as an ocean, is in general flat, a1:1d from approaching their women; as in former does not rise into swells like the Bhagalpur diS limes violence to any pretty girl that was seen, trict so that it is better fitted for the cultivaion was 110t uncommon. The huts are naked and of rice; but it is by no means liable to inunda· mean. and the narrow passages are very sloven tion, and has been fitted for this crop by vast ly, so that the villages are disgusting; but in pains bestowed in collecting and conducting general they stand high. the clay of old walls water. In a few places the torrents from the adding annuaily to their elevation; for. when a mountains overflow their channels, for a day or house goes to ruin. it is levelled. and a new one two during the heaviest falls of rain, and do built of fresh clay. which is more durable. In some occasional injury; but this is trifling, and almost every village has been one or more forts, such inundations, which happw only in some or rather castles. that is large houses surrounding years, in general improve the fertility of the soil, a square. and strengthened with turrets, a parapet over which they have extended, nor have I con and oiher such defences. and often with a ditch. sidered land liable to such accidents as inunda Most of these are now in ruins, but some are still tion. In general: however, these torrents have entire; and both. in addition to the elevated worn channels of so great a width and depth. situation of the viliages, give them when viewed that they seldom overflow. from a distance, a very picturesque appearance; but the extreme rudeness of the castles will not In the 2nd table will be seen the proportion bear a near inspection, any more than the filth of the inundated land that is generally .covered of the villages. The custom of covering the throughout the rainy season. and t~1at IS o!?'ly houses with gourds and pumpkins is not near so covered, for some days at a time. tWIce or thnce common in this district as towards the east and in the season. conlributes to render the villages more unseem [General description, housin? patt~r!1. and urban ly, the thatch especiaUy being very clumsily dis centres of topographIcal dlVlSlOns] posed. This being the general appearance of both the Behar and Patna districts need not be DIVISION I: THE JURISDICflON OF THE repeated. In menlioning the divisions I shall MAGISTRATE OF PATNA only remark exceptions. Section I: The City of Patna [3. urban centres] (The City of Patna has been treated separately.] Phatuha at the mouth of the Punpull on its south side. and not on the north as represented SeC100n II : The Division under Thana Phllltuila in the Bengal atlas, is a large country town, and may contain 2,000 houses. and 12,000 people [1. general description] with a considerable trade and manufacture of The country may be divided into fou~ parts. cloth. Where Major Rennell places Phatuha, is One consists of islands in the Ganges. which are Shumushpur Jafurabad, a town with 300 houses, very bare and sandy, but clear, and some pa~~ and some considerable religious edifices. It may cultivated. Secondly the bank of the Ganges IS be considered as a suburb of Phatuha. Baikuntha high, exceedingly populous. and finely. wooded. pur is a town at least as large as Phatuha. but Thirdly behind the town of Patna 111 a low has not So many good houses. is rather in a state country deeply inundated in the ft?O?s. and yery of decay. and is chiefly inhabited by weavers. It bare and thin of inhabitants; but It IS very tully has an inn. The only other places that can be employed, even such places as are c~vered w~th called towns, are lethauli containing about 150 water throughout the year, being culhvated WIth houses, and Lokna containing 200 houses. singgars. Fourthly in the interior of the countrv, is a rich tract of rice land finely cultivated. and Section III: Division of Noubutpur . well planted. The trees. as usual in this district. are chiefly mango~s and palms. [1. general description] [2. housing pattern] This is a fine rice country. but not subject to There are 100 briek dwelling houses, and one inundation; it is planted. 1S0 1. Year-JBll-J2 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna [2. housing pattern] of the whole has two stories with mud walls and tiled roof, but are of one story; one quarter There is only one brick house. There are 60 consists of mud walled huts with thatched roofs. mud-walled houses of two storeys, 15 covered with tiles, and 45 with thatch, so that architec Phulwari, including Munshurgunj, is a good ture is no ornament to the country. country town, containing 1,700 houses, one of brick, and many of them, although constructed [3. urban centres] of mud, have two storeys, are covered with tiles, Noubutpur is a close built town, containing and are very large. These belong chiefly to about 200 houses, and many shops, but nothing Muhammedans of rank and education. In this remarkable. Sheykhpurah is much such another town there is a mosque, a great part of which place, but has no shops. Close to it is a suburb is built of ..stone and of a strange structure, but containing 90 houses, and called Nezampur. It not handsome nor very large. Its gate built of has no market. Rampur and Korai are two red stone from Agra is the best of the work. small market towns, each containing about 100 Digha, on the Ganges, has 500 houses, and is houses. remarkable for boats fitted for accommodating European travellers. The other places, that can Section IV: Division of Bakipur-Jaywar b~ called towns, are Sekundurpur, Karera, Hari [1. general description] sangkarpur, and Lesleygunj, containing each The country is very fine, and consists of four from 200 to 125 houses. The last, founded by parts. 1st. Some low sandy banks (Diyara) ad Mr. Lesley, was once large, but has of late gone joining to the Ganges, 2nd. High land on the to decay. Besides those in Danapur, there are bank of the great river, not fit for rice, but finely in this division 30 dwelling houses of brick, and planted and cultivated, and this part is peculiarly 150 of two storeys with mud walls and covered ornamented by the European buildings in and with tiles. near the cantonments. This part, although Section V: Division of Sberp1Jl' exactly of the same nature with the Tariyani of Phatuha, is not called by that name. 3rdly. A [1. general description] low tract south from the river some way, and The division consists. of two parts. One high called Chaongr. It entirely resembles the rich along the banks of the rivers, not fit for rice, but lands so called near Mungger. 4thly. The finely planted, exceedingly populous and well southern parts of the division entirely resemble cultivated. This is called Dihi. Secondly, low Noubutpur. land towards the south, which during the rainy season is overflowed through creeks. This is [2. housing pattern] bare but highly cultivated, and is called Chaon [The information available for one urban gri; but although it is chiefly reserved for wheat centre is given in the next section.] and barley, some part has been rendered fit [3. urban centres] for rice. Danapur is by far the principal place, and [2. housing pattern] independent of the military, and the followers There is only one house of brick, and 25 clay attached to corps, that follow these from place houses of two storeys, and covered with tiles; but to place, contains a great many people. In the buildings at Maner, were they in better re different market places (bazars) scattered within pair, would be very ornamental. Maner contains the boundaries of the cantonment, and under 1500 houses, Sherpur 1,000, Rapura 600, Saray military authority, are said to be 3,236 houses. 150 and Lodipur an equal number. These markets are rather better built than usual country towns, and afford many more comforts [3. urban centres] for Europeans than Patna, which in that respect (No urban centre is mentioned in this division.) is a very wretched place; the gentlemen, who reside in Patna, are supplied with almost every necessary from Danapur. The military buildings DIVISION II : THE JURISDICTION OF THE are very grand, especially the barrack for Euro MAGISTRATE OF BEHAR pean soldiers, which is a magnificent and elegant structure. The officer's barracks, although Section I: Division of Sahebgunj, Gaya inferior to the other, are still very fine buildings, [I. general description] and of prodigious extent. Many officers of the This is a beautiful country, finely varied with staff and others have built neat and commodious scattered hills and rocks, but the soil is in gene habitations in the vicinity, and the grounds round ral rather poor, and requires much artificial them are well laid out, while the roads in the watering, on which towards the west much pains vicinity, and through the cantonments, are pretty have been bestowed, especially on the Tikari tolerable, SO that the whole appearance is estate. Towards the east and ~:)Uth, the land has superior to that of Patna. Of the native houses been a good deal neglected, and in that quarter in Danapur forty are built of brick; one quarter there still remain some extensive woods. The 181 I. Year-1811-J2 2. Place-Districts oj Behar and Pa/na cultivated country is finely planted, but architec no show, but is surrounded by a wall very neces ture has done little for its ornament. sary to prevent the rapacity of a great many well fed villains, who are allowed to indulge their [2. housing pattern] sloth in this place of punishment. The streets The great buildings of former times are too in Sahebgunj are wide, perfectly straight, far gone in decay to make a show, and the build and kept in good order, although not paved ings of Gaya are so huddled together that they and in general there is a double row of trees, cannot be seen to any sort of advantage. The leaving in the middle a road for carriages, with Raja of Tikari's house is much concealed by the a foot way on each side. The foot ways, how earthen ramparts of the fort, by which it is sur ever, are usually occupied by hucksters, or by round.!d, and is built in a bad style. Still, how part of the families and furniture of adjacent ever, its magnitude is suited to his great fortune, houses; for in good weather many of the men and is an ornament to the country; but in the sleep in the street, and many of them work there two districts it is 'the only country residence at different trades. The buildings are not equal belonging to a Zemindar, that can be considered to the design of the town, {he greater part of as fit for the abode of a gentleman, the wretched them being mud walled huts of one storey ; but sub-division of property having banished every in general they are covered with tiles. This elegance. without having introduced neatness or indeed is much better than is usual in Bengal, comfort. The profits of superstition have how and there are some good brick houses and neat ever introduced some luxury, and there are in gardens, especially one belonging to Raja Mitra this division 2,500 houses built of brick and jit of Tikari; on the whole, Sahebgunj is the stone, and 1,200 of two storeys with mud walls neatest place seen in the course of ilhe survey. and tiled roofs, 500 similar houses have thatched This town also has an hospital for the reception roofs, one thirty-second part of the dwellingS are of sick natives. huts, having clay walls and tiled roofs, and fifteen-sixteenths are huts, having mud walls The old town of Gaya is a strange looking and are thatched, four parts with grass, and place, and its buildings are much better than eleven parts with straw. There are about 500 of those of Sahebgunj, the greater part of I,he houses the round hovels like beehives, which are called being of brick and stone, and many of them marki. In this division Nawada and Sheykh having two or even three storeys. The architec purah, especially towards their southern sides, ture is very singular, with comers, turrets and the villages are rendered somewhat less irksome galleries projecting. with every possible irregula to the view. by having near the houses arbours rity. This style of building, and its elevated covered with leguminous climbers, which con situation, renders a distant view of the town ceal part of the dirt and misery, and by their picturesque, although the small number and size verdure and flowers are very ornamental. of the windows produce a gloomy appearance. A neal' approach fills with disgust. The streets [3. urban centres] are narrow, crooked, dirty, uneven, and often filled with large blocks of stone or projecting The town of Gaya, the capital of the district, angles of rock, over which the people have for consists of two parts; one the residence of the ages clambered. '" It is usually supposed that priests, which properly is called Gaya; and the .the number of pilgrims and their attendants, who other the residence of lawyers and tradesmen, in ordinary years visit Gaya annually, is not less which was originally called Elahabad, but having than 100,000 and 30,000 pilgrims would assured been very much enlarged and ornamented by ly have less than 70,000 followers, although some Mr. Law, it is now called Sahebgunj. The old of the great Mahrahas have ratther armies with town of Gaya stands on a rocky eminence bet them than guards; but when several of these ween a hill and the Phalgu river, and Sahebgunj come, as has happened this year, the number of is situated on a plain, on the bank of the Phalgu, visitants is reckoned to be double that above south from a hill named Ramsila. Between the !ltated. ... The two places con~dtuting Gaya are two towns was an open sandy space called the said in an enumeration made by Mr. Law to Rumnah or chase, but the court houses have have been found to contain 6,000 houses, and it occupied a part of this, and the remainder is is supposed, that 400 have been since added. taken up by the houses and gardens of the few The place is extremely populous, a great many Europeans at the station. These are small build strangers being constantly on the spot, and the ings, and the grounds and roads in the vicinity pilgrims and their followers often amount to seve are not near so good, as might have been expect ral thousands. When Sahebguni was built, there ed from the number of convicts, especially as no longer exi!Sit!ed an occasion for fortifications, they have not been employed at a distance. The but old Gaya had! been often attacked, and buildings for the accommodaldon of the Zila sometimes plundered. The sanctity of the place' courts are good, and that intended for the court would have been no security against Mahratta of circuit when finished, will be handsome. The rapacity; and, when these invaded the district, jail, which is in th~ middle of Sahebgunj, makes the priests boldly formed 'themselves into 14 182 I. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patlla companies. to each of w.hich was entrusted the Section III : DiviSion of Sheykhpurab defence of an entrance mto the town. Except [1. general description] at these entrances the houses and a few . w~l1s formed a continued barrier. and the proJect1l1g This division is bounded on the south by a angles, and small windows of the houses formed mountainous chain extending east from Gidhaur, part of which it includes; it consists of t~o por a strong defence, so that the Mahrattas were on tions. One is a fine plain, through WhICh are all occasions repulsed. scattered many detached naked rocks. This is tolerably cultivated, but in general indefferently Buniyadgunj, opposite and a li~tle below planted, and often with palms alone. Some part Sahebgunj contains 1,200 houses, chIefly occu of this is much neglected, looks very dismal, and pied by weavers. Tikari, the residence o~ ,RaJa is covered with long grass, which in the dry Mitrajit, contains about 500 houses, bUl~L In season is quite brown. The other portion, in the imitation of Sahebgunj and is adjacent to hIS fort north corner. is flooded by the swelling of the or castle. The fort has a good earthen ra~part Ganges, which flows up numerous channels, and with bastions fit for guns, and a good 'Yet dltch~ covers the greater part of that vicinity. The and although now rathetr neglected, mlght yery villages alone, at that season, emerge from the easily be put m complete order, and has ~eslsted flood, so that the country is bare of trees: but in many attacks. Kinar, east fron: Sahebgun) seve? the dry season its rich crops produce a fine C,lS contains 400 houses. BesIdes these Angb, verdure intermixed with flowers, that give it a Koch, Futehpur, Dekuli, Mawak, Baona, very pleasing aspect. Majurahanda, and Sulimpur are small towns containing from 250 to 100 houses, [2. housing pattern] The officer of police alleged, that in his whole Section, II: Division of Nawada division there were only two dwelling houses of brick; but I saw more. Twenty-five houses he [1. general description] says, are built of mud, and covered with tiles, This is a very beautiful country, finely ad:orn but have only one storey. One-sixteenth of the ed. both tClWards the north and south by I1111s; whole are mud houses of two storeys, and cover· and even in the great plain that intervenes, m~ny ed with thatch; twenty-nine to thirty-two parts rocks project, and give an interest and vanety are mud-walled huts. of which three-quarters are to the view. The hills to the north are bare, but covered with reeds, and one-quarter with straw; those towards the frontier of Ramgar one thirty-second part consists of hovels with are finely wooded, and th~ vallies there are walls made of hurdles, partly in the form of bee watered with clear perenmal streams, but the hives (marki) and partly like pig-styes (khopra). country in that quarter is grossly neglected, a~d almost in a state of savage nature. The plam [3. urban centres] country is in general well planted. and i,he Sheykhpurah contains 1,000 houses, in a long villages stand high. row, by the foot of a rock. The street in some parts is so narrow that an elephant cannot pass. [2. housing pattern] There are besides the following places, that may be called towns: Barabigha contains 1.000 houses, There are 10 houses of brick, 50 house~ of ~wo Sekundura 400. Merzagunj 400, Budhauri 200. storeys with mud walls and covered wIth tIles, Choyara 200, Nubinagar 200, Bishazari 100, 500 of the same nature but thatched, 500 hou~es Katrisaray ]00, Kazifutehchuk 100, and Lahoyar of one storey with mud wans and covered wlth 100. tiles. Thirteen-sixteenths of the whole are huts with mud walls. and thatched. eight parts with reeds, and five parts wHh straw. Two-sixteent~s Section IV : Division of Duriyapur have walls of hurdles. The remainder are markls, [1. general description] (like bee hives). The Moslems have about 50 Duriyapur Division, besides a small island in mosques built of br'ick, and many monuments of the Ganges, consists of three partS'. By far the saints, but no~e of ',hem are at all remarkable greatest portion is inundated during the rainy either as buildings, or for their sanctity. The season, a few high places only th:::n emerging. chief place of worship (lmong the Hindus i~ on These high places are occupied by villages and the Pangchane river, where it passes between plantations; but on the whole this part of the the hill called Giribraja and the former abode country is rather bare. When visited in 1. Year-T8ll-J2 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Palna of the division, is rather high, and of a very fine resembles the adjacent parts of Bar just now soil inclining to clay, but somewhat free. It is described. The southern and more elevated finely planted, produces a perpetual succession parts are highly cultivated, and finely planted. of crops, especially J anera and cotton. and is East from Behar some part is indeed overwhelm astionishingly populous; but the villagers are ed with trees; but in other parts the country is very slov.::nly. At the south-east comer of the too well cultivated to admit of his waste. The district is the third portion sun-ounding two small immediate vicinity of Behar is remarkably rocky hills, and much neglected. A great part beautiful. Being supplied with numerous canals, of it is overrun with stunted woods intermixed a large extent is continually irrigated with machi with palm trees. All the bank of the Ganges is nery, and under a constant succession of luxu here called Tariyani. riant crops, while the rugged hill, brick build ings, and ruins give a pleasing variety to the [2. housing pattern] scenery. [No description of housing pattern is available.] [2. housing patotern] [3. urban centres] There are about 500 brick houses, of which [There is no mention of any urban centre.] 200 have two storeys, and 300 have one storey. Section V: Division of Bar There are about 2000 houses with tiled roofs and mud walls of two storeys; and 3000 of one storey. [1. general description] Many of both are white washed, 2500 thatched The immediate bank of the GangeS here is houses of two storeys, and mud-wall. All the called Tariyani, and consists of two parts. First, huts have clay-walls, and are mostly thatched some low inundated bare land, near the river, with straw; perhaps one in 50 or 60 may be a and called Diyara. And secondly, a high and hovel like a bee-hive. more extensive tract, called Bhitha, extremely populous, highly cultivated, and finely planted. [3. urban centres] It is not productive of rice; but various other crops succeed one another throughout the year. Behar is a very large scattered place surround During the floods the interior country is mostly ing the ditch of an ancient city, now in a great inundated; but many high places afford situations measure deserted. It is divided into 24 mahul for villages and plantations; not is the inundation lahs or wards. but these are now separated by so deep as in Duriyapur, so that great part has fields and gardens, so that it has Iitt~e appear been surrounded by small banks, and is cultivat ance of a town. The most compact part is a ed with rice. long narrow bazar, or street, extending south from the old fort towards the monument of [2. housing pattern] Shurfuddin. This street is paved with brick and There are 22 dwelling houses of brick mostly stones, which, although very rough, must be of in Bar; two tiled houses; and 700 clay walled great use in rainy weather; but in every other houses of two swreys and thatched. Almost respect it is the most wretched street, that I have every other abode has mud walls, and is thatch ever beheld. Back however from this street, on ed. Perhaps 200 may have walls made of reeds. both sides, are some respectable looking houses, surrounded by brick walls, but intermixed with [3. urban centres] hovels. There are some mosques, that have been tolerable buildings, but they are now quite Bar is a poor scattered place, but of great ruinous. It is said, that, until the decline of the exte!lt, and, including Masumgunj, is said by the Mogul Government, the town surrounded the old KaZl to contain no less than 5,000 houses ditch on every side for at least a mile, and was although others allege, that it contains only as compact as Indian cities usually are; but it 4,000. Several very respectable Muhammedan was reduced to its present condition, first by the families reside in it, and it has a considerable Marhattas, who sacked it in the time of AIaverdi trade. Besides Bar, this divisicn contains the Khan, and secondly by the great famine in the following small towns; Saksohara. Bara, Saduk commencement of the English Government, since pur, and Punarak. having from 500 to 300 houses which it has never recovered. there being no each; and Bukhtyarpur, Chaundi, Rawaich, inducement to bring people to a place, no longer Yamunichak, and Chauragunj or Dihirimhal, the seat of any considerable establishment. It having from 200 to 100 houses. still contains about 5000 houses, among which Section VI: Division of Behar are most of those that are cf brick, or that are tiled. [1. general description] At the southern extremity of this division it At this place. is a factory dependent on the includes part of the Rajagriha hills, and at Behar opium agent at Patna. Besides Behar there are an exceeding rugged rock projects from the in this division the following towns; Nur-Saray, plain,. but all the remaining country is level, and including Yar-Saray, Dayanagar and Amarnagar, the southern part is inundated. This entirely all contiguous, contains 750 houses; Maghra, 184 I. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna with a Company's cloth factory dependent on the other similar parts already described. Patna, contains 400 houses; Silao 600; Shah Secondly, a low space called Tal, south from the Saray 500; Merza-Nagar 300; Asanagar 200; above, and liable to inundation. which resembles Bhadai 175; and Rajagriha 150 .... entirely the adjacent parts of Bar and Phatuha Among the Moslems the place of worship, by already described; and thirdly a more extensive far the most celebrated, is the tomb of Shurf plain but elevated part, exceedingly well culti uddin, which is called the Mahullah Durgah, and vated and planted and very productive of rice. is situated at the southern extremity of the sub [2. housing pattern] urbs. The buildings are of no great size, and are Twenty-five houses are built partly of brick. uncommonly rude, but are kept in good repair. There are about 250 houses of two storeys with By far the most celebrated place of Hindu mud walls and tiled roofs; and 1000 similar, but worship in this division is Rajagriha or the thatched: one hut in 32 may have mud walls, King's house; and for many ages it has no doubt and a tiled roof; one in 64 may be a round hovel been one of the principal seats of superstition in like a bee-hive, all the remainder have mud the country, and in all probability has been long walls, and are thatched. chiefly with rice straw. the seat of empire. The small town still named Rajagriha clearly in my opinion marks, out the [3. urban centres] original seat of empire, as is implied by its name, Helsa is a town containing 300 houses. Nawada and is situated on the north side of the ridge of is a large plaCe consisting of about 2500 houses. mountains to which it has communicated its in consequence of which it is called the great name, towards its east end, about seven or eight Nawada, in order to distinguish it from the miles north-west from Giriyak, which I have capital of the division of that name, which is a described as a palace of Jarasandha, who is by petty place. Tilara also is a large town. con all acknowledged to have been king of India, and taining 2000 houses. Yogipur contains 600 several monuments attributed to him are shown houses, Surari. Nubigunj, Ekanggardihi, and near Rajagriha: but, although the town stands on Jaitiya are small towns containing from 100 to the massy rampart of an old fortress, the natives 200 houses to my great surprise have no traditio_n of this having belonged to J arasandha, on the contrary Section VIII: Division of Holasgunj they in general attribute the fortifications to. Sher [1. general description] Shah, An inspection of the place soon satIsfied This is a very highly cultivated level country. me with respect to this tradition. I at first sight diversified by numerous rocky hills, that spring discovered, that there had been two fortifications. from rthe plain like small islands from the occean. One much the larger is of an irregular pentagonal The country is also finely planted, and to be form, and is apparently very ancient, as the complete wants only the ornaments of comfort traces, which remain, are a mere rampart of able abodes for the lower orders, and of archi earth, wanting outworks, but st~rengthened by a tecture in those of the wealthy. ditch. The ditch seems to have been aDout 100 feet wide, and the whole earth taken from it has [2. housing pattern] been thrown up to form ,the rampart, which in Two houses are constructed of brick; 50 with cludes a space of about 1,200 yards in diameter. mud walls and two storeys are covered with tiles, The present town sta.nds upon the north-west and 100 of one storey have the same covering; comer of this fortress, and in thalt part has pro one house in 32 is supposed to have two storeys, duced many irregularities, and the wh01e work mud walls, and a thatched roof; 400 are round seems to have escaped the notice of ,the present hovels; the remainder are huts of one storey with inhabitants. whose attention is solely occupied a thatched roof and mud walls. Holasgunj is a by a more modem work, which they attribute to very petty place. Sher Shah, king of India in the 16th century of the Christian era. This occupies the south-west [3. urban centtes] corner of the ancient fortress for a space of The chief town is Islamgunj, which contains about 600 yards. The west and south faces are the same with those of the original rampart, but 3000 houses: Khoday-gunj is also a considerable have been much strengthened. Their surface is town. with 1000 houses; Lakhawar has 500; everywhere covered wi:th bricks, which have I-lathiyawang 325; and Asa-saray, Bauri-saray. rial; but except these fragments no traces of such Sarbahada-saray, Khezurgunj, and Vishnugunj, are small places containin~ each from 100 to 200 rial; but except these fragments no traces of such houses. a work remain. Section IX: Division of Jahanabad Section VII: Division of Helsa [1. general description] [1. general description] The division consists of three parts. First. a A small portion of this division is. or rather narrow strip along the Ganges called Tariyani. has been slightly inundated; but it is said, that exceedingly populous and well cultivated, like for some time the inundation has been gradually 185 1. Year-181M2 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna decreasing, and for two or three years has been and a factory of the opium agent at that city. scarcely observable. The whole is a fine level Besides Daudnagar there are the following towns country fully cultivated, and beautifully planted. containing from 500 to 1000 houses; Shumsher. nagar, Agahurgunj, Upraha, Hasunpurah, (2. housing patrern] Humidnagar, Deoham, Awari, Goh, Obara, Bel, Ramnagar. Kodayo and Bharar. There are three brick houses, one of which is an old Dutch factory: 200 mud houses of two S'toreys are almost all tiled. There .are 4.00 Section XI : Divisioa 01. Arwal houses with tiled roofs, and one storey hIgh, ~lth [1. general description] mud walls and 1000 round hovels like bee-hIves. The remainder consists of huts with mud walls, The district in its appearance is similar to the last. A great portion is negleoted, and where mostly thatched with rice straw. the soil is poor, is chiefly overgrown with thorns [3. urban centres] of the stunted jujub. Where the waste land lS Jahanabad is a good, country town, contain!ng rich. it is overgrown with haI1sh long grass, which about 700 houses, with a cloth factory belongmg in the dry season loses all vegetation. The to the Company, and dependent on Patna; ~nd occupied lands are well planted. is the residence of a native agent for the makmg [2. housing pattem] of nitre. The following small market towns con tain from 200 to 100 houses; Kasisaray or There is no dwelling house of brick. Twenty Mostufabad Tehatta, Kayemgunj, Paibigha, five houses of two storeys have mud walls, and Kshemkara~-saray, Sekura. Tali, and Kinari. are cov~red with tiles; 125 houses have two storeys and mud walls, and are covered with Section X: Division of Daudnagar thatch; all the huts have mud walls; 200 are round hovels like bee-hives. 40 are covered with [1. general d.escription] tiles. the remainder are thatched. This division has been a good deal neglected, and the poorer lands are in g.eneral w~ste, and [3. urban centres] in the dry season look very dismal, bemg cover The Darogah of police resides at Waselpur, ed with stunted thorns (jujubs) without a pile of w~ich, incIudin~ Arwal and Sabdalpur, nearly grass. There are howe~er many planta!ions, in adjacent, contalOs about 125 houses. and is a which much good land IS ..wasted, as the poorer very sorry place. The other places. that can. be Salls are perfectly fit for the pUl'pose. . So~ of called towns, containing from 250 to 100 houses, the best land even is neglected, and IS chiefly are M.ahull~h, Belkhara. Telpahat. Kingjar, occupied by poor looking woods of the Palas Bhadasl, Phlrdarakpur and Mababalipur. (Bufea frondosa). (2. housing pattern] Section XII: Div1~olll of Vikram Therl' are IS brick houses, 200 mud walled [1. general description] houses of two storeys covered with tiles, and cne sixteenth of the whole are similar, but thatched: This is a very rich level country finely planted, two-sixteenths of the whole are mud walled and every comer fully occupied. cottages of one storey covered with tiles; the remaining huts have all mud walls. but are [2. housing pattern] thatched, ten parts with grass, and three parts Three dwelling bouses are built of brick. There with straw. arc 400 houses of two storeys built of mud, one (3. urban centres] half covered with tiles, and one half with thatch; 300 mud walled huts are covered with tiles; the Daudnagar is a large country town, which, remaining huts have mud walls. but are thatch including Ahamudgunj, cowins, about 8000 ed, one part with grass or sugar cane leaves, and houses; but is a very poor place. Some of the streets, however, in Ahamudgunj especially, are seven parts with rice straw. strai,g~ and wide; but the greater part consists [3. urban centres] of miserable crooked lanes called 1?ullies. The best streets are very irregular, and .Jften ternll Vikram, where the officers of police reside, is nate in a lane. or are interrupted in the middle a small town, containing about 80 houses, and by a hoveL .. Almost all the houses of Daudnagur the stables where the draught cattle belonging to are built of mud, and covered with tiles, and are the military station of Danapur are kept. The more comfortable than the lower classes in the places, that can be called towns, containing from country usually possess, but in the whole. there 500 to 100 houses. are Bhagawangunj. Pati, is not one fit to accommodate a person m the Pawat, and Lai. At Viswam'hharpur, a petty rank of a gentleman. It contains a cloth factory place, thl} Compauy has a subordinate opium dependent on the commercial resident at Patna. factory. 15-439 R. G. IndiajNDj79 186 11. Year-181l-12 2. Place-Dist.ricts of Behar and Patna ON THE POPULATION servants. The Pauniyas are artificers; and many of these have not only farms, but hold the plough In the topography will be found an account or labour the earth with their own hands; and of the manner in which I have formed an esti either cultivate the ground, when they do not mate of the number of inhabitants in the city find employment at their trade or one brother of Patna. In the town of Danapur the native cultivates the farm, while another follows the officer of police, under the authority of the duties of his profession. They often act as day general, gave a statement of the number of houses. labourers. The Jyotiyas are those, whose proper With regard to the other parts of these districts duty it is to plough. A great many of these have I have followed the same plan that I did in no land, and partly act as servants, and partly as Bhagalpur and Puraniya: from various state day labourers. The demand for such, owing to ments and considerations I have conjectured the many of the ploughmen doing little other work, is number of men required to cultivate each divi very great on the farms of the more wealthy sion, and then made an allowance for the other Ashraf. classes of society according to estimates given by the most intelligent persons that I could pro In order, from the total number of plough cure. In doing lbis, bow e'V er, 1 expelienced men requ1red in each division. to be able to much difficulty. In the districts hitherto surveyed. calculate the other classes of society, it was the distinctions of Sukhbas, Khoshbash. and necessary to construct the Fifth Statistical table. Chasas, are pretty clearly marked. the in which an estimate has been made of the pro latter giving the whole agricultural population~ portion of the different classes of society actually but in these districts this division is unknown. engaged in agricultural pursuits. and the people arc divided into Ashraf, Bukals, Pauniyas, and Jotiyas. The Ashraf are a kind Domestic servants are of all classes, and even of gentry, and consist of the high castes, both pure Brahmans are occasionally employed as Muhammedan and Hindu; namely, Saiuds. such by persons of low birth. I have not there Pathans, Moguls, Brahmans, Kshatris, Rai fore, on this account, made any distinction, the puts, Kayasthas, and all merchants pretend number being sO' small every where except ing to be Vaisya, among whom are in the city of Patna, that the separation included the J ainas or Srawak. Some rich would produce little or no difference merchants of low tribes endeavour of squeeze in general calculations. In the city of Patna the themselves into this rank; but although admitted day labourers, porters. servants and other labour by their poor neighbours th~:ir claim is considered ing classes have been thrown into the class of illegal. Although the Ashraf have abundance of J otiyas; but the number employed there in agri pride, and as little inclination to work as any culture is quite trifling; and to this anyone other gentry, they have multiplied so enormously, must carefully attend, who wishes to use the that abstinence from manual labour is no longer tables in calculation. practicable: and by far the greater part of them not only have lands, which they cultivate on In the districts hitherto surveyed, on account their own account by means of s~rvants or slaves; of their insalubrity, I have allowed the men but a very large proportion cultivate with ~hcjr capable of labour at one fifth of the popUlation; own hands. The poorest of them, however, but, the people of these districts being more abstain from acting as servants, and they only healthy, I here allow the men fit for labour to work on their own farms. The profession of a amount only to one in four and three quarters ploughman, on account of the labour which it of the whole people. On this foundation we shall exacts from the sacred ox, is by the Hindu consi have 33, 54, 420 people O'n 77, 64, 480 bighas of dered abominable, and in order to shun degrada occupied land, or 2.51 bighas for each person. tion in the opinion of tJleir neighbol'tfs, even the as stated in the 4th statistical table. Muhammedan Ashraf in general avoid this labour. In some places, however, the Rajputs, Pathans, In each division I procured from intelligent and military Brahman, neglect this precaution, persons, especially the officers of police an esti and the known ferocity of their habits secures mate of the number of houses belongid§ to the them the possession of rank. The other poor four different classes into which the popUlation Ashraf hoe, weed, sow, transplant, water, and is usually divided, and this is given in the Sixth reap their own fields, and hire men to plough. Statistical table which. as will be observed. This will account for the large extent in many differs very considerably from the number of cases said to be cultivaited by one ploughman : he houses that results from my calculation, which has two teams of cattle, with which he works the is given in the 7th table, and on the whole consi whole day, and every other labour is performed der~bly exceeds what, I think. can be reason by other persons. A few merchants also, as I ably allowed. My calculation is strongly con have said, belong to this kind of gentry. The firmed by the inquiries of the Pandit, who Bukals are traders of low bir1th, and abstain having been directed to inquire after the number altogether from rural labour, although a few of families in each tribe of Hindus, in each Qave farms; but these are cultivated entirdy by division. gave in a list, amounting in aU to 187 1. Year-181l-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna 3.37,743. less only than my conjecture by 17000 have been entirely naturalized. On the whole. houses, or about 2 per cent. which is a very the peoplc here arc of a domestic turn. have an near coincidence. It must be observed that in aversion to going abroad. but at horne are in the list of tribes. which will subsequently be general abundantly industrious. In the greater given. I have not in many cases adhered to what part, however. of Nawada and Sheykhpurah indo was stated by the Pandit. especially in the lence is very generally prevalent, and towards the agricultural tribes. concerning whose numbers southern boundary of these divisions the habits I procured other calculations. that appeared to of the people arc almost as bad as those of the me more correct. In particular I have diminished wilder parts of Bhagalpur.- greatly his numbers of the military and agricul tural Brahmans. and have increased his numbers of the Kairi Kurmi Musahar and other low [marriage] cultivators. I do not think. however. that on whole the amount of the population given in the Here the custom of premature marriage is not Fourth Statistical table is very materially wrong; quite so prevelcnt; and it must be o.bserved, that but more reliance is to be placed in the total in these diSitricts this custom is by no means such amount than on the particulars. a check on population as in Bengal. for there the girl usually begins to cohabit with her husband In this table have also been stated several when she is 10 years of age. but in this district the particulars which affect. or might be supposed girl remains at her father's house until the age of to affect population; and some other such parti puberty, and ofoourse her children are stronger. culars are detailed in the 14th table. whcre the and she is less liable to sterility. The same. I am education of the people is explained. assured. is the custom in the western parts of Bhagalpur. The effect of the virtue of the women. however. in increasing the total popula The number of men ~id to be absent in the tion can be considered as next to. nothing, no regular army. when I travelled through these places in the two districts having incr 1. Yearr-181l-12 2. Place-Dis~ricts of Behar and Palfla inoculation had lately, at the instigation of the because they are miserable and helpless, and European surgeon at Arah, be taken them because they think that the sin to which the sellves to the practice : the people hewever could disease is attributed will be removed by their flot inform me of the gentleman's name, to whose dying in the sacred stream; and they cannot exertions they are so much indebted. Notwith afford to have the forms of expiation (Prayas standing the most landable exertions on the part chitta) performed, as is usually done for the of the gentlemen employed, the vaccine had Brahmans or wealthy persons that may be affiic made very little progress. ted with this desease. The books of law [2. {.ever] (Dharmasastra), I am told, condemn this kind of expiation by drowning. or rather say, that the Fevers are in general less common than even expiation by ceremony (Prayaschitta) is the only in the m09t healthy parts of Bhagalpur and one effectual; but a passage of the MahobhfNot nowhere are near so prevalent as in the bad is interpreted so as to recommend the dmwning. parts of that district. Every where at a little and, where perfectly voluntary, it perhaps saves distance from tke Ganges, except in the woods the unfortunate wretch from much worldly sufl'ec ()f Nilw~da, the eouatry, for a warm climate, is ing. I saw no person ,that was entirely white, bigbly salubrious. and the bad parts of it are but I heard of eight or ten that are in that state uPt worse tban Bb~galpur, whicb is reckoned one The chronic swelling of the legs, throat. &{;. of the Il)ost he~thy situlJtions in lJengal. It is said that U»til witbin these two or three years, are not, in proportion to the number of people, more numerous thliln in Bhagalpuc. the coun~ry was still more healthy than it now is. a circumstaace which seems to me highly ON mE CONDITION AND MANNER OF prol>able, as it is now overstocked with inhabi LIVING OF THE PEOPLE t;lnts, and in all probability the mortality will [pattern of consumer expenditure] inc1l!ase, until it becomes as great as in the vici On this subject. as in Puraniya and Bhagalpur, nity of Mporshedabad. whi<;h was a h.~lthy I shall chiefly confine myself to some observa couJltry untiJ overwhclmed with people. The tions on the different heads of expense. In the a\ttvUltlal epidemic is always most severe, unless 7th table is given an estimate, similar to that it b.e in the wilds of Nawada and Sheykhpurah, contained in the 5th table of the Bhagalpur .~ Illll)' b_e so ,there also, although I omitted to papers, dividing the population of each division inquire c()Ilcerning this circumstance. into classes according to the number of persons [3. other diseases: in each family, and subdividing each class The febrile disease (nakra), attributed to an according to the various rates of expense which affection of the nose, is very troublesome, the they are supposed to incur. It must here also be same person continuing for years to have attacks observed that the expense of the lower ranks from six to twelve times a year. Fluxes are not seems fully as mudl exaggerated as Hl Bbagal sv commoo as in the north-east of Bengal, nor pur, although on the whole the people here no are choleras frequeat. The sannipat, or tempo doubt live better, except in Nawada and Shey rary swelling in the throat with fever, occurs at khpurah, where they seem to me fully as poor all seasons, but is not common. In some places as in the worst parts of Bhagalpur. The sub it is called nuzlah. Both kinds of leprosy are division of property has banished almost every. nearly on the same footing as in. Bhagalpur. The thing like the splendour of rank from these dist great leprosy (kor) is bere divided into two ricts, except just about Patna, and there the kinds; the raktabikf,lr, which affects the extremi natives of wealth are fond as usual of a numer ties, and is supposed to originate in a diseased ous and disorderly attenqance, and not only state of the blood; and the sunbaheri, is a parade with the emblems of rank usual among P.ersian word, and a Brahman physician themselves, but are em\J.lous of European equi !lays that the Saagskrita name of this kind is page. Bad-Rakta, but he just reverses the applicatkm [housing pattern] of two n~~s: ,and ~lt.bo!l.8h Rakta is Sangs The brick or stone houses are in general built krita, Bad I believe is a Persian word. There in a very bad style, with stairs, floors, win4ows, is, however, reason to think that there are two and chambers miserably small and awkw5lrd. varieties of the disease, that differ much both in The greater part are built with clay for mortar. symptoms and virulence; the one attacking the but have flat roofs covered witb. plaster. The small joints and the other the skin. of which small number of houses, that are built of roulZh it renders large portions totally il}sensible. The stones with clay mortar, where such materials prejudice against the unfortunate persons seized are so abundant, is a clear proof of extreme with this dreadful malady is so great that some poverty. In most countries so situated, the mean of the lower castes, when seized with it, cause est hut would be built in this manner. Houses themselves to be destroyed. They are placed in with mud walls and two storeys are called kothas. a boat, and, a pot of sand being tied to their In general, as in Bhagalpur they consist of only necks. t.hey are carried to the middle of the two apartments, one above the other, and what Ganges. and there thrown over :board. The I have said in my account of that district is people thus ~rowned are perfectly willing, both entirely applicable to most of those here; but 189 1. Year-181l~12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna in Phulwari especially I observed some large few country towns. The farmers all.d decent houses of this kind, and with care in artists have huts similar, but covered with smoothing and painting the clay, such may be thatch. and In tJhe construction of their roO'fs made very neat and comfortable; but externally they are exceedingly rude. Although of the at least, little or no pains are in general bestowed shape usual in Bengal they are too flat, and the on these operations, and the walls are more thatch, which in that country is very neat, is rough and unseemly; than could be well conceiv here quite the contrary. The roof is commonly ed. With respect to the inside I cannot judge, supported by the walls and a ridge-pole runniDi the manners of the natives precluding strangers from one gableend to the other. and unless there from the interior of their houses. Many of these is a gallery, has neither posts nor beams. Each kothas are tiled, and for people of easy condi hut usually consists! of one apartment 11 cubits tion such houses seem the best fitted in the long by seven wide, to the front of which, if tlie present state of the country. It is true, that the occupant is a trader or artist. is added a narroW tiles require constant repair, and that without gallery to serve for a shop. If the family is precaution, they are intolerably hot; but a numerous or wealthy, additional huts are built; slig~t terrace of earth over the upper storey, and but in common an ordinary family with all its under the tiles. would entirely obviate this evil. effects is usually squeezed into such a hovel, a Many of the kothas are however thatched, and wretched shed for cooking, and a hut for tlie in most parts of these districts this is an un cattie. complete a small farmer's dwelling; while pardonable waste of forage, for grass fit for the addition of a second hut, and of a granary thatch is too scarce to be in general procurable, like a large bee-hive, forms what is considered and straw the only dry forage. is -commonly a comfortable abode. The huts built with walls used. In some parts the terraces of earth, which of hurdles are confined to a few oi the wilder serve for floors or ceilings, are strengthened by parts of the district. :Rere even huts shaped like the addition of the calcareous concretions called bee-hives. and called marki. have usually day kangkar; and, where these are plenty, this seems walls. and are chiefly occupied by Rajwats, to be an improvement, as it renders the floor Musahars and Bhungiyas, all probably aboriginal harder. and not so easily penetrable by rats. tribes. snakes. and other vermin. Where the kangkar is The fence round the yard, contiguous to which not found. broken pots would probably be are built the various huts. of which a native habi equally effectual. Most of these kothas have tation consists, is usually a mud wall. and in wooden doors and window-shutters; but these most villages there is no space intervening bet are to the last degree rude, and are seldom if ween these enclosures. nor is the area plal1ted. ever painted. Glass. or eveR mica although very while the thatch is not even defended by gourd plentiful in the district, are quite out of the leaves from the sparks of any fire, that toay be question; although in the cold or rainy seasons kindled. Fires are therefore exceedingly destruc either would be very comfortable. and the mica tive. On the southern boundary the houses are would have the advantage of concealing entirely uSlually separated by small plots. which are shel the women. while it admitted light. tered by arbours of legumit10us creepers. a good custom, which ought everywhere to be encourag- In Gaya and Patna the chief ornament of the ed. houses consists of carved wooden work in the In ordinary houses there is scarcely any furni front of the galleries. and in some few houses, ture except bedsteads, earthen pots, a spinning both of brick and mud, this has a tolerable wheel, and a rude knife cleaver, aRc) such like. effect; but it exposes the whole to the danger of implements. Persons in easy circumstances add fire, at1d should be discouraged. Some of the some copper vessels; but carpets, chairs, tables, galleries are painted. and amidst the dismal hue or anything like decent furniture, are confined to of naked mud. or slovenly brick walls, the gaudi a very few families indeed. Bedsteads are of th~ ness of the colours and tinsel, were they kept same descriptions as in Bhagalpur. and fully as tolerably clean. would have a good effect. common. although the painters caricature the gods, heroes, [dress and ornaments1 and beasts. in the most barbarous manner. The huts here. although far from neat, and although The Hindu men of rank have on high occasions dark and close, having seldom any aperture but adopted the Muhammedan dress, only they but· one small door; are so far comfortable. that, ton their robe on the contrary side. while most having mud walls. ,they exclude both rain and of the Moslem women in ordinary dress use cold. and are not so hot as those made of bam the Hindu petticoat or wrapper, while some Raj boos, mats or reeds: some of them are tiled, and put wottlen use long drawers like the Muham with a clay terrace under the roof. Wooden medan ladies. The wrapper and veil in one piece doors and glass windows are far indeed removed (sari) seems to be the proper fertlfile dress of ftom hope; and as yet such houses, even with Magadha. as the women of the Maghaiya' Bra~. out these extravagant luxuries. are almost entirely mans uSe it whenever they cook; but the pettI confined to' wealthy artists and traders ih a coat (lahangga) and boddice (korta) froto the 190 1. Year-1811-12 .2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna west of India has made great progress, and these districts the poor cannot daily procure rice, more than a fourth of the whole women would and live a great part of the year on wheat or seem to have adopted this dress. Turbans are other coarser grains, or even on pulse made into in very general use among the Hindus, but the cakes or paste; and in a few parts the Mahuya Moslems in undress frequently content ,them flower, and the kemels of the mango and kind selves with a little muslin cap. The people here are occasionally used as a substitute for grain. are not quite so scantily clothed as in Bhagalpur, The quantity of cleaned grain stated to be a fair but still the poorer classes suffer much from cold. allowance for the daily consumption of five In Patna and the larger towns there are many labouring people, young and old, varied in dif clean people; but in country places, I think, dirt ferent divisions from 320 to 480 sicca weight. prevails fully as much as in Puraniya, and the lower rank seems to have less shame in lousing [2. salt1 each other in public, than I have any where else The quantity of salt, said to be a full daily observed. This practice is in particular exceed ingly prevalent in the city of Patna. Almost allowance for five persons young and old, varied every man has leather shoes, and all those who in different divisions from 13 to 3-A s.w. can afford it use this luxury; but as a pair costs average 8i s.w. The second class was said three anas, this indulgence must be managed, to procure from 6! to 2! s.w. average and many people, when on a journey, save their shoes by carrying them in their hand, and on 4 s.w. The third class from 3! to I H sw. approaching their quarters put them on for the average 2161 s.w. The fourth class from 2 to sake of decency. Women of low rank wear 13 sandals. so as not to conceal the beauties of 16 s.w. average 1 s.w. Ashes are not used their feet; but the higher classes of Hindu women here as a substitute for salt; but a great deal of consider every approach to wearing shoes as a salt prepared in Tirahut (Kharinemak) is quite indecent: so that their use is confined to alleged to be used to adulterate the salt imported Muhammedans, camp trulls. and Europeans. and from Calcutta. which is mostly of the Bengalese of the first class by far the greater part on this manufactory. Until of late a good deal of salt subject have adopted the Hindu notion. was imported from the west of India; but means One half of the female ornaments consists of have been taken to stop this trade. which was brass, bell metal, tin, or tutenague; and of the contraband. other half two parts may be glass, and the re maining part may be lack; but the precious [3. oil] metals are much more used than in Bhagalpur; With respect to the oil, .the quantity considered Or even in Puraniya. Most of the Ashraf women as a full daily allowance for five persons young have a gold ring in their nose: and some for and old, varied in different places from 20 to 6 their fingers and ears. The rich of the low castes sicca weight, * the average is 11 s.w. but the have the same. In Patna, Gaya. Daudnagar, highest rate is that of Patna and Sahebgunj, Behar and Bar a large proportion of the women which contain a large proportion of the inhabi is as completely bedecked with the precious tants. The second class consumes from 10 to metals as in any part of Bengal, and 400 or 500 2t s.w. the averageS ~~ s.w. The third class is families, chiefly in Patna. use jewels and coral. In Patna the women do not paint much; but in said to use from 4 } to 1- s.w. average 2* S.w. the country' most of the Hindu women, whenever they wish to be fine, plaster their whole fore The fourth class is said to be unable to procure heads with red lead. The customs of anointing oil daily, even in the smallest quantity, and uSe the body with oil, of blackening the eyes, and of it only on high occasions. As usual this estimate tatooing the females are much on the same foot contains the whole allowance for the lamp, for ing as in Bhagalpur; only that very little oil is function, and for the kitchen. used, especially by men. Children under three years of age, as is the case every where in Bengal [4. meat] , and Behar, are daily anointed, if it can be The number of people who eat butchers' meat possibly afforded. Cutaneous disorders are 110t or poultry is much greater than ,towards the east. more prevalent than in Bhagalpur. At Danapur an European kills very good meat; beef in the cold season, and small meat in the [food: 1. rice] hot. A Muhammedan there also sells tolerable Rice is here the staple article of food, except meat, beef. veal and mutton; but this is en in Duriyapur, Bar and Sherpur, where little tirely for the use of Europeans. Even the rich grows, and where there is not wealth enough to est natives, I believe, do not care whether or enable the inhabitants in general to purchase not the meat which they use is fat. In Patna their food, a large po'rtion living on the produce a great deal of meat is sold, but it is almost of their own farms. In every part however of ------entirely that of goats, and very little beef is *Tbe weight of a siece rupeea about 179 grs. Troy used by even the Moslems. Goat meat is also 191 1. Year-181J-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna sold daily at Behar, Gaya, Daudnagar, and [fuel] Bar, and in almost every division are some but chers that kill goats as often as there is a demand. Fuel. in most parts of these districts, is very Buffalo meat is not in request. Sacrifices here scarce and dear, and by far the greater part are not in very common use, except with the consists of cow-dung mixed with husks and made Brahmans, Rajputs, and Khatris, who eat only into round cakes. Even in the town of Patna the meat that has been offered; all other castes these cakes form by far the greater part of the are chiefly supplied from the butcher. The quan fuel. and for eight or nine miles round, poor tity of game procurable is very trjfiing. The women attend carefully every herd of cattle. or impure castes have great abundance of lean even every plough, in order to procure a quan dirty pork; fowls and pigeons are scarce, and tity sufficient. The common fuel used there by the there are no ducks_ Fish is in general very scarce, rich. consists of tamarisks and mango-wood, and the fish are chiefly the small kinds found in which is very .indifferent, and is exceedingly dear. reservoirs. which become dry in November. 4 mans (76 S.w. a ser) or 298 lbs. costing a rupee. Near the forests, every one by his bed burns a [5. milk and milk products] fire; and. where fuel of any kind can be procur Milk is not near so plenty as in Bhaga]pur; ed, this practice is general; but in most parts of but as little ghiu is made, a great many people the district a great many cannot afford this use milk, although not so many in pro luxury, although stubble, and the woody stems portion as in the above mentioned district. of all kinds of crops that have such, and reeds. Although goats are very numerous. their are carefully collected for the purpose. In the milk is seldom used, except by children or sick Appendix will be found an estjmate of the pro persons; and ·the cow and buffalo milk is most portions of the different kinds of fuel used. In commonly curdled. and allowed to become sour the Appendix also will be found an estimate of before it is used. However a good deal. perhaps the kinds of oil used for the lamp. and of the six-sixteenths, is taken immediately after having various degrees in which the inhabitants of dif been boiled; for the natives abhor milk, as it ferent ranks and places enjoy this convenience. comes from the cow. In Patna, some Muhammedans use tallow candles, and a few bum wax; but even the Raja [ intoxicants] of Tikari does not use this luxury. except on In the Appendix [tables presented under 4(b).] the highest occasions, althoug his clear income will be found an estimate of the extent to which at the very least exceeds 40,000£. a year. which the use of various stimulating or narcotic sub in this country is an immense sum. The quantity stances that is carried; and it must be observed of oil consumed in religious ceremonies is very on the whole these are more employed than to small; illuminations on such occasions being neg wards the east, and that the use of fermented lected. and distilled liquors especially, is much more general; yet the people are evidently more vig [attendance] orous, fully as industrious, and by no means more inclined to crimes .. " The people stated as Although the natives of these districts are being addicted to palm wine and distilled liquors. exceedingly fond of a numerous attendance and no doubt. are often intoxicated; but they do showy equipage. very few, considering the rich not so universally drink to excess as is usual in ness of the territory can afford to indulge in this Bengal. where the act merely of drinking is consi propensity, although enormous sacrifices have dered so shameful. that no one breaks through been made in the settlement of the revenue by the rule of strict abstinence, who has resolution grants of free land. Raja Kalyan Singha, Raja to abstain from excess. Here, on the contrary, Mitrajit. Bakuralikhan, Raja Jhaulal. Abbas many Muhammedans even care not who kcows kule-Khan, Abumuhammed-Khan. Nawab Mera that they drink; but, in general, the drinkers or Janggali, Mokhtar Bahadur, and Balak-Giri abstain from brutal intoxication. The people Mahanta are the only persons of high rank that here do not in general use betel so much as can afford to support their station with becom towards the east; but still a great deal is consum ing splendour. The Nawab Bakurali has several ed, especially by the Brahmans, who either ah carriages after the European fashion, hut the stain from liquor, or conceal their cups. and other persons of high rank prefer the palanquin. many of them have their mouths constantly elephant, or horse. The two-wheeled chases crammed; but in common it is used much in after the fashion of Hindustan are mostly Hac about the same proportion as in Bhaga]pur. kereys in the city of Patna. In fair weather from Tobacco is used in greater quantities. although Bakipur to Chaok. a distance of about .,ix miles, not to such an extent as in Bengal. A good for going and coming, costs from four to five many women here smoke without shame. espe annas; for there is no regulated price. In the cially at Gaya, where the people are most sober; rainy season the price rises considerably higher. which induces me to suspect. that among the sex The four-wheeled carriages drawn by oxen in other places, the want of the stimulus of (raths) are kept by individuals for their own tobacco is supplied by that of liquor. convenience. and many Brahmans do not scruple 192 1. Year-18I1-12 2. place-Districts o~ Behar and Patna to use them. Two-wl\eeled carriages drawn by only at the rate of half as much for each pot. oxen are here called chhakra. and many of them In Patna the allowance is higher. are hackneys standing for hire in the streets, or in country parts are let from stage to stage. Many Thel servants of invalids are exactly on the of these carriages are provided with two bodies. same footing as those in Bhagalpur. and serve for either the conveyance of goods or for travelling, as required. Almost the whole of The slaves called Nufur and Laundi are very these carriages have their wheels fitted after the numerous, and nearly on the same footing as maMer of Puraniya. in Bhagalpur; but in most parts of these districts it is reckoned so disgraceful to sell this kind of [mode of transport] property, tbat many masters who can give them no employment, and cannot afford to feed them, Very few of the ponies are used for the carriage allow their slaves to do as they please, and to of back-loads. and those that are not used procure a subsistence in the best manner that in the chaises arc kept for riding; but the they can. Several masters in this situation people here have very little turn for that exercise. having died without heirs, ,the slaves have At all the inns (sarays) some ponies are kept become entirely free, no one claiming them. In for hire. Gaya and some other places the slaves are occas sionally sold, and formely usually fetchoo a rupee Palanquine-bearers are very numerous, and for each year of their age until they reached 20. many go to . Calcutta for service; but most of when they are at their highest value; but in .the bearers supposed there to come from Patna general the price has risen, and in many parts are in fact from Saran, and the two descriptions has doubled. The allowance given to slaves in of people do not live together those of Patna general more scanty than that given in Bha being chiefly of the Rawani caste, and those of galpur. By far the greater part, as in Bhagalpur, Saran being mostly Kharwars. The former are are of the Rawani or Dhanuk tribes. but there the most addicted to intoxication. 'The grand are some Kurmis. Such Kurmis, however, as employment for the bearers in these djl;tricts is have become slaves, are usually called Dhanuks. found at marriages. and during three months, Kurmis and Dhanuks born free occasionally commencing about the middle of April. bearers give themselves up as slaves, when they fall into cannot be hired to go any distance. nor without distress. All the Rawanis seem originaltv to have the utmost difficulty can they be induced to go been slaves. although a good many, from circum even from one stage to another. Very few stances above mentioned, may now be consi persons keep a regular establishment of bearers. dered as free. Slaves of a similar description but a great many keep palanquins,. and belonging to Muhammedans are called Mola hire bearers when they are wanted. Some zadahs, and form a kind of dis,tinct caste, which bearers again have old fashioned gaudy palan does not intermarry with the free persons of this quins suspended from an immense bamboo. and religion, although the children. which the covered by a tilt. which ,they hire for marriages; highest have by girls 1?wrchased for the harem. some of the same kind richly ornamanted are are considered as nead" if not altogether equal kept by great families. The others used by ordi to those by legitimate wives. Although slavery nary persons are in general exceedingly rude. seems to be pretty universal wherever the and are of all the kinds mentioned in my eccount Muhammedan law prevails, it would appear to of Puraniya. The Chandols of Bhagalpur are be contrary to the precepts of their prophet; fOr not used in these districts. in these districts they acknowledge that the pur chase of a free man is illegal; and, in order [domestic servants and slaves] to save their consciences, they take a lease of The free male and female domestic servants the man, who wishes to sell himself for 90 are of the same kinds as in Bhagalpur, and years; the children born during the lease are receive nearly the same allowances. except in held as slaves without any scruple. The ~umber Patna and Danapur, where wages are a little of domestic slaves belonging to Mosle~ ,:!#rank, higher. Some of the women servants are young, such as I mentioned in tIle account of Ptttan'iya. and none are commonly procurable of any age I could not ascertain. without wages as high nearly as those given [unproductive classes, beggars and prostitutes] to men. A great many poor women as in Bhagal pur gain a livelihood by carrying water for The number of common beggars that were wealthy families, and are called Panibharin. The estimated to be in the whole of these districts poor woman gets usually two paysas a month amounts to about 4,200; but they are not near for each pot of water .that she supplies daily; so importunate as in Bhagalpur, nor does the and, besides managing her family. and perhaps base spirit of mendicity, so common there. ex spinning a little, may gain monthly eight almas, tend to these districts. The necessitous poor are so that she daily carried home 13 or 14 POots however abundantly numerous, and their condi of water. If the water is very hear she receives tion is nearly similar to that of the unfortunate in 193 I. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna Bhagalpur, the doctrine of caste producing the Patns several of the prostitute families are rich, same evils. The people here are however more and a few in Behar have trifling endownments straitened in the means of giving relief to ,the in land; but in general they are rather poor. necessitous by an enormous number of religious They are not however as in Europe neglected, mendicants, whose impudent importunity ex when they become old, their adopted daughters ceeds the usual measure of patience. Many of supporting the aged; nor do they acquire the them are no doubt objects of real charity, being hardened depravity, that arises from a sense of infatuated pilgrims, fleeced of every thing by being totally despised alld lHlPfotected. The various knaves and reduced to the utmost dist women of Patna and Gaya have farther the ress by want and disease; hut the greater part, character of being much given to intrigue; and were not their character sacred. would be tit it is alleged-, that until of late many of the mer objects for the sceurge of police. Many people chants and traders of the former place were also who are really necessitous. finding thern very wiJIing to profit by ~ connivance. It is selv~s deprived of assistance by these religious said however, that of late they are becoming mendicants, have assu-med the character, which more scrupulous. At Gaya the women of the must be considered as a ,,-ery venial offence. Brahmans are those chiefly accused. and the Among the beggars may be enumerated 54 socie extreme dissipation and fickleness of their hus ties of Hijras, who, I have strong reason to bands is- pleaded as an excuse. In every part suspect are used for illicit purposes, by which of the district the women, who retail greeRS aDd their subsistance is chiefly ~rocured. 'they are fish. are consider.ed as frail; and it is supposed. employed by poorer classes. ....hik the dallCing that nO' woman. who goes so much into public boys called Bhaktiyas, are e~ga:ged by the as these do, calf re.rnain virtuous; and there is great. No less than 30 of the socretles reSIde a1 seine rc~n. to su~ct, where the rules of de DauEhlagar, from whence 11m eJltrtiOJlS of a cofllm established in any country ate once violat saint banished all pl'ostitutes. ed, although these rules may be quite absun4 that the violators will often proceed to criminal Conmderiilg how many lar!e towns t~re a~e lengths. With the above mentioned exceptions, in those districts, the number of prostl'l:utes IS the women of these districts have a very fair very small, and the petty town of R(mggopur, character. with the division immediately adjacent, con tains more than the whole district of Patna [education] city. In Behar the number is very trifting, and nearly in the same proportion to the number C1f In the Appendix will be found tlte result of inlia.bitaats as in Bhagalpur. Almost the whole my enquiries respecting the state of common is confined to the town of Gaya. where there education in these districts, and the number of is always a most promiscuous crowd of ~trangers, school masters and teachers. In these districts and a'very dissipated and numerous pnesthooo; 1 heard of seven Moulavis. who instntct youth and to the division of Daudnagar, where an in the higher branches of Persian literature. and attempt at extraordinary sanctity seems to ~ve in Arabic science; but I suspect that both are called the vicious propensities of the men l~to very much neglected. more than usual action.. A Muhammedan samt, The Kazis O'f these districts are less respectable who some time ago had great influence in the in their manners, and I believe worse informed, town of Daudnagar, issued an o,rder, that no than those of any of the districts hitherto survey prostitute should be permitted to reside near his ed. Many as usual read the Koran without abode or tomb and the order, as far as tile understanding Arabic. With regard to the three letter' has met strict obedience; but in all ~itR higher sciences of the Hindus, grammar, law the ~iIlases round there are the houses of an and metaphysics. the Pandit of the survey in the uncommon number of prostitutes, and they fre course of his enquiries heard of 56 teachers. In quent the town, whenever there is occasion. a statistical table (Appendix) is given a list of In the district of Behar all the prostitutes are these philosophers, and to this I refer for :many Muhammedans, and their number is kept up by particulars. purchases from the west of India, or from the ceuntty north of the Ganges, the parents here Medicine (Baidya-sastra) is taught by several of scoming to sell their children. In Patna also the Paadits, some of whom also, although they th~ greater part of the prosti,tutes are Muham are grammarians, practise the art. The boaks medans; but there many Hindus partly Rum on medicine chiefly studied in these districts, are zanis, partly Khatranis, and pa~tly' Bengalese. the Saranggadhar, Babhat and Chakralllatta. All the Rumzani women are proshtu,es, ar..d the Among the Muhammedans, the practitioners of men llRlsicians; but they adopt girls of any caste! medicine. who study Arabic, are usually called whom they procure by purchase. Th~ KhatraOl Yurani, as the science of medicine' was introdu prostitutes form ooly a small proportIon of th~t ced among the Arabs by bad rtanslations of the noble, and ~ncient tribe, but as usual the'>e prostI Greek authors. which are still' much studied. A tutes keep up their number by adoption. In smaH pan only of tbe ,Pra'CtitJoners understand 194 1. Year-I81I-I2 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Palna Arabic, and the greater part Df them cDntent the operation. Not above 15 or 16 families reside themselves with translations Df Arabian authDrs in these districts. and those employed come into the Persian language, and many, I sus chiefly frDrn Tirahut. pect, understand very little of even these. To these learned persons must be added Udawanta, 'Religion and Sects Df Behar, a priest (Yati) Df the Jain, who is versed in grammar and the books of his sect, Of the Muhammedans and has instructed one pupil. Of the Muhammcdans: Converts are oe~a sionally made from the pagans. especially by the Besides these, there are in the district about purchase of slaves, who are Itreated with great 1200 persons called Pandits, whO' act as Gurus, kindness, specially when the Moslems possesed or Purohits for the high castes. as indeed the the government... still however, there is reason to professors dO'. Some few of them are learned think, that within these 20 years a considerable men; but in general they have a small knowledge increase in the member of faithful has taken place only of grammar, law and a little of the former ...whether these conversions were of any use to is all that is absolutely necessary to acquire the the Muhammedall Govt. seems very doubtfld ... little. None of the Rajputs, Khatris. Kayasthas. The higher ranks of Moslems here ill general nDr other Sudras llave studied any kind of abstain from making offering to the pagan gods, science. nDr is it considered lawful to allow a but the multitude in all distresses have recourse perSDn of the profane tribes to read any wDrk to the idols, and even make offering at many compDsed by the GDds. Dr Munis. The sacred holidays. The wDrship Df Satya-Pir is here order has preserved to itself the entire profits Df totally unknown. . .. The practice of caste is here astrology. and the other valuable arts which very much extended among the Moslems. and compose Jyotish (astrology). Besides the pro although all men of sense among them deny the fessors, many of the Pandits practise this art. doctrine, none of them. except three persons of rank at Patna, will eat with infidels, and many Besides the professors of medicine. about 700 tribes are excluded from mutual marriages. and families of Brahmans, almost all the Sakadwip, are in a great measure condemned to perpetual practise that art, and are the only Hindu physi e)(clusion from rank and respectability. cians. who possess any thing like science, except (The following table is prepared from descrip three of the medical tribe from Bengal, whO' tive materials giving the class (often offices held have settled at Patna, and about 60 Muhamme hereditarily) or occupational type under Col. (2). dans chiefly at Patna and Daudnagar. Two of number of families where available under Col. the practitioners here are servants, there being (3). and occupation and allied characteristics many large towns. It is only in a few places that there are any of those who practise medi under Col. (4)1. cine without some sort of learning. and without (98-S) SOCIO-OCCUPaTJONAL CHARACTERJSTI( S books. In the whole of the two districts there OF THE MUHAMMEDAN POPULATION OF THE may be of such 30 or 40 families. mostly in the DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811-12 town of Patna. where they are called Atai srl. class no. of occupation and other Baidyas, or pretended doctors. There are about no. families particulars 150 Jurrahs. Or surgeon-barbers, who cup, bleed and treat sores. The midwives are of the lowest 2 3 4 tribes, and merely cut the umbilical chord. 'I?te n.a. oh'1>etvations made on low people, called Ojha, who cast DU~ devlis, 1 Kazis the office of Kazis cure the bites of serpents, and oppose WItchcraft in Bhagalpur district by incantation. are not so numerous in propor also applicable in these districts, only tion to' the population as toward~ tbe east; but that the selection of still there are a vast number, and m general each men to perform the confines himself to one branch of the profession. duties bas been made About 2,500 pretend to cure the bites of serpents. here with Very little care. In very few and 2,000 pretend to oppose the devil and witches. placeS are there any Persons called M ollas. Inoculation for the small-pox is here carded none such are appoin on by a class of people called Gotpacheha, or ted by the people in Pachaniya. who are not included amo!'g t~e dependent of the Kazis. Ojhas, although they in nO' r~pe~t dl~er JD. n.a. appointed by the Kazis, 2 N~k.ha Kunnis or they have no authoritY their practice from those of the dIstncts hItherto Nayebs surveyed. They are mostly of the Mali tribe. or to act as notaries, but of some other low caste, although to Europeans marry the lowerclasscs. n.a. to perform all the cere they often assume the title of Brahmans. I have 3 Pirzadahs monies of the higher heard that some Europeans have been silly classes, the Murids have enough to employ thtm to repeat their spells. very great Influence even when an European surgeon had performed 195 1. Yew-18IJ-J2 2. place-Districts of Behar and Patna (98-S) SOClO-OCqIPATIONAL CHRAC'IERIt;Tl(6 (~g.S) SO CIO·OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUHAMMEDAN FOPULATION OF 1HE OF THE MUHAMMED,AN POPULATION OF THE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND FA1NA,18 lI-l2· CCl ('e'. DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811~1l-Conld. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 14 Darji(Taiiors) 1,200 tailoring. 4 Daphalis n.a. low class of mendicant 15 Glass workers(Churi 320 glass-working. musicians, to assist at saz) the funerals & mour nings, who have com 16 Daphalis 360 mendicant musicians, mited to memory some these often eat and portion of Koran. intermarry with tailors, tape makers & glass blowers. 5 Fakir and Padris . 1 200 be~ing, all kind of , religious mendicants, 17 Dhati mirasin 120 musicians performing some few of these do at marriages, in the not marry but are suc west of India are ceeded by discipJes(che called Domna Domni. la) and often known by the Hindu title of 18 Pawangriyas 80 musicians giving per Yati.Onthewholethe formance at births. provision for this class 19. Kangchani 800 prostitution. of men has alwaysbeen 20 Bhats 56 poetry writers. very scanty. They have . land more or leSS as 21 Bhangr . 4 jesters needed to some tomb 22 Kalawangt 70 ballad singers or monument where they reside & called 23 Kungjra 2,000 retailers of fiEh & Tukiyahdaty. In the vegc·abJes. town of Patna most of 24 Inn keepers 350 keep inns. the Fakirs are of the 25 Kulal 2,300 distilling of spiritucus orders of Arzanshahi liquers. Imamshahi,and Sahar wordiya, who do not 26 Bhanggera 3 sells intoxicating drugs. marry. 27 Confectioners 2 prePare sweets. 28 Bakers(Nanwai) 80 rrepare bread. 6 Kulundur n.a. unmlfried men among 29 Mutton butchers • 400 sells mutton only. Fakirs who are no torious drunkards, and 30 Beef butchers 450 sells beef. keep tame bears and 31 l3arbers(Hujam) 450 haircutting and shaving. monkeys, which they 32 Washermen(Dhobies) show, as they wander 250 washes cloth. about begging. 33 Bird catchers (mir- 130 live by catching bi! ds. shekars) 7 Shiyas . 3,000 form a very incon~id- 34 Oil makers (Teli) • 8 prepare oil. erable part of the 35 Potters (kumbhars) 2 lllakeearthenpots. population, and are of high rank, chiefly 36 Tinmen (kalaigur) 11 confined toPatna, Sa 37 Tobacco pipe makers 20 many follow the busi- hebgunj, and Sheykh· (naychah-bund) ness without disgrace. purah. 38 Shoe-makers(Muchi) 60 shoe making· 8 Saiuds 13,500 include only the descendants of proph 39 Farriers (nalbund) • 12 horse shoers. ets & are reckoned the 40 Bow and arrow ma- 40 though they are of di highest rank. kers fferent trades but are 9 Moguls. not more mild and polished of same caste. than 600 people. 41 Paper makers 110 10 Pathans above ferocious tribe & a 42 Cutlers (Sikulgurs) • 200 6,000 good deal feared, many of them are now 43 Cotton cleaners (Dhu- 2,100 reduced to use the niyas) plough. 44 Dyers (rungrez) 700 they also make soap. 11 Sheykha. n.a. the labouring class, 45 Carpet weavers (kalin 70 the converted trades~ baf) man although also 46 Gardeners (mal ,) . called Sheykhs, adhere 3 to the doctrine of 47 Water carriers (Suk 70 many weavers follow caste in full vigour. kah) this profession but do not intermarry with Excluded from the Communion Sukkhas. 12 10lahs (weavers) 17,700 weaving 48 Sweepe:rs and sca 200 vengers (khakrob) 13 Patwars(tape weavers 270 tape weaving & knitting and knitters of str- of strings. 49 Slaves molazadah 2,850 ings) 196 I. Year-I8Il-I2 2. Place-Districts oj Behar and Patna Of the Hindus great difficnlt)' arises .... some intormbttYl'es do Concerning, tbe subjel:et uf caste or tfihe, the not anywhere produce 1NW (Castes ... I would account lISl,lafly given in the books of the Hrah allege iliat the existence of. flW db 1. Year-18l1-12 2. Place-Districts 01 Bfhar and Patna . 2 3 4 ! 2 .3 4 1.15 Dha 1 shka . 400 (4) original priest-hood 2.2 Ancient tribe 900 (I) warrior or militar of the tribe, common in of Kshatris, tribe, half of them are b the district. (who prQbably trade Goldsmiths. . opposed Ale- (4) lower than Rajputs 1.16 Krauncha di- 2,100 (I) study the mummeries xander on·tlle but sti considered as of a~trology.. wipi houses ba,* of In91JS) highl'lr thl\u IlPY Ot®l 1.161 Vihar 1,300 (1) cruelly priest for the class, most of them ado~- Kushahar lowest of ~he people, ted Nanak as their spir f- rent land, cultivate with tualguide. own hands. . 2.3 Brahma Bhat 380 (3) came from very remote regiop caHed 3. Baniyas or 8,000 (1) Traders Kraunchadwipa. VaisYas (4) they act IllS Gurus .& 3.1 Pure Vaishyas Purohits for each other. 3.11 AgarwaJa 310 1 1.17 Yajurhota or 150 (1) priests(purohits)chie- 3.12 Osawa-ls 200 Y$ fly for low castes maJ;lY are villag!) Brahmins. 3.13 A,garharis 133 ~ Pure Vaisyas (3) probably same with 3.14 )4Yes-2aniyas 33 the Y.aju.rve," ~a:l!ma~s 3.15 Yasawar 53 i of Nepal. J 3.2 Next in rank 1.18 Kashmir. 30 (1) men of learwng aQd of Vaisyas '\\ta\'l.U\a11 hi~b,ly TeQUted for the knowledge of science. 3.21 Maheswari (3) Kashmir. 3.22 Barnawar 940 houses 1.19 Mlthura 40 (1) some live by trade, Brahnll~ others a~t as priests. 3.23 Ltlllyar or 2.200 {3) priai~al, priests of Runniyar Mathura' worshipped 3.24 Rastokis 100 Krishna. hQuses .(4) do not b~el.o.ng to the 3.25 Mahuri 1,400 ten natio.ns and' are not rltouses such respected. 3.26 Rasaranis 1.900 hpuses t.20 Dakatyas or 40 (I) understand a little G:ur4walas houses astronomy, so as to be 3.27 Kasodhau~ 130 able to strike the hours by 3.28 Ayodhyavasis 50 means of a clypsedra, houses the former name they re- ceive, because they im- 3.3 Low.estraillc of pOSt) on ..ignorant by their Yaisyas fables & false pretensions. 3.31 Jaonpuris 290 houses Pi ¥_i '8\1\1- 8:),000 (I) be taken themselves. .ngi1wr .and z~- to agriculture and arms. 3.32 Kltmalkalas. :1:5 mJ_nd.ar Brah- and can not be h.oJ.1ses man considered as belonging to the &.~cre!l !>l'der. 3.33 Kath-Beniya~ 100 houses (2) OOi:llPY by far the greatest land. 4 Pure Sudra.s (3) aescen~a-'lts of anci- 7,000 ent nation of Brachmami. 4.1 Kayasthas (1) all acquire knowledge of Persian and Hindi Z ~on-Arab.~ans writing and ac, 1. Year-IBII-J2 2. Piace-Dislricts oj Behar and Patna (n-S) S,:):IO~,)CCUPAT[ONAL CHAAACTERISTICS OF rHE HINDU PO?UL\TION OF rHE DlSrlUCTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811-l2-Contd. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 4.11 Am111sthas 4,000 (3) origInal penmen of 4.28 Blcais 2,000 (1) should cultivate betel Magadha. garden, have in some places be taken themse- 4.12 Snvastava 1,500 (3) Tirhut, same with 4.281 Chaurasis 1,740 lves to other kinds of Malthll-Kayastha of Bha galpur. agriculture. 4.13 Karan 900 (3) West of IndIa. 4.282 Maghais 230 4.14 Bhattanagar, 110 4.283 Samariyas & Mathur,Sak Yasawaras sena Khara 4.29 Malis 1,000 (1) make garlands, and Kayasthas work in pith of sola. 4.2 Sudra-Trades men 4.291 Magahis-Malis 300 (1) rropergarland makers. 4.21 Sungturash, 124 (1) masons and stone Gongr,Bhas- cutters. 4.292 Sirmaurmalies 300 kar (3) originally came from West India. 4.293 Banarasi-malis 280 (4) some of these pretend 4.294 Kundumen. 4,500 (1) build houses and act to be Gaur Brahmans, as 4.2941 Korangch as day labourers in they possess books on agriculture while their their art In Sanskrit Ian 4.2942 Magadha and 200 women parch grain. guageand are able to read others and understand the con tents. 4.3 Sudra : agri- 4.22 Thathors 700 (1) work tn the tin, lead, cultural tribe zinc and copper. 4.31 Koeris 45,000 (1) cultivates the kitchen 4.23 Kaseras 320 (1) work in the same me 4.311 Magahis lth gardens, almost whole tal as Thathors but are of follow this profession, al different caste. 4.312 Dangbes . 1/.1 5th most whole also have 4.313 Bampars and 3!20th fields, many are rich, 2,100 (1) work in gold. others sOple are proprietors of 4.24 Sonar soil. (3) of the total number, 4.32 Kutnis 4,500 (1) cultivators mainly, 1000 familiesareof Kanoj, 4.321 Magahi t some carry arms, who 450 families are of Maga 4.322 Gametas I/.6 th appear to be aborigina dha, and 650 families are 4.323 Ayodhiyas 117 tb Hindu nations that were of Ayodhya but are divi not of sufficient conse ded into four Ayodhya quence to be admitted into purics. the order ofKshatris. 4.25 Halwai 3,000 (I) confectioners, and a few cultivate and trade in 4.33 Dhanuks 7,000 (1) pure agricultural tribe, grain. a great many are slaves. (2) in province of Behar they are chiefiy abound. 4. !; 1 G ltll;ntiya 1,700 (4) they assume the name Mldhyadesi of GanapatiYa Madhya (4) they. were pro.bably desi. archers In fotmer time. 4.4 Sudras who 4.252 Kanojia 900 (3) de~ives its name from carry loads KanoJ. 4.41 Rawani Kahar 10,000 (1) alJ willing to carry the palanquins but not Ij16th of them are employed 400 (4) th~ir purohits are 4.253 Magadha or regul!lr~y in that. way, proper confec Sakadiwipi and Kanoj remaJQJQg are cultivators tioners Brahmans. and ~ry palanquins at 4.26 Magra 3 (2) settled in Patna. marriages and other ce remonies, catch fish for (4) pretend to be highe own use, than Halwais. (3) Magadha seems to be their original seat. 4.27 Tam')ulis(Ma- 900 (1) should retail betel but (4) they are entirely re ghli, Nushu some of them trade in duced to slaves though khani, Bana other articles or cultivate many have lost their ra~i, etc.) land, . plasters, . . 199 1. Year-J811-I2 2. place-Districts of Behar and Pafna (,J-S) SOCIO.OCCUPATIONAL CHARACfERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811-12-Contd. 2 3 4 2 3 4 ~--- ~------4.42 Torhas 130 (I) chiefly live by fishing. 6.6 Laheri or Nari 300 (1) work in lac, trades (4) same as mentioned in man, first class of impure BhagaJpur but majority tribes. of people live in Tirhaut. (3) Sribash original home. 7 Fishermen 4.43 Kharwar 30 (3) several of their chiefs 7.1 Malo (1) fishermen who boat. still retain lands in Ramgar. 7.11 Gongrhis 650 CO fishing, manage boat (4) mentioned in Purniya and cultivate land. (3) 600 families called 4.44 Bhar 4 Banpar, remainder have Lowest Sudras come from Tirahut & 5 Kanoj. 5.1 Goyalas 20,000 (1) proper duties are to 7.12 Suriya Malas 35 (1) fisherman tend cows, buffaloes etc. and to prepare and sell 7.13 Mariya Malas 1,000 (I) tribe (')f fishermen & milk, by far in the greater boatmen. part of this district they (3) upper bank of the are mere farmers, and Ganges. held ploughs. 7.14 Kowates 700 (1) fishermen. 5.2 Garovis or 1,200 (1) tending sheep and (3) Bengal. Kambaliyas weaving blankets are 7.15 Tiwars 100 (3) lower Gangetic Ben their principal occupation. gal. 5.3 Bari & Rawut 300 (1) carry torches; prepare 7.16 Chotahai 10 (1) catch fish but do not platters of green bags. manage boats. (4) originally were of 8 Lowest c(lass d (1) partly fiishelmen & day same tribe as shepherds impure Hindus labourers, partly artists. present profession looked upon as low, because tor (4) no pure person drink ches are made from clo water drawn by them. thes of dead bodies. 8.1 Chaing 480 (1) fishermen, boatmen & cultivators. 5.4 Khattiks 300 q) sell onions, deal in all kmda of warm seasoning (1) confined to south. but petty traders. ' east part of the territory. belonging to the city of 5.5 Kem:lris 140 (I) .follow the same pro Patna. fessIOn as Khattiks. (3) Natcr & bank of Padrr.a. 6 Impure Sudras 8.2 Bindus 900 (I) fishermen, boatmen 6.1 Kumbhar 3,000 (1) potters, generally con. &. ploughmen all:d dig fine themselves to the With the hoe, chIefly in exercise of their calling making ditches & roads. and a few cultivate the (2) near t hI! Ganges lands. below Patna. (3) Magahis greater part (4) usually considered as but ~80 emigrated from a branch ofBeldars. Kano}. 8.3 Beldar 3,000 (2) large portion settled (4) impure, they cut the in Sheykhapura throa~ of a vessel, but Nuniyas pure In Bengal. 8.31 0) cultivator; in proper s~ason employed to make 6.2 Lohar 1,600 (1) blacksmith. nitre. (3) came from Kanoj. 8.32 Khatawas (1) cultivator; dig ditches 6.3 tanks & canals, build mud (I) workers in iron, a .walls, reservoirs and roads few cui'ivate the land. In proper season. Barhai 6.4 3,000 (1) carpenters, afewonly Patwar do any other work. 8.4 600 (1) knit strings of silk. 8.41 Guriya Pat war (3) original inhabitants of 100 (I) weaver of tasar silk. Magadha. 8.42 Phatuha 700 (I) weave cloths of tasar 6.5 Nai(Barhers) 4,500 (1) barbers. and cotton mixed, or of cotton alone especially (3) 2800 families came table-cloths and towels. from Ayodhya, 800 fami (4) many have become lIes came from Maghai' Muhammedans because 400 families came fro~ of the lowness of the Kanoj, remainder called caste in which they are Behotas. placeQ. 200 1. Year-181J-12 2. place-Districts of Behar and Palna 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 ----- .------~ 8.5 Tangti or 1,300 (1) persons who use looms. 9.3 Musahars 2,400 (1) cultivate land, men Tangtawa or (3) there arc 640 families and women collect drugs Pagans of Kanoj, 540 families of and firewood, the men Magadba, 400 families of rear the tasar silk worm dig mica, and are kee~ Tirhaut; and 20 families hunters. of Yasawar. (2) Ramgar. (4) adhere to old religion guided by Dasnamis. (4) remains of the army of Jarasandhu. 8.51 Aswini Taogt 100 (1) weavers. 9.4 Rajwars 10,000 (2) reside in the wilds of or Tantrabayas (3) Bengal. Ram!pr towards the of Bengal frontIer of Bhagalpur but !fo nQt have any estate. ~.6 Yo!§is .. 400 (1) weavers. (4) follow doctrine of 9.S Dhanggars (1) engaged in service. Gorakshanath. 9.6 Dosads l' 7,500 (1) cultivators and watch men. 8.7 Teli 4,000 (1) make & sell oil. (3) 7,000 families came (2) settled in Iallanabad. from Magadha, the re (3) There are 3,200 fami· mainder consists of Ku lies of Magadha, 3-40 rins Palawars, Chhilatiyts, famiiies of Kanoj, 170 (4) Chandals of Bengal families of laoilpur & are same with this trite. others. 10 Lowest and vi· lest o.f the arti 8.8 Sungri or Ku· 4,000 0) distil spirituous li· ficiers lal quors, some are dealers 10.1 Banaudhiya 280 (1) weaving. in retail and money chan (2) in or near Patna. gers. (3) came from Banau (4) 300 houses never distil. dUya. ao.2 Dhobi 2,500 (1) washerrr.en, liv( 8.9 Pasis .. 5,700 (1) extract and sell palm entirely On their own wine, work as day labou profession. rers and make mats, and very seldom hold the (3) 1,850 families came plough; many arc hunters from Magadha, 400 fami. called Byadhas. lies came trom Kanoj, 80 families called Belawar. (3) There are 800 families remainder called Gosar. from Magadha and 50 families of Rantas. (4) though live like Suo dras looked upon as im pure. _8.10 peb~ars or so (1) work in leather, makes 10.3 Kangjars 19 (1) vagarant gypsy like Dha~ars bags for holding ghiu, tribe, men gather pea oil and molasses. cock feathers for sale (3) Sibastu, west from and make ropes of grass Ayodhaya. called sahe, principal ~xertion to procure grain, In hot season, ~nBaged in 9 Tribes con· collecting khaskhas the sidered alto roots of the grass. gether vile 9.1 Kirai or J.(ichak (I) agricultural military '10.4 Pagans or Paw 4 (1) musicians, wr_o go tribe. angriya about in small bands sin~lng and p~rforming o~ (3) ~stern part of Nep_ai. various reed Instruments, on the strength of which they beg. 9.2 Bhyngiya 4,600 (2) boundary of Ramgar. 10.5 Dhari 120 (1) women sing and are (4) taking the name Sur IT!usicians employed ty yabangsi Ra~puts living higher ranks, men dig pure, remams of the tanks and ditches and col. army of Jarasandhu, some lect fire wood. 600 scattered in the dis_ (4) many have become trict and live as impure. Muhammedans. 201 1. Year-J8lJ-12 2. Place -Dis/ric/s of Behar ami Pa/lla (9<)-S} SOCW-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS miles, and almo"t wholly in the islands or low ()F THE HINDU POI'ULATION OF THE D[STRICT banks of the Ganges, is covaed with tamarisks OF BEHAR ANO PATNA, lSU-12-Colic/d. and reeds, and devoid of trees. Of the high but 2 3 4 level land that is waste and overgrown with ligneous plants, amounting by the above state 10.6 Chamar ell' 3,000 (1) tanners and workers ment to 384 square miles, probably 100 miles are Mllchi of leather; when not em cowred by mere scattered bushes, and the remain ployed in their profession der, 284 miles, is occupied by woods. Of the 123 cultivate land as day la miles of hills, almost a fourth part may be quite bourers, some have far ms; women are comm naked, leaving about 90 miles for woods; so that only midwives. the whole forests in Behar, for there are none in Patna, may amount to between 370 and 380 10.61 Dhllniya 2,300 square miles; and, including ~amarisks and other [0.62 Magahis 420 bushes, there may be in all abut 480 or 490 square miles covered with woods or thickets. The 10.63 Guriyas 200 larger proportion by far of the low thickets in 10.64 Yasawars 30 these di~tricts, amounting at least to 80 squar\! 10.65 Dakshiniyas 25 miles, consists of scattered bushes of a species of Zizyphus (Janggali Bayer), which occupy 10.66 Konojyas 20 the poor lands towards the Son. None of 10.67 Jaonpuris 5 the hills here are cultivated, which perhaps i.5 the only cause specified in the account of Bhagal 1°·7 Shorazmllchi 15 (l) saddlers. pur, which docs not also operate in Behar in (2) confined in thc capi reducing the woods to a stunted condition; and, tals of the two district~. the extent here being comparatively small, these 10.8 Dharkars 20 (I) kind of basket makers. causes produce a stronger dIcc!; so that the (2) Sahebgunj. bushes which the blacksmiths cut for charcoal are very stunted. Whether or not the woods in the 10.9 Dam 1,000 very vile tribe. S. E. corner of Behar are annually burned, I do 10.10 Magahi, 600 (l) remove dead bodies not exactly know; but they probably are; and. and act as public execu although the woods there arc very extensive. th(~y' tioners; also make basket. arc totally inadequate to supply the country with 10.11 Dhapras 300 (I) same as Magahis. the few posts and beams that are required for building. 10.12 Bangsphors. 100 (1) work in bamboos alone. [1. plants for grain] (3) a very small part i.e. 10 families came from Near the river a great deal of the land gives Kanoj. two complete crops in the course of the year; but 10.13 Hulakhor 280 (I) Sweepers and scaven in the interior, unless we include the Khesa\l gers. sown among the stubble of rice, the whole pro (4) remains pagan. ducing two complete crops in the year does l1'}t exceed one-eighth of the arable land. 10.14 Haris 20 (2) south \\lest corner of the district, analogous One-half of the rice land in the interior gives tribe of Halakhor. a crop of Khesari (of the Bean tribe), SO'NO (3) came from Bengal without any cultivation, among the corn whw 10.15 4 (I) hunters. that is near ripe. Except Khesari there is little (2) Palna. sown without cultivation, and this careless prac" (3) West of India. tice is entirely confined to the low inundated parts at a little distance south from the Ganges, and (4) a branch of Hari, probably. stems to be rapidly on the decline, being a very bad economy. [land utilisation : various plants] Rice everywhere, excep't on the immediate bank This district is in general too much cultivated of the Ganges, is by far the most important crop, to be a good field for a botanist. I however met and much attention has been bestowed on its with many plants which I have not before seen, cultivation. and the species differ more from those near Cai cutta than those of Ronggopur. Dinajpur, or {Buchanan gives an elaborate description of Puraniya. the difference in the dryness of the air various rice crops. As the material presenJted in having more effect than the difference of latitude. tables is self aplanatory, no description is repro duced. Next to rice, he mentions wheat as the The whole of the waste land that is inundated second important crop. Barley is the next as calculalted in the Appendix amounts to 26 !mportant crop] 16-439 R. G. fndia/ND/79 202 1. Year-J81l-J2 2. Place-Districts 01 Behar and Patna [2. plants cultivated as vegetables] Zemindars are in general much averse to it; and In the 16th table I have estimated that there Raja Mitrajit has expelled it entirely, from his are 57,425 bigahs in kitchen gardens, and that great estates. Several factories have been totally 6,470 bigahs in the fields are cultivated with abandoned, and the seven which now remain, I vegetables of various sotlts that are used at the suspect, are far from thriving. table; but besides I have given under separate [7. plants cultivated for rearing insects] heads all such as are cultivated on so large a scale as to admit of a particular estimate. Fewer of Near Patna a little lack is reared on the two the huts than even in Bhagalpur are covered with varieties of the Ficus religious of the Encyclo vegetables; bUt: in many parts a great quantity of pedie, called there Pipal and Pakar, and on the climbing leguminous plants are reared on little Jujub; but not in all above 200 trees are arbours placed in the yards by which houses are employed. surrounded; but these I have included in the [8. plants cultivated for feeding cattle] kitchen gardens. [Buchanan mentioned Khesari and J anera Almost everywhere in these distriots the Koeri under this class. Mention is also made of 'several gardeners are as skilful ~and industrious as those plants which grow as weeds among the winter of Mungger; but many Kurmis, also, and a few crops ,that might be cultivated with great advan Kungjras cultivate in the same manner. The tage as artificial grasses'.] poppy is one of the principal articles of cultiva tion; but grain and vegetables always enter into [roots and fruits as diet] the rotation, as mentioned in my account of Bha The wild· plants used in the diet of the natives, galpur. Near great towns many confine themselves as must be the case wherever the country is tole· to this gind of cuHure alone; but in general each rably cultivated, are of very ,trifling importance. family has only a small eXitent of garden land, In most years the Mahuya flowers in the wilder and has besides a farm cultivated with the plough. parts of the country, are used as a part of the The rent is high, and in ~ the' vicinity of Patna food of the lower classes; and in years of famine amounts to from 8· to 20. rupees a customary the stoppage of the distillery might produce some bigah: that is, from about 4 to about 10 rupees alleviaion of the evil. for the bigah of the Calcutta measure. Near country towns the rent may be half as much; in In times of scarcity the poor derive some villages the rates may be from 1 to 2 rupees for 'assistance from colledting the mango stones, and the Calcutta bigah. by extracting the kernels, which they bruise in a mortar and form the powder into cakes. Wild [3. plants cultivated for making thread or ropes] plants of a succulent nature are very seldom Tbe.se are far from being important crops. used in curries by the poor of these districts. Cotton is by fat the most considerable, amoun Leafy plants that grow spontaneously are rather ting to 24,000 bigahs, of which 19,000 give no more used, chiefly the Kalmi or Convolvulus other crop, except a few seeds scattered among repens; Bathuya, a small Chenopodium; Gendhari, it, or placed in rows round the fields, and 5,000 Amaranthus, and Guma, a Phlomis. The poor. give also other. crops. . indeed, seldom use vegetables cultivated for the table; but they are allowed to collect young [4. plants cultivated for juice] plants of mustard, pulse, or the like. which are Besides the palm and Mahuya tree, ... the only always sown too thick, and cost them nothing. article under this head is the sugar-cane, which The only wild acid seasoning, which costs the is cultivated to a large extent. It was estimated, poor nothing but the trouble of collecting, is this amounts fo 20.000 bighas. the Jhar-Bayer. All the others are here saleable. and the trees .are private property and are planted. [5. pla~s use~ for chewing and smoking] These are of considerable importance, although OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS betIe-nut and bhang are not reared, and the In the account of the condition of the people quanti,ty of tobacco is altogether inadequate to and in the 13th table will be seen an estimate of the demand; but the poppy (or opium) is cultiva the number of tame elephants, camels and horses ted to it great extent, and is one of the most pro that belong to the natives of these districts as ductive sources of revenue to government. The appertaining to .their personal equipage. poppy is always cultivated near villages in garden land, which is carefully watered, and gives at Horses are not here used for the conveyance least one other crop, while some things are almost of goods. Very few of the larger kind are bred always sOwn along with it, especially onions. here, they are brought from Tirahut or the west. garlic and coriander. while a hedge of carthamus The ponies (called here Chhanathi) are by no is usually reared round the plot. means better than the Tatoos of the east, and in spring, except in Patna, arc truly wretched, as [6. plants used for dyeing] they receive no food except what they find in the Indigo in these districts is of very Ji.rtle impor fields, and scarcely any vestige of grass then tance, and its cultivation is on the decline. The remains : they are fully as dear as in Bhagalpur. 203 1. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts oj Behar and Pallia An estimate of the number of other kinds Of cattk often preserved for thatch, by which it is very will be found in the 36th statistical table. much injured -as pasture; 348 square miles of The asses are chiefly employed by the washer woods or scattered bushes; about 80 miles are of men, but in the town of Patna many of them are the latter description, and in the rainy season are used to carry bricks and mud for building. ex~ellent p~ture; but in the dry season they are Owing to the scantiness of forage, few cows are qUite parched, and it is the bushes only that retain kept, so that very many cattle ought to be impor verdure. The woods are not such good pasture ted, but a great importation is not alleged; the in the rainy season, but in the dry they are less number said to be imported is not indeed more parched. The people, however, of this district, than sufficient to supply those used in carriages who live at any distance from the woods, seldom or for the transportation of goods, for which avail themselves of this resource, but keep their purposes the cattle breed in these districts are cattle at home, and the mango groves or what seldom fit. The cattle used in sugar mills are they call their Bathan. The cattle are sent there also chiefly imported. They work also in the more for the sake of getting air in a cool shady plough. Those wrought in oil-mills are usually place, than for the sake of the pasture: although of the poorest breed but do no other work. The in the rainy season some bad grass grows under cattle employed both to plough and carry back the shade of these trees, and their fallen leaves are loads chiefly belong to rich- farmers, who at har eaten in the extremity of hunger. The planta vest employ them to carry the grain llOme from tions, therefore. must be considered as one of the the thrashing floor. principal parts of the pasture, and amount to no less than 640 sq uare miles. There are 205 miles Bulls sell lower than cows, and these lower than of high land in clear pasture, but some of this is OXP.D, covered with coarse grass preserved for thatch. As estimate of the whole quantity of milk that by which the pasture is injured. This is quite ,the owners of the cows receive and of its value parched in the dry season, but in the periodica1 will be found in the 37th table in the Bhagalpur. rains gives an abundant supply. Of the hiUs, where a small number of persons has 20 lak of perhaps 30 square miles may in the rainy season rupees worth of milk, this article is in generai be covered with a short herbage fit for cattle 10 dearer than here where a greater number procure eat. Broken corners, banks, burial grounds. only to tthe value of 16 lakhs. roads and barren lands, amount to 417 miles. of which probably near 400 may be covered with a [fishermen] soft herbage that iri the rainy season is very Very few of the fishermen live the whole year productive, and its grass is then carefUlly cut. by this profession. During the rainy season those It is chiefly persons of the Goyala tribe, who near the Ganges act chiefly as boatmen, and fish carry to pasture the cattle of the village, at least about eight months. In the interior, during spring, those of rich people; because the children of the some of them go to the forests to make catechu, poor tend tbeir own herds. The old people arid and the remainder reap wheat and barley. In children of the Goyalas tend the catltle, and the the early part of the rainy season they transplant women are chiefly employed in collection and and weed; they fish only therefore four or five drying the dung for fuel. Near the towns a months, and their operations are much interrup woman by this employment can make a rupee a ted by the rice harvest, in which during winter by month. In country places she may make ten annas. far the greater part is employed. During the The reward for tending cattle is fully as high as time that they are employed i'n fishing, it is sup in Bhagalpur. In towns boys or old people that posed that, besides paying the rent of the fishery, tend cattle may gain 12 annas a monlth; in the which is high, each man, assisted by a woman to country their gain may be half as much. In the sell, can clear from Ithree to five R. a month. Near former the price is 2 paysas 0/28 part of a rupee) the Ganges it is supposed that there are 530 a head; in the latter it is one paysa. houses of fishermen, in which there will be about The price paid for tending buffaloes is usually 1200 able bodied men. These have not above 200 double of that given for cows, and often qua boats employed in fishing, exclusive of what are druple. The following was given in Duriyapnr used as ferries. In the interior there are about as an estimate of the annual expense attending a l100houses. with more than double the number herd of female buffaloes, consisting of 100 head, of able-bodied men. These have no boats, except of which 25 are young. such as are employed as ferries, and a very few in the Son. It must be observed that the number To two keepers at 25 rupees each Rs. 50 0 0 of people of fishing castes in much greater than To eight month's pasture on the north 21 0 what I have here stated; I only here include such sine of Ganges, at 4! anas per head on the as are aotually fishermen; i\dults Green forage purchased while at home 120 0 0 Khari salt! ser each. three times a year= 2 4 [pasture] 0 Of pasture there is 27 square miles of inun 225 sers. dated land, mostly cov~red with long coarse grass, Rs.193 5 o 204 1. Year-181l-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna [Rs. 193 5 0] to this class, but are considered as (Chasas) plou 25 are constantly in milk, giving daily in ghmen, and have large farms. all.100 sers (56 s.w.) for every 12 of whIch the owner receives 1 ser of ghiu The alltificers (Pauniyas) form the third class he therefore gets in all 3041i sers (lb.' of farmers, and many of them work part of the 4372) worth 13 rupees for 48 sers. Rs. 823 14 4! year at their farms, part of the year at their art; but more commonly one brother farms. and Balance Rs. 630 8 101 another follows his profession. In this class I [Rs. 630 9 41] have included only those Goyalas. thalt prep~re and sell milk. and these form a very small part OF FARMS of this numerous tribe. Of the artificers. who [agrarian relations and social classes] employ part of their time in cultivation, many are day labourers. Except in the cities of Patna and Gaya, or in large market places, the Ashraf or high ranks pay The fourth class uf farmers are those of the no rent for the ground occupied by their houses Chasa or ploughing tribes, many of whom, nor can a landlord refuse to allot land for the however, as in Bhagalpur. are servants, day purpose to any Ashraf who requires it. Europ.::ans labourers, and slaves. Some traders among them have not been dignified with the title of Ashraf, (Grihastha Beparis) possess a considerable stock and find great difficulty in procuring lands for in carriage cattle, with a little money to enable building, and must always pay an extraordinary them to trade from one market place to another. rent; a modesty very much to the credit of these It is also supposed, that a good many of the successful invaders. The exemption in favour of Koeris espacially, who cultivate land watered the Ashraf is in fact of no great value, as almost from wells, have money, partly lent out at iIllterest. every one of them, who resides in lihe country, partly secreted; but there are very few supposes and who has not free land, rents a farm, and no to have above 1000 rupees, and 5000 is supposed person who rents a farm (Asami), pays for his to be the utmost extent which any on~ possesses. house. The houses, however, having little or no In the manner of their living these men are not garden annexed, occupy very little space, as to be distingushed from the poorer sort of merely the yard (Anggana) is exempted. Arti tenants. In these districts are few or none of the ficers, traders, and labourers, pay a heavy ground under tenants, that in Bhagalpur form the fourth rent, either in money or work. class. The Ashraf farmers have a more solid advan Persons of rank. farmers, barbers, washermen. tage in being favoured in a rate of rent lower shoemakers. carpenters. blacksmiths, and potters, than what is paid by other farmers; but there is pay no ground rent for their houses; but the no sort of regular allowance for this deduction, tradesmen do whatever litttle jobs their landlord the amount depends entirely on the favour of the requires. All other artificers and traders in small landlord, or the frauds of his agents, and the villages pay two paysas a month, and in towns estates here are in general so small ,that little they pay double that amount, which is about room is left for the latter. Many of these tenants seven-eighths of a rupee a year for about one fifth do every kind of work with their own hands. bigah of the customary measure. except holding the plough; and they are careful, active men, having at presen!t no other resources Ttl tableJ No. 36 will be found an estimate of to enable them to procure a living. Previously the proportion of live stock, which belongs res to the Company's government, many of them had pectively to these four classes of farmers; and an been involved in frequent predatory warfares, and estimate of the respective proportions of rent the Zemindar encouraged them, as on their which each dass pays. On the second and third number and fidelity depended entirely his security; classes this is aparently higher than is really the and it seems to have been owing to this in a great case, because all the traders and some of the measure that they have become so numerous. In artificers, who have no farms, pav rent for some parts, that I have before surveyed, the high their houses, which none of the other classes do. castes have a great adva~agc in keeping large Also an estimate of the respective proportions of herds of milch catle, which are a severe nuisance ploughs which are held by the owners, or by on their poor neighbours; but here this resource servants of various kinds. As almost every tenant fails; for the lower castes in Behar would not fail pays a large proportion of his rent by a division to abuse the higher. were their cattle to rtrespass; of the crops, there are in these districts none of and this is So disagreeable to the pride of the the persons. who in Bengal are called Adhiyars. higher castes, that many of them here avoid In the Appendix I have annexed an estimate of keeping cows. the proportion of rent paid in money, and that which arises from a division of the crops, circum In these districts the second class of farmers stances that deserve peculiar attention. These consists of traders (Bukalis), but is not numerous. tables will explain many cir..::umstances respecting They never -labour with their own hands. Many the stock of farms. r shall nOw give some farther petty trade,s (Grihastha-Beparis) do not belong elucidation of that subject. 205 1. Year-181l-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patlla Plough cattle, a& in the districts hitherto surve 12 rupees. The landlord has 6 and the tenant yed, from the only stock worth notice, and the has 2 as profit; but if, by doubling the expenSe, average amount for each division may be found the produce could be increased onel half, the by dividing the whole value of plough cattle, landlord would have half more rent, or 9 rupees, which appears in the Appendix, by the number but there would remain to the tenant only 1 of bighas aotually occupied. From the same rupee. If, indeed, the landlord would content tables, by a similar division, the average extent himself with a money rent of 7 rupees which cultivated by any qliantity of this stock is shown; is higher than he now receives, the tenant and an estimate of the number of cattle allowed would have a profit of 3 rupees, and this advan for each plough, constructed on the same princi tage would induce him to incur the increased ex ples with those of the Puraniya district and p;;:nse. Almost every tenant, however, in these dis Bhagalpur, where farther explanations are given. tricts has some land, for which he pays a money rent. and on this is bestowed all his care, by rear In almost! every part of these districts the ing on it rich crops by manuring and by frequent tenants for by far the greatest part of their farms repeated ploughing and hoeing. The rent is pay as rent one half of the produce, and in some much higher than the share which the landlord places nine-sixteenths even are demanded. Pre receives on the division of crops, and the farmers vious to the division they are allowed a deduction who have the largest proportion of this kind of of what is called the expense of harvest, by which land are in the easiest circumstances. The high they have always some profit. Some other deduc castes, however, are not fond of this tenure, tions are made from the gross produce, but as because it requires too much exertion aDd part of these are for the benefit of the tenant, and industry. part goes in fact to the master, the rent ought to be one half of ,the gross produce, deducting the From these circumstances I infer that the high expense of harvest, and many of the estates are castes should not receive any encouragement to so small, and the tenants are so carefully watched become farmers, and that every discouragement by men, who, farming part of their own lands, should be given to the system of letting land are perfec11ly aware of every circumstances, that by a division of the crops. The only circumstance there can be little room for fraud. On some large in which it should be tolerated is where the crops estates indeed, notwithstanding the utmost pains are very uncertain. there will be frauds, and accordingly some esti mates of produce with which Raja Mitrajit When they fail altogether, it is impossible, favoured me, as those which he actually receives, without a stock not likely to be ever possessed are considerably lower than what other peopk by farmers in India, that the rent can be paid; admitted. With a weak landlord the accounts of and, when they succeed, it is but fair that the produce would probably reduce it a great deal. landlord should receive an extraordinary profit. Raja Milirajit is so intelligent and active that his Although fewer of the tenants than in Bengal estimate was not more in any case than 10 or 12 are very rich; yet, as I have said, many of them per cent, below the estimate I have followed, and have accumulated little sums of money; and in many cases the difference was less. There is the system of advances having been pushed to a every reason to think that his account was per comparatively small extent, the tenantry is not fectly fair, that is, it stated exactly what he so deeply involved in debt. And it must be received. observed, that those here, also, who borrow The cost of cultivation must fall considerably money at 2 per cent a month, are universally short of one half of the produce, as very many allowed to be less necessitous than those who who do no labour with their own hands, liv':! by take money in advance for their crops; although farming, and have no other resource. An Ashraf these nominally deliver their produce at only who has three ploughs with four oxen for each, from 2 to 21 sers on the rupee lower than the can pay this rent and live decently, which will harvest price, and pay no interest. Those who. require an income of at least 90 rupees a year, borrowed the money keep their produce until they can receive a fair price. With thi~ stock he mav cultivate between 30 and 40 acres. This system of levying the rent by a The rents here, as well as in Bhagalpur, which division of crops, has produced a solvently and are paid in money, are called Nukudi. and those calleless cultivaltiou, and it must be ob$erved arising from a division of the crop are called that the fields intended for grain are allowed Bhauli. Some persons have the whole of their much lesj; ploughing than is given in Bengal, rent Nukudi, others have the whole Bhauli, but where a mon.ey rent is paid. The tenant is not in general each person has a share. of both. pushed for his reBt, and his great 0bject in place of cultivating well is to diminish tht" expens~ of I now proceed to give an account of those who cultivation. From this a very great loss arIses cultivate land in which they have no pro.perty. to the landlord. and still more to the public. No persons are here hired to cultivate for a Say, that the expense at present to cultivati~g share of the crop, as that is the manner in which an acre is 4 rupees, and that the net pf!0duce IS the tenantry are rewarded for their stock and 206 1. Year-I811-I2 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna labour. When treating of the condition of the Rs. A. P people, I have already mentioned all that occurs to me concerning the slaves employed in agricul 589 Paysas* 10 8 3 ture. It now only. therefore. remains to treat 143 sers (76s.w.) of un boiled porridge of ploughmen hired by the season. and of day (meal and water) 285 lb. of meal 2 2 6 3 . labourers employed in agriculture. I may, 50 sers of coarse gram=682 Ibs. 4 2 3 however, premise that the same custom of neighbours uniting to labour alternately on each others fields is here as common as in Bhagalpur, Total Rs. 16 13 o and I am told is common in every part of In order to give an idea of-whatthelabourer Bengal. although it there escaped my notice. may procure f 56 copper paysas made a rupee-ed. 207 1. Year-181l-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna ----.-_--._-._--,---- I have already mentioned the reward given to 2 3 those who tend cattle, which is very high. Day labourers are numerous; and receive nearly the 6 Bai. Rather a degrading title, and is only same allowance for common labourers, such as given with propriety to upstart weeding, repairing houses and the like, that is sets who are also sometimes callJd given in Bhagalpur; but there are vast nl1mbers Natin; some have obtained certain rank from former princes; employed with the hoe, in transplanting rice, some of them were allowed snJall and in watering winter crops, and these receive endowments in land. These el.a· one third more grain. In Patna, in place of grain bled ladies of easy virtue and (.n they are paid in money, and in place of three tieing manner were, by imperial authority, reduced to four classes, or four sers of grain, get three or four paysas, Dornni, Hurkini, Kangchani .. nd which will purchase four and-a-half to six sers Ramjani; the last are Hindus; the of the coarse grains, that they use. Notwith three first are Muhammedans. standing the extreme jealousy of the men, the 7 Bhaktiyas • Regular sets of dancing boys IJa\e women...... day labourers make almost as fixed residence here; but many come much as the men, as they are employed to weed from Benares to celebrate the and transplant rice, receiving the same allow Holi. ances as men, and -they assist in the harvest. 8 Natuya • Sets of weaver boys wno dance and, sing for hire as in Bhagalpur People of high caste, although they will work and Purania, some boys of various on their own farms, at every labour except hold castes and some even of pure birth dress themselves like Bhaktiyas ing the plough, will not hire themselves as daY' and during the montb of Chaitra labourers; but poor people of the cultivating dance and si,ng in honour of tribes (Chasas) or artificers, do not consider this Radha and Krishna. employment as at all disgraceful, and by its 9 Kalawangt or The most numerous class; and are means many small farmers gain a part of their Dhari Moslems. They sing however not subsistence. I have not heard of any day only praises of the saints, but those also of Radha and Krishna. labourers being here paid in advance. One or two men sing in company (lOO-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DlSTRICTS OF and at the same time play on a BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811-12 kind of guitar (Tambura). 10 Kathaks • Go in sets of three or four and srI. designation type or nature of work sing accompan:ed by the same' kind no. of artists of Guitar, by a violin (Saranggi) by cymbals (Mangijra) and a smad 3 drum (Dholak) ; celebrate chiefly 2 Radna & Krishna. I. Of the Fine Arts 11 Yajaks • Consisting of five or six barbers are chiefl~. employed at funerals 1 Archite;ts Some of the architects who and the dIVIne love of Krishna and were brought from Jayanagar to Radha is the only subject which construct the temple of Vishnupad they choose for this solemnity. at Gaya, still remain in this town 12 Bhajaniyas • Same as Bhajaniya Kirtaniyas of and possess some science. Here Puraniya; chiefly employed at the th~ same artists are architects and en.tertai~ments which the Brah. statuaries. mms !pve. when an occasion of 2 Painters (Mosou- Possess a good deal more merit mourmng IS at an end. wer) than those in the districts hitherto surveyed; they are all Hindus. 13 Tasawalehs 1 14 Pangchbajaniyas Ac~ount gi,:en in the papers respe 3 Nukkash An inferior description of painters chng PurDlya at Patna; they entirely resemble in their style the daubers of Pura. 15 Nahabatwalehs J niya, but are much employed to 16 Rosnunchouki • Musicians who are employed chiefly disfigure the waIls of the galJeries at marriage to perform of fifes in front of the houses, that serve as and drums, not exactly resembling shops or for receiving strangers. those of Europe; also employed at the processions in the Muharrum. 4 Mirasin . The wives of the men, who beat the Nahabat, are much em)loyed; 17 Daphalis Same as mentioned in the account there are five or six girls in each of Bhagalpur. set part singing and dancing and part performing musical instru. 18 Bakhos • Set of beggars resembling the ments; some of them are called Daphalis. Rajpatras. 19 Pawangriyas Sets of poor or lazy Muhammedan 5 The sets of dan· At Patna five sets of dancing girls men and women, who infest the cin~ girls called Bai, have c6nsiderable houses in which marriages 0 celebrity and are considered by births have taken place> and sin r the natives as very accomplished. until a bribe closes their mouths.g 208 1. Year-/8I1-/2 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (lO()"S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN TilE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA. 1811-1Z-Conld. 3 t 2 3 2 31 Abicgars Make the red starch, which is 20 Hijral> In fact beggers, beg exactly in the thrown at the festival called Holi; same manner as Pawangriyas, only these men are in fact petty tI'~ders that they are eunuchs who know the process and hire labourers whom they direct. 11. 0/ common Arts 32 Red lead maKer Not of best quality but supplies a 1. of artists employed about the persons of natives, or great part of the demand of the working hl perishable materials country which is great both for female ornaments and as offering 21 Washefmen • Not so poor as in Purniya or Bha- to GodS, some are exported, some galpur, and in general live better are imported. than common fabourers; many who are employed to bleach the finer 33 Maker of Used as a paint in finer works cloths make good wages by work vermilion and rich women occasionally add ing in Company's factory at Behar, some to the red lead which they each man an~ his wife work paint oD their forehead. together. Some furnishes fuel too, specially in ArwaJ division; 34 Lac ornament Each famiJy earns Rs. 4 to 6 a generally women wash clothes makers month, they are numerous and all of the people of vicinity. are Hindus. 35 Glass ornament The people of this profession seem 22 Bleacher • They bleach cloth· makers to be poor; generally they work like thoSe of Mungger; in Patna, 23 Maker of soaps Greatest number settled at Behar. 14 houses only make the frit Also bum and sell lime; Patna soap which is formed into ornaments is used all over Bengal; there are 77 by others and is a very useful houses allowing one man for each division of labour. house [l1 this district. 36 Tikisaz Make small ornaments of mirror 24 Wax candle Made by s.even houses; material which the native 'Women psste on makers comes chiefly from Nepal, but th-eir forehead betWeen the eyes' some brougbt .from Ramgur; can glass in thin and of various size~ dles are of <1ltlerent qualities ac and shapes; tinfoil is only pasted cording to their whiteness & purity, to the glass, and is painted with but inferior in appearance com· various bright colour. pared with European ones. 37 Minamorussas . M~ker of false stones for rings in w['lcn ,art tner are very rude; they 2S Torch-makers To!cries made of cotton rags, also give various Colours to gold (Bari) ch~eD.y procured from dead bodies and silver, that are highly orna of Hindus; Baris gain their chief mental in toe handles of swords· living by making a kind of platters th~Y paint on glass and mak~ of leaves; a man & his wife may mIrrors. earn Rs. 3 11 month. 38 Shishahgurs Blow glass; material consists of European glassware; work is rude 20' Pagribund or Wrap the turbAns in a fashionable Dustarband· manner, of the gay & dressy due to_iJUperfection of furnace; as youths of Patna; turbans preserve there IS !tttle use, the demand is its shape so long as it is clean; low; if encouraged the makers earn Rs. 3 to 5 a month. alleged to make glass as clear as the European with pains. 27 Tailors Owing to prevalence of the MUha 39 Ink-maker Number is few; ink produced both medans and west country dresses. in liquid and solid form· are llumerous and well employed ea!l\s Rs. 3 to 6 a month; warne,)) 40' Hut-thatching Besides thatchin.g the houses, also gam separately' for spinning and worKers ~ver roofs wIth tiles; in fact sewing; mai1l.ly Hindu. In most tolerable houses the roof is firSt thatched with straw and tiles are laid on above fire 28 Tent-makers • Work in the same manners as iJ) thatch. Puraniya. 41 DoJUra Work in bamboos, exactly in the ~ Barber Same footing as in western parts of same manner as described in Bhagalpur but none of them Bhagalpur ; exceedingly vile' re studied anything like science; some move dead bodies & act as pubilc barber surgeom, very rash and executioners· ignorant are Moslem, they extract bl~od by a Ilind of cupPing"titere 42 Bangsphor Work in bamboos as in Bhagalput' belDg here no Hela caste like maker of Petara a kind of rata~ Bhagalpur, . leeches applied by basket used as trunks. the Wl>men of the sweepers. 43 Morhasaz Make a kind of ratan stools; makes 30 Nat Same profession as in Bhagalpuf only frame. 2@9 1. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (100-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN TrJE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA,1811-12-Contd. 2 3 1 2 3 44 Paper-maker A considerable quantity produced S5 Diyawals • Make cotton wicks for lamps at Arwal & Behar though of less and the incense (Dhup) offered dW'able and with all imperfections to the Gods. of Rongpur quality; Dufturi paper is made most commonly; super 56 Maker of char- Used in smokiag, chiefty 0kl. wo- rior and expensive type quality is ~oal balls men J)l'OO\U'e a ltvina ~y lilaking also made· these bal-h often made by those who ~prinns. 45 Mohurahdars . Smooths paper by rubbing it with ~d glass, which obliterates 57 Majun-makers. Makes intoxicating sweetmeats entirely the makers of the frame, prepared from sugar, hemp leaves as is done br hot pressing and and Ghiu; eaten by the rich people. gives 'the surface a glossy smooth in hot weather gave an aPretite. in ness. cOld weather l«eep theln 'Wil'rtn. 46 Paper-kite makers The kites are not superior to those 58 Distiller • Produotion for spot consumption, of Purniya; the makers can no' 483 shops one stall each; prepares live the Whole year by this pro from Mahuva and extract of fession as ft is a seasonal sport and sugar-cane. • there are few buyers only, so they also relail'tbys & apparatus used 59 FaSis CoHect Palm wine (Tari), shops in sfnt'Adng tobacco, made by the which tetail it are on the same potters. footing as in Bhagalpur. 60 DistiHer of per- The makers complain that the bu- 47 Makers of fire· Not ~or to the Atushbuz fumes siness i>s over-stocked and thus work usual in Bengal; chiefly employed price is low; artists make three ab:bart~s, in other seaS'On make ·kinds of water from rose, koara ~h~. and lime; all the essences consist 48 Kiinokhtsaz Prepare k:ather from the skins of of sandal-wood oil; the best work horses and asses, and dispose men distil their owh sa11dal"OH; of it to shOemakers. sandal wood comes from M&'labar. Common essence in rose, next Mo1iya made vom BeItlowor and 49 Dabgars Make tetl!her bags for holding Ghiu(btifter) oil, and thin eXlract cheaper than rose; & etc. oh~a1'cat1e; also make targets of 61 Teli • Express oil from various seeds use the hides.of b?ffaloes and glue· th'e Sanre mill t'lsed in'dher districts hither to surveyed; but richer than 50 Chamar • Like those of Bhagalpur, and in the other distlicts .except Dinajpur. country palts are chiefly emploYed to make 'coarse shoes, leather 62 Dahiyars Makers of curd and boiled butter ropes and drum heads. but not as rich as those in M ungger but nVe I'tefttifully; young ~fl ate 51 Shoe-maker • At Patna and Danapur, these generally farmers whereas old men workmen make shoes after and children tend the cattle, and the European manner; in all the women prepare and sell milk towns they make neat shoes and and cakes of dung USed a'S fudl. saddles for the use of natives and they cover stools and baskets: con 63 GUriYas A clasB of,Dahiyars who first make siderable demand for shoes made the butter by churning the milk as of leather sole and upper part of it comes from the cow; the milk E\tr0pe8t1 woollen ,cloth m~roi that thlls remains curdled and is dered wilh silk; zuri shoes are of called Mahuya-dahi. which upper part made up with 64 Majrotis • Afibtl\er dUs of D\\hiyals who broad cloth or velvet; embroidered operate just in the opposite man and bespangled with gold and ner of Guriyas. They first cunH6d silver, large quantity of these sent the milk and thus make Mitha~dabi ; to Bengal. by oournins this substance they procUle butter. 52 Khugirdoz • Make saddle clothes, very unweildy, and loaded to an extraordinary, 65 Butte.... makers • Makers in Patna and Bankipur are degree with tassels, fringes, straps etnpJ'oyed by the Europeans. etc. 66 Mayras Make sweetmeats after the fashion of Bengal reside at Patna as t&ere S3 Whip-makers • Made at Patna for horsemen, are many Bengaleese in this city. consists of plaited leather thongs ~ied to a short wooden handle. 67 HaIwais • Make sweetmeats after the Hindu sthani fa:shion, full in general of 54 Makers of tubeS These workmen reckoned better rancid oil but in large towns well for smoking than those in Bengal, but not Sdaked in Ghiu tOr' rid! ' people; tobacco equal to those of Lakhnau; very make the same things that in Ben few of these tubes are ornamented gal 'are prepared by the Puya with gold and silver. Phulauris. 210 1. Year-18lJ-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (IOO-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811-12-Contd. 2 3 2 3 68 Khanchahwalehs Make several kinds of sweetmeats 83 Rungsaz or Ku Paint houses, boats, palanquins and parch some kinds of pulse; mangur and Some furniture; the laner poor people and retail the produce were originally bow makers and on streets. still occasionally employed to make that, use a great deal of tinsel and false gilding; those who work 69 Bh'ubhun'l or Pa.rch pulse and mlize, and are for Europeans can finiSh as Chabonafurosh much employed; all ale women neatly as those of Munger. man, of them young, generally sits in the streets with a fine place 84 Sawyers • Work in the same manner as in the parching for all the people in the districts hitherto surveyed; gene neighbourhood, receives a little rally work bv the piece. of the grain from each. 85 Beldars • In large town make a separate pro 70' Kh1.~iyawll~hs • Parches grain as pease; boil pease fession of splitting firewood; season their and parch them sell this is a term applied to various at the sueet. • ot,herpersons,especially to pioneers. 86 Barhai • Generally work only in wood, 71 Kungjrilayis • Parch seed of sesamum, janela and rice which mixed with sugar-cane greater part make coarse furniture extract form:}d into balls and sold and implements of agriculture; at the streets.' , m1.ny of them are turners; near Ganges some build boats; the wood which they uSe is chiefly 72 Flour-grinders . Confined to Patna, Sahebgunj and sisan & sal, and comes from Danapur as a separate profession Gorakhpur forests. of making suji also in B If Behar, in the country each family grinds 87 Lohar • Work in iron alone, make the im its own fioup. • plements of agriculture and coarse . cutlery; at Patna make vessels for boiling sugar:, and sweetmeats, 73 Splitterers • Confined to Patna, makes a sepa rate profession. the drums called nakarah, nail , ~f pease' locks. and chest hinges for the doors; work almost for native 74 Nanwais • Bakers similar to those of Bhagal consumption; some few Jive en pur. tirely by making cages for birds made of iron wire tolerably neat. 75 Fa.lu iahwlleh • Makes wheatert cake called Fuluda 88 Nalbund • Fi {es the shoe and nails to the horses. 76 Bclkurkussabs • Kill goats and sheep. 89 Tirgurs • Make arrows; purchase the heads from blacksmiths,collect the reeds c:llled sar and feathers and fit the 77 Kussab Kill the sacred anim1.ls; in hot whole used by tribes of mountaine season sell veal, in cold season ers of wild soutlI ofGaya. beef at D.Jllapur. 90 Kaseras Make and repair vessels of copper, 78 Bawarchis Cooks; adhered to the Hindus brass and bell-metal; the goods thani fas.hion, are all moslem~ of made there are chiefiy plates, Iotas' pure hands; many at Blkipur are shallow pots for cooking without people of lowest dregs of abomina ears, handles & covers. tion who have taken up themselves to cook for Europeans. 91 Makerof tin-leaf Beat the tin leaf, paint it on one side. 2. of those who work in more dut:able materials 92 G )Id and silver- F·)rms a regular part of manoral smith or Sonar establishment, whose officeis here 79 Khandiyars • At Patna work in buffalo horn and ditary, who weights the crops ivory; of the form~r tbey m1.ke when a division takes place between hlir combs, cnps, handles of knives the landlord & tenant or in time and some othor trifling articles, of selling, ~oldsmith work in with the ivory tbey inlay boxes, home by order ofpolice, they can both turn and Carve. 8') Kangghli M lke woo:1en hlir com"s. 93 Minamorussa Give various ornamental colours to the precious metals; they have no 81 Kharadi or tur At Patna, work in Wood, chiefly capital except !heir implements. ners m1.ke cups for drinking and keep ing oil; sm1.l1 boxes, and play 94 Tarkush • Form t~e precious metal into things for children; these are coarse wIre. painted, som:} are exported. 95 Taniya Draws the wire to the requisite 82 Kbadambands . Make the frame of looking glasses fineness. and pictures, of coa rse wood, some 96 Chapriyas Flatten the coarse wire of precious sent to Calcutta for orn:llu;!ntation. metal,use hammer. 211 1. Year-18I1-12 2. Place-Districls 0/ Behar and Paino (100-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA, 181l-12-Contd. 1 2 3 2 3 (d) Galalsaz Dye with lac alone; the manner in 97 Tubukgur Beat gold and silver leaf, use deer which they extract the dYe from skin and preserVe their leaf in the lac is important; a vast saving paper books as in Europe; at offreight may be had by exporting Patna workmen make a mystery this dye; a good deal of the dye of their art. thus prepared is sent to Calcutta but the quality is not best; the dye 93 Hu'<:kah- n'l~lns Polish stones, like rock crystals or is called Golal. or jewellers pebbles; at Patna employed to polish the bits of glasses which the 109 Tasar Weavers Make cloth wholly or in part of MinlluJrussas make into false Tasar, silk, are confined to Pha jewels. tuha,Gayaand Nawada;at Phatuha Banusa (consists of Tasar and Ston;:-cutters of Patna; complete cotton warp in stripes with cotten the mill stones, the stones used for woof for women's petticoat rubl)ing curry stuff and for weights; Maghaiy«s(like Banusa, only differ make plates from stone of Moses a insi:z;e, used as women's wrapper) very fine potstone. Lunggi, warp f!fltirely of Tasar used as wrappers lind petticoats. At Gaya 100 Potters On the same footing as in Bhagal some Sela and mostly Manipuri_ pur; mlke Suahis, Jagar, Tiles dhuti made chiefly for mahratta are of two shapes. pilgrims. 110 Tasarsilk-maker At Phatua 50 old Women em 101 Toy-makers Potters, make rude playthings for ployed to wind & sell the silk caildren also make implements thread called there Tasar ard the u,ed in smoking, finer bottles and cocoons arecalled Koya.Operaticns v~ssels used for. cooling water; of winding same as in Bhagalpur toys often painted with mica & only no potash is used, which may khari. spoil the texture of the silk. 102 Brick-mlkers Make bticks on contract basis in 111 Cotton-weavers Numerous in number; in Phatua prin;ipaltowns; another class burn employed in weaving cotton the bricks. diaper (Khes), native uSe as dress, Europeans use as table 103 P.l2aYdhs EU,)loy workmen, advance money linen, Lungri pulls the thread and pro;;ure ground for clay for to form the pattern, the Dobaras bricks. twists the thread, and the Binkara i weaves. 104 B:icklay~rs Not good wOl'kmen, their plaster in 112 Weavers of coarse Mainly produce coarse cloths for padcular is bldly compounded. cotton cloth country use but a good many work at finer goods for exportaticn company had 3 factories at Patna' 105 Lime-makers At Pltna th~y g~neralJy employ and 5 subordinate to these three' labourers to collect and burn ma native traders established 22 house~ terials; at Behar those who burn for the purchase of cloth. lime purchase the raw materials fwm those who collect it and are 113 Kundigars Smooth the bleached cloth with a soap makers too. beetle, a distinct profession at Behar. 3. of the Man\lfaeture of thread, cloth, tape, strings, etc. 114 Parchahkush Employed to put all the threads in the bleached cloth at equal dis. 105 Dluiyas C1~an and beat cottons, separate tances; the cloth made there being the seed from some & beat the very thin, the' operation of blea greater part; one third can retail ching brings the thread into clusters on their own, others work as hired leaving many parts almost in labourer. holes; three workmen place all the threads at equal distance with a wooden comb. 107 Spinners Women of an age fit to spin are one-fifth of the population; 330,426 spinners thus; the whole 115 Nardiyas Same work as parchahkush, only thread is spun on the smaU wheel these people use needle. commonly in use; no rank here is 116 Kangnigars Ornament the ends of fine cloth c')l1sidered as degraded by spinning with the flattened gold and silver wire called Budla; which is not 103. Dyel:; Divided into four kinds. woven into the cloth, but put in with a needle; native use the pieces (a) Rungrez Dye various colours; some use both indigo and morinda. entire, looks very showy. 117 Butabanwaiyas . Few women who flower cloth in (b) Nilgul Dye with indigo alone. the same manner as is done at Maldeh, of which, the (c) Ach furosh • Dye with the root of the morinda accounts have been given in alone. Dinajpur report. 212 1. Year-1811-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar and Patna (tOD-S) srATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICTS OF 2 3 BEHAR AND PATNA, 1811-1l-Concld. 127 Patwars Knit strings as usual in other 2 3 districts and make also fringes; use proper silk and 'j asar and even cotton; those of Patua reckoned Put gold ;tnd silver flowers on very good workmen. fine m\J~lin by a very simple Wind and twist the silk to render :H·)~C3S; first they stamp the 128 Nakads it fit for the use of the Patwars oloth in th~ form wished, with c);n:non ghee, and then apply and the makers of cloth of gold and silver leaf which gold &. silver, of .Iace, and of adheres to the ghee, and rubs gold and silver thread; the wi nding is difficult. off Wh~re tlut has not been applt~d, th s cloth cannot be 129 Kangjar Make ropes of the grasses wash~d,usedin high occasions only. caned Sahe and Mirj, the reorle Work entirely for country use, of this profession are in general 119 Ci1idtz-mt'<~rf vagrants and many such are as delcrib~d in the districts constantly travelling thrcufh Wtb~rto sUTveyed; men here use the' cou11:try in fair weather. tl good 125 Batwliya or Mtke gold and silver thread [Bll:chanan procured from "intelligent persons, Klhb.1tu twi>\ing the Hattened wire e8peC'lally the officers of police, an estimate of (B Idh) round silk; used by the number of houses belonging to four different e;n'>r.)iderers of Moorshedabed C3.\cutta & Dhaka, those wh~ classes" given in his sixth Statistical Table. The flower muslin. total nUl~ber of houses thus pbtained, differs very considerably from the number of houses 126 Alakb:;mds M lke tittle strings and tassels that results from his calculation given in the 7th that He O'l'namented with .£old table, and ?i1 the whole "considerably exceeds" ani silver, and often with pearls what, he thInks, "can be reasonably allowed." His and jewels, and are usually hung to the handle of the calculation was based on tae inquiries of the daggers, which native of rank Pandit, "who having been directed to inquire wear in their girdle. after the number of families in each tribe of 213 1. Year-181l-12 2. Place-Districts of Behar alld Patna Hindus. in each division. gave a list. amounting (10t-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF THE in all to 3.37.743 less only than my conjecture DISTRICTS OF BEHAR AND PATNA,1811-12. by 17,000 houses or 2 per cent which is a very 1872. 14)21 AND 1961 ------~------~------. ------ncar co-incidence". Buchanan is of opinioll that expenditure was inflated by the lower ranks. year population variation percentage annual variation percentage This is a factor common even today. Occasio variation nally. he mentions other limitations which art: given under explanation at appropriate places.] 1 2 3 4 5 8. EDITORIAL COMME/YT- 1811-12 3.364.420 The Districts of Bihar and Patna, 1811·1812. 1872 3.226.535 -137.885 -4.10 -0.07 contained a stangnant population in course of 1921 3.344.979 +118.444 +3.67 +0.07 a century. The population of this tract estimat 1961 5.839.714 +2,494.735 +74.58 +1.86 ed at 3.364,420 in 1811-1812 by Francis Bucha nan stood at 3.226.535 in 1872 yielding a per ----~------~------annum growth rate of (-) 0.07. Between 1811- 1812 and 1881, the same rate is (+) 0.07. Following the identification of the tract of Population practically did not increase upto the District of Behar & Patna. 1811-12 by H. 1921. the per annum growth between 1872 and Beverley in 1872. districts and parts of districts 1921 is only (+) 0.07. The growth is naturally (revenue thanas) have been traced with area and higher at 1.86 per annum between 1921 and population ilIt each decennial point from 1881 1961. But the population decreased even to 1961. The following table shows the result. between 1811-1812 and 1921. The following Thanas under column (2) mean revenue thanas. table shows the movement of population between Equivalent census thanas have been given under 1811-12 and 1872. 1921 and 1961. 4(a) Geographical location. 214 ...... '" 8. ;; ~ q 00 '"00 '" 00 '4 ~ 1;;; .... '" ... on '" QO '" N ~ ... vi' 00 '" N '" 00 ~ it ~ ~ g:.. '" N ~.. '" '" '" NO", ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ on 0 ~ ~ i" N M N ti ~ fe ~ '" ,., ~ ~ ~ ..; N .0:; ;J; 5 ~ '" <'l.-'" '" 00 "'0 ::!; M "'.... 00 '"o '" "r '",,; o N ...* '" ... ;:'; '"QO '",,; 00 ... 00 ....00 '" \0 '" "'."I on § ~r N '"q 00 00 '" o N '" ...'" -.., vi' '" ..'"o. 00 '" 00 * 00 '" on ..,.'"* ...'" '" '"N M .....o '"o '" ... SHAHABAD \ s ~ 1812-13 aOUHDARIES DISTRICT 1813 •••••••• THANA 1911 ------DISTRICT 197.-· _. _. 101<.M. o 10 Zf; A L SASED UP-ON SURVEY OF INDIA MAP WITH THE PERMISSION @ GOVERNMENT OF 'NOI" COPYRIGHT, .98. OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF INfrIA. 5. DISTRICf OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13 1. Year-JB12-J3 2. Place-District at Shahabad 3. SOURCE- rivers, and it still contains the space between the (1) Buchanan, Francis Karmanasa, Kochani and Dharmawati, which constitutes pergunah Chausa, and which by some An Account of the District of Shahabad in 1812-l3, printed from Buchanan MSS. in the mistake Major Rennell has included in Serkar India Otfice Library, with the. permission of Shahabad, while it in fact always. belonged to the Secretary of State for India in Council, Serkat Gazipur,. If this geographer has enlarged Patna, Bihar & Orissa Research Society, Shahabad in thall quarter. he has curtailed it 1934 in another way by annexing to Serkar Gazipur the tappa Duavea, situated in the angle between the Ganges and Dowha rivers, while in fact it [ISI/915.41 B 918 S] belongs to Serkar Shahabad forming a part of (2) Buchanan, Francis pergunah Bihiya. The rivers Ganges and An Account of the District of Shahabad in Karmanasa being usually in fact reckoned the 1812-13 .:. Micro~film manuscripts. boundaries, and being well suited for such a purpose, our great geographer seems, without [lSI! further inquiry. to have adopted the common received opinion. 4. MATERIALS-' It must be observed Ithat Serkar Shahabad, (a) GeograpJiicaZ'Zocarion- composing the northern part of this district, is a < "Extent, General Appearance and Soil modern division of territory and is not mention ed in the Ayeen Akbery. When that work was composed Serkar Rautas or Rohitaswa extend The survey, which has been made in the dry ed to the Ganges. season of the years 1812 and 1813, compre hends the whole extent that is under the juris The greatest length of this district in a direct diction of a judge and magistrate and that is line is along the Son, and extends about 117 managed by a Collector. Both of these officers British miles. Its greatest width, crossing the reside at Arah, a town very near one corner of above line at ri.ht angles, from the Karmanasa. the district. The present size is smaller and the where it begins to form the boundary on the population much less than those of any district plain between the provinces of Behar and that I have hitherto surveyed, except the city of Banaras and the Son and little north from Patna, nor do I know why last year a consider Rautas Gar, is about '52 miles. According to able portion was separated from it and annexed Major Rennell, its southern extremity on the to Behar, as I have mentioned in the account of Son is in about 24 0 31' north latitude, and its that district, for the total extent is not great, northern point near the Dewha is in about 25° and about one-fifth of the whole at the slluth 52'. Its eastern extremity on the Ganges is end. although noll an absolute deSert, is so about 3 0 21' west from the meridian of Calcutta, thinly inhabited as scarcely to deserve notice; and its western extremity on the Son is extended and none of the few people that it contains have, 10 32' further in that direction. I believe, ever given our courts any manner of trouble or employment. By tracing the boundaries on Major Rennell's map, I find that it contains 4,087 square British The district of Shahabad, as jt now stands, miles. and, the boundaries, except a short space occupies part of the west side of the Mogul among the hills, are so well defined, that unless province of Behar, but includes also a small the map is more defective than I suppose, the portion of what was originally contained in the error cannot be considerable. province of Allahabad, which was separated from Serkar Chunar and annexed to thart: of Rautas This district although long and narrow. is in the reign of Muhammed Shah. This part, tolerably compact, except that it sends a proj~ct constituting the rich pergunah of Chayanpur, ing corner across the Ganges, and that a portion forms all the N. W. part of Serkar Rautas, a~ of Merzapore projects into its middle across the delineated by Major Rennell in the Bengal Atlas, Ganges, both circumstances attended with and correctly placed by him in Behar as this considerable inconvenience, as is also the situa province stood when he made the survey; but tion of the courts. Why Arah was selected for in the vigour of the Mogul Government the these, it would be difficult to say; as it is province of Allahabad extended to the Durgawati neither a place of trade, nor is it either commo (Durgooty R.) and Dharmawati (Durmooty R.) dious for access, or salubrious. If the Ganges, 215 216 1. Ye'IJr-1811·13 2. PiactJ-District of Shahabad Son and Karmanasa were made the boundaries. (b) Particulars of populatlOfl~ and the courts fixed near Karangja. the situation (103·s) SUMMJ\P.Y T~ 'itP()P\Jl-ATION would be centrical and salubrious, and the OF THE DISTRICT OF sa A.BAD,1812-13 district compact. In forming the sub·divisions more than usual care has in some respects been srI. item particulars shown. They are all of a reasonable size, and no. are not broken by detached portions, but several are of a long straggling form, and the places 1 2 3 fixed for the residence of the officers of police, 1 area in square miles are not only far from being centrical. but six of 4,087 the eleven are huddled closed together into two .2 numbc{ of villages clusters. while the spaces between the others are 3 population: persons 14,1-~52() of course very great. males females [Geographical identification] 4 number of families 21.7525 The district of Sbahabad as in 1812·13 was 5 number of houses more or less same ill location, boundary and 6 population per square mile 347 extent witb those of 1961. SuperimpoSillg a map of 1812·13 on a map of 1961. it Was found t.hat 7 average size of a village the district at two points of time was identical 8 average size of a family • 6.5 except that (i) the Police Station of Raipur was 9 average size of a bouse outside and (2) fue tehsiI of Balia of the U. P. was inside. 10 females per thousand males . SHAHABAD 1812-13 LAND UTILIZATION PATTERN BOUNDAR,ES: D'STR'CT------THANA ______ AREA IN SQUARE MILES 600 500 CULTIVATED 400 {:-\--\J 300 II1II CULTIVAI1.£ 200 D NOl CULTIVAILE .ASED UPON SURVEY 01" INDIA MAP WITH THE PERMISSION @ GOVUNMENT 01" INOlA COPYIt .... r, "" 01" THE SURVEYOR GENERAL 01" INDIA_ 217 0\.... """g:;!;~~G~""t")~t\I.... 00 ;;!;~;;!;~""OO:g~t")1O.... r.... .'" • 00 """.... . N.... .... o 00 .... 10 t") 00 M 10 · o.... 17--439 R. O. India/ND/79 218 "' .... '"' Io o '":I '"'6l, 10 00 , :;01 0'" .., S':;: - .,.., ..,o 00 N '*"'0+1-0+1 N 8 8 "'"~ ..,..; --"'" N \C) N 10 .,.., !-- O . .,.., .,.., 100010 N .S -g~~-- I;.., I~ I N- < * _ N !--000\0_-- 219 1. Year-IB12-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (lOS) TABLE NO· 2-STATING THE PROPORTION OF INUNDATED LAND IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD THAT IS COVERED DURING THE WHOLE RAINY SEASON. THAT IN ORDINARY YEARS IS OCCASIONALLY COVERED AND THAT IS EXEMPT FROM BEING FLOODED EXCEPT IN EXTRAORDINARY YEARS (figures in sq. mile) con~tantly regularly liable only to land which in entirely exempt srI. division or under water inundated occasional floods some years ill from inundation no. thlna or mlfe throughout but every year liable to be barren ~hannels the rainy covered for some flooded season days at least for 2 or 3 days 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Arah 30 50 157 106 2 Bi}oti 23 80 60 134 3 Dumraong 20 35 20 364 4 Ekwari 12 15 353 5 Karangja 8 6 378 6 Blroang 6 5 345 7 Shahasram 6 373 8 Tilothu 25 10 525 9 Mohaniya 2 15 330 10 Ramgar 2 40 270 11 Sangyot 2 35 245 total 136 165 237 126 3,423 2'20 8 -g g 8 N N- g- .... NN 8 --~M I - 8- <"l <'\ o 8 MM-- - 8- .,.,o 01 8 N- -8 00 8 g- 8 8- -NID.,., 8 M_ 8- 01 .... 00 00 8 N - 8- .,.,.,.,IDID -.:... 8 8- 01 ID 8 .... g- 8 8- 11) '0 Z SHAHABAD 1812-13 THE EMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE IOUNOAIIES!- . DISTRICT _-_._-_ THANA I3:JI!PLOYMEHT ... TRADERS I~:'O ~ ARTIFICERS ~60 ~ "LOUGHMAN 40 ¥ GENTRY ~O r POPULATION i.. _-'-...,..'- ....1 M.M. HlllOO 0102030 MU$lIM eA&ED UPON SURVEY OF INDIA MAP WITH THE PERMISSION @ GOVERNMENT OF INDIA COPYRIGHT, 1981 OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL Of'. INDIA. 221 00 ", .... o I~ M oI/") M -", -0 ....r- o M -..; -.... o..... 00 - \Q o 00 ....--: N "'l- ..... 222 :~;;;~~ q~\OV\-- :2~g~g ..-4('f"\Nq...-4 ao - ...... , t"' o 0...... q g - o ... 0\ N ....- - -00 -o .~"' O. O· ·N. '"I'"- • 0\'" ] 00 ~ 1'"-00 ..,NN 00 000'" 00 0100\...... -'" I'" - ao ..."' - o 0. 10 , o ..,o - 0\ E - - N ....o .~"' oo:t" ] - ~ ..,- N 00 0,<1> N 00 .., 0. 0 N ...::sO - ..... o a O' ..... N o oo:t" go ~ t I ... 0 0. o o o 106,<1> ..... N '" I"'eg E o NO o o N I'"- N .., ..... N .... g ~'8 o I- ... 0 - 00 o .~'" N i .!"! o..... o- '" - - - - - -N..,oo:t"",10 1'"-00 0\0-...... 223 ~OJ 0'1 " ...,0'1 '"OJ 0'1 ",OJ 00 N ..., N ..go -o r- ..tt- 0'"_OJ r- ..., 0'1 0& ..., 0'1 " '"OJ 00 -goNOJ...... ,II'l ;0 -00..... 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N 10 00 \0 00 00 8 .;., o I'? 00 ..... 6 8 g ." ..... ~ ~ ..... o 01 \0 00 o I'? o 00 \0 ~ 8 6 00 ..... -N \0 8..... 8 .....N 8 g 6 g ..... - g ." r- 8 8 ." oo N \0 8 g ...... :§.I -0 \0 r-OOOlO.... 1iJr:: I \ Ii' . 227 \0 I' o N 00 18' 6 -'" ~ 16 I~ 00 10 -.:t I'? ,..,~ I-18 I N - ~ I~ '"~ 0, 8 - 00 - ... 8 - ~ I§ .,., o 0- ... o N \0'" ... 118 6 ..:. ~ I~ 0\ ...No - ~ 18 '"r- I - M ,.., ~ I~ 00 o 18 6 ~ I- ~ I~ I 00 -.:t 8 8... 8 .,.,6 8 .;., N 00 -.:t 8 -N 8- \0 ... 00 6 00 8 ..0,.., ...... \0 -8 s ..._.. ... 228 \0 o 0 .... I;....., 8 ...... 000 18' 18 6 0, 6 0- NoO .... \0 .... 16 18 I~ I .... I I 00 00 ..". I o 8 18 ...... <'I 18 00 8 8.... 18 .... I .... I 00 I 8 00 8 ....N 6';" 8.... "'<'I 8 I~ .... 18 I .... o o I o o 8 6 18 .... .;.. o .... t- .... 8.... 18 I .... I o .... 8 o I o 6 6 18 .... M o o I ...... I§ 1 N 00 .... \0 8 8 88 8 6 0';" 18 ~ 8 "'<'I 8 16 ...... I~ I .... 8 00 18 M 8 I . .... I§ 1 N 00 I o ..". 8 8 o ,.:.. I~ 00 8 8 ...... 1~ on o t- I 8 o 8 8 18 6 .;.. oo \0 .... 8 ! t- .... 8.... I§ 0- '"o ..". 8 '"o 8 6 ....M 6 18 8...... 8 I::I Is.... Q 8 8 8 o 8 8 ...... 8 8.... M o 8 8 8 6 8 8 - - 8.... .!!.- .... 229 r- 0 I,...... , 0' -: ~ 1 g I o ~ ~ o I'8 .... o 1 o '" 1 0 00 o N'" or-I'? lr) trl o .... r- N o M ~ ~ 18 00 o l~ .... 1 00 00 o 00 10 o o lr) 1 '? o 6';" '"N o ",N ~ & 18 I- 8. I o o o '-0 ..-,_10 o N o 00 o M r- N o o J .... V) ~-:I'? 6 o 6 o N '-0 ~ 18 o.... o - I- '" ..... I 01 _ 10 o o 01 00 o o 01 0 '? N o ..;..;, 0 o o N r- 8 o o - - ,....; o 01 o o N o 6 o 6 g ...... o 00 o 01 o 00 '" V) o r-N o 6 o co o o o 8 o o o o o V) 0 0 00 o o o r- 0 0 trl V) o o o 0 ~ N _,oo.n r- 0 co .... V) N 8 o 0 ~ 0 00 8 o lr),?o 0 0'" o • V) ~ • o o 6 ~ g ~ N 8 o 6 .... '" <'> - or> o o o V) o <'I g M o co -'" o V o N "'"r- o 230 8 8' .... 8 8 N ~ 8.... I - .,., g ;q I 8 N ..c I . • .,., I~ 10 N I bIg g N .... o ~ I § on _I o .... ' g 0\ M Vl N N N ~ 8 0\ o \0 r-- \0 8 8.... 00 .... 0\ 0\ 00 .,., g ' ~ 0\ 0\ 88 8 o ,- ~ g o 8 6· 6 ~ ~ ~ ....- o on s:: -0 ' 00 00 00 .,.,o ~ g ~ 00 6 6 ' ~ g N 0 .... -0 -...,.... 231 .--. 0;; .". M 0 N Is I. 0 00, t'! 0' on ..... 0'1 00 <', N I '? -, ':' '? v-. S 0 M !' ..;,. .,0 0'1 0 ..,j' 6 0 -0 0 r--" N 0 <'1 - "j '0 M OJ) '" 0 V) c V) 0, 0 0 r-- 0 0 oj ~ N 0. 0 r/l Q) 0 .;, 00 0 "1 0 -.0 .... N -0 0 <'I oj OJ) N ~ OJ 0 0 O. 0 .0 ~ on :t ~ 0 0 In 0 1 ;!: N 0 or; u on V) 0 ~ E t- ~ 0 ..,j' oj I'? ,.:.. N .;,. 0 00 ::r: ~ '-" 18 N """t- o 0::: ~ "'"' ';: I z til I ~ 0 on on 0 V) 0 ~ on 1°,0 0 r-- 0 -~ N N '? \C Iil U..i \0 ,.:.. 10 .;, 00 t"', -0 -0 \0 0 Z 00 IS <'I 0 bJ1 ('I c: I ~ 0 Ol i ~ 0 on on on 0 0 0 <'I 18 0 0 r-- :.J E on r- V) 0'1 ::l Io '",.:... 0 ::c M N V) 0 Cl IS M 0 r, f-" '" """ " ~ I - 0 (5 I 0 0 '1' 0 0 0 0 0 W iii 0 18 on 0 0 0 ... 'n on .;, o. :,... V) 10 <'I N N r-- 0 N \0 IS 0 ('I ~ ,.c: I f: OJ , rn .. M !o ,..., «t: 0 M 0 0 Iil 10 \C V) "<:t ~ 0 \C 00 0 10 ~ Z ~ V) 0 ~ r- 0 C < r- N 0 ro. I IS 00 II.> I u ... c:. ... 00 0 '" .~ eS ';:: I OJ I' Z _ u ~c E" "0 "0 ." :::1'-co 1 ~ W ~ 3'~ ...... 'OJ \Q- :13 ...l >, '0 ,.c:u :l3C1l '0 ... '>, ~ co .0 ~ 0 ... I 0) .0 ~;; ~~ ... <: "'r::,. I '"II.> on :::I f-" .., - U 0)'- ,..., :3~ .-...... 010 . .,.c: I '<:;... '" u "<:S ::l'" ..... '"OJ ::1 .... <.>'" ... 'i=: c ~ ~o. - 1 u " c:c ... ~o u >'", 0'5 ... 00 I' <>"0 I M ::1 I, '" ... ~.= ::: Ol" tlI)C , ~ u >,';:;; "'" (,.... r:.. <::> "O~ ~'E ...... _Ol u 0";,» :::1;) I .... 0 I ~'" AS (" 0l0l ._ 1:/)- r::,.,,,, "'".... C" 1 ..,u 1 >< au C :::I occ ,,' 0 0 ~ u c: rr,,_ a 01'" OJ Q) a ~ c: 0) I I < :s ~ r.r...... ",- 0- '':: 0 - 0;;; 0" I :::l :::IOl roo ..ell.> ..c t1) c: ,.c: ° 0) I '"...... , u .. '--5 '" ~ ...... - u..c ,~ ",,9 I u (.) /"J) I <.r:: ..cO I~ ..... u ,...c::: ~ rf.. 0 ';;; :.<:i~ u ... ,.c:'" 'E f'.J' '-!:: I :.<:i» I 2:" ?;~~ :CO ~-:;: 2:..c -~ ; .., ~.:::? '"til Cio I c <..... <.i I~ v. °c: tI'l t) 0 ~ ~, rr, to ",i:i -..Q 0 I ,~ .~ ~ (!) C/O :::l ,3:3 ::l vo "'- OJ f ::""0 -_'..r;: ....,.... .~..c: I~ -0" ~~ L ~ - " - M I t::l u Eo E ~ 0 I"; "82 ~E piJ .":., "'1 Ocr. '~ E I\j '-,-~ N...... .,.. 0 ...... f"l o ...... N V 00 .n .,.. ,... o 00 00 ...... 00 00 M M o C\ .,.. N..; g e 00 ...... 00 o C\ V o..... o o.,.. .,..g o .....o ~~~~~~ ...... ..... 233 010 5' ~~~~~ 00 -t o i::6~";"-t 0<'1 o o o ·0 , ..... It) g g o • It) It) ,.:" r g g N oo ...... , It) • CO It) g • CO r- '<'I ~ oo -.0 o 0'1 - o ..... o ,0'1 o o It) '~ o It) <'I <'I fd g o o g ..... o , ..... o o ~g o • It) o g. g; .~.r. 0 <'I..... g lIS r- 0 g ...... o .' g , 0'1 g It) , M o <'I..... g o .....o o It) o g; :~NS:: ,It) 0 ,._o o g. ~ o -.0,;.,":" .... g o ..... g '"..... o o ..... o g g : g o 10 o It) It) 0 o 10 o N N It) o .... o o o o OOOO . ) o o o r- o o o 0""""" ,;:.. o o ~\C_ It) o o ..... It) .....o o o o 00 o o 00 o o It) o o N ..... N o..... """ o o g o o o o o g It) ...... , ' , ....0 .j ...... It) 10 J8-439 R. G. Intlia/ND/79 7.34 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (114) TABLE NO. U-AN ESTIMATE EXPLAINING THE EXTENT OF LUXURY IN ATTENDANCE AND CONVEYANCE IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAIIABAD srI. type of conveyance prevailing, and total no. classes of domestic servants 2 3 Part-I 1 tame !lephants 16 2 camels 18 3 sareSa or other large horses . 525 4 poniesoi' the kind called tatus 3,900 5 rath or : wh~ledcarriages drawn by oxen 14 6 carriages with 2 wheels drawn by one horse and called ekka 21 7 majhal i md £'aharu two wheeled carriages drawn b)' o)(en • 43 8 palanquins. 896 Part-II 9 malefree domesticservants 2,820 10 female free domestic servants 265 11 poor women who bringwaterto wealthy families • 7,100 12 men slaves entirely domestic . 720 13 men ,laves partlyemployed in agriculture 850 14 men slaves employed entirely in aericul.ure 3,765 Note : We have omitted figures for divi,ion Of thana-ed. 235 .... o ~~~s; '" '"N co '" - O~l'"""t~ - '"o r-:N' M ..;'" N' o M N o o g N - ....'" ....'" - g '"r- N'" N - o o r- o'" g N - '" - N g o.... M o o o o on g o N M N - o o on N o o ....o '" o o o o - N '" o o .... o '" -M •..: <5 ~q 1. Year-J8i2-i3 2. Place-District of Shahabad (116) TABLE NO. 13-LIsr OF THE HINDU ACADEMICIANS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD srI. divi3ion place name tribe profession books no.of total no. scho- scho- lars lars 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bi]otj J (Town Ramanath Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumvdi 10 I Law Mitaksharaand Nirnayamrita I Legend Sindhu Shri Bhagwat Puran wn Asaram Misra Sakatwipi Grammar 8 Law " Legend Town Rajaballabh Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumudi 12 Town SivadayalMisra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumudi 15 Town Bangsidhar Misra; Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumudi 10 t Medicine Saranggadhar & C 55 Jagadispur ShriHarsha Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Saraswat Chandrika Kaumudi 15 15 Legend Sri Bhagwat Purari Dumuraong KrishmlalMisra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumudi and 12 r Law Prakrita Manorama Magee Nirnaya Sindhu, l(alniJ:a- naya,and Mitakshara I Mantra Mahadadbi, Tan- trasara,andSaradalilak , Dumraong Bhuri Misra Sakadwipi prammar Siddhanta Kaumu~i 20 J ~ Dumraong C'luraram Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumu~i 10 I Metaphysics Many I Law Mitakshara Nehalpur Hariharadutta Pathak Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumudi, Amar- 10 I Poetry kosh 1 human RaghuKabya ,Kumarsam. 2 DJJmraoDg -( bhava and Megha4ut 'Nehalpur .hyravdutta Misra Sakadwipi Astrology Bhaswati Sadananda, Knta 10 I Nilewa tl & Grahal+ghar . I Rlghunathpur BlnamaliMisra Sakadwipi Orammar Siddhanta Kaumqdi 15 I Vagsar Rituraj Misra Sakadwipi r Grammar Siddhanta.Kaumu~ I Metaphysics Many . I I I ~ Law Mitakshara 20 I Legend SriBhagwatgita, and Sri I I Bhagawat Puran Poetry Naishadha l human M,thH. Siva Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kauml1di &0 15 112 l . 3 Karangja "'{onahar Krishna Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kau~di 10 10 Poetry .Bl~atti ~a$hu ~man 4 Baracng Haribangaspur Manik Misra Sakadwipi Grammar Siddhanta Kaumudi, Saras- 10 10 Law wat & RamasramaCharya Krita Chandrika ~it~ara 5 Shahasram Maladaha Abodha Pangre Kanyakubja Gr~mrnar Siddhanta Kaumudi 12 Law Mitakshara r Legend Sri Bhagwat Puran ~ Shahasram Blyjudubf) Klnyakubja AstroloQY Muhurta Chintamani,and 4 I Jatak Flatnarnala Shahasram Bandhu Pathak Slhdwipi Medicine Sarangadhar, and Bidya 8 24 t Jian 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad {UO) TABLE NO. 13-LIST OF rHE HINDU ACADEMICIANS IN TIf-IE DISllUCT OF SHAHABAD- Concfd. srI. division place name tr,be profession books no. of total no. scho- sch.,- lars lars 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 6 MJhailiya Saoja Kundi Siradhan misra Kanyakubja Grammar Saraswat and Siddbanta Law Kaumudi 4 Legensi t-Aitak;shara Sri Bftagwat Puran . Umapura . Rameswar misra Sakadwipi Grammar Saraswat, €handrika and 5 Law ~iddh;lDta Kaumudi Mitakshara Madhavapur Hanuman Pathak Sakadwipi Grammar 'Saras'wat 2 Pokhara Hanu misra Sakadwipi Grammar Saraswat 4 15 7 Sangyot • J \Dlrdanpur R lj:ldhar Pandit Kanyakubja Grammar Saraswat, Chandrika and 4 Law Siddhanta Kaumudi Legend Mitahhara .S i Bhagwat Puran Janardanpur Bayju Pandit Kanyakubja Grammar Saraswat, Chandrika and Law Siddhanta Kaumudi Lege9d Mitakshara S 'Sri Bhagwat Puran 9 total. 250 (117) TABLE NO. 14-EXPLAINING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CULTIVA1ED LANDS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD ARE OCCUPIED srl.no.of neW area srI. no. of new area original sil. manner of occupation in original sr I. manner of occupation in table no. bigha table no. bigha 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 1 houses 33350 8S 22 maize by itself 6830 2 2 fruit trees • 126900 86-97 23 maize followed by other crops • 71990 3 3 bamboos 510 98 24 janera masuriya by itself • 15200 4 4 kitchen garden 3850 ' 99·105,25 • jan(ua miKed with other (lJ'OpS 2225 5 S vegetable in the filed • 1130 106 26 bajra by itself 100 6 6 broadcast sathi or sirha summer 107-109 27 bajra mixed with other crops 3000 rice by itself 150500 110 28 gudali by itself 50 7·23 7 broadcast followed by other crops 70100 111 29 chi~a • 300 8 broadcast winter rice by itself 881400 24 112 30 china hathiya, by it~elf • 320 25-30 9 broadcast followed by other 113-116 31 china hathiya mixed with other crops 250400 crops 1240 31 10 transplanted winter rice by itself 342440 117 32 wheat by itself 367250 32-36 11 transplanted followed by other 118"122 33 wheat m1xed with other crops 82840 crops 158450 123 34 barley by itself 238410 37 12 spring rice or boro 450 124-127 35 barley mixed with other crops 83300 38 13 tangni by itself 4090 128 36 masur by itse!f 80200 39-48 14 tangni followed by other mixed crops 24577 129-134 37 masur mixed with others • 460050 49-51 15 broadcast maruya with other 135 38 khesari by itself. 30 crops 2100 136 39 arahar by itself 2300 52 16 transplanted maruya by itself 6200 137-140 40 arahar mixed" with other crops • 12650 53-61 17 transplanted followed by other 141 41 urid bhadai by itself 9100 crops 21485 142 42 urid aghani by itseif 3750 62 18 kodo bhadai by itself 8070 143 43 urid son in the mud without 63-72 19 kodo followed by other crops 166390 culture. . " 600 73 20 sawang by itself 6600 144 44 kulthi by its'elf 54425 74.34 21 sawang followed by other crops 16450 145 45 mothi by it~lf 19550 238 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (117) TABLE NO. 14-EXPLAINING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CULTIVATED LANDS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD ARE OCCUpmD-Conc/d. ------1 2 3 4 2 3 4 146 46 mung by itself. 2185 183 63 poppy by itself 300 147 47 but by itself . • 271400 184 64 poppy mixed 7665 148-150 48 but mixed with other crops • 176650 185 65 safflower by itself • 100 151 49 tori by itself • 22300 186-188 66 safflower mixed with carrots 152 50 sarso by itself 11000 and onion & potatoes 668 153 51 rayi son in the mud without 189 67 shukurkund 520 culture • 9000 190 68 onion • 230 154 52 linseed by itself • 7GOO 191 69 garlic 82 155 53 til bhadai by itself • 730 192 70 ajoyan sown in the mud without 156 54 til ajhani by itself • 540 600 157 55 tobacco by itself 1065 culture • 193 71 saongh by itself 25 158 56 tobacco mixed with others 515 194 72 jira by itself • 590 159 57 beetle leaf 24 195-197 73 jira mixed with others 538 160-166 58 sugarcane with others 3980 198 74 ricinus (baghrengr) 910 167 59 cotton (baresa) by itself, • 40 199 75 ricinus (chanaki) 935 168-174 60 cotton (baresa) mixed with others 22985 200 76 seedling by itself 40651 175-179 61 indigo by itself ashariya bawog 1 year and 2 years. • • 27200 1~0-182 62 indigo by itselfkartika bawog 1 Total. 4402560 and 2 years. . • • 300 Note: Please see note at the end of Table No. 16 under the Districts of Behar and Patna on page 158-ed. (118) TABLE NO. 27-GENERAL ABSTRACT OF THE VALUE AND PRODUCE OF LANDS OCCUPIED BY FARMERS WHO CULTIVATE WITH THE PLOUGH IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD sri. occupation of land quantity in quantity remain- value in rupees and no. mds. & sers ing for consumption anas after deducting seed 1 fruit trees 3,50,000-0 l bamboos 1,230-0 3 vegetable &c. in gardens and fields 41,006-3 4 grain (a) rice • • • • 7366347-20 6776085-25 47,09,362-7_ (49,09,382-8) (b) china, kangni sa wang, maruya, maize, kodo bazra and 968436-20 943859-15! 5,20,285-5 junera. (5,20,811-8) (c) wheat & barley • 3269525-0 2828238-30 26,47,742-5 (3269685) (26,54,554-12) (d) pulse. • 4480742-20 3986935-32! 27,07,788-7 (3986934-32! ) (27,08,208-7) (e) sarso, tari,lohi,linseed, til, poppy seed, safflower seed 365487-30 352576-171- 3,47,513-5 and _recinus. 5 sugarcane • • 42217-20 62,435-5 (42237-20) 6 plants for making thread and rope (a) patuya 1136-10 1,907-13 (b) cotton. 67468-30 2,37,919-1 7 plants for smoking and chewing (a) beetle eaf • 3,600-0 (b) tobacco 5.087-20 9,765-0 (c) opium 1201-11 83,231-3 S plants used for d,ying (a) indigo plants 66,474-10 (b) indigo seed 1125-0 3,814-4 (c) safflower flower 779-24 4,544-1 m~dicine. • 6-0 5·35 ·20-0 totll V.llue 1,20,06,417·15 Note: Figur ~s for division or thana omitted-ed. 239 000 00 o o ._, <'"l on N 10 o 00 (""1 00 ('t') 10 o o ..... 0\ ~'i'4 N 0\ ..... o 00 o U Ov o 10 Nv 0\ N .,) N N o o o o 0\ 10 ~ ~ N o 00 10 o 8 ~:2 10 - <'"l '00 N 000 0 000 0 o 8 0.,.,000 10 • o ~ • 10 ..... -&f£~ 0\ ~ .... - ..... o 00 8 00 · <'"l 00 o 10..... o o o o o o o <'"l (lg N <'"l 00 00 00 ...... o 00 o 10 10 010 10 r 01.0 ~ N OO "i. · 10 N · 0\ 1.0 ~ - -...... - o o 10 o 10 8 0\ •· 10 1.0 -00 N ~..... o 00\ 10 o IOV N ~ 1000 v5 ~d' ..... ~..... 1.0 00 v ..... 00 ..... o 100 10 8 10 8 NIO M N V'> ...... r-;, N ..... N..... - v N ..... 00 0--- ...... 24(1 o o <'l V) V) \C i.... 00 o V) N o ..,;.... o -11:1 o o oj;::l V) o o o 00 o~..... > ..,; ....r-..:' o o 00 q o o 0 o V) .0 0 g r- .N 9.- oo N~ M '" 8 o 0 V) :~ ~ N 00 - <'l o o. o o o V) '<1" o o· o 00 ~ "l N o 00 ...... ~ .... V) ..... 011:1 o .'ij o Ooj 0- 00 8 1:10 ...... ' o 8 o V) ·8 o q 00 V) V) fl o ...... ,; N <'l 00 ....00 o o o V) V) 8 r.... N N -...."l o o o 8 o V) .... 00 r-..:' ..i' ~.... o o g o N 00 V) i- I- 241 o co~ o r-: \0 ~oooooooo'"'o, , • J • , I , , ..,- I ~~~s;:~gggg8g -.,..0\.,..0 0\ 0.,,0' o o o N - r-: 00 '" o~ o 0000 Ot"lCV) o 0\.\0 "';_ N" ~ '" "" M r.< • "':0 ~c: 242 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (121) TABLE NO. 30-AN ESTIMA1E OF TI1E PROPOR,UCN OF RENT IN THE DlS1RIO OF SHAHAP)D PAID BY THE HIGH CASTES, DEALERS, ARTIFICERS AND PLOUGHMFN, AND OF THE PROPORTI( N OF THEPLOUGfIS HELD BY THEIR OWNERS OR MEN OF THEIR FAMILlEE, OR BYHIRFD SERVAN1S OR SLAVES ETC. sri. rent payers by type Arab Biloti Dumra- Ekwari Karan- BaraoIlg Shaha- Tilothu MchEniya RrD':- Sangyot no. ong gja sram gar 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 [Part-I] rent paid by high castes 75.00 62'50 45.31 62.50 37'50 50.00 56.25 34·38 50.00 62.50 62,50 2 reot paid by merch- ants or shop-keepers and by artificers 6'25 6.25 4'69 6'25 4.69 6·25 9'38 7.81 9'38 3'12 3.12 3 rent pai d by plough- men or kuindagan. 18.75 31,25 50'00 31'25 57.81 43,75 34'37 57·81 40'62 34'38 34.38 ------[all 100,00 100'00 100·00 100·00 100·0) 100,00 100,00 100'CO 100, CO 1CG'CO 100'001 [Part-II] ploughs held by per- sons who rent land and have stock. . 75'00 50'00 75'00 62'50 37'50 68'75 75'00 75,00 68,75 E2'50 37,:-0 2 ploughs held by ser- vants or slaves 25,00 50,00 25'00 37'50 52'60 31'25 25·00 25·00 31'25 37'50 62'50 -----.------____..~------.------. [all 100'00 100'00 100·00 100,00 100,00 100'00 100.00 100'00 100.00 100,00 100'00] [Part-III] proportion of rent fa.tmed. 75'00 100'00 75'00 93'75 87,50 1'56 few 87,50 75·00 87'50 2 proportion of rent collected by stewards 25'00 25,00 6'25 12'50 98·44 100·00 100·00 12,50 25·00 12'50 [all . 100,00 100'00 100'00 100,00 100'00 100·00 100·00 100·00 100'00 100,00 100,001 [Part-IV] proportion of rent paid in money 75'00 81'25 62,50 12·50 25·00 3 '12 12,50 12· 50 25.00 12.50 12.50 2 proportion of rent arising from a diVi- sion of crops 25.00 18.75 37.50 87.50 75.00 96.88 87.50 87.50 75.(0 87.:0 87.50 [all . 100·00 100,00 100,00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.GO 100.00 100.00 100.CO lCD'OC] Note : Anna proportions. have been converted ...'into percentages-ed. 243 0 "0 o Hl It') ..... til ., 1I)..c: ' 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District 01 Shahabad (lli3) TABLENO.31-ANESTIMATi OF THE FARMERS WHO PAY THEIR RENT FROM THEIR OWNSTOCF, OF THOSE WHO BORROW READ\.' M<)NEY FOR THE PURPOSE, OF THOSE WHO TAKE ADYANCES FOR PRODUCE BUT AT THE CROP SEASON ARE ABLE TO DISCHARGE THEIR ENGAGEME~TS, AND OF THOSE WHO ARE YEARLY INCREASING THEIR DEBTS srI. PlY.n!ntofrent Arah Biloti Dum- Ekwari Karan- BoraongShaha- Tilothu Moha- Ramgar San£yot n;). andindebtedlless raong gja sram niya of farmers 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 [Part] farmers who pay their ren( from their own stock 6' 25 25' 00 6'25 1'56 12.50 3.12 12'50 12'50 18'75 12'50 37'50 farmers who borrow ready mqney to pay their rent . • 68'75 37'5043'75+ 10'94 62'50 37'50 25.00 25.06 31.25 25.00 56.25 3 farmers who take ad nnces oil their crop to enable'to pay their rent 25'00 37·50 50'00 87.50 25.00 59.38 62.50 62.50 50.00 62.50 6'25 [all 100.00 100.00 100.0Q 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100'00] 4 farmers \'.iho are ann ulily incr¢asing their debts. . few 12.5Q few few few few few few few few 5 farmers who take ad vancesfrom theirland lord to a~sist in cul- tivation ~200) 3.12 few 6.25 25.00 12.50 6.25 62.50 50.00 (124) TABLE NO. 33-AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER AND KINDS OF ARTISTS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD* Ara4 Biloti Dum- Ek- Karan- Bar- Sha- Tilo- Moh- Ram- San- to srI. artists raong wari gja aong hasram thu aniya gar gyot tal no. ------2 3 4 5 6 '7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 painters . houses 18 4 23 2 mirasin (female singer) sets 1 I 3 bais or dancing girls • " 3 3 10 2 3 2 24 4 natuyas (dancer) " 1 2 30 2 2 37 5 kalawangts (ballet singer) 8 10 6 kathaks " 5 10 8 8 32 7 tasawales (pitter of drums) 1 8 bajawalas (musicians, shoe" maker or sweeper) • • men 300 250 200 500 250 400 180 56 400 210 400 3,146 9 daphalis (mendicant) • 20 8 6 10 8 10 10 4 10 7 12 105 10 pawangriyas (dancer) .. 20 2 13 2 '4 4 3 5 8 63 11 hijaras " 1 2 2 2 1 11 12 bazigars (sin,*r, actor) 150 13 washermen " 100 200 100 100 100 70 30 40 300 50· 1,240 14 shawal washermen 1 1 2 15 soap makers 2 7 10 " 30 20 30 8 16 torch and platter makers " 20 15 40 8 15 6 2~ 217 17 tailors 100 30 60 25 15 12 30 25 30 10 26 357 " 322 18 barbers " 200 360 200 3S0 150 140 40 125 250 75 2,212 19 hauzkush (servant) " 1 1 6 2 20 red lead makers • " 9 21 makers oflae ornaments 25 3 3 Z 33 " 20 22 makers of glass ornaments " 30 30 50 25 25 30 7 15 It t2 249 245 t. Yeilf-1812-I3 2. Place-District of Shahabad (124) TABLE NO. 33-AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER AND KINDS OF ARTISTS IN THE DISllUCT OF SHAHABAD* -Contd. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ------~------"------23 makers of ornaments called tikli men 11 11 24 malis. ,,50 15 30 10 15 12 17 10 13 11 7 190 25 domara (b~mboo b!lsket maker) .. 30 25 50 25 20 20 5 12 40 15 242 26 bang&phor (bambQo ba~ket 4 3 7 maker) " 27 tarkiharas (maker ear-rings of palmira leaves) 2 2 " 80 6 86 28 mat makers " 2? paper makers 40 20 60 " 3{) makers of fire works 8 10 2 3 23 31 chamar or shoe makers 200 100 400 4QO 200 160 150 40 150 150 100 2,050 1 4 32 makers ofleather bags " 33 saddle makers . 6 6 " 3 14 3 3 24 34 makers of saddle cloths " 35 makers of tubes for smoking' 4obacco 3 3 3(i rozkush, (maker of finished tobacco) 25 27 6 24 3 8 4 98 " 21 8 23 14 6 5 9 5 9 6 6 112 37 distillersof spirituous liquors " 3~. pasis who collect p!llmjuic~ • .. 100 30 50 40 20 48 7 45 340 3.9 shops for retailing palm wine 4 3 2 2 2 2 17 " 2 2 40 gandhi (perfumers) " 41 oils men . houses 300 500 400 200 200 200 200 70 250 400 60 2,780 mills 300 600 400 200 200 200 200 70 250 400 60 2,880 42 prepare!~ of milk a,nd bU,tter men 500 200 500 290 300 40 ISO- 200 125 250 125 2,590 43 confectioners (hal~ais) 200 42 100 40 100 25 28' 15 30 6 2 588 44 grain parchers . 200 200 225 200 250 400 50 30 40 150 100 1,845 45 flour grinders 20 100 120 1 5" 2 46 nanwaig. or baker-s " 8 47 chik or mutton butchers 20 9 , '2 2 8 8 8 57 48 beef butchers 9 3 2 3 3 12' 8 41 49 comb makers 3 '2 10 15 50 turners 2 2 6 1 19 51 kamangars (painter of turns work) 7, 7 52. carpenters . 200 150 100 100 25 30 50. 60 ,10 2 727 53 carpenters and black-smith ." 275 120 50 to 150 .150 50. 200 180 60 1,245 54 blacksmiths 25 170 200 100 25 . .ISO 190 30 . 5 895 55 horse shoers 4 3 4 9 21 56 cutlers (clean and sharpen arms) " 7 4 6 .1 ,2 21 57 coppersmiths called kaseras " 6 5 " .. 20 10 41 58 cop>,ersmiths called thathera " 4 10 5 10 15 4 ·5 7 3 63 59 workers in tin 10 5 ·2 ·10 27 300 125 80 50 50 30 6o. 30 40 SO 25 840 60 gold and ,silver smiths " 61 sondhoyas (washing soil of goldsmith) 2 62 stone cutters 5 30 1,8 12 6 71 63 potters . " 100 60 135 60 50 125 80 20 40 150 100 910 1 5 61- brick makers " 2 ~ 6S brick layers 20 5 20 10 57 12 12 66 lime burners " 67 cotton beaters 125 35 200 50 70 25 60 8 30 15 50 668 68 dyers " 18 17 16 10 10 10 14 7 10 6 11 69 weavers of cloth of tassar silk and cotton mixed houses .,. 60 6 looms 90 ._---9 246 1. Year-1812-/3 2. Place-District 0/ Shahabad C! ~O fABLE NO. 33-ANB5fIMATE OF CHE NUMBER AND KINDS OF ARTISTS IN THE DISTRiCT OF SHAHAHAD Concld. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 70 cotton weavers • houses 2,050 900 750 1,000 400 240 325 60 500 500 300 7,025 looms 2,500 1,000 800 1,200 400 240 350 60 550 500 350 7,950 71 women who flower cloth men 20 :20 72 chintz makers 2 1 3 73 cotton tape weavers 2 21 74 carpet weavers " 20 10 30 t 75 blanket weavers .. 30 100 40 60 25 20 40 5 50 100 60 530 76 patwars [string knitters] " 19 10 10 10 15 15 20 5 7 20 131 77 boilers for making nitre .. 16 6 10 3 3 20 12 5 75 78 makers of surya pokka salt " .. 70 70 79 furnaces for preparing kasis . " 6 6 *En~lish e;CJ.uiv.dent of term~ in col. 2 W.1S insertd rY uS in parenthesis-ed. (125) TABLE NO. 34-AN ESTIMATE OF THE --2------3---4 EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF THE SHAHABAD DISTRICT 38 sajimati 1,805 total 39 rehemati .. 200 srl. commodities 40 bher kllari 133 export import no. 41 bhang or ganja 1,000 1 2 3 4 42 maulluya flowers 2,400 1 rice in the husk 21,363 3,021 43 small timber and bamboos 2,100 2 rice cleaned by boiling 1,172 35,340 44 woollen and cotton carpets 2,000 850 3 rice cleaned without boiling 117,180 10,222 45 blankets 2,000 4 wheat 232,210 979 46 cotton cloths 204,000 20,200 5 barley 13,906 47 cllints and kharuya 3,950 6 jaokerao 363 48 silk cloth, maldehi • 4,350 7,699 160 7 arahar • 49 cloth of tasar silk and cotton 8 mung 100 mixed 2,550 9 urid 1,800 1,000 50 gold and silver lace 300 10 khesari. 5,063 1,036 51 essences 550 11 masur 29,128 52 shoes • • 400 12 chana or but . 128,993 222 53 manihari goods 150 1,170 13 motor or pease 21,266 54 cotton thread. 800 14 lahi or mustard 3,350 324 55 opium 83,231 742 15 linseed • 2,115 200 56 nitre 1,050 16 jira seed 12,000 57 ghiu 16,063 2,600 17 til. 240 30 58 oil 2,722 18 cocoanuts 138 59 turmeric 430 19 betelnut 3,605 60 dry ginger 400 20 tobacco. 10,459 61 vegetables 1,000 100 21 sugar or chini 3,956 62 onions, garlic and capsicum 3,500 22 shukkur 625 63 lime 64 sack cloth rags 5,429 23 molasses 750 65 new sack cloth 50 460 24 treacle • 117 66 buffaloes 163 25 cake extract of sugar cane 4,738 2,671 67 oxen 21,925 5,417 26 salambi salt 68 cocoons 3,000 5,000 27 pangga salt 100,128 69 tasar silk 5,000 28 sea salt 24,570 70 lachorlahi 120 29 cotton wool 25,366 71 kasis 135 30 cotton with the seed 25,147 8,320 72 dhuna 45 900 31 iron 19,474 73 kath or catechu 120 32 zinc, copper, lead and tin 5,258 74 cllirosyi. 33 iron vessels 200 75 stones 500 34 vessels of brass and bell metal • 2,500 10,645 total 995,132 365,177 35 ...... (illegible) goods 1,000 10,050 36 paper 36,150 Note: We have omitted thana figures and retaineq 37 betel leaf 2,950 totals r;mly. 247 1. Year-18l2-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad 5. METHOD- All to the north of the town belongs to the rich inundated land on the banks of the Ganges, [Francis Buchanan ascertained the area by which produces chiefly winter crops. To the tracing boundaries on Major Rennell's map. The south is some rice land. but the soil there is boundary was well defined and "unless the map" rather poor, and the trees are stunted. was "defective," the error in the area could not be great according to the author. Buchanan [2. housing pattern] traversed the country in all directions and formu lated his estimate regarding soil and cultivation. There are 50 houses of brick belonging to About the type of soil and extent of cultivation, the natives, mostly i:.1 the town of Arah; 10 the statement of the local pe'Jple agreed with his only have two storeys, but these are good. There own observations in many respects. The people are 200 houses having mud walls and two storeys generally, according to Buchanan, understated the all of which are covered with tiles. All the forest area and overstated the area under cultiva huts have mud walls; one-fourth of them is tion. Buchanan corrected such statements from covered with tiles, three-fourths are thatched. his own observation. The estimate of population About 150 are in the shape of bee-hives, and was done in his own novel method. He first belonging to the impure tribe of Mushar. Except estimated the land cultivated per plough, then that there are no clay-walled castles. the villages the ploughmen, then the rest of the classes on a here entirely resemble those of Behar, and the proportion basis.] roofs are still more clumsy and defective, so that on a near approach they look most wretch ed, although at a distance they have often a 6. EXPLANATION picturesque and neat appearance. This latter remark extending throughout the district. need [topographical particulars] not be repeated. With regard to the statements of the various kinds of soil and extent of cultivation, I found [3. urban centres] that the people in many respects agreed very nearly with what I actually saw, in very care [The town of Arah has been presented fully traversing the country in all directions. In separately.] general however the people all the plains had no idea of the extent nor condition of the high Babura is a small town containing about 250 lands; and, while they underrated the size of houses; Gajarajgunj contains about 200; lkhti these wilds, seemed to me to state the progress yarpur is nearly of the same size, as are also of cultivation on the plains higher than reality; Amarapura, Berempur. Kailawar, Brukgunj and both errors I have endeavoured to correct, from I Sinaha; Tribhuvani and Pachane contain about what I actually saw. The owners of the hills, 150; Bharsahar, or Amsahar contains 100; as paying scarcely anything to government. do likewise Mahai, Sakardihir. Guri and Saraiya. endeavoured to state the extent of cultivation as next to nothing and certainly it might be greatly Section 2nd. Of ,the Division under Thanah Biloti enlarged. I have allowed. what appeared to me the very least. that can be admitted. although [1. general description] much more than they were willing to acknow About one-half of the division north from ledge. If I were to judge from what I actually Biloti, where the office of the police is situated saw in travelling along the tableland, its whole is of the utmost richness. and consists of the length from East to West. I should judge the inundated land called here Hetowar. South from quantity occupied to be much more; but I Biloti, a great part of the country is covered believe that I visited the best part; and in the with forest; and. even where that has been other parts, that I ascended. the state was removed, a great deal of land is wasted on certainly very bad. plantations of very little value. Trees therefore abound, while irrigation is much neglected; and in this part of the division want and other miserv [General de'SCription, housing pattern and urban are very predominant. . cenltres of the topographical divisions] [2. housing pattern] Section 1st. Of the DiviSion under Thanab Ar~ One of the greatest chiefs of the Paramarkas [1. general description] resides in this division at Jagadispur. near which he has very extensive domains. .. He resides in The whole country is abundantly planted but a castle built of mud and brick, abundantly not overwhelmed with trees and is most highly large for a person of rank. but no way ornamen cultivated. The plantations consist chiefly of tal, nor at all suited either to the size of his mango and Mahuya trees. with a very few estate, or to his high birth. There are four other bamboos and palms. and such in general being houses of brick; 100 mud-walled houses of two the case in this district. need not be repeated. storeys covered with tiles, and 50 covered with 248 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad thatch. The remaining dwellings are thatched importance, although held by a small garrison, huts, of which 31/32 parts have mud walls, and and strengthened by some additional works 1/32 part walls of hurdles or reeds. The .... illages constructed by European engineers. Sintri con· here res'.!mble those of Arah. tains 400 houses; Chaugai and Sapabi ea~h 300; New Bhojpur and Kesat, 200 houses each (the (3. urban centres] former is very well built, and clean); Brahmapur. Biloti, where the native officers of police reside, vulgo Barahamput. and Methila. 150; 011.1 is a poor place containing only about 80 Bhojpur and Saya have each 100. houses. Jagadispur is the chief town, for which it would be difficult to account, as it is surround Section 4th. Division Ekwarl ed by a forest, and by a country in a most [1. general description] wretched sPate of cuWvation; but it contains about 1.000 houses. Bindhuliya, on the fertile The soil of this division is in general light, and bank of the Ganges, and a place of great rather poor, so that without great pains bestowed commerce, contains only 500 houses; Bairiya on irrigation the crops will be scanty. This care contains as many. Sahapur, 400; Sahiya. 350; has not been shown, and the country is in a Ranisagar. 300; Mauyar, 250; Dulauf, 200; and wretched state. A great deal is overgrown with Lalgunj, 150. stunted woods. much has been lately deserted. and plantations of very little use occupy a large Sedion 3rd. Di"fision of Dwnraong proportion, and are too extensive to be orna [1. general description] mental. More than a fifth part of the division consists of the rich low land on the side of the Ganges [2. housing pattern] which is called Hetowar, and is most fully There ate three brick houses; 1/ 16th houses occupied. Th;: remainder is a good deal neglected. consists of two storeys, with mud walls; of which Near Dumraong the land rises into considerable 600 may be tiled. A few Musahars live in swells, and is rather poor; but. even where ,round hovels, like bee-hives, with walls of hurdles. abundantly rich, much is allowed to be covered The remaining habitations are mud-walled huts, with forest reserved for sport. or wasted in thatched with grass. The villages, except in being plantations of a very little use. and irrigation is more miserable, resemble those of Arab. too much neglected. [3. urban centres] [2. hgusing pattern] Ekwari, which ought to be the residence of There are ten brick houses. That of the Raja the officers of police, has no market, but contains of Bhojpur, the descendant of the Emperor 100 houses of cultivators; Sabar, where these Vikrama, is a very sorry structure. The original officers reside, contains about 500 houses and family seat was destroyed by Kasem Aly; and some manufactures. Garini contains 250; Nagri. when Jaya Prakas (now Raja) succeeded, the Sikarhata. and Piro, 200; Baga contains 150, estate was overwhelmed with debt. which this as do also Paona, Barkagang, and Karat; prudent and obliging person has been carefully Agango contains rather more than 100. liquidating. He has not, therefore. been able to attend sufficiently to the splendour of his Sectie" 5th. Division Karangja residence; but ~ gradually making improvements. The fortification by which it was surrounded is [1. general description] entirely neglected. There are 800 mud-walled The western part of this division consists houses of two storeys, 500 tiled, and 300 thatch chiefly of a rich clay, while its eastern end is ed. and some of the former are good and neat rather poor and sandy; both are very much abodes. The huts have mud walls, 700 of them neglected, and a large proportion is occupied by are tiled, 1/ 16th tbatched with stubble. and the stunted woods, or having been recently deserted, remainder with grass. The villages resemble is only overgrown with long coarse grass. The those in Arah. plantations are vastly too numerous either for use or ornament. The Moslems have here 5 mosques of hrick, and at new Bhojpur from 2 to 3 hundred may attend at the Id and BUkrid. [2. housing pattern] [3. urban centres} This division has five houses of brick. two ot them at Suryapura, belonging to the family of Dumraong, the residence of the Raja, and the old Kanungoes, are very large; but owing officers of police, surrounds tbe Raja's house on to the usual want of windows. look exceedingly all sides, and may contain 1000 houses; but few dismal, and are ,the very reverse in every respecL of them are wen built. Vagsar, il?c1uding of what good taste would dictiate. There are also Sahanipati, Pangrepati, and Madingunj, contains 50 mud-walled houses of two storeys, all covered 600 houses, and a branch of the Bhojpur family with tiles. All the huts have mud-walls, onc has there its residence. The fortress. built sixteenth covered with tiles. fifte~n-sixteenthll originally by one of his ancestors, is of little thatched with ~rass. 249 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad [3. urban centres] only 30 houses; Naukha has 400; Hairchar and Karangja, where the office of police has been Nasirygunj, which join, contain 300 houses; placed, is a small market place (hat) with only Barari Kochas, and Rajput, 200 each; and 70 houses. Baghni and Balgang have each 100. Section 7th. Division of Sbahasram Koyat is the largest town in this division, and contains 500 houses; Suryapura and Sivagunj, [1. general descriptJonJ which are contiguous, contain 200, and Dayot The level county of this division is exceedingly contains about the same number; Dhangangi beautiful as the hills af everywhere, in full view, contains somewhat less; and Ghosiya has 150. rugged and perpendicular towards the summit. and finely wooded towards the bottom, while Section 6th. Division of Baraong the pJain is very fully occupied, and the planta tions are sufficient for variety, but not so [1. general description) numerous as to sat~ate the eye. They are besides Like Karangja, the eastern part of this division, diversified with many palms. is rather poor and sandy; but the western part is mostly rich clay. The whole is better culti [2. housing pattern] vated, and contains scarcely any woods. The One hundred and twenty-five houses are brick central parts near Naukha are rather neglected, and stone, 25 having their roofs terraced with having not yet recovered from the desolation plaster, while 100 are covered with tiles; 500 occasioned by the wars between Kascm Aly and houses have two storeys and mud walls, and the Paramarkas. The face of the country in the are covered with tiles. All the huts have mud middle parts of this division is finely diversified walls, 3000 are roofed with tiles, the remainder by some small rocks that project from the plain with grass. near Naukha. The space, which they occupy, is altogether inconsiderable, nor is their elevation [3. urban centres) great; but their rugged sterility is a fine contrast Shahasram is a considerable country town, to the fertility of the plain, which comes to their estimated by the Darogah to contain about 3600 roots and the excellent materials which they houses, very few of which are thatched, and afford for building would be of great value. were some of bricks or stone are pretty large. It is the country in it state of civilisation, that not much short of a mile in diameter each way, admitted of the people being decently lodged; and is pretty closely built, on which account. but such has never been the case. The western and from the quantity of grain said to be con parts are not only by far the richest by nature; sumed in it, I suspect, that the Darogah has but are the best occupied, nor is much wasted underrated the number of houses. A few of the there on usekss plantations. There are, however, streets arc tolerably wide, that is two carts might abundance of mangoes for us~; but an addition with some difficulty pass; apd tbey are very of palms would contribute much to increase the rudely paved with stone. Some people keep the beau~y of the prospect. fronts of their houses, and the street OppOSIte to them tolerably clean; but this is of very little [2. housing pattern] avail, as more than two or three such people At Naukha is a large rude castle of mud and seldom live together. and their .neighbours are brick, which belonged to Pahelwan Singha. the involved in every species of nastmess. Most of P'aramarka chief, whose violence brought on the the passages are as usual ~arrow crooked ~anes. desolation of the country; and it is still ')ccupied Besides the officers of PolIce, Shahasram IS the by his descendants, although mismanagement has residence of a Tahasildar, who receives the very much reduced their estates. Although revenue of the vicinity fOor the Collector of Arah. large, it is anything but an ornament to the Except a public bath, the keeper of which h~s country. There is only one other house of brick an allowance from the Comp., all the pubbc ip the division. One hundred and twenty works have become ruinous. Besides S~ahasram houses have mud walls and two storeys; 100 of there are in this division the followmg ~m.all them are thatched. and 20 covered with tiles. All towns' Darihat and Raypurchor, each contalDlDg the huts have mud walls, 100 are tiled. All the 250 h~uses; Jamuhar, Puhelyjah, Vangk, ~u~a others are thatched chiefly with grass, a very dabad, Chanari, and Alempur. each contal~lDg few only with stubble. The villages here are 200; Dhaodangr, containing 150; Khuremaoad, more ornamental than in the northern parts of about 185 and Akuri, 100. the district, as many of them have !>mall mud castles stilI occupied. Section 8th. Division of Tilothu [1. general description] [3. urban centrt!s] The narrow level on the Son. were it be.Her Baraong, where the officers of police reside. cultivated would be extremely ~eautJful. is a poor place. wHhout any market, and contains especially in the rainy season, when the Immense 19-439 R. G. India/NDf79 250 1.. Year-I8I2-I3 2. Place-District of Shahabad torrent is filled, as then hills, woods, water ana [3. urban centres] fertility would unite to complete the scene; but the country is much neglected. The woods are . Mo~aniya, where th~ officers of police re~idc, more extensive than is required, and tV';: country mc!ud1ng Estuart Gun], contains 200 houses, of on the bank of the Son overwhelmed with use whIch some are very large. being inns with very less plantations, containing little or no variety numerous chambers disposed in a long range. of trees. Chayanpur is a good country town neater than [2. housing pattern] usual, shut up by high mud walls. There are situation in respect to fertility, salubrity. and There are 10 brick houses. one of which. prospects. It was formerly the residence of a belonging to the proprietors of Tilothu, is the considerable Hindu Raja, and afterwards, being best lighted native house that I have Sl!en, occupied by the Pathans, became a favourite having as many windows as if it had been built residence of some branches of Sher Shah's by an European. It was only designed for public family. In the vicinty there are many monu occasions; the dwelling-house was poor, and, as ments and tombs of these Pathans, and some of usual in thirst country, and in a very fme them are handsome buildings; but they have 75 mud-walled houses of two storeys, 50 of which eradicated the objects of idolatrous worship. In are tiled and 25 thatched. The walls of all the treating of the antiquities I shall return to the huts on the table land are constructed of hurdles, monuments of the place, which carries on a good of all on the plain of mud. Of the latter one in deal of trade It was stated by th(\' officers of 32 may be tiled. police to contain 600 houses, but from its [3. urban centres] appearance I do not think, that it contains less than 1000. Tilothu, including Aurungabad, in which th~ office of police is situated, is a good country Bhaguya contains 550 houses, Jahanabad town, containing 700 h'Juses, few of which are about 200. It has an inn (Seray) built of brick. thatched with grass, three-thirteenths [-siXlteenthl and still in repair, although attrIbuted to She)" brick of two storeys. Many of these last are very Shah. Not having seen it 1 shall say nothing large, and belong to Muhammedan merchants. further on the subject. Kargango Pusli contains who round the town have formed ~ry extensive 125 houses; Bhagawanpur, and Sewar 200 each. plantations of mangoes. in which are some neat tombs and small places of worship. The Section 10th. Division of Ramgar Imamvari. dedicated to the memory of grand sons of the prophet. is a very neat place. [1. general description1 Akbarpur contains 200 houses, Darallagar 150. The whole of this division is level, and in and Maharajgunj 100. general it is of a rich soil very fully occupied. Section 9th. Division of Mohaoiya and too valuable to be wasted in useless planta [1. general description] tions. This division contains a considerable portion [2. housing patternJ of the table land, the appearance of which does not materially differ, from that already described. No houSt: h, built of brick. About 650 houses The recesses in the sides of the mountains atc Df two storeys have mud walls; 100 of them are not so extensive nor magnificent as in Shahasram roofed wit'h tiles and 500 with thatch. Th~ tiles and Tilothu; but there are here some detached seem to be making rapid progress, as they have hills, and the spaces between these and the gleat been introduced within two or three years. All mass, being in some parts well cultivated. the the huts have mud walls; thirtee~sixteenths views there are exceedingly fine. The plain is thatched with grass, three-thirteenths-sixteenth very fertile, and most fully occupied, so that the with stubble, sugarcane leaves, or a kind of rush land is too valuable to be wasted 011 useless (Scirpus) called Teni· plantations. [3. urban centresJ There are however fully as many mango trees Ramgar, where the office of police is situated. as are required. The addition of some palms I:ontains about 200 houses, but the best place in would add much to the appearance, and some the division is Angoti, which contains 500; thing to the value of the country. Kota, Daharak, and Ketheju may each contain [2. housing pattern] about 300; Morat 250; Barari, Mukhrao, and There are 400 houses built of brick; 700 have Mujan 200; Narahan 1~0; Maharatha 100. mud walls. but are two storeys high. Of these 400 are tiled, 300 are thatched. All the huts Section llith. Division of Sangyot have mud walls; 1/16 of them may be tiled; a [1. general descriptionl very few belonging to the poorest creatures, are (.Overed with stubble; the remainder has thatch The country entirely resembles Mohaniya, of grass. . ~onsisting partly of a fine plain, partly of a 251 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District 0/ Shahabad table land, and partly of fine valleys lying an estimate of 181,733 families, which is short between the great mass of hills and some detach of my calculation by about 16 per cent. Although ed ridges, where the scenary is uncommonly fine. the general amount of the Pandit's estimate does The plain is fully occupied, but somewhat bare not differ very materially from mine; yet as in of trees, or rather has too little variety in its Behar. when I come to particulars I cannot plantations. entirely follow his authority. In particular I find it necessary to diminish the number of [2. housing pattern] Muhammedans, that were stated to him, and ,to Three houses are partly built of brick. One increase the proportion of Hindu gentry. I am at Masui, belonging to Churagh Aly, lately convinced, that my estimate is not overrated; for Kazi, is a considerable building, and Jooks well at a distance. Th~re are 1000 houses of two the number which I have taken allows 31~ storeys built of mud 200 of them tiled, and the remainder thatched. Several of them are very bighas of land in actual cultivation for every large, especially the mud castle of Amao, also pe~son, while in Behar each has only 2t but belonging to a Muhammedan family. OWlDg to the neglect of the landholders, the soil of Behar is no doubt more productive than that [3. urban centres] of Shahabad. In the 4th statistical table the result of my estimate have been given at more Although the level country is very populous, length and, as in the 4th table of the Behar there are scarcely any towns. Sangyot, where accounts, I have there introduced an estimate of the office of police is situated, is a very sorry some causes which may be supposed to affect the place, containing lroout 100 houses; Karodiya population. Some other such causes are detail and Sirbhit may contain a similar number. ed in the 12th table, where the education of the people is explained. OF THE POPULATION The number of men said to be absent in the By the natives of this district the people are regular army was stat(!d to be 4.680, which is a divided into four classes; Ashraf, or gentry; much greater drain, than exists in any of the Pangoh Pauniyas or Karigar, that is artificers', districts hitherto surveyed, and I suspect, is very i3eniyas Bakalis or Dokartdars, that is traders; considerably underrated. The Rajah of Bhojpur and Karindagan Or labourers. Although some assured me. that from Serkar Shahabad alone. of those names differ from those used in Behar, forming the northern half of the district. the the four classes of the two districts are entirely number amounted to at least 12,000. The similar, and the observations, therefore, which I numerous gentry are wen sUlted -for the purpose, have made in the account of Behar, need not be and a great degree of poverty renders them will repeated. I have only to observe, that here a ing to enlist. The number howeVer employed very large proportion of the gentry hold the is far from being burthensome on the population. plough with their own hand; and, in order that A great many of them, I observe, are married. a real estimate may be formed of the agricultural but their wives remain at home, and do not popUlation, the 3rd table has been constructed on follow the camp, so that their children are not the same plan with the 5th of the Behar account; injured by the hardships of a soldier's life. The but it must be observed, that at least two-thirds district being in the route of most corps passing of the artificers, who culVivate, do so as day from east to west to be relieved, the men have labourers, and not above one-third hold the frequent opportunities of visiting their homes. plough. Taking as a guide this estimate, and the and usually remit as much money as pays the quantity of land said in each division to be rent of a good farm, upon which their family cultivated by one plough, I have calculated the lives in comfort. number of ploughmen required, and from them the number of able-bodied men in the two c1asses All the gentry, who are rich, dec1ine of course of gentry and cultivators. Where the climate is service, and far the greater part of the poor do . healthy, I allow, as in Behar, 475 persons for not relish regular discipline; although for a every 100 able-bodied men; but in the divisions much lower reward than is given to the soldier, liable to many fevers, I allow one able-bodied they would willingly serve as irregulars or man only to five persons. With regard to the messengers. The people of this district have traders and artificers, I procured an estimate of long had the character of bei~g inc1ined ~o the number of houses belonging to each, and robbery; and audacious depredatlOns are still from thence calculated their number. On these occasionally committed, although not so often as grounds, I have taken the number of inhabitants in Bengal. and much less frequently than when at as stated in the table; and. having procured the Zamindars managed t1he police. So· far as 1 an estimate of the number of persons, according could learn, however. it is not the gentry who to their various ranks in the families of each have these predatory habits, but ·chiefly the low division, I find. that the above population will in caste, of cowherds (Ahir). Many tribes of the all give 217.525 families. The Pandit of the gentry are still however. exceedingly violen~ in survey in his inquiries after the castes formed their disposition, and inclIned to use force aga.mst 252 1. Year-18J2-J3 2. Place-District of Shahabad their neighbours. In general me salutary check although in general inferior to the parts of of a standing army prevents this from breaking Behar. that are similarly situated. ' The autumnal out into open hospitality; and their violence is epidemic is always the most severe. The people allowed to vent itself in endeavouring, by all here also complain, that the country has within possible means, to thwart each others' views, even these three years become more unhealthy; but as at the sacrifice of their own profit. I have heard similar complaints in every district where I have been, I suspect. that they are owing The whole men, who by birth should be to the usual custom of praising old times. 1t is soldiers (Divalbandh), amount as will appear farther alleged in the vicinity of the Ganges. that from the 12th table to 53,702 of which 2,095 are affections of the spleen have of late been a marl:: employed in the district, and 7,331 have gone common accompaniment of fever than formerly abroad. either in the regular army or for private was usual. service; while only from 3 to 400 strangers have come here in search of bread. The disease caned Nakra also is said to have The number of penmen also employed abroad formerly been very rare, and that within four or far exceeds that of strangers employed here. and five years it has attacked many. It still is not this is attributed to poverty. the same cause so troubles;)me as in many parts. I am told that women are nowhere much subject to this which sends the swordsmen into other countries. complaint. Commerce is carried on almost entirely by natives of the district. Fluxes and choleras are not at all common; The people here are inferior in industry and and the Sannipatik Zuhurbad or Nuzleh is rare. agricultural skill to those of Behar; and this. The people here, as a remedy for cholera, employ togeilher with their violence of temper, has tight ligatures passed round the larger joins of occasioned the poverty which has compelled so the extremities. Both leprosies are less common many of the higher castes to work. or to go than in Behar. and it is said were formerly very abroad in quest of service. rare. The manners of the women are as strict as in The great leprosy is called Sonvaheri and the country parts of Behar. nor are there any Khor. By some these names are considered as small towns where the dissolute meet encourage denoting two stages of the same disease; the ment yet the men are just as jealous as those of first being applied to the incipient malady. the Behar. Premature marriages among some tribes latter to the confirmed. Other$ again allege that are here on the same footing· as in Bengal. that these names imply two distinct diseases; and I is. consummation takes place before the age of suspect that in fact two diseases have been often pUberty. This custom however. has not exltend,~d confounded. one being attended with a greater far; and the people are generally strong. and insensibility of the parts affected. and the other talI. The Pamar Rajputs. among whom the running more to ulceration. So far as I could custom of early consummation is adopted. form learn. the poor who are affected in this district a striking proof of the evils of this custom; for are never drowned. The white leprosy. here among them I did not observe one good leaking called Charak. is pretty frequent I saw no man. except the Raja J aya Prakas, and most of persons who were entirely white. but I heard of them have the appearance of wanting vigour a good many. The chronic swellings of the both of body and mind. This custom. so far ag it throat, legs. etc. are also more rare than in extends, and the great number of widows con Behar. Rheumatism is not more common than demned by rank to live single, no doubt prove in the last mentioned district. some check on population. The lameness, which in Behar is called Kungj. The practice of inoculation for the small-pox is here also a pretty frequent occurrence. is not near so common as in Bengal. although Cutaneous disorders are not more common than of late it has become more frequent than former in Behar. Women. it is everywhere alleged, are ly. The spontaneous disease. however. is less liable than men to ringworms. The itch is certainly in general much less fatal than in prevalent in the cold season. and disappears in Europe. Vaccination has made little or no spring. progress among the natives. Fevers are exceed ingly common in the immediate skirts of the In the narrow unhealthy territory between the hi11s. so that Tilothu. everywhere close in their hills and the Son, I heard of two diseases as vicinity. is very unhealthy. The banks of the endemic but did not see either. nor in any other Ganges also are unhealthy and the bad air part have I known such to prevail as endemics. extends a considerable way into the interior. One called Dethori from the accounts given of it owing to the country in that direction being would appear to resemble the whitlow; the other, overgrown with forests. and much neglected. The called Dakshini is an eruption of sman painful middle parts of the district are tolerably he!llthy, ulcers. which last four or five months. 253 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-Distrlct of Shahabad ON THE CONDITION AND MANNER OF affect the appearance of the country, and in the LIVING OF THE PEOPLE 6th table the particulars are detailed. [consumption pattern] A few of the brick and stone houses are Following the same plan as in the two districts covered with tiles; but in other respects the last surveyed, I have in the 5th statistical table "bservations which I have made in the account given an estimat'e, concerning the general means of Behar are applicable to those of this district. of living, constructed as that contained in the The houses with two storeys built of clay, in 5th table of the Bhagalpur, and 7th of the Behar general, as in Behar, consist only of two rooms. district. The rate of expense of the lower classes one above the other; but in Tilothu the Muham is rather higher than even in the last of the me dan merchants have some large buildings of above mentioned districts; yet on the most care this kind, fully as good as those of Phulwari. ful examination no well informed person would Some castles of clay are large buildings, and at allow that the expense was overrated; although, a distance look well, but a near approach dis on inquiring after the alleged prOfits of common closes the utmost meanness and want of com labourers and artificers, I could not discover how fort. Tiles as a roof, both in claywalled houses such Bums were procured, and the people here and huts, are more common than ill ..Hehar; and certainly live rather worse than in the northern the advantage is so great, especially where the parts of Bihar, although perhaps not so poorly country is fully occupied, that roofs: of this cons as in most part of Bhagalpur. This contradic truction seem to be rapidly on the increase. tion between the amount of expense and profit These clay houses have wooden doors, and if has occurred in all the districts hitherto survey there is any window, it has wooden shutters; but ed, and I am not yet satisfied on which side the many are without any aperture of this nature. error lies; perhaps in many cases the mean may Fewer of the houses in proportion are white be considered as a fair allowance, but no doubt washed or painted than in Behar. A house of some classes of manufacturers, especially two storeys with clay walls covered with tiles, weavers, have more profit than they are willing consisting' of two chambers, one above the other, to allow. The rate of expense of the lower and from 10 to 15 cubits long by six wide, costs classes is rather higher than in Behar. Only at Arah from 70 to 100 rupees. One of the same three families, the Raja of Bhojpur, his kinsman materials and dimensions, but only one storey ~hebzadah Singha, of Jagadispur, and Aly high, costs from 20 to 40 rupees. Very few of Hoseyn, of Koyatur, live in the style becoming the huts have wooden doors, and they seldom gentlemen; and the second of these, although his have any window. The door, indeed, in many expense is ample, keeps such a motley crew of is always open, a hurdle even to shut it being dependents, that he has too little left for the considered as too expensive. The common size support of the splendour becoming his high of the hut is from 11 to 13 cubits by from 5 to rank. European furniture or equipage have not 6. The poor have one hut; the rich have more been introduced. Hawking and shooting are the in proportion to the number of the family. The favourite amusements of the great. Very few roofs are still more seemly than in Behar; even of the natives appear abroad armed, although those made of tiles being desparately rude and they are of the most warlike habits, and at home so fiat, that few of them turn rain. The ridge are well provided for self-defence. is nearly straight, and is supported, as in Bebar, by a beam going from one gable end to the The expense of marriage is fully as ruinous as Qther. Each side of the roof, as usual in India, in Behar, and extends not only to the Hindus, is fnrmed of small sticks and bamboos crossing but to the Moslems. Aly Hoseyn complained of each other at right angles, and tied together so the burthen; but said, that unless a man wished as to form a parallelogram of th~ size required. to appear mean in the eyes of all his Hindu This is laid sloping on the walls and ridge pole, neighbours. it could not be avoided. The Raja but is not supported by rafters and beams, as is of Bhojpur, when I saw him, was preparing for usual in Bengal. In the northern parts the two the marriage of a daughter which would cost sides of the roof meet in an even line at the top, him 20,000 rupees, although he is a very frugal and are covered by thatch, so as to prevent the man, eagerly engaged in paying off the debt rain from coming through the joining; but in the with which his estate was left encumbered. south the same effect is attempted to be produc ed by making one side project beyond the other, The expense of funerals is, here also moderate, but this is seldom effectual. The grass used for nor do the people in general give to their priests thatch here is very inferior to that procured in so much in proportion to their income as is Bengal, but is better than stubble. The poor done in Bengal, I did not hear that anyone was often use the leaves of sugarcane, which are still suspected of hiding treasure. worse than stubble, and in some places is used a kind of Scirpus (Narai) that is worse than [housing condition of the district] either. Two other plants, the Bagai and Teni, In the topography of the divisions I have are used for thatch, and are bad as the Naria; given an account of the buildings, so far as they but I had no opportunity of examining their 254 1. Year-IBl2-13 2. Place-District 0/ Shahabad botanical affinities. Except in this greater blanket, a coarse sheet (Gulaf) or rug. Those rudeness of roof, there is no difference in the who sleep on the ground cover themselves in huts or furniture of this district from those in the same manner, but seldom can afford a Behar. blanket. In cold weather they sleep on straw. especially tha~ of the Kodo ; in warm they have [clothing and bedding] coarse mats. In the 7th statistical table is given an estimate [dietaries and food habits] of the manner in which the people are covered by day and night and in wruch they sleep. In the 8th statistical table is contained the result of my inquiries concerning the diet of the natives. Althougb a vast proportion of the women are of tribes originally from the western provinces, The quantity of animal food used here is yet, except in Arah, many fewer than in Behar much smaller than in Behar. The rich and the use the petticoat (Lahangga) and bodice (Korla), higher castes use chiefly goat's flesh for geese and none of the Hindu women have adopted are not killed; there are very few pigeons, and the drawers of the Muhammedans. no ducks, and the Hindus reject fowls. The low tribes indeed have many swine, and feast Although, as in Behar, the Hindu men of rank on pork twice or thrice a month. The eating have in a great measure adopted the Muham of meat, therefore. is not in this country to be medan dress, when in ceremony, and especially considered as a standard for ascertaining the at marriages; yet in their ordinary dress almost circumstances of the people. Game gives no every Muhammedan now uses the Hindu fashion. great supply, and it falls, chiefly to the share of Exclusive of Patna and Gaya, where much more the lower tribes of cultivators; but the higher luxury prevails than in any parts of this ranks often regale on partridges and quails, the i 1. Year-1812-}3 2. Place-District of Shahabad Although foreign spiceries are only used with 288 S. W. of cleaned grain for builing, and as animal food, they lare some crIterion of wealLh ; much meal for pudding. with 72 S.W. of Split because the poor, who procure flesh, cannot pease for seasoning, in all 16 lbs. 10 oz.~. of afford this luxurious seasoning. But many rich farinaceous food each day, for six persons young families reject animal food and do not requir~ and old, which is a very Iarge allowance. the spiceries. [intoxication] With regard to oil, the quantity considered as In the 9th statistical table will be found an a full daily allowance for five persons, young estimate of the extent to which the use of and old, varied in different places from 11 to various stimulating or narcotic substances is 22t S.W. and in general nearer the latter than carried, and although, on the wl!ole. these are the former quantity. The 2nd class is said to less employed than in Behar. they are vastly use from 5 to 15 S.W., average 8!- S.W.: the more so than in the greater part of Bengal. 3rd class is from It to 10 S.W., average 4!- S.W., Palm wine, although the safest, is the article in and the 4th from It tC' 6!, average 2t S.W., which the consumption falls most short of that a 5th class in some diviblons procures oil only in Behar, and it falls shorter in reality than on high occasions; but in most places none may at first sight appear from the tables; scarcely but mendicants are reduced to such because many are willing to drink it, and these. necessity. This estimate includes as usual all taking it whenever they can, have been entered that is used for the lamp and for function, as well in the table as drunkers; but in most places of as for the kitchen. Some of the aboriginal tribes, this district it is so scarce. that it is seldom as Mushahar. Chamar and Dosadh. in a great within their reach. measure reject the Use of oil in diet. The want of this stimulus is made up by a The quantity of salt said to be a full weekly most extraordinary consumption of tobacco in allowance for five persons. young and old. varied chewing, and the women indulge in this beastly from 81 to 22!- S.W .• average 13t S.W.; the practice almost as much as the men. It is only 2nd class is said to procure from 5 to ll! S.W., a very few women that smoke. The usual average 7 S.W . .the 3rd class from Ii to 5~ daily allowance ,that a smoker o~ tobacco average 3-!- S.W. and the 4th class from Ii- S.W. consumes is 2i S. W., or about 495 grains of the to 2t S.W .• average Ii S.W.; but a 5th class prepared drug, one-half of which is leaf. B.ut in some places. although not in all. procure still the custom of chewing prevents smoking from less. Ashes are not used as a substitute; but being carried to such excess as is in Bengal. The a good deal of the west country salt escapes use of tobacoo, either among men or women, the vigilance of the custom house. seldom commences 'before they are 20 years old. The spirituous liquor is chiefly made from Mahuya flowers. although a Httle extract of Sugar or extract of sugarcane is chiefly used sugarcane is occasionally distilled. The obser in sweetmeats tiJr Children, and at all feasts on vations that I have made on this subject in the public occasions. Adults in common, use acoount of Behar seem applicable to this district. sugar only to form sherbet, for a cooling drink Betel is less used than in Behar, and few have in the heats of spring. The sherbets here are their mouths crammed. made of water and sugar. or extract of sugar cane, and of capsicum or black pepper; both of [fuel) which are considered as cooling. Rice is used twice a day. by all who can afford it; but near The fuel by far in most common use is cow the Ganges the staple food of the lower orders dung made into cakes, and sometimes mixed is generally the coarser grains, and in the with husks of rice, but often by itself. In the interior these are used at least once a day. The ~U-c1eared parts of the district firewood is coarse grains most common in use are barley, exceedingly dear, and indeed is not often procu pease, and a pulse, Chana (Cicer arietinum L.) rable, except by sending cattle and woodcutters near the hills, and more commonly on them, t'0 a great distance. and even in the vicinity of a few poor people use as substitutes for grain, some forests it is very scarce, the trees being Manhuya flowers, and the kernels of the Mango preserved, partly from religious motives, and Sakuya and Kend fruits. partly as they shelter game, for they are of no real value to the owner. The demand for the cow-dung cakes is therefore very great, as in In several places I omitted to take an esti the cold season evey one that can procure fuel mate of the quantity of grain considered as a fair burns a fire by his bed-side; and the quantity of allowance for a family of labouring people; bushes, rushes, and woody' stems of various but on the bank of the Ganges I procured one, crops, such as arahar and cotton, that is procu On the accuracy of which I can depend. The rable, but a scanty supply. In the 10th table fam.i1y o~ a poor farmer with one plough, and will be found an estimate of the different kinds havmg SIX persons young and old, uses daily of fuel used. 256 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad In the same table will be found an estimate of who pass most of their time in the hardest the kinds of oil used for the lamp, and of the labours of the field. I know that all the free various degrees in which the inhabitant of diffe female domestics in one of the three divisions, rent ranks and places enjoy this ~onvenience. where any are kept, are employed in a Muham Candles are never used, even in the highest medan family. and suspect that the same is the families, excePt on great occasions, such as case in the other two divisions. The Hindu marriages. Less oil is consumed in illuminations ladies, therefore. perform most drudgeries, except than even in Behar. bringing the water, or other such labours as would expose them to view. Poor women [attendants] (Panibharins) are employed to perform these, In the 11 th table will be found an estimate and are more usually allowed food and clothing, of the extent to which the inhabitants of this than paid by a certain sum for each pot of district are provided with attendants and means water. of conveyance. [slaves] None of the natives have adopted the use of European carriages. In state, the great use Slaves are not so numerous as III Behar, but elephants. but all are much fonder of horses they are less indulged for they are often 1>old; than the natives towards the east; and several and when a master is so poor that he cannot of them are very well mounted. The several feed them, he usually requires them to give him called here Chhinathis. do not differ in breed a share of their wages. In other respects they are fr'Om the Tatus of Bengal, and except the few on the same footing as in Behar, only Hindus used in two-wheeled chaises (Ekkas), are all are more commonly called Kamkar, although reserved for riding. A few are kept at the inns most of them are of the Rawani caste; and the for hire. Some of the Ekkas at Arah are let for remainder Kurmis with a very few Dhanuks at hire; others are kept by individuals for their Arah. The Muhammedans, as in Behar, are own use. Some of the four-wheeled carriages. called Molanazadah. No inter-marriage and all the two-wheeled that are drawn by oxen between free persons and slaves are admitted; are let for hire; and the latter in general have and when a master has a child. by his female two bodies. S'O that, when they cannot let to slave, it is not removed from the state of convey travellers, they may be employed for slavery; the father only endeavours to· procure transporting goods. for his child a marriage with another of the same spurious breed. That such connections are The planquins are very rude, nor is any of numerous, we may safe.ly wer from the price of the state kind (Jhalurdar) kept by even the young women bemg hlgher than what is given highest families; but some old ones are kept for. men, .the l~tter usually selling for 5 rupees, by bearers, and at marriages are let for hire. In whIle a gIrl brlllgs 20. The children in all cases the northern parts of the district wealthy men folI?w t.he mother. Poor parents seldom sell usually have among their slaves a number 'Of theIr chtldren. I could not ascertain the number bearers, who in common cultivate their land, of slave women belonging to Mahammedans of and when called on go with their maskr's rank, and kept for pleasure. The invalid soldiers palanquin; but in the south the bearers are have slaves, as in Bhagalpur; but; these may be mostly free. No one, however, I believe, keeps rather considered as adopted children. a regular set to carry him about, and to do no other work; and in most parts of the district [beggars] it is very difficult to procure any number; in the ma!riagc season it is almost impracticable. In proportion to the number ?f inhabitants, The Hlndus here as in Bengal never ride on the number of common beggars IS more consi hors~ back when they go in procession at their derable than in Behar, amounting to about marrIages. In Behar the bridegroom is often 3,300; but in other respect their condition is mounted. nearly the same, although they are stilI more a~noyed by the charity of individuals being [domestic servants} dlver~ed towards the distresses of pilgrims. These are, ~ndeed, often exceedingly great. When one . The free male domestics, as in the districts on hIS return falls sick, and is unable to march hItherto surveyed, are usually allowed from 16 although he has set out in company with hi~ to 8 annas a month, with food and raiment· nearest kinsmen and neighbours he must be but in Arah their wages often rise to Rs. 2. Th~ deserted 10 his fate; the means ~f the partly are women-servants, called Asil Tahalin, etc. have gener~l~y s? much exhausted, that the utmost nearly the for~er allowances; but it must be ex~edItron IS necess~ry to enable them to r¢ach ?bserve~, t~at 1ll the. two greatest Hindu families th.eIr abode. The SIck person is. therefore, left I~ the dIstnct, there IS no female domestic. The WIthout the ceremony of a painful adieu' and wo~en of their slaves occasiona1Jy attend on the unle~s he fil1?s a chari1able person abie t~ ladlcs; but they are wretched dirty creatures, prOVIde f'Or hIS wants, he perishes on the roads 2,$'7 1. Year-1812-I3 2. Place-District of Shahabad 1 am assured by the officers of police near the The Hindi dialect is now in general use, but route which the pilgrims principally follow, that it differs very much from the Hindi of Patna; the number which they must bury, in order to and the dialect of Bhojpur was long celebrated prevent the nuisance of putrid bodies. is very for the uncouthness· of its phraseology, and the considerable. it costs nothing; the persons /01 difficulty with which it w~s unqerstood. the low tribe who remove carcasses being, com pelled to dig a hole. and to cover the body with The persons of the Bhojpur family can read earth. No attempt is made to accompany the and write both Hindi and Persian, but perhaps funeral with the usual religious ceremony, nor a half of the owners of land can do neither, and to bum it accoding to the Hindu rite. The poor of the other haJJ :not above one-fifth part can of the country are not only . in general totally _do more tqan ~~gn their name, and guess at the neglected, when unable to go out to· beg. but in meaning of a revenue account. Persons who some places it was alleged that whenever one have reached this degree orlmowledge are here at them becomes sick. and is in danger of called Murkats. A great many people here dying, the neighbours privately convey him to however fit themselves for the transaction another manor, and leave him under a tree. If of ordinary business, and many go abroad in he survIves the following day, the pepole on quest of employment. As usual in such cases, whom he has been stolen next night convey him it is the most adventurous and able youth that to another manor, and the wretch is thus bandied go abroad; and those that I found at home. about until he perishes. The reason assigned seemed fully as remarkable for chicanery and for this cruel conduct is, that the neighbours stupidity, as the scribes of Bhagalpur. The are afraid of the expense and trouble which native officers of police, however, appeared to attend the inquiries made by the officers of me, with a very few execptions, very decent well police, wherever a dead body is found to require informed persons. funeral. I believe that this barbarous practice is confined to the vicinity of Dumrong. Eleven Ten or twelve Hindu ladi€s have acquired the dangerous art of reading and writing let:ters, societies of Hijras may be mentioned among the beggars. and about 20 in Karanja can sign their name, and understand an accompt, but these acquire [prostitutes] ments are considered by the grave as improper, and by the childless widowhood of two ladies The number of prostitutes is very small, of Tilothu. who not only write a fair hand, but amounting only to 130 houses. They are mos,fly understand the poetical effusions of Tulasidas, Muhammedans, only in the western parts of the is attributed to the divine wrath irritated by district there are some of the Gandharvinis, or their presumptuous search after the forbidden beauties so numerous about the holy city of fruit of knowledge.· In general ladies . of the !3enares. They are nearly on Itbe same footing as highest rank understand only the ·common form III Behar, but are not so rich as in the city of of the vulgar dialect. . Patna. The women are watched with the utmost jealousy, for which however I believe there is In the 12th table will be found the result of very little occasion, nor, except at Shahasram, my inquiries respecting the state of common did I hear of any intriguers, although of course education in this district, and in the 1st table many such must exist; but no women have a lhe number of school-masters and teachers will fairer character than those of this district. be found. In this district I heard of three Maulavis who instruct pupils iIi Arabic science ON EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE al1~ Persian literature. There is no public insti tut!?n for ~he purpose, nor do the Maulavis give The sages (Gurus) who instruct children to thell' pup lis food. Sher Shah established a rt!ad and write the Hindi character are on the Mudruseh or college in Rautas, but it has been same footing nearly with those in Behar. The long deserted. . master furnishes the Path, or school-house and each boy gives 1 anna, and from 5 to 7 ',e~rs of The office ?f Kazi is hereditary, and sometimes grain a month. Each scnoo! may be attend,~d of course neIther ably nor uprightly filled. In by from 5 to ~O boys ; .but in some places they fl~grant cases of corruption they have been dis attend only dUring the ramy season. The children missed. The Kazis are. a~tached to pergunahs, usually go to school at the age of six, and and n:ot to the modern dIVIsions of police which att~nd four years. During the two firslt the boy occasIOns some inconvenience. ' wrttes on the ground with a pencil of white No one science seems to have a preference clay (Khari); during the remainder of the time to the ?thers, but each man is held in estimation, h.e writes on a blackboard with a reed, and white accordIng to the. number of sciences, which he h~uor pre~are~ by .rubbing the clay 1n water. professes, and hIS supposed skill. Those who HIS educatIOn IS fimshed by his parents who teach the grammer of the Sangskrita language teach him to write on paper; and many p~rents are however called Savdika Pandits, and are not go through the whole steps, there being no other teachers. much es~eem~d, ~mles~ they. profess something more. Rliural MIsra IS admItted by all to be a 258 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad person of great learning, the Pandit of the suryey witches and devils. Perhaps 300 or 400 or the considers all the others as rather shallow. Few men are called Bhakats or worshippers, and, as of them have endowments. or maintain their in Behar, take the devil to themselves, when pupils. The Bhojpur R~ja f~eds tl~ose ~ho they expel him from their patient. attend Krishnalal~ who IS hIS famIly priest (Purohit). but he is not equal in reputation to Only 30 inoculators for the small-pox reside, his father Rituraj. but these being unable to operate on even the small proportion of the people which have ad I shall now mention, what I can learn from opted this salutary measure, several operators the Pandit of the survey. concerning such of come from the north side of the Ganges. O~ l~te the books as are here taught, of which no account the practice seems to have beeD: fast gammg has been formerly procured. ground. Among the grammars the Chandrika. which in ReJilioQ and Sects Behar was said to be the ,same with the Saraswat mentioned in my account of Dinajpur. is here said to be a different work. and to have been Had I. as in former districts. taken the nll:mber composed by a Ram Sarma Acharya. and to be of Moslems and Hindus from a general estimate as easy as the Saraswat. The Amarakosh is the of the proportion between the two .c~a~ses of only vocabulary (Abhidhan) in use. The poems men, given by the people of each diViSion. I composed by mere men (Kabya). on whatever should have made the number of the f<;>rmer subject they treat. are here considered as a sepa much greater than. I think, can be admItted; rate science, and are not held as an appendage to although the proportion stated ,,:as .by no .means law. as in Bhagalpur, or to grammar as in Behar. so high, as in any of the dI~tncts. hi~he~to surveyed. I soon found that 10 thIS distrIct very few Muhammedans, who pretended to a Th. explanation of the works of Vyas also is decent purity of birth, would touch the plough. considered here as a separate study; but the and that this labour, of which the Roman Vedas are totally neglected. and the Sri Bhagwat nobility was proud. is admitted by few only of Puran, and the portion of the Mahabharath even the low converts from the impure tribes of called Bhagwat Gita, are the only works Pagans that follow degra~ing ttad~s.. . I prefer explained. and that accmding to the school of therefore a list made out 10 each dIVISIon of the Sridhar. different tribes of the faithful. although I am inclined to consider that the numbers are In law. the great authority is the Mitakshara, somewhat underrated; but I have had no means or commentary on the law of Yagganabalkya, of forming a conjecture concerning the propor mentioned in my account of Behar. The only tion and therefore give the numbers such as they other book on this subbject which has not were procured. The reader will however do hitherto been explained, and that is used here, well to keep in mind, that the numbers of the is the Kala Nirnaya. composed by Kamala Muhammedan artificers especially, are probably Bhatta a Maharashtra Brahman. somewhat more than I have stated. and that the surplus is employed in agriCUlture, and that of None. except Brahmans, can legally study the course the number of the agricultural tribes of word of the gods, or the holy persons called Hindus ought to be somewhat reduced. The Munis; nor has anyone ventured to infringe statements, which I have followed as most exact this law, except Babu Gopal Saran of Vagsar, a are given in the 1st and 4th tables, and I shall Rajput of the Bhojpur family. Two Or three afterwards mention the particular tribes, the Kayasthas have indeed studied the Sangskrita numbers in which are probably exagerated grammar, written by mere men, but Dot with a among the Muhammedans. view of obtaining the forbidden fruit of knowledge. Their object seems to have been to acquire what would enable them to understand Of the Muhammedans the wanton pedantry of Tulasidas. Most of the general observations made on this sect in the account of Behar are applicable to Besides the professors of medicine, I heard of this district. 103 Brahmans who practise that art; two IO'f three of them are of Kanoj, all the others are Among the Moslems here the doctrine of caste of Sakadwip. is fully more confirmed than in Patna. and no one person will eat with infidels; most tribes are exoluded from mutual intermarriages, and From 1900 to 2000 men and 100 women many are condemned to perpetual exclusion from pretend tb be possessed of the art of incanta rank and respectability although, as happen tion, about 400 of the men are employed to cure even among the Hindus. struggles are made to the bite of serpents, and the remainder in curing resist the strict application of this monstrous the diseases attributed to the operations of and revolting injustice. 259 1. Ycar-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad [The following tables have been prepared from 2 3 4 descript.ive matters showing first, the three top ranking "castes", followed by seven classes of H. The Gentry gentry, then by traders and artists. Of the seven 4 Saints 330 claim descent from the dau lypes of "gentry", Buchannan maintains that gilter of the prophet. "not above three or four of them are traders, 30 nor above five or six are artists, who wash 5 Moghuls 6 Pat hans 2,170 still retain a good de;: I (f shawls, and make tobacco pipes. The profession landed property. of agriculture they hold in great contempt; and although many have farms, the cultivation of 7 Sheykhs • 700 considered tllemsdves noble and of Arabian extraction which they surperintend, very few indeed will 50 pretend to be of the trite touch the plough. In Arah, Biloti and Baraong, of Korei;h. however, dire necessity had compelled a few to 8 Mulcks • 100 they live entirely by rehc"r~ undergo this degradation." On the working ing the poetry descriptive people he said, "The commercial and labouring of the love of Radha and classes of Muhammedans belong here entirely Krishna. to converts of the tribes, that among the Hindus 9 Fakirs 240 do not inkrmarry with the were held as the dregs of impurity, and a great profane covereu in or!. 2. part continue to follow their original professions, 10 Bliats 120 poets, having small endow although some cultivate the ground, either for ment. the whole or for a part of the year, as they did 111. The Traflcrs indeed before their conversion."] 11 Daffalics 105 mendicants, musicians, have tecoll1e traders in Ma nihari bOous. Originally an (US-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERI the tnb, s tll3.t make tape of STICS OF MUHAMMEDAN POPULATION OF glass organrnenst, or tay10rn THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13 12 Kunjras 285 retailers of fhh and vegeta bles. sri. classes or number occupation and other 13 Suleymani 20 a branch of the KUlljra no. rank of families particulars redsldll1g at Arah Wl10 se p..:rated thel1l~dves from the otl1ers. Most of them arc 2 3 4 employed as domestic ser vants. 200 i,m keerers I. Top-ranking Classes 14 Bhattiyaras 15 Tambullies 3 se1krs of betel I Pirzadahs the Pirzadahs here arc of 16 Mukeri • 400 retailers of provision; 300 much less importance and famlLes at Tilotilu, having many who omciatc are vag acqUired . very considerable rants of little or no respecta propert?" It IS said, by Sup bility, who come from other plymg tllea~my of som eking places. With provIsIOns; they endea vour to separate themselves from th'~lr low bretr,lens 2 Fakirs 240 tIle number of real Fakirs and call themselves Rakhi is not great amounting to They have entirely abandon~ about 240 families, and 20 ed their old profession and who abstain from marriage trade chiefly in silk and and adopt successors. Al cloths; the .others live chiefly most the whole are Tiki by p~eparll1g tobacco for yahdars, that is, they are smokmg. attached to sacred monu ments and for a support have IV. The Artists endowment in land. These in general were originally 17 Dhari-Mirasin. 6 musicians performing a very small, and where they marriages. were tolerablY large, by the Pawangriya 18 63 musicians performing at increase of procreation the birth. owners have been reduced to 19 Hijras there are poverty so that some have 11 societies of el!nuchs that infest house at been even necessitated to births. ho'd the plough. The Fakirs 20 Kusbi . 125 prostitutes . are mostly Madris with a 21 Kalawant 10 ballad singers. few Imamis and Julalis. 22 Mishekar 5 falconers. 23 Kumangur 7 bow and arrow makers. 24 Atushbaz 22 powder makers. 3 Shiyas 60 two-thirds arc in the divi 25 Soapmakers 7 sion of Shahesram and Sang 26 Dhuniyas 720 cotton cleaners. yot. 27 Rungrez 140 dyers. 260 1. Year-lB12-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (126-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHA~AC1ERI (127-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERI STICS OF THE MUHAMMEDAN POPULATION OF STICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13-Coneld. DISfRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13 2 3 4 srI. caste no. of occupation and otber no. families particulars 28 Washerman 32 2 3 4 29 Jola 7,253 w~avers;'the Jola or wl:!llvd,rs estimat~d at 7,253 families 1 Brahmans 34,000 (1) one half belong to the but Buchanan thought it sacred order; asifemp probable thaS there were' a loyed, they could receive good many more as it was gifts(Dana) and perform the tribe thatchielfly had be religious ceremonies for takf!ll itself to agriculture. the absolution of sin; the other half belong to 30 Patwars . 22 the. tape wea.Vers confined the military tribe, is con to Arah, those in the coun sidered as descended of try being still pagans. tbe ancient Brachmani. It is only however a small 31 Kalinbaf 30 carpet weavers. part of the sacred order that IS able to procure a 32 Tailors 350 subsistence by their pro 33 Saddle and sad 27 per duty. 97 or 96 per dle-cloth ma cent at least hire land kers and 70 per cent at least to every kind of labour 34 Churihara 249 the makers of glass Orna- on these firms, except ments. holding the plough, a good many have entered 35 Barbers . 220 into regular military ser vice, and few have be 36 Oil makers 30 come merchants; not 37 Nanwai . above 25 per .cent can 3 bakers. even sign their name. 38 Bukur Kussa b • 57 mutton butchers. 1.1 Kanojiyas . 16,000 (1) only fout of 25 teachers 39 Bara Kussab 39 beef butchers. of science belong to this tribe most are peasants, 40 Muli 9 gardeners. and many of them are in clined to arms so that they 41 Paper makers • 130 differ very little in their manners from the military 42 Nalbund . 21 farriers. Brahmans or from Rajputs; 43 Sikulgurs 10 cutlers. (4) the greater part oftbem call themselves merely Ka 44 Holalkhor 34 sweepers and scavcngers. nojiya Brahmans, but some call themselves Antarvedi, 45 Molaah . 510 slaves, mostly employed in some Saruriya and Some agriculture. Sanauariya, The number of these called Antarvedis and Sanauryas is quite trifiling; Of the Hindus the Sariyuriyas from the banks of the Saryu are not [Francis Buchanan prefaced his enumeration a seventh part of the whole. 34 families are distinguished of the Hindus stating that the Pandit exaggerated from the others by the name the number of the high-castes and overlooked Katthak, and obtain subsis the number of the low tribes. Buchanan correc tence by singing amorous ted the number. given by the Pandits. "of the ditties accompanied by mu four dj.fferent class of people divided intO the sical instruments. most usual prevailing sub-divisions, such as 1.2 Sarasw~t 1 Brahman. Rajput and Kayastha for the gentry, 1.3 Gaur 1 and Kurmi, Ahir, Kairi, etc. for the cultivators, 1.4 Maithila 1 while for the artificers and traders I have follo Sakadwip 850 (l) 21 out of 25 teachers of 1.5 science and one half of all wed the lists of each profession procured by the the pundits belong to this same persons". I .. , tribe, a l.lrge portion, lives more 0 r less by some sort of Buchanan made an elaborate. surv.ey of e'ach science. many of them rent c~te: th~ f~llowing table has been prepared from lands but few or non toil with their own hands, a few his deSCrIptIon. Under col. 3 the!fe are 4 items enter into services, many (1) occupation or means of livelihood, (2) places adhere to caste occupation. of _present settlement. (3) original country from (4) their tribe is not known w?lch the caste or tribe migrated. (4) 1.6 Kantahas 260 owing to the lowness of the mlscellaneous.] offices which they p~IfOrm. 261 1. Year-18I2-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (127-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SHAaA AD, J812-13-Cotd. 2 3 4 2 3 4 1.7 Yajurhotas 100 (1) priests belonging to sac red order but their tribe is the Chaubhans possessions not known, appear to be of in this district,they are part low rank. ly military Brahmans and partly Rajputs. 1.8 Dakatiyas or 100 (1) priests, beloning to the Bhareriyas sacred order but whose tribe 2.8 Bhungihar 3,000. there is little doubt in the is not known, the cheat tbe Rajputs 4,000 fact that the Bhungihar canaille QY a pretended Rajputs were originally of knowledge of futurity; keep the above tribe. the implements used for making time and have be . 2.9 M~.ror ·or 3,000 (2) in this district they ob taken themselves to selling Maharor tained only one estate (Tap holy water, which they carry eh) which was originally cal from Prayag to Baidyanath led Kongror, but to which and sell at 8 rupees a load. (they) gave their own name 1.9 Bhunginar or 16,600 (1) military Brahmins of the Maharori, they seized on the Bhungihar district; they have not lands of the Chaubhans. Zemindar acquired much share of the (3) they came from Maro landed property, induced by war in the west ofIndia, and poverty a very great pro obtained very large posses portion of them hold the sions in :Banaras, tneir chie plough. residing at Khuthayi about (4) it is not clear when they 20 miles from Gazipur. migrated from the west, or 2.10 Rathor or 20 (4) it is doubted whether wherefrom they migrated. Raytbor those families are Rathor, 2 Rajputs.- or 34,000 (1) the military caste. the Rathors might have a Kshatriyas (4) no Rajput marry in his considerable possession in own tribe. this district previously. 2.1 Yadu bangsas 6 (4) descendent in the line 2.11 Baghelas 200 (4) the present Rajputs of of Jadu, the ancestor of the Baghelakhanda, according God Krishna. to the Ayeen Akbery, are of Rathor tribe. 2.2 Paramarka or 1,400 (1) they are the highest tribe Ujayani of the Rajputs in the district 2.12 Chandel Raj 160 the Chandel Rajputs derive and possessed of the greatest puts their names from a country wealth. on the banks of the Son in (3) the tribe is Ulmally the upper part of its course. knJwn by'the name of Ujay ani, from their original seat. 2.13 Gahalat 1 (4) all these are said to (4) the name Paramarka is 2.14 Gahawar derive their names from pIa· variously corrupted into 2.15 Bishen ces, but this in some instan Pomber and Pomar. 2.16 Palawar ces may be doubtful; and 2.17 Kakanda the number of each being 2.3 Gautarria 80-90 (2) a numerous tribe in the trifling it was not worth Rajputs lower part of the Antarved 2.18 Sirmaur t 2.19 Gajakesar I :-vhil~ to make a satisfactory or peninsula between the InqUIry. Ganges and Yamuna, and 2.20 Surawar on the bank of the latter 2.21 Lotamiya river in Bandela Khand 2.22 Nimariya I opposite. 2.23 Biuriha J 2.4 Descendants 13 (4) claim to be a descent 2.24 Kinawars 100 (2) they are numerous in of Raghu from Maridi. Bhagalpur, the Kharakpur Rajas, although now Mu 2.5 Nagabansi 600 (4) the head of all Nag hammodans being of this Rajput bangs is the Raja of Nag- tribe. pur. . (3) they are said to have 2.6 Chaubhan or 2,000 (2) they are still prettY come from a place called Chauhana numerous in Dumraong Saruyar, it is being suspe where about 2,000 families cted that Siruwar mentioned remain, but their chief pos above is the same name. sessions were in Chayanpur wherefrom they were ex (4) none of them are num pelled . 2.25 Vais (3) the original seat of the 2.26 Dikshit rous, not even a conjectur tribe was not learned but it 2.27 Sonabangsa was heard concerning the is known that some time be origin of these tribes of fore the arrival of the Mo 2.28 Bhekaha hammedans they were in 2.29 Dhekaha Rajputs. possession of the country north-east from Lucknow 2.30 Bhutaha (Lakshamanpur). 2.31 Sarha (4)· they are more pretenders 2.7 Sakarwar 5,000- (1) the Sakarwar tribe ob 2.32 Pariyar RajpUw· being Of the 'ow tribe of Rajputs 6.,000 tained the principal part of Bhor. . 262 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (127-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD 18J2-13-Contd. 2 3 4 2 3 4 Khatris • 14 or 15 (1) these families of the an- 8 Sudras cient tribe of kh:itris are mostly merckaants 8.1 Sudras :trad (1) the tradesmen reckoned 4 G :indhubinis 4 (4) these houses are ola high- esmen pure Sudras are of the same er rank, admit none to their tribes as in Behar. embraces but Hindus of a pure birth and consequence. 8.11 Gongr 70 (1) the masons and stone cutters; under Gongr many 5 Bhatta, Bhats 6 (1) few of them are endo other persons work in this or Bards wed and they live mostly by profession especially in ,uming, the poor having quarrying while the gongr tak~n to the plough. only superintendent. 6 Beniyas 3,460 (1) the Beniyas hold the 8.12 Thlthera 150 (4) it has no subdivision. same rank as in Behar and have nearly the same cus 8.13 K'lsera 40 (4) no sub-division. toms. 8.14 Sonar 6. Agarwala 301 tbe highest class of Beniya 1,000 (1) many work in the base 6. Agarhari 250 } comprehends of these two metals, about 100 families ?-and among them are in are money changers. j eluded the Srawak or Jain. (3) almost the whole ap 6.3 Barnawar . 70 (4) they form the second pears to have come from class of Beniyas. ~yodhya, a very few fami hes are called Kanojia, Tej 6.4 Luniyar or 2,000 "'I (4) all of them are inclu niYa, Bhramrajpuri, Dho Runiyar. r ded in the third class of roriya and Magahi Sonars, }-Beniyas. from the different places 6.5 Rastoki 40 I from whence they came. 6.6 Kasorani 900 J (4) three families are called 6.7 Kasodhani 60 Kshatri being probably des cended from the Ramjani 6.8 Jayanpuri 91 (4) they are included in the prostitutes, who claim a }-lowest rank of the Beniyas, royal birth. 6.9 Bishtawar 1 J although all are in 8.15 Malyars some degree acco- 100 (1) commonly called Rang- unted to belong to -- - dhauyas or tinmen. the Vaisya caste, it is only (4) few can procure a living the highest rank that is con by the profession, at least sidered as among the gentry 80 of these have betaken (ashraO while all the Kayas themselves to plough. tha, although deemed mere Sudras,are admitted to this 8.16 Halwais 2,560 (1) confectioners, about honour. 2,000 families have become ploughmen, a few also 7 K'lyasthas. 7,000 (1) the greater part of Ka trade in grain. yasthas can read and write (3) almost the whole as Hindi and keepaccompts, sume the little of Madhya specially of land rent and desi Ganapaliyas the Hal although a good many go wais of Kanoj and Magadh abroad for employment yet do not eltceed 70 families by far the greater Part sub sists by cultivation of the 8.17 Tambuli 40 (1) sellers of betel. land; when very poor they (4) some are called Dano plough with their own hand' wars and some Nagbangsis. but only few are reduced to !his necessity; a few are 8'18 Blrais 750 (1) their caste occupation is :uttficers and make red to cultivate betel but in this lead. district they seized also on the sale of thi s commodity P) in the account of Behar about 360 families have be: It .w.J.s supposed that their come retailers. or!glnaI country was in Mi (4) the whole of the tribe thlla but from the great is called Chaurasi. number here this seems 7.1 Sribastav 5,500 doubtful. 8.19 Malis 210 (1) gardener, a few are sup- 7.2 Ambashtha 36 ported by the plough. 7.3 Krishnapaks- remainder (3) the greater part are calIed hi or bastards Sirmaur, a few are said to ha'ie come from KalWj. 263 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (127-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF 'lHE mSTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13-Contd. 2 3 4 2 4 3.110 Km;iu 2,300 (1) reckoned among arti mlny Brahmans and Raj· fi:ers but sbould he conside· puts; while some occupy the red as labourers of the soil, tableland almost totally un for it is the WClmen alone mixed with ariy other tribe; that parch grain, and the men (3) the original seat of cultivate the land, but chiefly Kharwar tribe, according as day labourers. to Bhupnath Sa, was Khay· ragar, a smail fortress on the (3) SO) families are Gongr, road between MerzaJ1ur 70() Klnojiyas, 600 Koran· and Burdi. g3h an':! 20:) N!agadhis; th ~ three latter names are 8.331 Unmixed 770 (4) occupy table land. allowed to be derived from Kharowars places which renders some wh3.t pro',}lble the derivation 1>.332 Mixed Kha 2,23(} (4) OCCUP)' the plains inter of Gongr from Gaur. rowars mixed with other lal?our~rs 8.2 Sudras 8.34 Bhars 500 (1) the tribe of palanquin 8.21 Kliri :n,ooo (1) agricultural Sudras. b!arers.; a military race or (3) about eleven-twelfthsare war like tribe. said to be Kanojiyas. 8.341 RljBhar (3) Parihar Rajputs are said (4) the greater part of the to be from west of India. remlinder is calleed laruhar and a few Banpat. 8.342 Rajbangsis 3.22 K'umis 17,000 (I) a very numerous tribe of 8.343 Parihar Raj· (4) they observe the rules c!llti V.ltors, sometimes still puts of Hindu purity. Cltry arm!'>, althougb the great number of idle gl::ntry has in a great measure 9 Little lower than pure Sudras thrust them out of this em· loyment; 200 families Can 9.1 G,), (Ahirs) 19,~00 (1) 2,600 tends, cattle & prc perhaps read and write, ab pare and sell milk & cow out 150 of them do not cui. 9.11 Krishnat (52 %) dung; able bodied men of tivate with their own hand. the remainder employed at the plough, some are watch (3) about 40 per cent of 9.12 Majorti (18%) men; they are same as goya them are said to be Ayodh· las of Behar. yas; 25 per cent are Patal1- 9.13 Kanojiyas (15%) WlrS, w\icl1 im;lHes citizens, pr0IJJbly from their being c·lnfin~d to the vicinity of 9.14 Geriyas (12 %) NinJlur Patana, the old ca pital e>f t"e Siviras; 20 per 9.15 Baragoyars (2 %) c~nt are Yasowars; 8 per cent K'lnajiyas' 6 percent Maglhis and i per cent 9.16 Dahofofs (1 %) Chandanis. 8.23 Dhanuks 320 (1) agricultural SUdrrs,and Glo]reris 530 (1) blanket weavers and she are not slaves in this district. 9.2 ph~rds, very seldom culti (3) ab.)ut on~-ha1fare called vate the ground. K"ln0jiyas 'lnd are remain i ng Ch.hilatiyas. 9.3 'Bari. 430 (1) torch makers and car riers, above 200 houses are 8.3 Sudras carry load on shoulders. mere farmers. 8.31 "R:lwani Ka- 6,500 (I) chieflY employed in agrl- 9.4 Khattiks 1 (4) KungjarsnowaliMuharr. hars culture but perhaps 600 fa (Pagan) medans or iginally belong milies are entirel v domestic to Ithis tribe. s~r".lUts; a large proporlion are slaves, but many have First class Qfimpure Sudras b!~,);ne free, some have to b.!come weavers. 10.1 Kumbhars 1,200 (I) poUers. 8.32 70() (1) Torhas they cultivate the ground, (3) except 40 families of carry the palanquin, oc Magahsi, all belong to Ka cClsionally fish. noj. 3.33 Kltarwars or 3,000 (1) some mere labourers, Kharowars intermix.ed with various 10.2 Lahor 2,400 (1) mostly adhere to their other tribes, and live by profession of blacksmikh, agriculture and carrying the many of them make the Pllanquin; others have con wooden parts of the imphle siderable estates, and rule ments of husbandry 1. Year-1812-J3 2. Place-District of Shahabad (127-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13-Contd. 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 (3) they are all of Kanoj 12.22 Yogis 130 (1) second class of Pagan except 100 called Laori, tape-makers, some of them w:lich mlY be Lahor a well are also weavers. knawn country from which these famlies may have come. 12.3 Tangtawas (1) the Pagan weavers, ra ther more orthodox, and are 10.3 BHhai 9JG (1) clfpenters confining al very few in number. most entirely to their own art. 12.31 P;lOjpueiyas 350 Pagan weavers,thesetwo last castes were no doubt (3) about 150 have come once pure, and of the tribes from Kanoj and t e re 12.32 Kharwar 100 now reduced to carry the mlinder is from Magadha. 25 palanquin but they have 12.33 Rawani abandoned themselves to the 10.4 Nai 2,O()O (1) barbers. impurities of their vile pro (3) 1,900 families have come fession. from Kanoj while ! of the smllI remlinder came from 12.34 Dhushar 60 (1) palanquin bearers. Ayodhya and a quarter are (4) they appear to be l f the called Sribastav. same rank with Kharwars and Rawams,who have de 10.5 Llheris 30 (1) work in lac. filed themselves by tho loom. (4) they are not distingui shed by any peculiar name. 12.4 Teli 3,000 (1) oilmen, very numerous in the district, 200 houses are only said to live by trade 11 Malo (I) fi,hermen who live but and a 11 the others live by ex a smlll part of the year by pressing and selling oil. 11.1 Malo merely this profession, or by the impure m lnlgement of boats, and (3) 2,400 houses are said to are llm)st all cultivators be Kanopyas, 400 of Ma who in the seasons catch gadha, 200 call themselves fi,h or keep ferries. B.!hata, because they reject concubines, a very few fa 11.11 Suriyas 10 milies are said to have come from Jayonpur. 11.12 Muiyaris 240 11.2 L1w;!stclass of consists of eight tribes of the 12.5 Sungris 6,200 (1) a numerous tribe, 2,200 fhherm::n same rank with twdve tribes families live entirelY by ag of d IY Ilbaurers and artists ricuiture,and4,OOO by trade, as follows beginning with to which a few annex the the fhhermen. distillery of spirituous li quors. 11.21 Tiwars 5 11.22 Chaing 220 12.51 Tak very few subdivisions of the Sungrls 12.52 Yasllwars 2,000 Yasawar is called from the 11.23 Bindu 12.53 Kulas 700 name ofa country. 11.231 Bindu 360 12.54 Behatas 3,000 fishermen 12.55 Sanggata 11.232 Bindu Bel 100 dars 12.6 'Pasis 200 (I) they extract palm wine, are also called Tasuriyas or 12 Day Labou cutters, the number of palm rers and ar is so small. that they employ tists most of their time in agri culture. 12.1 (B~ldars) 350 (1) workers with hoe, three Hoemen fourths of them could make 12.7 Tlr:dhuas 4 (1) mike eurings of Pal salt petre, but all have not miraleaf. emp.loyment and all act as cultivators; the remainder 12.8 Dabgars 4 nothing new to offer con ClUed Khatawas are ditchers cerning them. but th~y also live chiefly by agriculture. 12.9 Sikari 90 (1) falconers. (3) the greater part are said 12.2 Patwas (1) tape-maker~. to have come from Man (Mow R.), but a few Come l2.21 Ooriyas liO from Sribastav. 265 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad 1121-S) SOCIO-OCCUPATIONAL CHARt\CTERISTICS OF THE HINDU POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT ~ OF SHAHABAD, 18t2-13--,Cotrc!d. ------1 2 1234 ______3 4 __ 12.10 Cheros 70 (I) they live chiefly byagri 14.8 Mlgahi Do 260 (0 another class of the culture, by cutting tim~er mra ordinary workers in bamboo and bamboos by collectlng and rattan, they remOVe drugs and bY killing game. dead bodies and work as (2) they conceal themselves public executioner. chkfly among the wood at the bottom of the precipices 14.9 Hulalkhors. 250 (1) sweepers and scavengers. that Surround the table land of the Kharwars, or in the woods of Jagadishpur. OF THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE (3) they are in this district thurst into the lowest degree Introduction of impurity with the falco In the first table I have stated that in this ners. district 2297 square miles are occupied by fields, 13 VJ1ecaste • plantations, gardens and houses. In .the l~th 13.1 Kirats (4) their mlnners resemble table is an explanation of the manner m WhlCh those mentioned in Behar. these lands are disposed. In the 11 tabl~s, from 13.2 MJSlhar [,030 Kirats,nothing new to offer· 15 to 25 inclusive, will be found an estlmate of 13.3 Rajawars 100 Kirats, mentioned in the ac~ the quantity and value of the produce or the count of Behar. low lands in each division; and in the 26th table 13.4 D;lag~ars • (2) Kirats,settledon Rautas. will be found a similar estimate respecting the 13.5 Dosads 8,900 (1) Kirats, Very numerous whole that is cultivated of the table land, which almost entirely occupied in agriculture, are not conside being of an anomalous nature, could not w~th red as thieves. convenience be introduced into the precedmg (3) about SO per cent may tables. Finally, in the 27th table will be fo~nd he of Magadha, 9 per cent an estimate of the total produce of each lftlCle Kochaniyas, 4 per cent Kur of cultivation together with its value, and also nis.3 per Cent Garar, 2 per of the quantities required for seed and remaining cent Dhar, 1 Per cent pala war; an equal number Bho for consumption. In these tables I have follo rar. wed exactly the produce stated by the farmers of 14 Artists reckoned abominable each division, but I know certainly that in some divisions these people stated the produce 14.1 Dhabi 1,2{}O (I)wJshermen,confine them- below the truth. Referring to these tables for selves almost entirely to the duties of their professions. many particulars, and to the accounts given of (3) more than half are districts formerly surveyed, I proceed to state K'mojiyas, a smlll portion what new matter has been here observed. hascome from Magadhaand the rem~inder is ciilled Be Of the variO(f8 articles cultivated [ower. In this district 2.297 square miles are occu 14.2 KangjuTs. 4 (1) four houses have a fixed residence and some more Died by fields. plantations, gardens and houses. wander through it to tattoo Near the Ganges very little land gives two crops the women. in the year; and after corn. in the interior a 14.3 Nats • 4 (1) exercise the same pro- much smaller proportion than in Behar. has fession . pulse or other grain sown among the stubble, (3) consider this as their home. because less attention has been paid to preserve water for the latter part of the season; but, 14.4 Chamars. 8,200 (1) workers in hides, more than 6,000 houses may bel Wherever the reservoirs are in tolerable repair, employed entirely in culti this kind of cultivation is much practised. and vation. not only the pulses called Khesari and Chana, (4) they are all of one tribe but wheat and linseed are raised in this manner. named Dhushiya. and by far the greater part of >the cotton and 14.5 Shernajmu- 3 (1) mentioned inthe account Arahar land, although only once cultivated, may chis of Behar. be considered as ~ivjng two crops, one being 14.6 Dharkars. 5 (1) a kind of basket maker, removed before the other has made such a mentioned in the account of Behar. progress as to load the ground with two crops at one time. The prOPOrtion 'Of rand that give~ 14.7 Bangphor. 30 (1) oneofthetwoc1assesof Dom the ordinary workers in two fun crops in the year, both preceded hy bamboo and rattan, they do cultivation. may amount to one-twentieth of the not remove dead bodies nor whole, including hi~h and low: but consist act as pUblic eXecutioners !llmost entirely of the highest land in th~ district. which are performed by M'\gahi domra. immediately adjacent to the viUages. Excel>t a very trifling quantity of the pulse called l:,Jrid, of 20-439 R. G. India/ND/79 266 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place- District of Shahabad rape, and of the carminative seed called Ajoyan, 5thly. 47 square miles of poor land in faUow. nothing is sown on fields that are not cultivati.!d, and 174 square miles in roads, banks and broken and the articles above-mentioned are only sown corners give a much better supply, the gras~ thus on the slimy banks of the Ganges. being of a much superior quality; and in some divisions there is no other pasture except these OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS broken corners and the plantations, which in Ramgar are of very little extent. In the account of the condition of the people and in the 11 th table will be seen an estimate of the tame elephants, camels and horses, that 6thly. 764 square miles of hills, consisting belong to the natives of this district, as :lpper chiefly of table land, very accessible in most taining to their personal equipage. parts for cattle, and containing .1 great variety of woods and fine lawns shaded by spreading Horses are not here used for the conveyance scattered trees, might be supp, )sed a grand of goods, except a few belonging to inn-keepers, resource; but in fact ilt is of very trifling value. who employ them in bringing home fire-wood The heat and dryness, from a powerful sun and grass for their customers. All the large reflected by innumerable rocks, parches the horses are imported. The ponies as in Behar, country in the dry seasori' still more than even are called Chhanathi, and are similar in the plains, so that then very few cattle remain appearance and managements. on the hills except those which belong to the thinly scattered hamlets of the Kharowars. An estimate of the other kinds of cattle will be seen in the 28th table. Buffaloes are here also considered as a much An estimate has been given in the 29th table more valuable property than cows; because of the milk procured from the cows of this almost the whole of their milk is converted district. The table is composed exactly accor into ghiu for sale. On this account the people ding to the report of the most intelligent person seemed to me to have been alarmed. and to that could be procured in each division; but I have concealed the number of buffaloes which am pretty confident that the correction annexed, they possess. I saw some in almost every and which has just now been explained, is village, and have no doubt that the number of necessary. The high price of milk in the southern milk buffaloes stated in the 28th table is excee parts of the district, where it equals or exceeds dingly underrated, especially in Tilothu; but in the price demanded at Arah, seems to be owing what ratio I cannot pretend to say. partly to the small number of cows in the greater part of the south, and partly to the Goats are pretty numerous but many more great number of travellers. At Arah and might be reared; and the milk is so much Shahasram my people complained of the milk superior to that of the cow that among a people being much watered, while in the country parts, which glories in abstaining from animal food, as usual, greater honesty prevails. it is astonishing that more goats should not be The pasture of this district consists of the reared; but, strange to say, they are only kept following descriptions. for the flesh of the kids, which are offered in sacrifice; and being half starved, the meat is 1st. About 2 square miles of inundated land wretched beyond description. covered with tamarisks and long) coarse grass or reeds, mostly k~pt for thatch, so that this The sheep are of the same kind as in Behar, pasture is of very little value. nor is there any difference worthy of remark 2ndly. 343 square miles on the plains covered between their management here and in ,the dis with woods and scattered bushes, much of the tricts hitherto surveyed. same kind as in Behar. Swine are very numerous and wallow in all 3rdly. The plan'tutions here are of less impor the abominations of Behar. tance for pasture than in Behar, because in most places where they abound the extent of other Curs and cats abound as elsewhere. pasture is great; and where the pasture is COIl fined, the land has not been wasted in mango Poultry is very scarce. groves; yet they are always used as pasture however wretched, and amount to 126,900 bighas OF FARMS or 66 square miles. . [agricultural classesJ 4thly. On the plains there are 327 square miles The observations that I have made in the of open pasture; but it is chiefly of long harsh account of Behar on the farms of the high grass, entirely parched up except in the rainy casts, or Ashraf, are applicable to this district. season, and then the supply, although copious, They are however in general less favoured, and ~s exceedingly coarse. the right in these persons to hold land for their 261 1. Yedr-1B12-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad house, free of rent, seems, like most other Plough cattle, as in the districts hithert(J tenures, to be exceedingly dubious; for, although surveyed, form the only stock worth notice, universally claimed, I find lJ1at the judg.e has and the average amount for each division may twice cast a person of high rank for house rent, be found by dividing the whole value of the even when charged much higher than usual. plough cattle, which will be found in the 28th The cauSe has indeed been appealed; but the table, by the number (jf bighas actually oc(~u· decision shows that on this point at any rate, the pied, which will be found in the tables from law is uncertain. No. 15 to No. 25. From the same tables, by a similar division, may be found the average The farmers of the second class, or traders extent cultivated by any quantity of this stock, who rent land, are on the same footing as in and in the 31 st table will be found an estimate of Behar and are of very little importance. the number of cattle allowed for each plough, similar to the estimates which were given con The 3rd clasl) of farmers, or artificers who rent cerning some of the districts last surveyed. land which they cultivate, either at leisure tjme or by means of servants, are also on the same [rent] footing as Behar. Except for the rich inundated land near the The 4th class of farmers in this district differs Ganges, the fields and gardens around the only in name from that of Behar, being called villages that are carefully watered, sugarcane Krindagan in place of Chasa. The Grihastha and cotton, almost the whole rent is paid by Beparis are poorer than in moSit of the districts a division of the crop, and the result is abun hitherto surveyed, none of them being supposed dantly obvious; the lands which pay a money worth more than Rs. 2,000 in exchangeable rent are those alone that are cultivated with care. On the bank of the Ganges, where alone capital, while few, of them keep cattl~ for ~he conveyance of gram; and they deal chIefly. wIth all the rents are paid in money, and where the their immediate neighbours who are necessItouS. rent is fixed and totally unconnected with the It is probable, however that their capitals may nature of the crop, the tenants are by far the have been under-rated, as a large proportion of most industrious and the least necessitous although the rent is very high, as I understood the poorer farmers is said to be supported in ~he intervals between the crops by the money whIch that the average sum paid for each plough-gate these traders advance. If this be true, their of land, there being 4 oxen to the plough, is .capitals must be far more considerable than. was 62l R. ; but then the cattle are strong and do a stated. The Koeries here have not the credIt of great deal of work, so that the plough-gate having money concealed. cont,ains 20 bighas country measure, 12! acres, or 371 bighas of the Calcutta measure. The land There are here no undcrtenats, unless we lord in the division of the crop no where here,. include under that name some servants who except in Arah, takes more than one-half of receive a small portion of land in lieu of wages; the net produce and in some places is content but this is cultivated entirely by their masters' with much less: but in other respects the nature· stock. of the division is entirely the same as in Behar. and the observations which have been made on Ground rent for houses is on the same fooling this subject in the account of that distriCit are as in Behar. equally applicable to Shahabad. I have only to mention that a custom in the division prevails [cattle and plough] in some parts of this district, which tends in some measure to diminish evils of the practice. In the 28th table will be found an estimate of The share of the owner of the land diminishes the proportion of live soock which belongs in proportion to the number of waterings given. respectively to the four classes of farmers; which induces the tenant to exert himself in and in the 30th table will be found an estimate applying the most valuable industry to ;the of the respective proportions of rent which e~ch mutual advantage of both parties' } of the class pays, subject to the same correction crop on a well watered field being generally of respecting the 2nd. and 3rd. classes that was CO~l more value than ! of what is produced without sidered necesary in Behar. In the 30th table WIll manure. be also found an estimate of the respective proportions of ploughs which are held by their [capital] owners, or by servants of various kinds, among Farmers who bave accumulated a little money whom there are no such persons as those who in usually, as in other districts, lay it out in the north of Bengal are called Adhiyars. To this advances to their necessitous neighbours at a very table I have annexed an estimate of the propor usurious rate, and are repaid at harvest in the tion of rent paid in money and that which arises produce of the fields, of!- which account they a~e from a division of the crop, as also if the ren~s caned Grihastha Baparls. I have already saId that are collected by stewards or that are fl1nqeq that in statements which I received, the amount to middle men. . of capHaJ beJongjng to these persoJls appearec! 1. Year-1812·13 2. Place-District of Shahabad to me much diminished, as except for opium, explained, but some is actually divided, a tenure most of the advances made in this district here called Agora. proceed from this source. In the 32nd table will be found an estimate of the sources of Near the Ganges all the land is let by regular cap~tal from whence the rents of this district are lease (Patta) and each bnant gives an (Kabuliat) p~id, from which will appear the extent to which agreement to pay the amount; but in the these pernicious advances have been carried, and valuable pergunah of Chayanpur the tenants are here also it is universally allowed that those who not willing to give such agreements, nor the borrow money at not less than 2 per cent a landlords to grant specific leases. This circum month are less necessitous than those who take stance on the owners of the estate for whom advances to be repaid alt harvest, at what is then it is wished to make a provision. called the current price, and nominally pay little or no interest. In this district I heard of few or no illegal exactions, a great portion of the tenantry heing The arrears of rent are not great. In the too high spirited to submit to the most trifling interior the greater part is paid by a division of abuse and being willing to fight with anyone crop, whefe the landlord's claims end with for a cowrie. harvest; and near the Ganges, the lands, not· withstanding their high rent, are so eagerly sought Tenants are not afraid of their landlords, nor after that good tenants are instantly procurable. are they attached to their interests, except when connected by cast or blood, but where these There has been no attempt to regulate the ties exist I observed several honourable instances size of fanns, which is rather in general smaller of affection and regard from the subordinate than in the districts hitherto surveyed, few paying branches of families towards their common head. a greater rent :than Rs. 150 a year, which in the rich land near the Ganges three ploughs will Most of the Nukadi, or money rent that is do. Four cattle being usually considered requi paid for the lands near Ithe Ganges, and in the site for one plough, as the same implements which gardens and fields carefully watered near the would be required for two oxen suffice where villages, as I have said, is in general levied by there are double that number, many poor men, leases, sttipulating a certain rent to be paid for who can procure only 2 beasts, unite in one a certain extent of land, managed as the tenants plough; and many more are reduced to tihe please. This I have often mentioned as the best miserable share of what one plough can culti kind of tenure; and here extraordinary care is vate, and very often are not able to procure the bestowed on all the lands so let. full stock but use three cattle, one of which in turn works the whole day. The smallness of the [ploughmen and day labourers) farms seems often to be occasioned by Ithe I now proceed as in the accounts of districts destructive custom in dividing lands cQually formerly surveyed, to give an account of those among the children of the same family, which who cultivate land in which they have no the laws o~ this country ordain. property. There are here no Adhiyars who cultivate for a share of the crop; and when The custom of advances (Tukabi) from the treating on the condition of the people, I have landlord to the tenant is carried to a considerable menltioned everything that occurs to me con exltent; but no advance is given to those who cerning the slaves employed in agriculture. It cultivate sugarcane as is done in Behar. Like now therefore only remains to treat of plough. all other advances, the Tukabi tends to retain men hired by the season and ot day labourers tM tenantry in poverty and dependence. hired for cultivation. People sometimrs unite to carryon alternately in each other's fields the The rents are fully as equably assessed as in labours of agriculture in large companies; but Behar and the Ashraf who are favoured are whether the custom is as prevalent as towards chiefly the Kinsmen of this district the lands the cast, (sic) I had no opportunity of so let are chiefly, although not entirely, such ascertaining. as are some years cultivated with sugarcane or cotton, and in olther years with much less The plough servants (Kamiya or Karoya) are valuable crops; and the great difference in the much on the same foo\bing as in Behar. only that value of the crops on the same land in different the system of making advances is confined to vears seems to have been the reason that has the vicinity of Arah, and there varies from Rs. 5 induced the people here to make an exception to Rs. 20; but even there I did not learn that in the general rule. the son was held bound for advances made to the father. although part of the debt is often Of the lands let by a division of the crop, by no doubt incurred in the son's marriage. In the far the greater part of the rent is ascertained other divisions, there being no ~dvan('es for more bv Danabundi, which in some places is called !han the season, the servant at its end is entirely Kan~ut. and. which has been alrcady amply free. Tn many places it is usual at the heginning 269 1. Ycar-JBJ2-J3 2. Place-District oj Slzahabad of the ploughing season to advance from Re. 1 wages of plough servants in the immediate to Rs. 2, but this is considered as a sum given vicinity of that city are Rs. 16-13-0. This coinci to bind the ploughman throughout the season, dence is so great, as to confirm the a.::curacy of and as a part of his wages, for the usual daily both statements. In neither case have I made allowance is here smaller than in Behar, being any allowance for sickness; and in moso places only 3 seers of 44 S.W. each of coarse grain. here it is not supposed that, when well, the Many persons however, in place of giving this ploughman is idle more than 15 days in the year. money, give a small field which is cultivated In BiioH however, he has to himself It mOftths by the servant with their stock, and he takes and in Arah and Barong he has 1 month; but one-half of the produce. This is a :tie equally during this idle time he must repair his hut, so binding with the money and is more advantageous that he is much more constantly wrought than for the servant, as avoiding any anticipation of the Christian ploughman, even in Protestant his resources. In some places, besides the grain, countries, the very numerous holidays of the it is usual to give the servant a daily aliowancc Hindu calender being designed for the higher of parched meal, which he mixes with water, caste alone, that is, for the sacred to pray and and forms the kind of pudding called Chattu. for the profane to defray the expense. The men In other places no such allowance is made and here on the whole make rather more than those in some a quantity of grain is given in its stead, in the vicinity of Patna, and the same is the when the thrashing is finished. Harvest is a case with the other branches of the family; bot great source of profit, and as I have said, the the quantity of grain earned here by' the men is proportion of reward to the quantity reaped varies not so great as in the country parts of Behar. very much in different places; nor are the The whole gain here, according to the estimates actual grains of the servant at all in proportion given, does not give above 26~ rupees a year, to the highness of the rate, the higher this is, for a family of 5 persons and no one here will there is usually 'the less work done. Taking all admit that a family of this number can be these allowances, and reducing them to the supported on so small a sum ; although I could common scale of the coarse grain on which procure no account of how the. difference is labourers are usually fed, I find that the follo procured. wing estimates were given as the total annual I have already mentioned the reward given reward which ploughmen in each division to those who tend cattle. obtained. Sers of Lbs.Avoir- Day labourers in general are daily allowed 80 S.W. dupois only 3 sers of 44 S.W. of coarse grain, and 1 ser of parched meal (Chhattu), in all rather Arah • 1320 2714 more than 4t lbs. of farinaceous food. In trans Biloti. 1316 2702 planting they are allowed 1 more. In some Dumraong 1358 2788 places they got a little less parched meal, but Ekwari 1040 2134 then they are allowed salt curds or other Karangja 1224 2513 seasoning and their wives in transplanting mate Barong 109ll 2254 nearly as much as themselves. None of them Sahasram 1368 2809 are paid in advance. Tilothu 1052 2160 People who call themselves gentlemen (Ashraf) Mohaniya 962! 1982 work on their own farms at all kinds of work, Ramgar 1492~ 3064 except holding the plough, and some do not Sangyot 1522 3125 scruple even to perform this labour; but they Average 1251 2569 will not take hire. Among the Karindagan or cultivating tribes the taking hire is by no means As usual, more dependance is to be placed held disgraceful, and many even of the arttificers on the average than on each individual allo gain a part of their subsistence by weeding, wance; for instance, some circumstance must transplanting and reaping. have escaped notice ,to reduce the allowance in Mohaniya so far below Sangyot and Ramgar, ART IN SHAHABAD all the three vicinities being nearly alike in [During early nineteenth century, an elabO manners and situation. I suspect indeed that rate net work of household industry met the during 4 months, when ~t was stated that they entire consumers' demand of the country as We'll repaired their masters' hut and the fences at as of export. Buchanan made an elaborate sur 2t heavy seers of grain a day a great part of vey of these industries and of persons engaged the time is employed in the culJtivation of cottOll. therein. His Book V of "An account of the there very abundant:, for which they are paid district of Shahabad," is an account "of the i of the produce, they watering, weeding. hoeing. arts and commerce." He firstly deals with arts. ploughing and gathering the whole for this For an estimate of the number of artists, he share. But 2569 Ibs. of coarse grain, the refers to the statistical. Table No. 33. The word average reward, at the value pltt upon it at "Artist" is used in a broad sense to represent Patna, are equal to about 17 rupees, while the ~he artisans.] 270 1. Year---/812-/J 2. Place-District of Shahabad (128-5) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE. DISTRICT OF SHAlIADAD, lir12-13 srJ. designation type or nature of work. srI. designation type or nature of work no. of artists no. of ar tists 3 1 2 2 I. Of the Fine Arts wages similar to those of Arwa1 described in the account of Behar. 1 Arohiteots Formerly numerous but have en. tirely disappeared. 14 Washers of sllawls Two washermen are able to clean Sculpture is on a footing equally all the shawls. deplorable. 15 Soap makers Seven soap. makers seem adequate to supply tile demand of tile district 1.1 Painters No painters dignified with the title except that used in Company's Musawir, but tllerearesomecalled Factory at Sahar. They reside at Chitera who resemble the Nukkash Shahasram, where the number of of Patna, and paint household fur Muhammedans enables them to niture. They are all Hindus, and procure tallow. may make four or five rupees a montb. 16 Bad The torch and platter makers, on the same footing as in Behar. 2 Mirasin The term has been formerly ex plained and there being only one set 17 Taylors Not so numerous as in Behar, but is a proof of the Muhammedans make as much as in the countrY possessing little wealth. part of tllat district, that is, three or four rupees a month. The sets of girls who dance, and 3 The sets of danc On tIle same footing as in Behar. ing girl sing accompanied by musical ins 18 Barbers truments, the performers 011 which 19 Hauzkush At Shahasram a man keeps a warm are men, possess no celebrity. bath and 11ad an endowment from the Government, which has pro 4 Natuyas The Natuyas or boys who dance and sing are more numerous than bably been continued since the time in Behar; but in place of being of Sher Shah. weavers, as in most of the districts 20 Red lead maker The red lead made: in this district hitherto surveyed they are Chamars, is not adequate to the demand and still lower in the degree of impurity. is but of an indifferent quality. Tbey are employed on occasions of the Holi, and during the month 21 Lac ornament They are few in number and are of Chaitra, and also at marriages. maker poorer than usual, the produce of They do not live entirely by their their labour being in little request. art, but often either work in leather or cultivate the land. 22 Glass ornament Glass ornaments are in mucD more makers required than those of lac even S Kalawangts Similar to those of Behar. among the Hindu women. Nothing new to offer on them in addition to what was already said in Bhagalpur 6 Katthaks Similar to those of Bebar, as in Behar tlley do not bring lip their and Behar reports. A few of them children to be the dancing boys prepare only the frit, while most called Bhaktiyas. both prepare this and form the ornaments. 7 Tasawalehs An account of them has been given 23 Tikli makers Makers of tl1c ornaments called in the papers respecting PUraniYa. Tik.li usc mica instead of glass. In other respects the ornaments are 8 Bajawalas The common musicians of Shalla similar to those made in Patna. had, do not differ from the Pangeh Bajaniyas of Puraniya, and are no 24 Malis They are as poor workmen as those better than usual. They are all shoe of Bebar, and make as little as makers or sweepers. A few per those in the country parts of that form on the fife and drum but do district, tIle demand for work in not constitute separate sets. Sola being very small. 25 Domra and} Workers of bamboos exactly on the 9 Daphalis. j) Nothing new to offer. 26 Bangsphor &ame footing as in Behar. 10 Pangwanyas 11 Bijras 27 Tarkiharas Makers of ear-rings of the palmira (Borassus) leaves, mostly used by 12 Bazigars The Bazigars, who sing, play le the poor women towards BenaTes gerdemain tricks and show feats 8 pairs sell for a paysa. of activity, are of Nat tribe. Many vagrants of the same tribe visit tIle 28 Mat-makers Mat makers of Dumraong are of district to tattoo the women three kinds. Those of Behar caste II. Of Common Arts amounting to 30 families, who use the leaves of the Gondar, and the 1. persons' employed in services and working mats used by the poor for bedding. in- perbbabe commodities Those of the Bindu tribe amounting to 50 families make mats of tile 13 Washermen Nearly on the same footing as in species of Arundo called Narkat Behar, in Ekwari many are em used on pa~kage of goods on board ployed as bleachers and make of boats. 271 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shp/wbad (Wl-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHAnAD, 1812-13-Contd. srl. designation of type or nature of work srI. designation of type or nature of work no. artists no. artists 2 3 2 3 The mat makers of Tilothu are of the year there is none. At these the Pasi tribe, of which all the memo times they work as day labourers, bers in every Part of the district or make mats of palm leaves. occasionally make mats of palm leaves; but these 6 houses do 40 Gandhi The perfumers of the district sell nothing else. the oils mentioned in the account of Patna but two men at Shahasram 2') Paper.makers In Sahar there are 60 beaters be have stills with which they extract longing to 40 110uses and 30 beaters an oil from tIle resin oftne Sakuy.l in 20 houses are admitted to be in or Shorea Robllsta. the Baraong division. A very con siderable quantity of papers are made here. 41 Oilmen 37 per cent are poor and express oil for hire there, are 2880 mills to 2780 houses. 30 Fire-workers Similar to those of Behar, but in Shahabad they also make paper kites, the demand for which is not 42 Ahirs Cowkeepers, very numerous, greatel sufficient to require a separate class part consists of mere farmers, pre of artists. The dyers also prepare pare curd and ghiu for sale. Their fire works. condition is similar to tnose of Behar. 31 Chamars Workers in leather. A numerous tribe in Shahabad, the greatest 43 Halwais The confectioners, make sweet part abandoned the profession and meats after the manner of Hindus became mere farmers. Some of than, but none possesses the cele them have become cleaners of cot brity of those in Patna, but they ton. are as good as those of Behar. In some places they make sugar Many work in leather, some of even candy and prepare the same things those occasionally are employed in that are made by the Puya Phu agriculture and a great many- are lauris of Bengal. musicians. They mostly belong to manorial establishment and are 44 Bharbhunas Scarcely any of the women who paid by a share of the crop for fur parch grain have shops. All are of nishing ropes, bags for drawing wa the Kandu tribe and are called ter and shoes for the ploughmen. Bharbhunas. They usually receive as hire 4 p. c. of the grain. Two 32 Makers of leather Nothing new to offer. women usually sit in the same shop bags or bottle or house. 33 Saddle-makers Similar to those of Bellar, some of '45 Grinders of wheat Confined to Arah and the towns in them make sword scabbards, and or other grains division of Dumraong, many fa saddles are made by some butchers milies grind for their own use, the Beniyas hire poor women to per 34 Makers of saddle· Similar to those of Behar. One of form this operation. They also hire cloth them at Arah makes glue. woman to split pulse, no one here making that a separate profes 35 Makers of the They are by no means better than sion. tubes used in the workmen of Bengal. smoking tobacco 46 Nanwais The Nanwais or bakers are similar to those of Bhagalpur and Puraniya 36 Rozkush They prepare tobacco for sale. Inn- keepers are the only persons who and there are no other professed prepare for sale the charcoal balls cooks. used in smoking tobacco. In this district Beniyas in general do not 47 Chik Killers of sheep and gaots are called prepare tobacco for smoking, many Chik, which in Patna is usually persons prepare it for their own given to certain persons only of the USe. same tribe, who dress the leather of these animals; and some here not only kill but dress the skins and 37 Distillers of spiri- !he distillery of spirituous liquors make saddlery. tuous liquors IS by no means so flourishing as in Behar, yet the people are less in- dustrious and by no means more 48 Butchers From the number of the butchers quiet or orderly. who kill cow it is evident that, this food must be much more in use 38 Pasis The people who collect the juice than is usually acknowledged. & of palms and those who ferment and 19 retail it have in this district less 2. of those who work in more durable employment than in Behar, for materials owning to the small number of trees the supply at ~Il times is scanty, 49 Comb-makers Similar to those described in the and for a conSiderable Portion of accounts of other districts. 272 1. Year-J8J2·13 2. Place-District of Shahabad (128-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 181l-13-Conld. rl. designation of type or nature of work srI. designation of type or nature of work nO. artists no. artists 1 2 3 1 2 3 metals, have been under the ne· 50 Turners Workers in wood. They make chief· cessity of encroaching on the em ly cups and boxes which are painted loyment of those who work in by other artists. copper and tin, some have become 51 KUmangurs Painters of the turners' work as in peddlars to vend wares of these Patna are the Kumangurs, who materials. have entirely abandoned the arts of Two houses of Sondhoyas live by making bows, which are no longer 61 Niyari or Sondh oyas washing the soil of goldmsiths in use. workshops asin Patna. Here they 52 Carpenters: The carp:mters confine their labour are called also Nijari. to timber, make coarse household [61.1] Hukkas Some Hukkas are employed by the furniture, doors, window-shutters, European ladies at Arab to polish and other work used in the cons the Son pebbles, the men have even truction of the better kind of houses, brQught from Patna. some of them make the implements of agriculture, mills and carts. 62 Stone cutters or In the table of artists they are There are no sawyers here Gongr only reckoned at 71 houses, this whose business is often performed number is supposed to be under by the carpenters, and many of rated, as it gives no idea of the these are also turners, chietly number of people employed in finishing in the lathe the feet of quarrying and cutting of st,?nes bedsteads. None of the workmen as every part of these operations of this kind are comparable with except where the chisel is required those of Patna, Mungger or Bha· is performed by commonlabouters galpur. hired by the day. 53 Makers of the im Most of the implements of agri. The 5 houses in Dumraong are plements of agri culture are made by those who unite employed in repairing mill st nes. culture the trades of carpenter and black The 30 houses at Shahasram pro smith, and as in Behar form part of bably contain 50 able bodied men the manorial establishment. are chiefly employed in cutting stones for hand mills. 54 Workers in iron Those who work entirely in iron are like the blacksmiths of Bellar, and 63 Potters The art of pottery is much on the are all very coarse workmen. same footing as in Behar, but the 55 Nalbund Those who shoe llOrses also are potters make no porous vessel for entirely similar to those in Behar. cooling water, nor is any enanJel like that of Bar employed. TheY 56 Sikulgur All the cutters in tllis district are make rude playthings for children, of the kind called Sikulgurs, who but none as at Patna follows this clean and sharpen arms. branch as a separate trade. 57 Kasera Coppersmiths, chiefly employed in 64 Brickmakers The 5 houses of brickmakers are on repairing old vessels, and in this a the same footing with the Pu few of the Sonars who are properly zwans of Behar, aJ}d the mould goldsmiths, have interfered, at Jag. has come into general use. dishpur however the Kaseras make plates of brass and bell-metal and 65 Bricklayers The brick layers are such as those vessels for cooking of brass. All of Patna. their ware, even the bell-metal, is formed by hammering. 66 Lime makers In many places the fishermen 58 ·Thatheras Coppersmiths, makers of female Cllled Bindu collect shells, or more ornaments containing copper, not rarely the calcarious nodules, and so numerous as might be supposed prepare the little lime that is wanted from the quantity of such orna for the use of the country. In others ments that is used, the goldsmiths it is tile Chamars that perform interfere in this branch also. The this labour; none of these however Thatheras here tin the inside of makes the burning of lime a brass and copper vessels, which art separate profession. is not here a separate trade. 59 Sonars The Sonars have still more en E. of the Manufacturee of thread strings, tape, croached on those who make cloth, ete. ornaments of tin, and in some parts have engrossed the whole business, While in others there are a few 67 Dhuniyas Beat a great part of cotton before Rangdhaluyas. it is fit for spinning; purchase only what is required for stuffing quilts 60 Gold and silver They are yery po~r not finding em and mats, and sell it whea cleaned sllliths loyment In working the precious and beaten, 273 1. Year-1812-13 2. Place-District of Shahabad {12S-S) STATE OF ARTISANS IN THE DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812- 13-Concld. S.rl. designation of type or nature of work srI. designation of type or nature of work no. artists no. artists 2 3 2 3 68 Dyers Of the kind called Rungrez and are 75 Blanket weaVers Their number is somewhat consi employed as in Bhagalpur and Be derable being 530 houses, in which har; but making less wages by probably 750 men may be employ dyeing, they also prepare fire ed in weaving. At Arah it was said works. The dyeing with indigo or that a man weaving and a woman Morinda does not here afford spinning could in a month make 8 room for separate professions. pieces and gain 11- rupees a month only. They no doubt are very poor, 69 3i1k w.::avers In this district there are properly but many of them have sheep, and no silk w~avers; but 60 families the wool belongs to themselves, so in Tilothu are called Patoyas, a that although there are more people term usually given to such because in proportion in their families, they work cotton cloth with Tasar some men tending the flocks, while silk borders. The cloth is Very others weave, on the whole coarse, and is called Dhuti. every able man and his wife frem wool and weaving may gain 4 70 Weavers 7,025 houses of weavers, who work in cotton alone. 7,950 men able rupees a month. to work in these houses, the sur plus is said to be employed in ag 76 Patwars They knit istrings and there is riculture. The cloth made here for nothing new to effer concerEirg exportation is called Gora. them. Their work is ccarse a nd they usechieflycottonfortheirmaterials. 71 Buta-B.lfiwaiyas At Arah are some women who sew flowers into cloth in the same manner as is done at Maldah [76.1] Sugar manu- In Ihis district the preparation of for local use. facture sugar does not form a distinct art; some of those who make sweet 72 Chints maker They work entirelY for the country meats as in Behar, prcrare Itc use, and are not able to supply the coarse sugar called Shukkur ard a demands. little sugar-candy; 73 Weaver of cotton Nothing new to offer on them, tape [76.2J Indigo manu- On this subject also I can offer facture nothing in addition to what has 74 Carpet weaVers Carpet weavers work both in wool been already stated. len and cotton, but they weave only small pieces, and carpets entirely of the latter material constitute by 77: Salt manufacture The manufacture of nilre is Yery far the greatest part of the manu trifling and various metheds ale facture. used. (129-S) VARIATION IN POPUlATION IN TH.E DISTRICT OF SHAHABAD, 1812-13, 1872, 1921 7. GAPS- AND 1961 Gaps or shortcomings have been discussed y.::ar population variation percentage annual variation p. c. va- at appropriate places in previous sections. riation 1 2 3 4 5 1812-13 1,419,520 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 1872 1,606,815 +187,295 13 ·19 0'22 1921 1,697,999 +91,184 5·67 0'12 The District of Shahabad was roughly same 1961 2,983,674 + 1,285,675 75·72 1'89 in location. area and size throughout the period. The trend revealed above seems to be plausible The following table shows the movement of in the light of histol1ical factors affecting the size population since 1812-13. of population. 6. DISTRICT OF CUTTACK, 1818 t. YEAR-I8I8 2. PLACE-District of Cuttack 3. SOURCE A.D. by Aliverdi Khan in commutation of the Ewer, William chout or tribute of 12 lacs demanded by them from the Provinces of Bengal, Behar and Orissa. Report of Mr. Ewer, Commissioner for en quiring into the general state of the districtl of [Geographical identification] Cuttack. dated the 31st May, 1918 (In Bengal Territorial (Revenue) Proceedings. 17th to 31st [William Ewer mentioned the area at 6,300 July, 1818. No. 629 13th July, 1818. No. 15.) square miles. He had in his mind the British district and few small esta~es. The British por [WBSAj tion constituted into the district of Cuttack in 4. MATERIALS- 1805 and in 1823 was split up into three regula tion districts of Cuttack, Balasore and Puri. (a) Geographical location- The geographical position of Orissa has been It will be necessary to determine first, with elaborately examined in conneCition with the accuracy, the actual extent of the district in population estimate of John Richardson for 1814. square miles, rejecting of course all considera There is practically little difference between the tion of the territories of the Tributary Hill position in 1814 and in 1818. John Richardson Chiefs. A writer whom I have before quoted discussed the whole of Orissa, whereas Ewer dis in his Political Survey of Northern Sircars, ob cussed the portion under the British. It is diffi serves of Cuttack-"This Province at the dis cult to Inint out the differences of territorial tance of six hundred miles from the caDital units as may appear from descriptions by Richard Nagpore, extends along the sea coast, in' the son and Ewer. Roughly, the following table gives Bay of Bengal, about 200 miles from Malood an idea of the area under British occupation in the northern boundary of Ganjam on the Chilka Orissa in 1818 worked out from the census figures lake to Popley, at the mouth of the Soobanreika, of 1881. [the present limit to Mogulbundee], and on the (13(1-S) AREA OF BRITISH OCCUPIED ()ID.sSA medium being about 40 milel' inland. should IN 1818 comprise an area of eighty thousand (evidently a misrepresentation for 8,000) square miles." I districts area in think with Mr. Grant that 40 miles is a fair sq. miles allowance for the average breadth: but two hundred miles is unquestionably too much for Cuttack 3,517 the average length, and could only be obtained Pooree 2,473 by following in the measurement, the general Balasore 2,066 bend of the coast. which would give an unfair result. I have assumed 160 miles by forty as total 8,056 the dimension of the district and afterwards with the view to a greater accuracy, I undertook William Ewer estimated the area at 6,300 a detailed e~timate from the Division into square miles from Captain Sackville's map. The square miles, of Captain Sackvil1e's correct and same map was used by A. Stirling in 1822. "The valuable map, when I found the area of Cuttack area of the tract now under consideration", to be as nearly as possible, (making a conjec wrote Stirling. "has been estimated with tolerabl(! tural allowance for the nor:thern jurisdiction of accuracy at about 9,000 square miles, by c~unt Thannah Bustah* not included, anc) taking ing the squares into which Captain Sackvln~'S Khoordah as given in Major f wotcher's Hus· map is divided." There may be certain minor tabood Papers) 6,300 square miles. I compre discrepancy between the boundary considered by hend in the above for convenience sake, the large Ewer and that by Stirling, but, more or leSS Estates at Aul, Kulka, Boojung, and Hurrishpcr~ they had probably an identical boullcfary in assessed at a very inadequate peshcush, and the view. Jageer of Mulood. The following table gives an idea of contem It is well-known that the Soubah of Cut:tack porary area of the British occupied portiun of was ceded to the Berar Marha,ttas about 1748 Orissa. ------_.. -.- *1 ob>erve from. a point m~moirshown to me by ~aptain Sack~ille that Gerthemew has fallen into the unac~ountable' mistake of cllculattng the area of Cuttack, exclUSIve of the tf1?utary states.. at upwards of 11,000 squ~re mIles, Mr. Richlrdson, in his Statistical Report, has closely copied or by aCCIdent .fallen Into the very same error whIch would lead to a singular result as to the probable amount of cultivation and populatIOn for the whole. 274 215 1. Year-I818 2. Place-District of Cuttac'/l) (131-S) POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF ORISSA AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, 1784-1871, EXCLUDING PRINCELY STATES srI. year area in authority d~scription of territory covered remarks no. sq. mile 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 1784 8,OJO Grant Province of Cuttack, extending along the Coverage corresponds to the territory k r( '" n seacnstintheBayofBengal,fromMalood by the term Mogulbandi in 1818. the northern boundary of Ganjam on the ChUka Lake to Pepley at the mouth of Su- barnarekha. 2 18J}-12 Sackville The map wlsr~rerred to by Bwer Sackvilleconducted a survey in 1809-12 and mentioned below under serial no. 4. prepared a map of Cut tack, eastern and north western bound aries were left undefined as the survey was called off. 3 1814 11,150 Ric:ucdson The British half comprehended all the low The description does not include all tl;e 1'}nds ;itu'}ted along the coast, thus the Bri- area then under the British. tish halfseems more orless to be identical with the then district of Cuttack. 4 1818 6,300'" Bwer Cuttack district and the estates of Aul, Areaestimatedfrom the divisions into square Kunke, B:>ohjung, Hurrispore, the Jageer of Captain Sackville's map of Cuttack. of Mlilood; Khoorda and conjectural account of Thana Basta. 5 1822 9,000 Stirling Mogulbandi (18 Police Thanas), Rajwara The tract is named as Orissa pror:er or Cut B,tates of Aul, Kunka, Bojung, Horispur, tack the names of the thanas as given are Marichpur, Bishenpur, with the whole of same with Henry Shakespeare's Police Re the smaller Kilajat. port except one, Stirling also used Sackville's map. 6 1822 9,040 R. M. Mar- Cuttack district. No geography given, population agrees with tin. Shakespear's Police Report 1824, in that document names of 18 thanas comprising the district of Cuttack are mentioned. 7 1828 9,000 W liter Ha- Appears to bil Orissa proper or Cuttack. The territory covered is not clearly stated in milton. the description. 8 1872 7,717 Census Cuttack, Balasore, Pooree districts com- That portion of Orissa ceded to the Mat. (B~v.:rl~y) pre h~nding Orissa south of Subarna rattas in 1789 which became British territory rekha. on Iy in 1803. *Ewerestimated the area of Cuttack from Sackville's map. (b) Particulars of population- fourths of the area, that is 4,725 square miles, (13l-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF were occupied. He further assumed a popula- THE D~TRICT OF CUTTACK, 1818 tion of 200 per occupied square mile. With the addition of population of Cuttack, Balasore and srI. item particulars Pooree his calculation leads to a population of no. 1,045,000.. 1 2 3 Secondly, he estimated the total cultivated beeghas and assumed one ryOt for every twenty 1 area in square miles 6,300 beegha and non-agricultural workers forming 2 number of villages 11,000 one-fourth of ryots. He further assumed the size 3 population: persons • 1,252,000 of one ryot's or artisan's; family at 5. Thus he males calculated rural population. Adding urban popu females lation, a total population of 1,171,755 is work 4 number of families ed out. 5 number of houses 220,000 Thirdly, he estimated the number of villages 6 population per square mile • 199 at 11,000 excluding Koordah. He assumed aver 7 average size of a village 114 8 average size of a family age number of houses per village at 20 :1nd aver age persons per house at 5. This gives a popu 9 average size of a house. 5·7 of 10 femllesperthousand males lation of 1,100,.000. Adding his estimate the population for Koordah at 52,500 the total popu lation comes to 1,152,500, excluding an urban William Ewer tried to ascertain popUlation by popUlation of one lakh. The material, showing various methods. First of all he examined the his methods, is being presented below in a tabu official salt consumption figures and arrived at a lar form. maximum population of 500,000 which in his. view, was a gross understatement. There The detailed descriptive material regarding hi" occurred a large scale smuggling of salt. Follow populaltion estimates has been presented under ing H. T. Cole brooke, he assumed that three- 6 Explanatiin. 276 1. Year-1818 2. Place-District of Guttack (133-S) AREA, POPULATION, VILLAGES AND A reference to statements [not. reproduced by HOUSES OF THE DISTRICT OF CUTTACK, 1818 Ewer] furnished by the Salt Agent shows that AS ESTIMATED BY WILLIAM EWER instead of 151,000 mads. upon only on average of srI. no. of srI. no. item particulars the 3 years 1814. 15, & 16. 113,000 mds. have methods of items been sold for the internal consumption of the dis :trict or at t a chuttack per day for each soul 2 3 4 suffi~ient to supply a population only of about 1 total area in sq. mile 396,0'00. I must here observe that I do not think 6,300 a smaller allowance can be made for individual 2 occupied area at 75 % p.c. 4,725 daily 'consumption in this provinc.:: than th~t 3 assumed population per occu pied sq.m He. 200 given .by Mr. Becher,-a common mode of esti 4 total rural population 945,000 mating the guantity necessary for the consump 5 population of Cuttack, B:llasore 100,000 tbn of one Oriah, is as follows- 1 pul for two and·Pooree. days~there are 14 puIs in a Calcutta seer -- about 13 seers therefore per annum, or rather total by method I . • 1,045,000 more than t a chuttack daily suffices. Before probably the use of the article was plentiful II :lS5um~d cultivated land in bee- gha of 1600 sq. yards. 2,286,416 even to wastefulness, and we . may suppose that 2 rent free land in be~gha • 1,143,208 the people might even accustom ~hemselvcs t? 3 total cultivated land in beegha a somewhat smaller allowance. WIthout expen (1-t-2) 3,429,624 encing any serious deprivation. 4 number of ryots @ one per 20 beeghas 171,481 [extensive smuggling of salt] 5 numlnr of artisans, etc. at one fourth ofryot. 42,870 Can however, the allowance of 4, or even 6 total ryots and artisans • 214,351 500 000' souls, be considered at all an adeq:late co~putation of the population of this extensive 7 total population @ 5 per ryot or artisan, etc. 1,071,755 and by no means thinly peopled, or ill cultivated district which contains 3 very considerable towns, 8 population of Cuttack, Pooree Cuttack. Pooree and Balasore, two large manu and B:t.lasore. . 100,000 facturing villages. Janjepore, Buddruck together total by method II 1,171,755 with Sorsuck abounding in a Mussulman popula total numher of villages 11,000 tion and the whole of which swarms with 6rah 2 assuffi::d average number of min villages, whose inhabitants enjoying ease. indolence and comparative affluence from ,the large houses per village 20 extent of Lakheraje [Lakheraj] are of course ~f 3 total number of houses . 2,20,000 all others the most likely to increase and multi 4 assumed average persons per ply with extraordinary rapidity of progress. house. 5 5 total population excluding Ko- [population more than a million] ordah. 1,100,000 6 population ofKoordah • 52,500 Further, amongst the consumers of salt in this 7 population of towns 100,000 district must be taken into account the crowds of pilgrims annually resorting to the Temple at total by method III 1,252,500 Juggurnauth averaging at about 100,000 souls many of whom spend frC?tn 2 to 3 months _in the 5. METHOD- Distri(jt and the populatIon of the large VIllages The method in brief has been spelt out under or rather Towns of Jlungepore, Buddurack. Sor 4(b) Particulars of Population. Details have been weh and Bustah, have not been considered at all presented under 6. Explanation along with des in the above estimate. criptive material of population estimates. If there be any correctness in. the a~sumptioll of 6. EXPLANATION- the amount of the popUlation of the Mogul [salt consumption understated] bun dee at 1,20'0,00'0 souls, requiring each to satisfy their wants in consequence of their pecu The Salt Agent observes that the sales cf Govt. liar habits, a daily quantum of t chut.tack, then salt have been sufficien:My extensive to afford for the whole consumption of the District. an ample provision for the inhabitants of Cuttack annual supply of nearly 3t lacs of Mds. would and the neighbouring states, and that the quantity be requisite. Mr. Becher's sales of salt for the of salt sold in the province for the three last Mugalbundee ...... have not averaged s.lnce the ex- years, amounts upon an average to mds. 151,035 tension beyond 113,000 maunds suffiCIent to sup which at a daily allowance of 1 chuttack provides ply population of 396,000 souls. If then it be sup for 537.D13* souls. posed that the people can well afford to pay the *Correctly 529,565 277 1. Year-I818 2. Place-District of Cutfack hig~ price of salt, and consequently are not [population per village] obhged to reduce their consumption much below Fortunately, materials exist for bringing the what they were before accustomed to, it would a?ove rough and conjectural calculations to some follow that j- of the population are unprovided for by the salt agents sales. Or adopting a much ~tnd of t~st ~n the ascertained numbers of village IJ?- the Dl~tnct. Inquiries instituted at different more probable supposition that the o.riah8, in tIme relatIve t<_"> t~e. ~umber of villages within consequence of the enhanced price of the article, each thanah JunsdlctIon, make it appear that ~ave be~n compelled to stint themselves greatly there are altogether 10.500 villages in the whole Ill. quantity c,onsumed, and can now only afford Mogulbundee, exclusive of the Pooree and -l- Illstead of "2 .chuttack per day; there would still Khoorda Thanahs. The country in the vicinity be nearly a. thI~d of what I think myself justified of Pooree being the most populous part of [after] ~onsldenng the amount of the population Cuttack it will not be thought too much to allow unsupphed from the Govt. Stores. This may be 500 villages as comprised within the jurisdiction partly explained away by assuming the existence of ,the Thannah of Poorsootum ChuJtter. It re of smuggling to an extent, unknown elsewhere ma~ns to consider the average number of house notwithstanding the checks established to res~ whIch shall be allowed per village. The Oriah train it,. and the actiyity of the chowkey Daraga altho' very numerous are unquestionably much and theIr chupprasels who have the credit of smaller than those in Bengal. Repeated enquiries being by no means idle in preventing others from in Mymunsing and Rajshahi led me to form an benefiting by illicit traffic in salt. average of 40 houses for these rich flourishing [alternative methods of calculating population] and populous villages. Mr. Colebreoke's allow ance is somewhere about 37. If we assume an My views regarding the real hardships and Oriah village to consist of only one half the wi~vances resul~ing. from the salt monopoly so above, or about 20 and allow 5 which seems to mtImately and Illdlssolubly connected with the b~ a fair and ge~erally admitted average for the opinion which I have formed on this subjeCit, that sIze of each famIly, a result would be furnished I tru~ I may be excused for introducing the of 1,100,000 souls, it is to be observed that the followmg grounds of a conjectural estimate of the whole number be 11,000 villages gives about 2 to amount of the popUlation of the Mogulbundee. a . sq_uare mile, for the inhabited parts of the [assuming 200 persons per occupied square mile] DIstnct of Cuttack and Mr. Colebrooke's esti Mr. Cole brooke from various actual measure mate of the number of villages in Bengal little ments and ascertainments found a calculation of more than one. The supposition therefore that 200 inhabitants per square mile for J of Bengal the Oriah villages are only one half the size of in 1784, deducting about a fourth of the whole t~e Bengal [one has no] object on the assump are~ for tra~ts wholly wild and unoccupied, tIon of the same allowance in both provinces for whIch he eVIdently considers much below the the whole number of inhabitants on a square truth. The same mode of computation extended mile. 3 to Cuttack would give a result of upwards of [population of KQJrdah] 900.000 souls, excluding of course the popUlation In Major Fletcher's Hustababad papers of the Towns of Curtack. Balasore and Pooree. Koordah4 is said to contain upwards of 21,000 [ryot per cultivated beegha and artisans] houses, or at 5 pulghee a population of 105,000 The same author also suggests a computation souls-I certainly should not allow more than of one Ryot for every 18 Beeghas, and an aver hal~ of this for the amount of the population age of m~nufactures, artisan etc., to every 72. Mr. ~unng t~e two or three la8lt years preceding the Grant thmks that one cultivator should be allow Illsurrectlions. ed to every 25 of the small Ryottee Beeghas three of which are equal to two of these used by Mr. The above details warrant I think some degree an estimate of the popUlation of the Mogul Colebr<;>oke l . If 20. are allowed to every Beegha of cultIvated land m Cuttack, besides ! of the bundee, including the large territories of AuI. whole number for Khoosebaushes, artisans etc .. of Coojunll, Kunka as to say the 1<1st [least] various sorts and the ancient Brahmin popula 1,100,000. tion of the District and the justice of the assump [population of large towns] tions advanced in para 712 be allowed as to the proportion of the whole Districts under actual For the purpose of the present argument, how cultivation, a result of about 1,000,000 will be ever, the number of inhabitants in the large obtained. towns should be taken into consideration. I am II ne~d g~arcety ob3erve that these averages were formed ata time when the pOI)Ulationof Bengalof coursew~s arshort of Its present amount. Iviz .. arter bducting t of th whole area t of the remlinder land tilled and liable to assessment, and the same proportion rent ffee of which one half is under cultivation. Mr. Richardson estimates the whole number of villages in Cuttack at 11,250, upon what grounds I am not aware. Khoordacontainsprobably about 400 sq. miles. Itis divided into 8 or 10 pergunnahs of(?)zilla}1s. 278 1. Year-IBIB 2. Place-District of Cuttack inclined to think that less cannot be given for facts and surviving monuments, that Cuttack, at Cuttack than 50,000 or 100.000 souls for the 3 the time of the Mogul conquest, was in a vastly towns of Cuttack, Pooree & Balasore. more flourishing and civilized conditions, than [general condition of Cuttack district] We now find the country. Its manufacturers of cloth Were equally celebrated and sought after [Ewer was appointed "as Commissioner fo1' with those of the neighbouring Province of Ben enquring i11tO the general stale of the district 0f gal and Madras, and the Establishmertt of four Cuttack." He submitted his report with follow European factories 31t Balasore, about the mid ing words containeJ in para 2 and 3.] dle of the 17 th century. which at that prior 2. As [A] report on Cuttack affairs, to sup' [period] the trade of the prOVince was object ply the information required in the instruc',ions of attraction to Europeart enterprise. It sur· from the Judicial and Territorial Department and passes any other part of the country with which do any justice to a subject at once so interesting I am acquainted in the number and site of its and important, must necessarily embrace a vast Hindoo antiquities, and in the frequently occur extent and variety of matter. ring remains of majestic, richly sculptured tem ples, and of well wrought statuary, as well as in 3. 1 propose to divide my. subject into 3 the occasional vestiges of bridges, palaces and Heads; a consideration of ,the immediate causes other works of a similar nature, the attentive en Of the late insurrection, of the extent to which it quirer cartnot fail to discern unquestionable wide actually prevailed, a discussion of the condi ness of a formerly highly cultivated state of tion of its inhabitants, and Itheir feelings ~o SOme of the most important. ... The amount of the wards the British Governmertt. ReVeI1ue of the Ptovirtce. under its first Mogul Sovereign, corresponds with and confirms the [oppression and cxaction of niany kinds] above in presence .. They are indeed giVen at art It is certainly nait1ural to suppose, that the amount which at first view, statters a11d statters same causes which affected the prospcritly of ('1) and surprises. The Sirkars of Buddruck and Khoorda. under the British administration, may Cuttack, wilh part of lellasor, which comprise the have had operation more or less in the District present Mogulbundee, and assessed in the Ayeert at large, and it may safely be asserted, that if Akbory, at Daums or about 34 lacs of the Dus they had any real existence, the evils of oppres mesheh Rupees. sion and exaotion by the Police Officer, of heavy assessment, of less to the Ryots from the state [rising prices] of the currency, and of intolerable deprivation arising from the salt monopoly, combined and Much of t.he land now alienated rent roll, under crowned with the widesprcading inca1culabb the Mogul Government probably paid its regu mischief of pernicious withering influence, on lar assessment. The value of produce however the part of a corrupt and rapacious Sudder was then doubtless lower than at present, and as Amlah, prev~nting from their right end, insti there can be no reason to doubt the accuracy of tutions devised solely for the benefit of the the author of the Ayeen Akbery confessedly a people, and preventing abuses, however, serious, very light and moderate one, not exceeding one from coming properly to the knowledge of the fourth of the value of the gross produce of the Chief Authorities, would necessarily produce soil calculated in money, according to one autho declining prosperity, discontent, and disaffection rilty, or a third, according to others, stood at a towards the state. The prevalence of di~con higher rate than that of the British Government tent and disaffection amongst their native sub after the Province has been 14 years subject to jects in Cuttack, and had been brought to the the improved and enlightened system of British notice of the Government generally, previous administration. to the institution of the commission of enquiry and the instructions from the Judicial Depart nand revenue] ment point out as a chief duty of the Commis sioners, accurate investigation into the causes of The land revenue paid by an extent of boun this unpleasant s'tate of feeling whilst th~ Reso dary comprising six thousand and three hundred lutions of the Honourable the Vice President in square miles. does not exceed 1,438.382 Sicca Council in the Territorial Department, enlarge Rupees. upon the several questions connected WIth the past and future revenue administration of the [flourishing cultivation and poverty of peasantry] district which in the course of such investiga I have before stated, that during my tour tion would naturally affec;t the particular atten through the District, I was surprised to observe tion of the Commissioners. the vast extent of flourishing CUltivation, the (:on [flourished and civilised past] sideratjons, arising from which.· formed a grate ful relief to the apparent wretchedness and indi In the abs~nce of any historical documents, gence of l1he people. and their [loud] c(1mplaint~ !t may be conjectured from vflrious records, of heavy oppressive assessmept . 279 1. Year-1818 2. Place-District of Cutlack It was essential however to mark that a large ~t has rather preceded the capability of the peo proportion of the land in Cuttack yields only one ple, to sustain new burdens, the operation of the annual crop of rice, which is generally rather a Revenue Regulation having dispossessed and coarse and inferior description, compared with ruined upwards of } of these original proprietors that grown in Bengal, and that its great plenty, who possessed the good will and the confidence together with the scarcity of precious me1tals, and of the great mass of the agricultural population the fact of cowries being stlill the chief circula whilst the Oriahs hither to have benefited less tion of the interior render this main article of than their neighbours by the British judicial sys produce and subsistence cheap beyond what is tem and Regulations and in fact have suffered known in any 0iher pant of Company's posses much from the misconduct of the inferior instru sions. and abundant second crop of the com ments employed in their execution, it is not to monest pulse, oilseeds and ricinus or palma be supposed that they can feel any very strong bhristi. is produced on these lands, which are respect for, or attachment to their English Rulers De Fuslee but the richer and more valuable pro and these feelings of general discontent and dis ducts are here comparatively little cultivated. ()r inclinaltion would naturally break forth in loud wholly unknown, such as tobacco*, sugar, cottOl1, and unrestrained clamour on the part of the bulk jD(li~o, tlle bettJe vine, muJberry, etc, Jt is to be of the p~opJe, when encovraged to dedare their observed also that from whatever peculiarities of ~entiments, and to explain the grounds of them, climate, soil, and mode of cultivation, every as has been the case since the insurrection in April agricultural product of Cuttack is at a decidedly last. inferior description to those of the other more favoured provinces subjeot to the Company's With regard to the relative prosperity of the authority Thus the cotton of which its few population of Cuttack under the Murhatta and valuable cloths, the Balasore Sannas and the the British Govt. I confess myself unable to draw better species manufactured at Buddruck and any very satisfactory inferences. The system of Ianjepore, are made must be imported from the management of our predecessors, with all its glar Berar countries ,to the westward. where the article ing and nntorious vices and imperfections had its is grown of the very finest! quality. The tobacco. advantages as being in many respects well suited the bettIe, the sugar, ever better kinds of Dal and to the rude and ignorant condition of the peo gram, consumed and required by the more opu ple at large. Under the English rule, I believe, lent classes, the inhabitants of towns, the Com the Ryots to have been subject to burdens and pany's sepoys, the public and private servant's of impositions before unknown to them-I allude the British authorities, every superior article ()f particularly to the enhanced price of salt, and the dress or furniture and every thing in short, in the demand for the payment of Revenue in silver shape of luxury are all imported into the pro I am unable to discern any great benefits which vince, from Bengal, Berar or Madras. they have derived from the operation of the Re gulations. The Police of Cuttack is said to have The above desultory remarks serve to illustrate been in respectable order under the Marhatta both the root causes of the poverty of the agri administration, and the few and simple rights of cultural popUlation of Cuttack. compared with the humble cultivators of the soil, were then I that of other Districts, and at the same time its think better understood and not more frequently inability to pay so high an amount a<; its neigh violated than at present. The population of large bours for a given quantity of land under cultiv,l towns, including the movied (?) interes~ doubtless tion. enjoy greater security of person and prosperity, now then here Qf tqesetObaccolloneis 3rown in any ~onsid()rable quantities on some states patticuIarl),situated. 280 1. Year-IBI8 2. Place-District of Cuttack [inundation1 brought little but ruin and oppression." (L.S.S. Cuttack also, as remarked by Mr. Richardson O'Malley. Puri, Patna, Suptd. Govt. Printing, is peculiarly subject to inundation, notwith 1929. p. 53-Bihar and Orissa District Gazet standing all the care and expense bestowed in teers). guarding against its ruinous effects. Even when the system of managing the Bunds had come so Ewer, however, tried to estimate the population far improved, that they were found in general on certain assumptions. Henry Thomas Colc sufficiently strong to stand against the rush and brooke's methodology of estimating the popula press of torrents, during the usually heavy rains tion of Bengal contained in Colebrooke's Re of late season -the unrully elements contrived marks on the Husbandry and intemal Com in many places to baffle pre· cautions, by rising merce of Bengal first' published in 1784 was abJVe, and literally owrflowing the embank used by Ewer after some quantitative modifica m~nts, so as to occasion considerable damage- tion of Colebrooke's assumptions to suit the although far short of what might have happen situation obtained in Orissa. Ewer used three ed, had ·these works been in imperfect order at methods of computing population and results that time. The state of seasons here indeed were strangely similar, between ten and a half would appear to be peculiarly capricious, many lakhs to twelve and a half lakhs. It is diffi floods and inundation are recorded since 1804, cult to check the validity of the assumptions. arising from excess of rain, whilst kss has, just The population, also according to A. Stirling as often, and perhaps to a more serious extent, in 1822, was around 12 lakhs. The number of vil being sustained by to afailure of it. I need no lages was given at 11.000 by Ewer and at 11.9~5 further back that 1220, to prove the truth of by Stirling. Stirling confirmed the number of Vil the latter assertion. whw as Mr. Richardson re lages from the Police returns. To arrive at an ports rains had fallen short of a very distress average number of houses and inhabitants per vil ing degree-and I have already reported to gov lage and per house respectively Stirling obtained ernment my opinion of the failure of crops as Khaneh Shumar account for a few pargunas, occasioned in the succ~ssive years 1223 and yielding 20 houses per village and an average 1224, by the same cause. of 5 persons per house. According to a state ment entil~led "Provinces, Districts, Square 7. GAPS- Miles, Villages, Houses and Population of the [No gaps have been specifically mentioned by Permanently Settled Provinces of Bengal, Behar Ewer. He failed to arrive at any reasonable and Orissa, in 1822" contained in R. M. Mar estimate of popUlation from consumption of tin's Statistcs of the Colonies of British Empire salt, as according to Ewer, official figures re . .. (London, 1839), Cuttack was supposed to garding supply of salt were much below the have an area of 9,040 square miles divided into actual quantity consumed.] 10,511 villages with a popUlation of about 2 8· EDITORIAL COMMENT- million distributed into 396,924 houses. William Ewer was appointed as a Commis From a study of the contemporary material sioner to enquire into the general state of the as placed above, it appears thwt contemporary Cuttack district then comprising the later formed estimates of the area vary from 6,300 to 9,040 three regulation districts of Cuttuck, Balasore square miles the number of villages from differ and Puri. The enquiry was necessary following a ent estimates agrees at around 11.000. The fol "rebellion" in 1817. L.S.S. O'Malley wrote, lowing table has been prepared by taking th~ "This was a rebellion of the paiks, a kind of relevant figures of Cuttack, Balasore, and PUrl local militia to whom the English conquest had together in 1881 and in 1921. (134-S) AREA. VIUAGES. HOUSES AND POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT OF CUTTACK. 1818. 1881 AND 1921 area in year square villages houses population density a verage houses average persons mile per village per house 2 3 4 S 6 7 8 1818 6,3)0· 11,0)0 22'),000 1,252,000· * 199 20 S+ 1881 8,')56 15,612 6)J,608 3,571,932 443 40 5 1921 8,033 12,000 835,108 3,926,723 489 70 5 *Thearea of Cut tack District as it was in 1818, 'lc::ording to ourcllculation,is 8,056 square miles. **Tneruralpopul:ition is mentioned at 1,152,500 residingi n 220,000 houses,estimated urban population is onelakh. +The average P~i:sorip~thousehasb~~nwOl'lte 1. Year-1818 2. Place-District 0/ Cuttack The number of villages by 1820 was some 1814. the annual increase in the British portion thing around 11,000 as indicated in all contem between 1921 and 1961 was shown at the rate porary documents. This number became 24,000 1.04 per cent. The Official return of the number in 1881, though it was something around 16,000 of houses is perhaps more reliable. and. there in 1891 and so on. In the previous table, the fore. the assumptions of Ewer or Stirling regard number of villages was placed at ]6,612 as it ap ing the number of houses per village do not ap peared that something went wrong with the origi pear to be correct. Reference may be made to nal figures of 1881. The number of villages was the factors affeoting the change of population in likely to be on an increase due to an extension the pre-census and census period und~r Editorial of settlement between 1818 and 1881. Fluctua Comment of the estimate for 181"~. The position tions in the number of villages may occur also in the pre-census period was not at all better. due to changes in concepfi and definition. Defi But still popUlation may grow due to poltical nition of houses may not only vary, but the sam!.! stability. economic development. betterment of definition may be differently understood or inter considered together. it may perhaps be presumed preted. A village or a house was not defined by disasters and epidemics and positive factors like Ewer or Stirling. political stability and economic progress being The same assumption was used by Ewer and eonsidered together. it may perhaps be presumed Stirling regarding the number of houses per vil that the population is unlikely to grow at an lage taken at 20. But the official return dated annual rate of 1.4 percent (calculated on the basis 1822 (Report on the Population Estimates of of the official return of 1822) between 1822 and India, 1820-1830. p. 72) gives the number of vil 1881 against 0.25 per cent between 1881 and 1921 lages at 10.511 and number of houses at 396.924 and 1.04 per cent be,tween 1921 and 1961. It is yielding an average of 37 houses per village, not unlikely that the increase may be higher almost double the average used by Ewer or Stirl in the pre-census period between 1818 or 1822 ing. and nearly equal to the average worked out and 188], than that of the census period between for 1881. 1881 and 1921. [material conditions of people and population The official return of populat.ion for 1822. growth] therefore. given the average size of a house at 5. Ewer expressed his inability to draw any satis reached at two million. The following table factory inferences with regard to the relative shows the movement of population betwen 1818, prosperity of the population of Cuttack under 1881 and 1921. the Mahratta and the British Government. But (135-8) VARIATION IN .PQP'ULATION OF' THE he said, "under the English rule, I believe. the ryots to have been subject to burdens and im DISTRICT OF CUTTACK, 1818, 1881 AND 1921 positions before unknown to them ... Thlt police year population percentage average of Cuttack is said to have been in respectable variation annual p.c. order under the Mahratta administration, and variation the few simple rights of the humble cultivators 2 3 4 of the soil. were then I think better understood and not more frequently violated than as at pre 1818 1.254,000 sent." He noticed a diminishing trade of the dis 1881 3.571.932 +184'84 +2'93 trict, a remittance of revenue outside the district 1921 3.926.723 +9'93 +0'25 without any return and a greater security and prosperity in towns. He mentioned an increase in population and cultivation since 1800. But Populatrion increased at an average rate of 2.93 Ewer was of opinion that the great mass of popu per cent per annum between 1818 and 1881, but, lation of Cuttack "have little reason hitherto to between 1881 and 1921, the rate of increase was rejoice at the change. from subjection to the to the order of one fOUI1th of one per cent. authorities of the most ferocious of the Indian Taking the population at 1,984.260 according to States to that of the most enlightened nation on the official return of 1822. the increase is to the the face of the globe." Richardson. however. order of 80 per cent in 59 years ending 1881 at an indicated a betterment of conditions under the annual rate of 1.3 per cent. In the table present British rule. Ewer pointed out to the appalling ed under Editorial Comment of the estimate for poverty of thl! people. 21--439 R. O. India/ND/79 III Population Estimates CITIES AND TOWNS 283 1. SYLHET TOWN, 1813 YEAR-I813 PLACE-Sylhet Town 3. SOURCE posed to impose a tax on all houses in the kasbah Assam or town of Sylhet, of which he said that there Assam district gazetteer. V. 2. Sylhet. By B. were supposed to be some 31,220, all of which C. Allen. Calcutta, Cladonian Printing Works, were apparently situated on: the land on which 1905. p. 197-198 Do revenue had been; aS$es~ In :181l~ this [BSL/XI-5] asseSsment was imposed: it was~fdund :that there were 10,098 houses, but the total amount of the 4. MATERIALS- tax assessed was only Rs .. 926-0. Considerable (a) Geographical location- opposition had been offered to the assessment, the Walter Hamilton writes, "Sylhet-A town in householders had declined to supply the asse55- the province of Bengal, the capital of the pre ing officers with the infontlation they required, ceding district [Sylhet]; lat. 24°55' N. long. and the shop-keepers had closed their shops. The 91 °40' E. The travelling distance from Calcutta assessment was, on the face of it, ridiculous. But to this place is computed by Major Rennell at the Collector did not seem disposed to press the 325 miles, but the direct distance does not ex point; and proposed, that as the tax had proved, ceed 260 miles". (East India gazetteer. 2nd ed. as taxes always do, unpopular, and, as the de V. 2. p. 555). mand was inconsiderable and out of all propor tion to the cost of realjsation, the matter .lllight (b) Particulars of population- be droppeq. In 1813, the Collector estimated .the (136-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION population of Sylhet town as 30,000 persons OF SYLHET TOWN, 1813 living within a circuit or two koss, i.e., four' miles. srI. item particulars The first regUlar census·_was taken in 1872 when no. the popUlation was reported to be 16,846 souls. 1 2 3 Since that date it has steadily declined, the figures being 14,407 in 1881, 14,027 in 1891 and 13,893 1 area in square-miles 1'27 in: 1901, ,though in the latter year the total was 2 number ofvillages . .1 swelled·· by' the inclusion of some 500 'workmen 3 population: persons 3(),OOO who were engaged in the reconstruction ()f the males public buildings that had been demolished by the females earthquake. 4 numberoffamilies 7. GAPS- S numberofhouses 10,098 6 populationpersquaremile 23,622 N.A. 7 average size of a village 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 8 average size of family 9 average size ofa house. 3'0 The population trend of the early nineteenth 10 females per thousand males century is somewhat obscure. John Willes re ported a population of 75,382 by 1793. But the In 1811, .. .it was found that there were 10,098 town was described by his predecessor Lindsay as houses ... In 1813, the collector estimated the "an inconsiderable bazar or market place". It is population of Sylhet town as 30,000 persons living quite possible that figures presented by Willes re within a circuit of two koss, i.e., four miles. present a larger area. By 1800, the number of houses was estimated at 31,220. It means a popu 5. METHOD- lation of more than 90,000 even at the rate of It has been stated that the collector estimated three persons per house. In 1811, the number of the population. The basis of the estimate is not, houses was found to be 10,098. It is obvious that however, available. the number of houses cannot be reduced from 6. EXPLANATION- 31,200 to 10,098 between 1800 and 1811 under Sylhet town presents a rather mournful spec normal circumstances. tacle of general degeneration and decay. In the The popUlation was estimated at 30,000 in days of Muhammadan rule it must have been a 1813, the number of houses was stated to be place of some importance, and Mr. John Willes 10,098 in 1811 indicating about 3 persons per reports that the population at the time of the house. But Scouttetton mentioned 3,136 houses permanent settlement was 75,382. At first sight for a population of 18,896 (for the year 1817- it would appear that he must have been referring 19 ?). Information on persons per house is not to a much larger area than the town itself, as readily available even for the census period. The his predecessor, Mr. Lindsay, characterised it as population apparently declined to 16,846 in 1872. "an inconsiderable bazar or market place". On This decline continued up to 1901. Even in 1941, the other hand, in 1800 A.D., the Collector pro- the population was below the level of 1813. 285 286 I. Year-1813 2. Place-Sylhet Town If we accept Scouttetton's population of It was stated that "Sylhet is somewhat inacces 18.896 the general observation is same; a decline sible to the outside world, as during dry season, upto 1901, and, the population of 1921 was less steamers cannot come up the -river, and the than that of 1813 or of 1817-19. The following nearest railway station is 30 miles away. This table shows the trend. inaccessibility reacts unfavourably upon its trade. (t37-S) VARlATION IN POPULATION OF SYLHET The town is steadily declining in importance. The TOWN H13, lU7-19, 1872, 1881, 1891 •... 1961 place does not appear to have even been of great importance, and is described by Mr. Lindsay, population variation percentage Collector in 1778. as an inconsiderable bazar, the variation houses of inhabitants being fantastically built and 1 2 3 4 scattered upon the rising ground and numerous hills, so buried in groves to be scarcely discern 1813 30,000" ible. The characteristics persist to the present 1817-19 . 18,896 day and the general appearance of the place is 1872 16,846 -13,154 -43'85 distinctly rural (India. The Imperial Gazetteer, -2,050 -10'85 Vol. XXIII. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908. p. 1881 14,407 -2,439 -14'48 202-203). In 1911, the J. Mcswiney wrote, "In 1891 14,027 -380 -2'64 spite of its still being cut off from the main lines 1901 13,893 -134 -0'96 of communication, it now contains a population 14,457 greater than at any time since 1881, and its pre 1911 +564 +4'06 vious decline seems to have been arrested; with 1921 16,912 +2,455 +16'98 the probable extension of railway, there is a like 1931 21,435 +4,523 +26'74 lihood of further increase in future (India. 1941 28,128 +6,693 +31'22 Census of India, 1911. Vol. III. Assam. Part I. 1951 37,773 +9,645 +34'29 Report. Shillong, Assam Secretariat Printing 1961 37,740 -33 -0'09 House, 1911. p. 9). The Kulaura·-Sylhet Rail way branch line was established subsequently. *The ch'lnge between 1813 and 181i-19 is not The population began to increase appreciably shown: both the years are independently shown in relation to 1872. only after 1921. 2. BURDWAN, 1813-14 Y~AR-1813-14 PLACE-Burdwan 3. SOURCE- respectively inhabited by Hindus and Musel mans ... " This table contained information fur Hamilton, Walter nished above. On the basis of 5-!- to each house, Bayley worked out the population of the whole A geographical, statistical and historical des district. Walter Hamilton applied this . house cription of Hindostan and the adjacent countries. size to the number of houses of Burdwan town London. John Murray. 1820. V. I. p. 157. to work out the population. [BSL/915.4 H222 or. XIIA·l] 6. EXPLANATION- Walter Hamilton in the second .edition of th~ 4. MATERIALS- East India Gazetteer (Vat I. London, Wni. It; Allen & Co. 1828, p. 299) writes about the palace "The Burdwan raja has a palace (a vast heavy (a) Geographical location- pile of buildings) here, where he usually resides. This town stands about 60 miles N.N.W. from and also spacious gardens, laid out after the native fashion; but with a sort of summer house Calcutta, and originally communicated its name fitted up after the English manner by the side to the district; lat. 23° 15' N. long 87° 57'E. of a magnificent tank." (b) Particulars of population- 7. GAPS- (138-S) SUMMAR~ TABLE OF POPULATION OF Walter Hamilton mentioned ll;Jthing. But the BURDWAN,1813-14 houses and population mentioned are related to "Town of Burdwan and Suburbs" with 72 mauza.!!. 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- sri. item particulars no. W. B. Bayley presented houses and population of "Town of Burdwan and Suburb". This tract contained 72 mauzas. It is, therefore, doubtful 1 area in square miles whether the Burdwan town of the census period 2 number of villages . from 1872 is comparable to Bayley's urban tract of Burdwan. W. W. Hunter in 1870's described 3 population: persons 53,927 Burdwan as "the principal town and civil station of the District... situated on the banks of the males Banka nadi, in 23° 14'10" north latitude and 8r females 33' 55" east longitude. Although the principal town, Bardwan is not so important a seat of 4 number of families trade as either Kalna or Katwa, on the banks of the Bhagirathi. A considerable trade, however, 5 numbe r of houses. 9,805 is carried on in it and the town has materially 6 populationper square mile advanced in prosperity since the opening of the East India Railway through the District." In re 7 average size of a village viewing the popUlation of the district, Hunter continued, "Although the population of the Dis 8 average size of a family trict generally may be taken as approximately the same now as it was in 1814, that of the large 9 average size of a house . 5'5 town of Burdwan has largely decreased. In 1814 to fo;:mlles per thousand males. the town contained 53,927 inhabitants; in 1869, according to experimental census of that year, the population has decreased to 46,121 and in 1872, according to the general census, to 32,321 S. METHOD- souls. The town was very severely visited by the W. B. Bayley (Statistical View of the Popula epidemic fever, and the large decrease ill popu tion of Burdwan, Asiatic Researches, Vol. 16, lation is due to the mortality which it caused, as well as to emigration of numbers of people who 1814 p. 511-565), presented a table entitled "State fled from it. The collector, in a report to me in ment of the total number of dwelling houses 1870, stated that this fever wall w;timated to 287 288 1. Year-1813-14 2. Place-Burdwan have carried off at least five thousand of the in (139-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF habitants of the town within a period of six BURDWAN, 1813-14,1872.1881,1891, ... 1971. months" (Hunter. W. W. A Statistical AccQunt year po;)Ulation variation percentage of Bengal. Vol. IV Calcutta. Trubner & Co .• variation 1876. p. 39-40, 78). ______2 3 4 1813-14 53,927 Burdwan in 1961 contained an area of 8.75 1872 32,321 -21,606 -40'07 square miles. 19,752 houses. 20.732 households 1881 34,080 +1,759 +5'44 1891 34.477 +397 +1'16 and 108.224 persons. Thus average size of a house 1901 35,022 + 545 + l' 58 is 5.4 and average size I.)f a household is 5.12. 1911 35,921 +899 +2'57 }n} 34,616 -1,305 -3'63 Thus in 1814. the number of houses was 9.805 1931 39,618 +5,002 +14'45 and on the basis of same average size of house, 1941 62,910 +23,292 +58'79 1951 75,376 + 12,4t56 +]9'82 the population was 53,927. Thus both the number 1961 108,224 -132,848 +43'58 ('If houses and population doubled between 1971 144,970 +36,746 f33'95 1813-14 and 1961. But in 1814. the town with It is doubtful how far the popUlation of 1813- the suburbs probably contained a larger area. 14 is comparable to that of the census period. The census town of Burdwan is only a 'town' The population history makes it sad reading. whereas the pre-census tract is the town plus The popUlation declined from 53.927 to 32.321 suburbs, The town and suburbs together con or by 40 per cent between 1813-14 and 1961 taining 72 mauzas. give an. aver<\ge. population 136 per mauza 'against tbe district average of 412 perhaps mainly due to epidemic fever of 1870, per mauza in 1813-14, It appears that the pre l'ne population was almost stagnant up to 1921. census tract was pre·domimmtly rural. . Stupendous increase took place between 1951 In 1961. the Police Station of Burdwan con and 1961 (43.58 per cent). The following table tained 154 mauzas yielding an average popula shows the movement of population. tion of 1,483 per mauza. 3. CALCU'ITA, 1810-21 YEAR-1810-22 PLACE-Calcutta 3. SOURCE- ~alcutta (Municipal area) is approximately the (1) Martin. James Ranald CIty and suburbs of 1876 plus some expansion. The census report of Calcutta. 1876. dealt with Notes on the medical topography of Cal the rise and growth of Calcutta in its third part. cutta. [po 1837. 41]. [BSLjXVIH-23J Su;tanati; Calcutta and Govindpur were pro (2) Hamilton. Walter verbIally the base Of modern Calcutta. There is The East India gazetteer ...... Londoll. no need to trate the growth of the city in this John Murray. 1815,p. 200-207. small space. The proclamation of 1794 is rele vant and important, It ,is stated in the said Re [BSLj915.4(g) H 222 or XI-36J port. "th~ limits of the town was originally fixed (3) Hamilton, Walter by a proclamation issued by the Governor-Gene A geographical, statistical and historical ral in Council on the 10th September 1794. This description of Hindostan and the adjacent proclamation is too lengthy. It will be sufficient countries. London, Wm. Allen & Co .. to state that the boundary on the landside was 1820. V. I. p. 47-61. taken to· be on the inner edge of the Maharatta Ditch. as far south as Mochooa Bazar Street, and [BSL/915.4 H 222 of XIIA-l] thence forwArd the outerside of the present Cir (4) Hamilton. Walter cular Road as far as Alipore Bridge, from which The East India gazetteer. 2nd ed. Lon point to the .riveJ;' south side of Tally's Nullah is don. Wm. Allen & Co., 1828. V. I. p. 320. the boundary. On the west. the town included .. the river between Chitpore Nullah and Tolly's [ISI/915.4 H 222(1)] Nullah; but though not expressly excepted in the (5) India, Census . Mun~cipal consolidation Act, this portion 01 Census of IndIa 1901. Calcutta town and tpe rIver as well as reflt of the port. is under Act suburbs. By A. K. Roy. V. VII. Pan 1. .V(B.C.) of 1870 placed under the separate juris- Calcutta. B. S. Press. 190. p. 60-!Jo. .I ;;AUction of the Port· Commissioners. Speaking [BSL/V-65] generally. then. the town of Calcutta, exclusive (6) Martin. Robert Montgomery of the river: may be said' to occupy a space of Statistics of the Colonies of the British fout ,miles and a half in length from north to Empire in West INDIA...... Loudon. Wnt ' . :. south by one mile and a half in breadth. Of this H. Allen & Co., 1839, p. 290. space, the west side is open to the river (which [BSL/V-4-23 (839 or 314.2/M3831 varies in different parts from one-third to three fourths of a mile in width), and in the southern 4. MATERIALS- quarter. moreO'fer. contains the esplanade on the (a) Geographical location same side. On the north east and south it is [Source (3)] surrounded by the densely populated suburbs This city is situated about 100 miles from the of Chitpore. Cossipore. Ooltadanga. Bahir sea on the easu side of the western branch of Maniktola. and Bahir Simla, Narkeldanga, the Ganges. named by Europeans the Hoogh[y, .Sealdah. Entally. Ballygunge, Bhowanipore. Ali or Calcutta river, but by the natives the Bhagirati, pore, and Kidderpore ... the area computed by or true Ganges. and considered by them peculiar ly holy. Fort William. its citadel, stands in lat Mr. Williamson, the Municipal Surveyor, to be 2r 25' N. long. 88° 28' E. 5.037 acres or seven square miles 557 acres 23 [Source (1)] rods and 28 yards ... " The area in 1971 has ItJ has been ascertained that the extent of Cal 'already been stated. There are several maps of cutta. from the Maharatta Ditch at the northern Calcutta. Maps attached to the publication en extremity. to the Circular Road at the southern titled itA summary of tlie changes in the juris circuit of Chowringhee. is more than four and diction of districts in Bengal 1757-1916" by Rai quarter miles. and that its average breadth is only Monmohan Chakrabarti Bahadur shows the· one mile and a half. growth of Calcutta. In a map of Calcutta and DGeographical identification] Suburbs (scale approximate 1 inch = 1 mile), The area of Calcutta in 1971 was 104 sqUare Shri Chakrabarti has traced the growth from kilometre or 40.17 square miles. The present 1795 to 1913. 290 1. Year-18LO-22 2. Place-Galcutta (b) Particulars of populatwn- 2 3 (140-5) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF CALCUTTA, 1810-22 4 number of families sri. item particulars 5 number of houses . 67,514 no. 6 population per square mile 32,936 2 3 7 average~ size of a village. 1 :lrea in square miles 7 8 average size of a family . 2 number of villages . 9 average size of a house . 3 PJ~)ulation : persons 230,552 males 10 females per thousand males females ------(141-S) POPULATION ESTIMATES OF CALCUTTA, 1810-22* year authority respomible for the population where mentioned remarks estimate 1810 Sir Henry Russel,the ChiefJudge 1,000,000 Walter Hamilton. The East city and environs. India Gazetteer. 1828 Vol. I. 1810 General Kyd • 400,000 Do. year not definitely stated. to 500,000 1814 Sir Edward Hyde East 700,000 James Ranald Martin. Notes area covered not stated. on the medical topography of Calcutta. 1815 Walter Hamilton 500,000 Walter Hamilton. The East India Gazetteer. 1815. 1819 School Society. 750,000 Walter, Hamilton. The Ea st • India Gazetteer. 1828. Vol. I. 1821 Assessor's Census 179,917 Census of India. 1901. Vol. 7 residential I population. • Part I. 1822 Magistrates 230,552 Do. residential plus floating po- pulation. 1822 Shakes pear , Supdt., of Police, 265,000 Bengal Judicial (Criminal) Pro Lower Provinces. ceedings,10th Nov.,1825 ~0.55 5. METHOD- of Mr. Laprimandye. They counted the number [It was no where mentioned how Chief Justice of premises in the town which aggregated 67,519 Sir Hyde East calculated the population of Cal and assessed them at a sum of Rs. 266,000 per cutta. James Ranald Martin presumes that annum. They returned the resident population magistrates were responsible for the estiniate for at 179,917 souls, most probably an accurate 1800. He further presumes that the figures for figure; but, judged by the previous estimates 1814 were arrived on a consideration of the esti of Holwell-an estimate which had indeed be mate for 1800 taking into account a supposed c?me the fixed standa~d for gauging the popula increase in wealth and prosperity of the town. tIon of the town, theIr figures were discredited The news; paper East India Gazette quoted by in their own office, and the Magistrate by whom A. K. Roy also perhaps did not indicate the basis they were employed assumed an average number of its calculation. Waiter Hamilton also did not of persons in an average house of each kind mention any method. Assessers' census and ... It is rather remarkable that, although U; Magistrate's calculation were reproduced in the common with the pUblic, they rejected the figure Report on the Population Estimates of India. of popUlation furnished by the assessors, they 1820-1830. The assessers' calculation was based should have adopted as the basis of their calcula on an enumeration. The magistrates enhanced tion the "statements" of the very same assessors the figures on the basis of number of houses.] and stamped these as authentic. What they pro bably did was to strike an average for each class 6. EXPLANATION- of buildings in a number of definite areas the [Source (5)] figures for which had been tested. Even bv' this calculation, they obtained no more than 230,552 Four surveyors were appointed in 1819 for persons for the whole town. To this they added surveying the town, under the superintendence a lakh. said to have been counted by peons and *In the summary table, dl!e to convenience, only one figure has been. mentioned w~ich se(ms to be most plau sible. Though the year 1810 strIctly does not come under tile reference pefJod, a r o[,ulatlon figure I'as been rer ro duced to show how Wild Were the guesses. 291 1. Year-1810-22 2. Place-Calcutta sircurs stationed at the principal entrance to dorbunds. At high water, the river is here a full the town, as the number of daily incomers for mile in breadth. but during ebb tide, the oppo business. But the public were still so doubtful site shore exposes a long range of dry sand of the correctness of the census that John Bull, banks. On approaching Calcutta from the sea, the mouthpiece of the local public of the time, a stranegr is much struck with its magnificient found it necessary to explain the shortness ot appearance; the elegant villas on each side of even this increased estimate of the Magistrates, the river, the Company's botanic gardens. the so strong a hold had Holwell's population spires of the churches, temples. and minarets. figures taken on the minds of its constituents. and the strong and regular citadel of Fort In its issue of the 8th August 1822 it says: William. It exhibited a very different appeal ance in 1717. of which the following is a COf "The great difference between this total rect description. amount and fonner estimates is very striking, and a general opinion prevailed that the [Calcutta in 1717] population could not but exceed the total The present town was then a village. apper returned bv the assessors. But it has been taining to the district of Nuddea, the houses of ascertained that the extent of Calcutta from which were scattered about in clusters of 10 or the Mahratta Ditch at the northern extre 12 each, and the inhabitants chiefly husband mity, to the Circular Road at the southern men. A forest existed in the south of Chand circuit of Chowronghee, is not more than 4t paul Ghaut, which was afterwards by degrees miles, and that its average breadth is only removed. Between Kidderpoor and the forest, mile and a half. The lower or southern divi were two villages, whose inhabitants were in sion of the town, which comprises Chow vited to settle in Calcutta, by the ancient family ringhee, is but thinly peopled; the houses of of the Seats. who were at that time merchants Europeans widely scattered and Colinga, of great note, and very instrumental in bringing which is a part of it, is chiefly occupied by Calcutta into the form of a town. Fort William natives. The division between Dhurrumtolla and the esplanade are the site where this forest. and Bow Bazar has denser population; it and the two villages above mentioned formerly comprises the most thickly inhabited Euro stood. In 1810. there were suill inhabitants alive. pean part of Calcutta as well as a great num who could recollect a creek, which extended ber of country-born Christians, who reside in from Chanpaul Ghaut to Balliaghaut; and who the town with their families. The northern said. that the drain before the government division. between the Bow Bazar and house is where it took its course. To the south Machooa Bazar comprises perhaps the most of the Beytakhana there is still a ditch, which dense part of the population of Calcutta. shows evident traces of the continuation of the The upper division to the north of Machooa creek. Bazar is, comparatively speaking, but thin [Calcutta in 18201 ly covered with habitations, presenting The modern town of Calcutta extends along towards the north and west, extensive the east side of the river above six miles, but gardens, large tanks, and ruinous habitations. the breadth varies very much at different places. It is not improbable, therefore, that the large The esplanade between the town and Fort Wil estimates made" of the population of Calcutta liam leaves a grand opening, along the edge of at former periods may be owing to the crowds which is placed the new government house. of artizans, labourers, . servants and sircars, erected by the Marquis Wellesley, and conti and to the numerous strangers of every coun nued on in a line with this edifice, is a try which constantly met the eye in every range of magnificient houses ornamented with part of the town". spacious verandahs. Chouringhee, formerly a [Source (3)1 collection of native huts, is now an entire vil lage of palaces. and extends for a considerable The locality of this capital is not fortunate. distance into the country. The architecture of for it has extensive muddy lakes, and an im the houses is Grecian, which does not appear mense forest close to it; and was at first deemed the best adapted for tlhe country or climate, as the scarcely less unhealthy than Batavia, which it pillars of the verandahs are too much elevated, resembled in being placed in a flat and marshy to keep out the sun during the morning and country. The English. it has been remarked. evening; although at both these times. especial have been more inattentive to the local advan ly the latter. the heat is excessive; and in the tages of situation than the French, who have wet season it is deluged. by the rain. Perhaps always in India selected better stations for a more confined Hindoo style of building, al founding their foreign settlements. The jungle though less ~rnamental. might be found of more has since been cleared away to a certain dis practical comfort. The principal square extends tance. the streets properly drained, and the ponds about 500 yards each way, and contains in the filled up. by which a vast surface of stagnant centre an extensive tank. surrounded by a water has been removed, but the air of the town handsome wall and railing. and having a grada is still much affected by the vicinity of the Sun- tion of steps to the bottom, which is 60 feet 292 1. Year-JBJO-22 2. Place-<:alcuua from the top of its banks. A range of in-. [Fort William] different looking houses. known by th~ name of Fort William stands about a quarter of a the writers buildings. occupies one slde of the mile below the town. and is superior in strength square, and near to it on the, s~te of th~ old and regularity to any fortress in India. It is of fort. taken by Sehraje-ud-Dowla. 1n 1757, 1s a an octagon form, five of the faces being regular. custom house, and several other handsome while the forms of the other three next the river. buildings. are according to the local circumstances. As no approach by land is to be apprehended on this [Indian town] side, the river coming up to the glacis, it was merely necessary to guard against attack by The black town extends alung the river to the water, by providing a great superiority of fire. nordh, and exhibits a remarkable contrast to which purpose has been at-tained by gi'Ving the the part inhabited by Europeans. Persons who citadel towards the water the form of a large have only seen the latter (which is prob~bly salient angle, the faces of which enfilade the the case of a great many individuals) have httle I;'.ourse of the river. From these faces the guns conception of the remainder of the city; but continue to bear upon the objects, till they ap those, who have been led there by their public proach very near to the city, when they would or private avocations, will bear testif!lony to. thl' receive the fire of the batteries parallel to thl! wretched condition of the least SIX III eight river. This part is likewise defended by adjoin plrts of this externally magnificient city. The ing bastions, and a counterguard which covers streets here are narrow, dirty, and unpaved; the them. houses of two stories are of brick, with flat ter raced roofs; but the great majority are mud The five regular sides are towards the land; cottages covered with small tiles, with side walls the bastions have all very salient orillons. of mats: bamboos, and other combustible mll;te behind which are retired circular flanks. ex rials the whole within and without swarmmg tremely spacious, and an inverse double flank with' population. Fires, as may be inferred (rom at the height of the berme. This double flank the construction, are of frequent occurrence; would be an excellent defence. and would but do not in the least affect the. E.uropean serve to retard the passages of the ditch, as quarter. which, from the ~e. ~f building. is from its form it cannot be enfiladed. The 'orillon quite incombustible. In thIS dIVISIon the houses preserves it from the effect of ricochet shot, and stand detached from each other, within a space it is not to be seen from any parallel. The berme, enclosed by walls, the general approach being opposite to the curtain serves as a road to it, by a flight of steps ulldt;r a large verandah. and contributes to the defence of the ditch like their whole appearance bemg uncommonly ele a fausse-bray. gant and respectable. Although brick, mortar. and wood are not scl1rC'e in Calcutta. yet th.e [soil] money sunk in building a house is very C0I?-Sl derable; and, being a perishable C?mmodlty, requiring constant repair, house rent 1" propor Until 1814, it had always been a commonly tionally high. The wh~te a~ts are . also so received opinion that the soil in the vicinity of destructive and rapid m 1!herr operatIOn, that Calcutta was particularly moist and full of sometimes every beam in a house may be co~ springs, but the reverse was proved in that year. pletely excavated internally, while outwardly It as after boring to the depth of 140 feet, no appears perfectly sound. springs of any description were perceptible. While deepening, in 1813. the great tank at the [bazarsJ beginning of the Chouringhee Road, a quantity of decayed wood was found at the depth of 35 In Calcutta, the greater number of the bazars feet below the surface. which was imagined at are the property of individuals, who p~y a cer that time to be an accidental circumstance; but tain assessment to government, fixed m perpe in 1814, when Sir Edward Hyde East bored in tuity, or for a long peri.od ?f years. The: total search of springs, rotten wood in a stratum of number of this descriptJ::lO IS 13. and theIr col blue clay was perforated. at the distance of half lective assessment 10,050 rupees, Three of tp.em. a mile from the- tank above mentioned. which denominated from the persons who establIshed renders probable the supposition. that the debris them. Tiretta's bazar, Sherburne's bazar. and of an ancient forest forms a substratum to a Short's bazar, are held under grants from gov considerable extent, at that distance from the ernment for 99 years, the two former assessed surface. The acknowledged jmprovement of with 500 rupees per annum. the last with 832 the climate in and about Calcutta of late years, rupees. These grants were. made. t? encourage is to be ascribed to the attention paid by· the the construction of substantlal bUlldmgs, ada~t police to a general system of drainage. and to ed for the convenience of the market dealers In the cutting of broad straight roads through the different parts of the town. Six other baiars. the contiguous woods, in the direction of the erected on ground belonging to the. government, prevailing winds. If some less swampy produc· are let in farm. tion could be substituted for rice in its neigh- 293 1. Year-J8JO-22 2. Place-Calcutta bourhood, perhaps a still greater degree of salu of Britain, being dificient in size, strength anu brity might be attained. The rainy season at swiftness, which observation also applies to the Calcutta usually b~gins about 12th of June, and Bengal fox, which is a very contemptible animal. is accompanied by much thunder, and ends Tables of the gentlemen in Calcutta are dis about the 14th of October. tinguished by a vast profusion of most beautiful fruits, procured at a very moderate expense, such [navigation] as pine apples, plantains, mangoes, pomeloes or Calcutta possesses the advantage of an excel shaddocks, melons of all sorts, oranges, custard lent inland navigation, foreign imports being apples, guavas, peaches and an endless variety transported with great facility on the Ganges of other orchard fruits. But the great luxury of and its subsidiary streams, to the northern Calcutta is the mangoe fish (so named from its nations. of Hindostan, while the valuable produc appearing during the mangoe season), the taste tions of the interior are received by the same and flavour of which can be sufficiently extolled. channels. There are seldom less than one By the natives they are named the Tapaswi million sterling in cloths belonging to native (penitent) fish, (abbreviated by Europeans to merchants deposited in Calcutta for sale, and Tipsy) from their resembfing a crass of refigfous every other species of merchandize in an equal penitents, who oughc never to shave. proportion. The total capital belonging to native monied and commercial interests Wits [carriage & dress] estimated in 1807, to exceed 16,000,000 stet The usual mode of visiting is in palanquins, ling, and has certainly since that time been but many gentlemen have carriages adapted to greatly augmented. This amount is employed the climate, and the breed of horses has lately by them in the government funds, loans to indi been greatly improved. It is universally the viduals, internal and external trade, and in vari practice to drive out between sunset and dinn~r. ous other transactions. The formerly timid and as it becomes dark, servants with torches Hindoo now lends money on respondentia, On go out and meet their masters, and run before distant voyages, engages in speculations to re the carriages with an astonishing rapidity, and mote parts of the world, ensures as an under for a wonderful length of time. It was formerly writer, and erects indigo works in different parts the fashion, and it is still adhered to up the of the provinces. He has the advantage ~f country, for gentlemen to dress in white cotton trading· on his own capital with much greater jackets on all occasions being well suited to the frugality than a European, and exclusive of the climate, but being thought too much of an un security of his property, enjoys the most perfect dress for public occasions, they are now laid toleration of his religion. In September ) 808, aside for coats of English cloth. the Calcutta government bank was established, with a capital of 50 lacks of rupees, of whic:h [special security] government have 10 lacks and individuals the remainder. The notes issued are not for less The British inhabitants stationary in Calcutta, than 10 rupees, or more than 10,000. and scattered through the provinces, are general ly hospitable in the highest degree, and most [European society] liberal where their assistance is wanted. When an officer of respectability dies, in either service. The European society in Calcutta is numer0lls, leaving a widow or children, a subsctiption is gay and convivial and the fetes giv.en by the Gov immediately commenced, which in every ins ernors-General, splendid and well arranged. E3.(:h tances has proved generous and not unfrequently of the principal officers of government have their has conferred on the parties a degree of afflu public days for the reception of their friends, ence, tha~ the life of the husband or parenl independent of which not a day passes, parti could not for many years have accomplished. cularly during the cold season, without several large dinner parties being formed of from 30 to [Asiatic Society] 40. A SUbscription assembly also subsists, but it is unfashionable, although it is the only place of The Asiatic Society was planned by Sir William public amusement, the society being much sub Jones on the outward voyage from England, and divided into parties. formed into a regular institution on the 15th January, 1814. lts principal object is to concen [meats, J1uits & fish] trate in one focus the valuable knowledge that may be occassionally attained of Asia, or at least The Calcutta market supplies a great variety to preserve many little tracts and essays, the of game, such as snipes, wild ducks, partridg~s, writers of which might not think them of suffi and different species of the ortolan tribe; the cient importance for separate pUblication. From whole comparatively cheap. The wild venson is this period may be dated the commencement of much inferior to that of Britain, but the park or all accurate information regarding India in gene stall fed is egually good. The hare is a very poor ral. and Hindostan in particular, which even at creature, and differs in many qualities from that die present day is put very imperfectIy known. 294 1. Year-1810-22: 2. Place-Calcutta [British merchants] climate of the province is not essentially im The British merchants of Calcutta are a numer proved. Europeans are now much better ac rous and respectable body of men, many of quainted with the means of counteracting its whom have acquired large fortunes by their in effects than formerly, and deaths are far from dustry and enterprising spirit, and conduce essen being so frequent. Regularity of living. avoiding tially to the prosperity of the province. Here they too much exposure to the sun, and all extremes display a liberality in their manner of living, (even of abstinence) are much more practised seldom equalled in other parts of the world; and by the modern inhabitants, than they were by their acts of charity and munificence to persons the early adventurers; vacancies, consequently. in distress have never been surpassed by any in any line or trade are of much rarer occur similar number of individuals of any rank what rence. The maintenance and education of ever. children, the offspring of Europeans in India, have, on account of their number, became ob [Armenians and other European merchants] jects of great importance. Two institutions for The Armenians are a respectable, and probab this purpose have been formed, one for the edu ly the most numerous body of toreign merchants cation of officer's children, and the other for at the presidency. They carryon an extensive those of private soldiers. To these charitable trade to China and the eastward, and to the west foundations may be added a free school and as far as the Arabian Gulf, or Red Sea. Some native hospital. of the superior class are usually invited to the public balls and entertainments. The number of [intercourse between Europeans & natives] Greek merchants in Calcutta is not considerable. It is in Calcutta, that the effect of the inter They maintain one clergyman who performs reli course between Europeans and natives is in any gious worship according to their rites. The Por degree visible, as there alone, an indistinct sort tugueze houses of agency are, in point of num of link may be discerned between the rulers and ber, next to those of the English. A very consi the people. The lowest and poorest Europeans derable number of the progeny of that nation and the native born Christians and Portugueze, reside in Calcutta and the environs, and have do, in some slight degree, mix with the natives approximated very closely to the native~ in in their ordinary concerns and amusements, just appearance and manners. Among the vanous sufficient .to produce a very inconsiderable classes of merchantile community no mention is change in their manners and character. The made of Jews. Few of that nation have settled establishment of the Supreme Court, and the in Hindostan, and Calcutta is probably the only intercourse between the native and the lowest very opulent town that is wholly free from them'. officers of that court, must be considered Their practices and occupations are engrossed by another cause of the same nature; but by these the native sirkars, banyans, and writers; most of cause their morals have not been in the slightest whom are quite a match for any Jew. The shop degree improved. On the contrary they have of these petty traffickers. although better than learned all the mean arts of chicanery, impos their houses, are mean and disagreeable. The ture, and litigiousness, to which they are by European shops are singularly splendid. Some of nature sufficiently prone; without acquiring a these native traders have accumulated enormous particle of plain dealing, firmness, independence fortunes, and the public apartments of a few are of spirit, or useful knowledge. They appear to fitted up after the European fashion with elegant imbibe only those principles of the European chandeliers, pier glasses, couches, chests .of character which tend to impair the mildness and drawers, desks, and two or three hundred chairs simplicity of their own; and whenever in the while in other rooms the images of their gods are behaviour of the natives insolence, ill nature, seen decorated with jewels. Some have taken to coarseness, brutality or drunkenness, qualities the drinking of tea, some keep English coaches hostile to their national character, are observed, and equipages, and one in particular had an the change may be inveriably traced to their English coachman. intercourse with low Europeans. [Indians in inferior positions] 7. GAPS- Without being attached to some depart~ent [Source (5)] of the service, or trained up to some mech~mcaI trade, there is hardly any hope of prospenty to The populatiou estimated by Grandprc, a youngman migrating on chance from Europe. Martin, the Police Committee, the Magistrates. Here all the inferior situations of clerks, over· Sir Edward Hyde, and the East India Gazetteer seers &c. are necessarily occupied by the natives, in the years 1789, 1796. 1800, 1802, 1814 and and it is by these gradation~ in Europe, t~at 1815 appear prima facie to have be'en mere young men rise to opulence m the commerCial at the day-population of the town, in all of world It is scarcely in the power, even of a which Holwell's wrong and exaggerated esti governor general, to assist a person of recpect mate was undoubtedly a determining factor. able connexions, who does not belong to one of None of the five latter calculations seem to have the liberal professions; and although the general taken note of the fa<;t that by the Governrnent 295 1. Year-I810-22 2. Place-CalcuJla notification of 1794, the inland boundary of thie: Census (Census of India, 1951. Vol. VI : West town had been fixed generally to be the Bengal, Sikkim & Chandernagore, Part I-A Maharatta Ditch and that, therefore, the "out report, p. 289). The figures therein are 669,426 towns" of Ban'iapooker, Tangra. Pagladanga for 1872, 648,490 for 1881 and 741,889 for 1891. and Dhallanda, the population of which bad With these figures, the population of Tollygunge been included in Holwell's calculation, lay should be added to make them a part of the beyond town· Besides. in their calculations, no time series on 1971 geographical unit. attempt was made to distinguish the resident The figures for the series for 1901-1961 are population of the town from its day-population, taken from the Census of India, 1961, General or the population of boats and steamers in the Population Tables. The figures for 1971 are harbour of Calcutta from that of the town-lands. taken from the Filial PopUlation of 1971. For I.ndeed, Martin's indication of the prosperity of 1931, the popula\tlion of Calcutta is given as the town, by a reference to the dealings of some 1,165,338 in the time series presented in the of the commercial houses to the amount of two District Census Hand Book of Calcutta~ 1961. crares of rupees annually, points to his including There were, it is wellknown, narrow communal the population of the port in his estimate, and consider~tions that led to an inflation of popu it is by no means clear 'that the population of lation returns of Bengal and the Punjab. This Howrah and Sulkea, and other adjacent parts, could naturally cast its shadow also on Calcutta. outside of the town which "added to the consum Asok Mitra estimated the ceiling popUlation of ption of 'the place" excluded. Calcutta in 1941 as'1,730,074 against an official [Source (4)] return of 2;167,485, The corrected figures and By some strange ar(angement in the above consequen~ percentages are presented in paren calculation 1821-1822, the pop-ulatioQ of the thesis in the following table. suburbs of Calcutta appears to _be excluded and (142-S) POPULATION OF CALCUTTA, 1822.1872, separated from that of the town, a process which:. 1881,1891,·... 1971 (based on 1971 area and bounrlary) if adopted in England would reduce London to year population percentage a very moderate number; nor was the simple variation expedient of counting the houses resorted to. So long ago as 1798 these amounted by enutnera 2 3- - - tion to 78,760, and there is no reason to suppose ,they have since de<;reased. A great number ?f 1822 230,552* the adult sojourners in Calcutta leave their, 1872 704,290 families in the adjacent villages, so that the pro 1881 665,004 --5·58 portion of children within the body of the town 1891 724,633 +8'97 is remarkably small. 1901 933,754 +28'86 1911 1,016,445 +8·86 [Source (6)] 1921 1.053,334 +3·63 Both of ... calculations [calculations of 1800 1931 1,221,210 +15·94 and 1814] must have been erroneous unless they 1941 2,167,485 +77·49 include the suburbs of Cossipore and Garden (1,730,074} [ +41.67J Reach which we believe, they did not. 1951 2,698,494 +24·50 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- [ +55.981 There are several estimates of population of 1961 2,927,289 +8·48 Cakutta prior to 1872. Most of these esimates 1971 3,141,180 +7·31 were adjusted by A. K. Roy in the census report *Th~ corresponding estimate for the same area was of 1901. Some of them may be rightly rejected 428, 328 in 1872. as wild guess. In the pre-census years between 1821 and 1871, Ca1cu~ta perhaps doubled. Perhaps a further scrutiny of changes in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Area together with . It is difficult to build up any series of popula adjustment for imperfeotion of earlier enumera tion of Calcutta even for the census period. The tions will yield higher po pulation figures for early table presented below has its own limitatiuns. years. The figures for 1872, 1881, and 1891 were taken from the time series presented in the censu~ Assuming tha~ the popUlation of Calcutta tables- of 1921 (India. Census of India 1921 was around two lakhs in 1821 (the assumption is V 6. City of Ca1cuNa, Part 2. tables by W.H. subject to qualifications as already stated), the Thompson, Calcutta, Bengal Secretariat Book population doubled by 1872 approximately nepot, 1923); with these figures, the populatiol) within the same area and boundary; that is, of Cossipore-Chitpore, Maniktola, and 'toJly roughly, the growth is at the rate of 2 per cent gunge has been added; as no population of per annum for about half a century. Tollygunge was available in 1872, the figures for During next fifty years, 1872-1921, the growth 1881 were used. The popula'.t~on series thus is around 50 per cent (though in the population 'reconstructed fort the decades 1872-1891 do not table presented for 1872 to 1971, geographical agree with the statement I. 107 of the 1951 area is that of 1971 and therefore subSlt'antially 296 1. Year-J8JO-22 2. Piace-Caiclitta larger than the area covered by the populati~n when greater Bombay grew by 43.75 per cent mentioned above between 1821 and 1872; any in 1961-1971 and 39.95 per cent in 1951-1961. how, we are presently discussing the rate and (Census of India 1971. Paper 1 of 1971 Supple not the absolute population, the pre-census series ~ent. Provisional Population Tables. p. 50). of the adjusted area may be reconstruoted in It may be mentioned that in. West Bengal the future) and the next 50 years, 1921-1971, witnes growth of all classes of towns together was 35.97 sed a growth of 198.2 per cent, that is, the annual per cent in the decade 1951-1961, but the rate rate is around 4 per cent. declined to 27.95 p 1. Year-1814 2. Place-Chandernagore H. Shakespear, Superintendent of Police, Lower year population variation percentage Provinces mentioned a census in 1823 revealing a variation population of 44,538 with 8,484 houses. 2 3 4 (147-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF CHANDER. NAGORE, 1814,1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 1941 38,284 +11,022 +40'43 y<}ar population variation percentage 1951 49,909 + 11,625 +30'37 variation 1961 67,105 +17,196 +34·45 1971 2 3 4 75,960 +8,855 +13'20 The population declined between 1814 and 1814 41,377 1872 at a rate of 0.72 per cent per annum, 1872 24,000 -17,377 -42·00 remained stagnant around the level of 1872 up 26,000 +2,000 +8·33 to 1921 increasing at an average rate of 0.12 per 1881 cent per annum. The growth pattern up to 1951 1891 27,000 + 1,000 +3, 85 has been discussed by Asok Mitra. After the 1901 26,831 -169 -0·63 merger of the territory in West Bengal, size of the population was no longer dependent! on im 1911 25,293 -1,538 -5·73 migration or emigration. The decline of the 1921 25,423 +130 +0·51 growth rate bet1\Veen 1961 and 1971 was perhaps due to normalisation of political relations after 1931 27,262 +1,839 +7·23 ------_._------the merger. 6. ClDNSURA, 1814 1. YEAR-1814 2. PLACE-Chinsura 3. SOURCE (b) Particulars of population- (1) Bengal (148-8) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF Bengal Judicial (Criminal)" Proceedings, 10th CHINSURA, 1814 November, 1825, Original Consilltations, No. srI. item particulars 55. no. [WBSAj 1 2 3 (2)· Hamilton, Walter 1 area in square miles .. •• East India Gazetteer, London, Wm. H. Allen 2 number of villages • and Co., 1828. V. 1. p. 401. 3 population : persons 18,679 males [ISI/915.4 H222 (2)] females 4. MATERIALS- 4 number of families (a) Geographical location- 5 number of houses • 3,996 6 population per square mile [SOurce (2)] 7 average size of a village A Dutch settlement in the province of Bengal, 8 average size of a family • situated on the West side of the Hooghly, eighteen 9 average size of a house 4·7 miles direct distance from Calcutta; lat. 22° 52 10 females per thousand males N. Ion. 88° 28 E. (l4::>·S) ABSTRACT STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSES AND THE POPULATION OF FOREIGN SETTLEMENTS [CHINSURA, 1814] total number total number amount of name of the districts of villagesin of houses in population remarks each district each district 2 3 4 5 Foreign silttlelnents Cftinsura 3,996 18,679 Census taken in 1814 but the population said to be considerably reduced since that period. Sd/- H. 3tukespear, Calcutta Office, Supdt. SJ.~1dt. P. L. P. Poli;e. Lower Provs. the 1st N)v., 1824. 5. METHOD- Schools were established at Chinsura and in As stated above, a census was taken in 1814. its vicinity, with the view of instruoting native The year is the same when W. B. Bayley conduc children in reading, writing, and arithmetic, in ted a census of 98 towns and villages to ascertain the Bengalese language, on an improved and the population of district of Burdwan. No details economical system. In 1814 the total number of however were available about this census of children on the books of fifteen village schools Chinsura. was 1,080; and the number of those who regularly attended, 861. The greater proportion of the .(;. EXFLANAT/ON teachers were Brahmins; the remainder, of the rSource (2)] writer caste. A few of the more advanced boys The first factory of the Dutch East India were taught English, chiefly as a reward for their Company was erected here in 1656, and the site, proficiency in their own language and general on the whole, is much preferable to that of Cal· good conduct; but it is very desirable that this cutta. In 1769 Chin sura was blockaded by the branch of education should be more directly Nabob of Bengal's forces to c0mpel the payment encouraged, so that the English language may of arrears of duties, although the province was occupy the place of the Persian (also a foreign then actually possessed by the English East India language) in public courts and documents, and Company. Tn 1814 the total revenues of Chinsura bring the conquerors and the conquered to a Ilnd Baranagore amounted to 17,988 rupees. closer cOlIllllunity of illlterests and ideas. 300 301 1. Year-1814 2. Place-Chinsura 7. GAPS- 1 2 4 Nothing mentioned. 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 1891 33,060 +1,883 +6.04 The population increased by 86 per cellt 1901 29,383 between 1814 and 1872. The population steadilY -3,677 -11·12 declined from 1881 to 1921 and even in 1931 did 1911 28,9;16 -467 -1·59 not reach the level of 1872. An increase of 50 1921 29,938 +1,022 +3·53 per cent is recorded between 1931 and 1941 and of 46 percent between 1951 and 1961. The 1931 32,634 +2,696 +9.01 population of 1971 was about six times higher 1941 49,081 + 16,447 +50.40 than that of 1814. The following table shows the trend. 1951 56,,805 +7,724 +15·74 1961 (150-8) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF 83,104 -J-26,299 +46.30 CHtNSURA, 1814, 1872, 1'81, 1'91~.,,1971 1911 1~S,3'!"1 +22,237 +26·76 year population variation percenta~e variatioll It has been stated that 1,080 scholars were 2 3 4 enlisted in 1814 in 15 village schools or the scholars formed slightly above t per cent of 1814 18,679 popUlation. It may be interesting to note that 1872 34,761 +16,082 +86'10 of the present 16 high ·scllools under the 1881 31,177 -3,584 - 10·31 Hooghly-Chinsura Municipality. Hooghly Col legiate School dates back to 1812. 7. COSSIMBAZAR, 1829 1. YEAR-1829 2. PLACE-Cossimbazar 3. SOURCE~ 5. METHOD- It has not been illustrated what is actually Thornton, Edward meant by a careful census. It is presumed that A gazetteer of the territories under the some sort of an enumeration of population was , government of the East India Company, and of conducted. the native states of the government of India. 6. EXPLANATION- V. II. COO-JYT. London, Wm. H. Allen & Co., 1854 p. 29. The Bhagirathi, a great offset of the Ganges, h~re fo!ms, by its winding. a peninsula, at one [BSL/XI-38J tIme lllsulated, and thence denominated the Island of Cossimbazar. **The manufactures of 4. MATERIALS- t.bjs .town were iormerJy of importance, especia1Jy (a) Geographicai location- of sIlk fa~tlcs;. ~ut they h:ave much decayed before the It~es!stible comP7tItion of the cheaper Cossimbazar*, in the British district of Moor ~ares ?f Bntam. A consIderable quantity of shedabad, Presidency of Bengal, a town adjoining sIlk bemg produced in the surrounding country the city of Moorshedabad on the south, and in it is generally here prepared for market. Her; fact a suburb of it. was formerly a ?onsiderable faotory, belonging Distance N. E. from Calcutta by land, through to the East-IndIa Company. In 1756 it was Berhampora, 120 Miles; by water, 163. Lat 24°, taken, without resistance, by Seerajoo-dowla. long. 88° 18' E. Nawaub of Bengal. (b) Particulars 'Of population- 7. GAPS- (t51-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPVLATION OJ] Nothing mentioned. COSSIMBAZAR, 1829 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- particulars The decline of Cossimbazar perhaps started srI. item sometime after the de facto English occupation of no. Bengal. The population. 3,538 in 1829, stood at 2 3 4,970 in ~961 w~en it has the status of a village. 1 In 1971. It regamed ,the status of a town with a 1 area in square miles •• population of 6,304. 2 number of villages • •• Walter Hamilton described it as "one of the 3 population : persons 3,538 largest inland trading towns of Bengal. and during males the rainy season has a variety and extent of water females carriage, probably not excelled in the world" •• (Hindostan. Vol. 1. 1820. p. 166). 4 number of families .. 1,300 W. W. Hunter quoted a traveller who wrote in 5 number of houses • 1811 (A Stati$tical Account of Bengal. Vol· IX. 6 population per square mile •• The districts of Murshidabad and Pabna p. 90). 7 average size of a village •• "Kasimbazar is noted for its silk, hosiery, Koras 8 average size of a family • .. and inimitable ivory work; but as to the greater 9 average size of a house • part of ilts surface, it is a wilderness inhabited 10 females per thousand males only by beasts of prey. At eleven or twelve miles from Barhampur, an almost impervious jungle, By a careful census of 1829, the number ()f extends for a considerable space, denying entrance houses was stated at 1.300; of inhabitants at to all but tligers". Hunter continued. "It was 3.538, of which 1,325 Mussulman~. 2,213 just two years after the l~tter date. that is, in 1813, that the change which has been already mentioned Brahminical. *Market of Cossim; from Cossim, a proper name, and Bazar, "market". It might have been conjectured that it Was nanled alter Cossim Ali, the nawaub of Bengal, expelled by the British, 1763, were it not that it is described by Tavernier as an Important place a century earlier. It is the Cossimbazar of Thornton, Cossimbazar of Rennell. *.*Ha1l1ilton states that this peninsula abounds in wild swine, deer hales, feathered game, aod even tigers. But it is only a~out 1,000 acres in e!'tent, and i.B close to. the towns of Moorsbedabad and of Cossimbazar. lie further states that it IS one of the largest !Uland trading townSln Bengals. 302 303 I. Yeal'-1829 2. Place-Cossimhazar took place in the course of the Bhagirathi. Thl.': greatly aHributed to a decline of political i!llPo!" trade of Kasimbazar was immediately ruined, and tance of murshidabad as well as to chmatlc the climate of the place most seriously affected. changes. The old bed of the river was turned into a marsh, The past enrichment of the town is described and the water became stagnant. A malarious also in the Imperial Gazetteer (1st ed. vol. 5, fever, generated by tlhese conditions, broke out p. 301-302), "In 1681. when Job Charnock, the in the following year, and the place gradually future founder of Calcutta, was Chief here, of became depopulated. According to local tradi £230,000 sent out by the East India Company as tion, the entire population was swept away within the 'investment' to Bengal, £140,000 was assigned a twelve month, and thus an exact parallel is to Kasimbazar. In 1763, it appears that out of furnished to the legendary desnruction of Gaur. a tQtal of £400,000 required as 'advances for But as a maDter of fact, the filatures of Kasim investment; the Kasimbazar aurangs d'~manded bazar continued to work until a much later period £90,000... The decay of Kasimbazar dates fro~ though all the ancient importance of the town the beginning of the present century when Its was gone, and only ceased at last from the suc climate. which has previously been celebrated cessful competition of the cheaper cotton goods for salubrity, underwent an unexplained change of Manchester .... It is still the seat of the wealthi for the worse, so thwt margin of cultivation est Hindu family in tlhe District, represented by receded and wild beasts increased ... In 1813, the the charitable Rani Swarnamayi, but otherwise ruin of the town was effected by a change in the it is quite deserted. Ruins of huge buildings and course of the Bhagirathi, which suddenly deserted broad mounds of earth alone remain to attest its its ancient bed, and instead of following its former former magnificence. 1Jt is said that the houses bend to .the east, took a sweep to the west. and of the rising town of Barhampur were to a great now flows three miles from the site of the old extent constructed out of these ruins. The chief town". traces of European occupation that now remain are mouldering tombstones". Variation in population as obtained is given below· Kasimbazar was one of the largest inland (151-1-8) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF trading centres of Bengal even in 1820's. It was COSSIMBAZAR, 1829, 1951, 1961 AND 1971 the most famous silk centre of Bengal. Walter Hamilton wrote that "the quantity of silk con Year population varitaion percentage sumed here annually by the natives for carpets, variation satins and other stuffs, is very great; and a large 2 3 4 quantity is besides exported to Europe and to almost every quarter of India". The decline set 1829 3,538 in is due to the decline of ari!trocracy using silk, 1951 3,655 +117 +3·30 due to a competition of foreign cloth, and, also 1961 4,970 +1,315 +35·98 due to changing patttern of consumer taste in and 1971 6,304 +1,334 +Z6·84 outside the country. The decline may also be 8. DACCA, 181S 1. YEAR-l8IS 2. PLACE-Dacca 3. SOURCE 5. METHOD Hamilton, Walter Nothing mentioned. The East India gazetteer ... London, John 6. EXPLANATION- Murray, 1815. p. 326-327. Dacca succeeded to Suncrgong as the provincial [BSLj915.4(g) H 222] capital of the eastern quarter of Bengal, and is the 4. MATERIALS- third city of the province in point of extent and (a) Geographical location- population. The country around it lying low, and being always covered with verdure during the A large city in Bengal, the capital of the eastern dry months, it is not subject to such violent heats division of that province, lat. 23 0 :;~2' N. long. as Benares, Patna, and other places in Bahar. 90° 17' E. The unhealthy season is from the 20th of August to the 10th of OC-10ber; during which period the This place is situated beyond the principal rivers are subsiding, and the inundation draining stream of the Ganges, but a very large branch of off the land. On the whole, however, it is one that river-runs past it. Few situations are better of the healthiest and most pleasant stations in calculated for inland commerce than Dacca, as Bengal. It manufactures and exports great quan its river communicates with all the inland naviga tities of the finest muslins, in the delicacy and tions by a direct course. It lies about 100 miles beauty of which fabric it surpasses the whole above the mouth of the Ganges and 180 by road world. A considerable proportion of the cotton from Calcutta; but the journey by water, on is produced in the district, but a great deal is account of the circuitous route and twistings of also received from Patna. the rivers, occupies from one to two "veeks, and the space gone over probably exceeds 400 miles. The present town of Dacca stands on a great deal of ground, and, including the suburbs. Dacca is the headquarters of the court of extends six miles along the banks of the river~ but circuit for the eastern division of Bengal, which its breadth is not; in proportion. comprehends the following districts, viz., 1. Mymunsingh; 2. Silhet; 3. Tipperah; 4. Chitta [type of houses] gong 5. Backergunge; 6. Dacca Jelalpoor; and 7. The city of Dacca. Like other native towns, it is a mixture of brick and thatch houses, with very narrow and crooked (b) Particulars of popu!ation- streets. The tatter description of houses being of very combustible materials are generally burned (152-S) SUMMAWY TABLE OF POFUlATI('N CF DACCA,1815 once, and somdimes twice, per annum; and· are viewed, while burning, by their owners with an srI. item particularS apathy truly Asiatic. Into large earthen pots, no. sunk in the floor, they throw the few valuables 2 they possess; and mats, thatch, and bamboos 3 being plenty, the expenditure of a few rupees 1 area in square miles replaces their edifice in all its original splendour. 2 number of villages . These fires generally originate with the owners of 3 population : persons 150,000 the house-buflding materials; and when a fleet 01 males boats, loaded with them, arrives, a conflagration females may be expected to ensure a ready sale. The city still continues very populous, although it suffered 4 number of families considerably, apparen,tly remote as it is, by the 5 number of houses . French revolution, its beautiful fabrics having 6 population per square mile been in great request at the old French court. 7 average size of a village 8 average size of a family • 7. GAPS- 9 average size of a house Nothing mentioned. 10 females per thousand male 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- The number of inhabitants may be estimated Walter Hamilton in the second edition of the to exceed 150,000 of whom more than one-half East India Gazetteer (Vol. 1. London, Wm. H. are of the Mahommedan persuasion. Allen & Co., 1828 p. 476-478) tries to trace the 304 305 1. Year-I8IS 2. Place-Dacca origin, growth and decay of the city. It is com· Walter Hamilton estimated the popUlation at paratively modern, as there is no mention of it by 150,000 in the first edition of the Gazetteer. "In Abul Fazal in the Ayeen Acberry. In 1680, the 1801, the population was estimated at 200,000 capital was shifted from Rajmahal to Dacca ... and Bishop Heber in 1823 supposed that it con "It is related that during the second viceroyship tained 90,000 houses and 300.000 inhabitants. In of Shaista Khan, rice was so cheap at Dacca that 1814 the chowkidari tax was levied on 21,361 640 pounds might be had in the marke>t for one houses; in 1830 the number of houses had fallen rupee. To commemorate tlhis event, as he was to 10,708. In the latter year, a census was tlaken leaving Dacca, in 1689, he ordered the western by the Judge and Magistrate, H. Walter. when gate to be built up, and an inscription placed the population was ascertained to be 66,989. The thereon, forbidding any future governor to open city continued to decline. however, for some it until he had reduced the price to as cheap a years, until the trade in jute and country produce rate, in consequence of which injunction it began to make up for the loss of its cotton manu remained shut until the reign of Serferawz Khan facturers. In 1867 the population was estimated in 1739. But the city appears to h~ve more than at 51,636 only; it is now 69,212". (Report on the one alternation of prosperity and decay. lit appears Census of Bengal, 1872. By H. Beverley. p. 107). to have attained its grea:test splendour during tile reign of Aurengzebe and judging from the magni ficence of the ruins, such as bridges, brick cause The result of the census of Dacca by Henry ways, mosques, caravanserais, palaces and gar WaIters waS' presented in the Report all the Popu dens, now overspread with jungle, it must have lation Estimates of India 1820-1830. The llUmber vied in extent and riches with the greatest cities, of houses was given at 16,257 and population at Gour perhaps excepted". The permanent dcc1in'~, 66,989 yielding an average house size at 4.06 according to Walter Hamilton, appeared to have p~rsons. The following table shows the move commenced with the trouble and distractions of ment of population. the Mogul Empire following the invasion of Nadir Shah. "That it, did not experience the fate of (153-5) VARIATION IN fOIULA11CN CF Gaur may be attributed partly to its salubrity and DACCA, 1815, 11172, 1881, ISS1,,, 19(1 partly to the peculiar commercial advantages of its situation. In this state of decay it remained with little variation until the egtablishment of pro year population variation percentage vincial councils in 1774, when it again exhibited variation a shew of opUlence, from which it fell on the abolition of these institutions". The late 2 3 4 eighteenth century witnessed the horrible famine of 1770. There was another serious famine in 1815 150,000 1788. The total output of cotton goods at Dacca in 1776, for instance, was one-third less than that 1872 68,595 -81,405 -54·27 ten years before, there was a quick recovery. There 1881 78,369 +9,774 + 14· 25 was a sharp rise in output of cloth production in 1891 81,585 +3,216 +4'10 the decade following 1776. Taylor writes that cotton goods manufactured at Dacca and neigh 1901 89,733 -1- 8,148 +9'98 bouring stations in the year t 787 were worth 1911 108,551 + 18,818 -120'97 about one crore and twenty five lakhs of rupees, which was more than four times their amount in 1921 119,450 + 10,899 +10'04 1753. This was doubtless due to the immense 1931 138,518 + 19,068 + 15· 96 increase in the foreign European and Armenian 213,218 -t- 74,700 trade with Bengal after 1783. In 1788 there was 1941 +53'93 another famine in Bengal which caused the death 1951 335,928 -t-122.710 +57'55 of a large number of spinners and thereby caused 556,712 -t- 220,784 , -t- 65· 72 a scarcity of fine threads in the province. (Ghosal, 1961 H. R. Economic Transition in the Bwgd Presi dency. Calcutta, Firma K. L. MUkhopadhyay, 1966) Ghoshal further wrote, "1 he decline of Dacca around 1875, according to W. W. Hunter, Bengal's cotton manufacture is often ascribed to manifested a decay with its contracted limits, its the decay of the indigenous courts in lndia. Let reduced and impoverished population, ruined and us examine this view with reference to the posi abandoned habitations seen in every direction, tions in Dacca cloths, which had the highest and. indicated p;;riod of prosperity and affluence demand at these courts. With the speedy decline long passed away. Hunter conside~ed the popu in the authority and grandeur of thp. Mughal lation estimated by Bishop Heber III 1823 to .be Imperial Court, the State Karkhanas maintained very excessive as in 1814 police tax. was leVIed at Dacca and neighbouring places for the manu only on 21,361 houses. (Hunter. W. W. Statistical facture of fine muslins became neglected and Account of Bengal. Vol. 5. London, Trubner & eventually disappeared". Co.• 1875. p. 68). 306 I Year-181S 2. Place-Dacca Walter Hamilton did not mention how he esti To sum up the trend. the decline of Dacca mated the population. It seems to be excessiw. began with the disintegration of Mughal empire. It was quite unlikely that population declined to This decline continued perhaps with small periods 67.000 eifuer from 200,000 estimated in 1801 or of recovery. But the trend of decline was always from 150.000 estimated in 1815. The population manifested upto the la:te nineteenth century. The seems to be stationary between 1830 and 1872. growth accelerated since 1941. The increase The police tax was levied on 21,361 houses ill between 1941-1951 is perhaps due to war condi 1814, but the census of 1830 revealed the number tions leading to a migration from Calcutta. The of houses at 16,257. Taxes were not perhaps increase in next two decades was due to separate levied on all houses. It may therefore beeJl entity of East Bengal as the bigger half of presumed that the total number of houses was Pakistan. Perhaps popUlation is now much higher than those taxed. The obvious conclusiOll higher in the capital of Sovereign Republic of is that the number of houses declined by about BangIa Desh. 5,000 between 1814 and 1830. A house may be diflerently defined by the police and Henry Walters. 9. KEERPOY, 1814 1. YEAR-J8J4 2. PLACE-Keerpoy 3. SOURCE 6. EXPLANATION- Hamilton, Waiter. This town is the seat of a commercial resid A Geographical, statistical, and historical ency. description of Hindostan, and the adjacent countries. London, John Murray, 1820, V. 7. GAPS- I, p. 139. Nothing mentioned. [BSL/915.4 H222 or, XIIA-l] 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 4. MATERIALS- Keerpoy was a small town, a seat of Commer (a) Geographical location- cial Residency. It gradually declined. The This town stands jn lat. 22° 46' N. long. f?llowing table shows the movement of popula 81" 44' E. 50 miles W. N. W. from Calcutta. tIon. (b) Particulars of population- (155-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF KEERPOY, 1814, 1872, 1881, 181)1, ... 1961 (154-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF KEERPOY,1814 year population variation" , percentage srI. item particulars variation no. 1 2 3 2 3 4 1 area in square miles 1814 10,525 2 number of villages • 1872 8,046 -2,479 23·55 " 3 population : persons 10,525 1881 6,295 -1,751 -21·76 males 1891 5,708 -587 -9'32 females 1901 5,045 -663 -11·62 4 number of families 1911 4,605 -440 -8·72 5 number of houses • 1,776 1921 3,756 -849 -18·44 6 population per square mile ., 1931 3,693 -63 -1·68 7 average size of a village .. 1941 3,623 -70 -1'90 8 average size of a family • •• 1951 4,246 -j-623 +17·20 9 average size of a house 5'9 1961 5,803 +1,557 +36'67 10 females per thousand males .. 1971 7,227 +1,424 +24· 54 Population figures were taken by Walter Hamil ton from W. B. Bayley's Statistical View of the The decline was constant since 1872 through Population of Burdwan published in Asiatick 1941. a recovery started in 1951, but the Researches, 1816, p. 511-565. population in 1971 is below the level of 1872 and almost 30 per cent less than the population 5. METHOD- of 1814. The history of the decline may be Enumeration conducted by W. B. Bayley .in attribued mainly to economic trends obtained 1814. in the region. S07 10. CITY OF MOORSHEDABAD, 1814 1. YEAR-18J4 2. PLACE-City of MOlorshedabad 3. SOURCE 6. EXPLANATION- Hamilton, Walter The buildings are in generar bad, and the A geographical, statistical and historical palace of the nabobs so insignificant as to be description of Hindostan and the adjacent passed without observation. The streets are countries London, John Murray. 1820, V. narrow and inconvenient, and almost impassable I, p. 162-165. for European wheel carriages. [BSLj915.4 H222 or XIIA-l.] The original plan of the chowk, or market 4. MATERIALS- place, appears to have been wel1 contrived. but the inhabitants having been permitted to (a) Geographicallocotion- encroach on the public road, the purposes for This city stands on the most sacred hranch of which it was originally intended have been the Ganges, named the Bhagirathi or Cossimba defeated. From the market place, there runs a zar river, about 120 miles above Calcutta; lat. long narrow winding street, composed of mean 24° 11' N. long. 88° 15' E. It was originaUy houses and huts, which is again intersected by named Mucksoodabad; but in 1704, when others still more narrow and miserable. The Moorshed Cooly Khan transferred the seat of sewers of these s:reets. originally intended to Government to this place, he changed its name carry off the surplus water, have long been to Moorshedabad. The town extends eight miles completely destroyed. and it consequently along both sides of the river, and was never happens. that after a heavy fall of rain they are fortified except by an occasional rampart in 1742. nearly impassable, and remain so during the (b) Particulars of populaltiolT- greakr part of the rainy season, emitting a putrid effluvia. Another cause of this city's (156~S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF THE CITY OF MOORSHEDABAD. 1814 'I1nhealthiness, is a total want of a free circula ,t-ion of air, owing to the confused form of the srI. item l"artieulars town, also to tbe thick, impenetrable. and ~. . -1------2: ------~3--- ,y..early increasing ,jungle, which is intermixed ,\Vith the ~weWl1g houses, and which threatens to 1 area in square miles absorb the whole. If it be not intended that 2 number of villages 'this city,' like' many other eastern capitals, shall 3 population: persons 165,000 males die a natural death, the jungle ought to be females 'e'xtirpated, the streets widened, and the ponds 4 number of families '<'f stagnant mud be filled up; but to effect these 5 number of houses . ·30,000 'objects the prompt assistance of government 6 populaton per square mile 7 average size of a village must be . obtained, as the mere labour of the 8 average size of a family .. .Gonvicts will prove inadequate to the task. 9 avrerage size of a house 5·5 10 females per thousand males Moorshedabad is a place of great inland traffic, and the river iSI seen constantly covered In 1814, the third judge of the Court of Circuit with boats, which are examined at the custom reported to Government, that the immediate house established here. From October to May police jurisdiction contained 15 tannahs, compre- the Bhagirathi is almost dry. when much of the . hending 277 mohullahs or subordinate stations. traffic is conducted at Bogwang61a, a port on the and 887 watchmen; the whole requiring an Great Ganges, about nine miles from Moorshe expense of 3,000 rupees per month. This dabad. In 1813, a canal was dug between the amount he computed could not be furnished by Bhagirathi and Great Ganges rivers, which inde fewer than 30,000 houses, taxed monthly nearly pendent of the commercial benefits thence deriv two annas each, which, at the rate of five indivi ed, tended to ameliorate the unhealthiness of the duals per house, would give 150,000 inhabitants; town and adjacent vi11ages, by maintaining a but from a comparison with other parts of permanent stream of wholesome water, and by Bengal, 5! persons may with safety be allowed, attracting a current of fresh air towards the city which would increase the number to 165,000 to clear away the noxious exhalations from its souls. atmosphere. 5. METHOD- Notwithstanding these exertions, in 1814 The author estimated the number of houses disease was peculiarly virulent, and illvolved the from the expenditure of thana establishments. European portion of the society, which suffered Taking 5! individuals per house, he computed severely, and the general mortality was describ the population. The third judge, however, assum ed by the magistrate as hardly credible, a1though ed an average of 5 persons per house. he admiHed that the operation of the new cut 309 1 Year-18J4 2. Place-City of Moorshedabad had to a certain degree improved the salubrity The population was estimated in 1814 at of the town. The origin of this evil had been 150,000 on ·the basis of 5 persons per house and ascribed to the sltagnation of the waters of the at 165,000 on the basis of 51 persons per house. Bhagirathi, during a great portion of the year; But the number of persons per house was as but the circumstances which combine to render low as 3.6 in 1829 when the Zillah Magistrate Moorshedabad unhealthy are various, and H. V. Hathorn conducted a census. Population, difficult to remedy, and the population continues according to that census, was estimated at for obvious reasons to decline. In consequence 146,963. The number of houses at 30,000 in of this, the houses formerly occupied by 1814 was also an estimate. It may not be numbers of the lower classes of inhabitants correct. have been suffered to go to ruin from which There is no valid reason for a decline of results an increase ~ of stagnant water, vegetable putrefaction, _and. otn,er symptoms, which in average house size from 5 or 51 in 1814 to 3.6 in 1829. There may be an incidence of India always ~ark ,the <;lecay of populous towns. under enumeration in 1829. The occupant per The Mooty J eel. or pearl lake, in this neigh house was 5.8 in 1961. bourhood, is one <;>f the windings of a fl'rmer channel of the Cossimbazar river. During the But any how. there is a strong likelihood of reign of Aliverdi Khan, a palace was erected in population remaining somewhat stagnant it, and ornamented witIl pillars of black marble between 1814 and 1829. The population was brought from -the - ruins of Gaur, the ancient estimated at 150,000 in 1814; the census of 1829 capital· of Bengal. A very heavy expense is revealed a population of 146.176. On the basis annually incuned by government on account of of a lo'wer average per house, at 3.6, the the Boolabeg Pooshta, or 'projecting embank popUlation in 1814 would be computed at ment into the river. on the stability of which a 108,000. It would mean that popUlation increas principal portion of the town depends for ed by 38.8 per cent between 1814 and 1829. It security against an overwhelming inundation. does not seem to be pluasible at all. The number 7. GAPS- of houses in 1814 was perhaps an under enume ration. The population, however, shows the Nothing mentioned. following trend. 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- (157-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF THE CITY "The City of Muxadabad is as extensive, 0);' MOORSHEDABAD, 1814. 1872, 1881, 1891,00 .1971 populous and rich as the City of London", wrote Lord Clive in All Address to the Proprietors oj year population variation percentage East India Stock in 1764. "with this difference, variation -----~~- that there are individuals in the first possessing 1814 150,000 infinitely greater property than any in the last 1872 24,534 -125,446 -83'64 1881 20,841 -3,693 -15·05 city". When Lord Clive entered Murshidabad 1891 18,899 -1,942 -9·32 treasury, "there was in that treasury two crore:; 1901 1 S, 168 -3,731 -19·74 of rup~es in ready coin* and the payment of 1911 12,669 -2,499 -16'48 first instalment is thus described. The money 1921 10,669 -2,000 -15'79 was packed in 700 chests, embarked in 100 1931 9,483 -1,186 -11·12 1941 11,498 -1-2,015 -1- 21.25 boats, which proceeded down the river under the 1951 10,756 -742 -6·45 care of soldiers to Nuddea, whence they were 1961 16,990 -1-6,234 --t-57.96 escorted to Fort William by all the boats of 1971 16,618 -372 -2·19 English squadron with banners flying, music ooundng-scene of triump and joy" (Travels of It is clear from the table that the decline that a Rindoo by Bholanath Chundar. In started in 1757 continued throughout the history Bhattacharya, Durgaprasad. Growth of Middle of two centuries. The rate of decline per Class in Bengal, Calcutta, Writers' Corner, 1956 annum was 1.45 between 1814 and 1872, 1.76 p. 5). between 1872 and 1921; population was almost Murshidabad was on a decline, its pomp and stagnant up to 1951. There was a growth of 58 splendour being lost with the English conquest per cent between 1951 and 1961 from a popula at Plassey. But the decline in its popUlation was tion of 10,756 to 16,990 with again a slight attributed to, by Hamilton, 'destruction of the decline between 1961 and 1971. The population sewers, unhealthiness of the city due to total of 1971 was 68 per cent of the population of a want of a free circulation of air, and also to the century ago in 1872 and 11 per cent of the thick, impenatrable, and yearly increasing jungle population of 1814. Various factors were which is intermixed with the dwelling houses responsible for a decay of this once-glorious and which threatens to absorb the whole' . city of the East. ._-* Two crores are equivalent to Rs. 150 crores according to 1956 price I.elve~ (Index of the value of rupee 1600-1.00. Bhattacharya, Dargapra<;ad. Report oa the Conditions of _Working Journalists 111 Calcutta. Calcutta, Tndwn Journnll~ts' Association, 1956). 11. SERAMPORE, 1814 1. YEAR-1814 2. PLACe-Seramporf! 3. SOURCE breadth is very small, and the whole is environ. (1) Bengal. ed by the British territories. Bengal Judicial (Criminal) Consultation. (b) Particulars of popukltion- 10th November. 1825. Original Consultations. (IS8-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF No. 55. SERAMPORE, 1814 [WBSAj . srI. item particulars (2) Walter, Hamilton no. The East India gazetteer. London, Wm. area in square miles Allen & Co., 1828. V. 2. p. 518. 2 number of villages [ISI/915.41 H 222(2)] 3 populatoion : perons . 11,445 4. MATERIALS- males (a) Geographical location females 4 number of families [Source (2)] 5 number of houses 2,975 A Danish settlement in the province of 6 population per square mile Bengal, situated on the West side of the Hooghly 7 average size of a village river. about 12 miles above Calcutta; lat. 22° 26' 8 average size of a family N., long.. 88° 26' E. This place extends about a 9 average size of a house mile along the banks of the river, and has a . 3·8 pleasing effect viewed from the river, but the 10 females per thousand males (159-S) ABSTRACT STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF I:OUSES AND THE POPULATION OF THE FOREIGN SETTLEMENTS [SERAMPORE, 1814] ------_.------name of the district total number of total no. of amount of remarks villages in each houses in each po(:ulation district, district 1 2 3 4 5 Foreign Settlements Serampore 2,975 11,445 Census taken in 1814, population said to have In creased since that time. Sd, H. Shakespear <;:alcutta Office Supdt., Po Supt. P. L. P. hce, Lower Provs. the 1st Nov., 1824. 5. METHOD- !Derchants of Calcutta to carryon a trade dur [As stated above, a census was taken. in 1814. mg the late war, under the cover of the Danish But no material on the census was avaIlable. In B.ag, for ~he use of which they paid a commis the same year, W. B. Bayley conducted a census SIon. ShIpS of burthen cannot come dose up in 98 towns and villages with a view to formulat to the town on account of a shoal lower down ing an estimate of the population of Burdwan.] but labour in this province is so cheap that th~ ~xpense of con~eying the goods by ~ats adds 6. EXPLANATION- lIttle to the pnme cost. Here also insolvent [Source (2)] debtors from Calcutta found an asylum from It is kept beautifully clean and looks more whence they could set their creditors at defiance like a European to~ than C~lcut!a or any. of for even whi~e the colony was in our possessio~ the neighbouring statIOn. It IS wIthout fortIfi on the breakIng out of hostilities with Denm:uk cations, and has only a small battery for salut the king's writs did not extend to Serampo~r. ' ing: yet it has been a ve~ pro~table st;ttl~ment to the subjects of His Damsh Majesty, pnncl~a!ly . The town is the headquarters of the missiona by thy f&cilities it afforded to the Bnhsh nes delegated from Europe for the purpose of 310 311 1 Year-1814 2. Piace-Serampore converting the natives of Hindostan to the latter translations of the books of the Bible into Christian religion, and here they have establish various Indian languages. Carey was a linguistic ed a printing press, where the scriptures have genius and a diligent Orientalist as well as a been published in an astonishing variety of great missionary". (DodweU, H. H. ed. The languages. They also conduct a college for the Cambridge History of India Vol. VI. The Indian education of native Christian youths, without Empire 1858-1918 ... Delhi [etc.], S. Chand & excluding Hindoos or Mahomedans. The total Co., 1958. p. 98-99). In 1825, Henry Shakespear revenues accruing from all sources between the remarked, "census taken in 1814. population said 1st of May 1813 and the 30th of April 1814 to have increased since that tlme'~. By 1872, amounted to 13.231 rupees. population more than doubled, and by 1911, 7. GAPS- population again doubled, The population of 1911 was five times of 1814. By 1921, Rishra Nothing mentioned. Konnagur was taken out of Serampore, and by 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 1951, Rishra and Konnagur were separated. Thus It appears that Serampore maintained a steady Serampore (1814) gradually expanded to give growth since 1814. The contribution of Seram rise to' three towns-Serampore, Rishra and Kon pore missionaries led by William Carey to the nagur. A series has been prepared showing the development of Bengali literature is wellknown. population separately and pooling them together "The missionaries finally established themselves for a comparative study. There was a rapid at Serampore, a Danish settlement sixteen miles growth after 1911. Even a comparison based on north of Calcutta, set up schools for European the population of Serampore proper shows that and Indian boys, started a paper manufactory populatiQn increased 9 times in course of 157 and a printing press, and poured forth from the years from 1814. (16;'-8) VAlUATION IN POPULATION OF SERAMPORE, 1814, 1872, 1881, 1891 .... 1971 year Serampore Rishra Rishra Konnagur total variation percentr ge Konnagur variation 1814 11,445 11,445 1872 24,440 24,440 +12,995 +113-54 1881 25,559 25,559 +1,119 +4-58 1891 35,952 35,952 +10,393 +40'66 1901 44,451 44,451 +8,499 +23-64 1911 49,594 49,594 +5,143 +11-57 1921 33,197 23,259 56,456 +6,862 +13'84 1931 39,056 26,868 65,924 +9,468 +16'77 1941 55,339 37,432 92,771 t26,847 +40'72 1951 74,324 27,456 20,233 122,013 +29,242 +31'52 1961 91,521 38,535 29,443 159,499 +37,486 +30'72 1971 101,597 63,582 34,455 199,634 +-40,135 +25'16 It is quite interesting to note changes in house 4.99 for Serampore alone. The combined area size. It was 3.4 in 18.14; it was 4.52 in 1961 was 5.19 square miles in 1961. The area of for the combined figures of three towns, and Serampore proper was 2.27 square miles. 11. ARAB TOWN,1811-13 1. YEAR-1812-J3 2. PLACE-Arah Town 3. SOURCE- The town of Arah, which is the capital of the (1) Buchanan, Francis district, stands on an elevated space surrounded by creeks and land subject to inundation; so An Account of the District of Shahabad in that the price of ground for building has become 1812-13. Patna, Bihar & Orissa Research So very high, nor could the town be t:xtended ciety. 1934. p. 54-55. without erecting embankments, and then the [ASj915.4 B 918s] houses would be damp. The only remedy would be to dig tanks, and to build on the earth thrown (2) Buchanan, Francis out; but the enlarging such a place is no object, as there is already abundant room for contain An Account of the District of Shahabad in ing an the attendants of the courts of justice, 1812-13 ... Micro-film manuscripts. and it is not a place fitted for trade. [lSI 1 ] The buildings are in general mean, and, as usual, close huddled together but some decent 4. MATERIALS- roads have been cut through the chaos of lanes, (a) Geographical location- and form tolerable streets. The road from Patna to Vagsar passes through its whole length, and The town of Arah, is the capital of the district at the east end has on both sides a close built [Shahabad]. [Own. Towards its west end. on the north side. is an open lawn, in which are placed the court (b) Particulars of population- houses, the accommodation for the judge of circuit, and the houses of the judge and surgeon (161-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF of the station, all buildings sufficiently commo ARAH TOWN, 181Z-13 dious, but in no way ornamental. Two fine broad roads pass south at right angles to the ~d. item particulars west end of the· 'Vagsar road, and about their no. middle are crossed at right angles by a third. Thi~ 'is the handsdmest part of the town. At its area in square miles west' end is a tank surrounded by a wooden 2 number of villages railing, and kept- ,in tolerable order, and beyond 3 population : persons 22,200 this- ·is the office -of the collector, with his and males hIS .assistants' houses, and some belonging to females Europeans, who are not in the Company's 4 number of families service. None of these buildings are at all ornamental. The jail is a very sorry work. 5 number of houses 2,775 There are two or three small mosques and 6 population per square mile temples in good repair, but in nO' manner remark 7 average size of a village able. Good roads, with abundant small bridges, 8 average size of a family surround ,the town in all directions for a little 9 average sizc of a house s·o way, and are kept in very good order by the 10 females per thousand males labour of the convicts. In the environs several of the natives have small gardens, in whkh they have collected a considerable variety of trees, and 5. METHOD- a good many flowers, and all around is very In an estimate formed by Mr. Burges the neatly cultivated and well watered, so that, collector, with some care but without actual although the plantations are not thriving, the enumeration, it is supposed to contain 2,775 trees being rather stunted, ,the vicinity looks houses, with 8 people to each house, nor ~o I uncommonly well. think that the estimate is liable to any conSIder The name Arah is said by the Pandits of the able error, unless it may pt'rhaps be somewllat place to be properly Ara, and to be a con·up under rated. lion from Aranya, which in the Sangskrittl signifies a waste. This name was given by the 6. EXPLANATION- five sons of Pandu, the place then being a forest. There are 50 houses of brick belonging to the where they performed several great work. In natives [in Thanna Arah]; mostly in the town of particular the Pandits allege that it was here Arah; 10 only have two stories, but these are where the five brothers married Draupadi. Such good. marriages are now totally illegal, nOr could any 313 1. Year-1812·13 2. Place-Arah Town one of those chiefs have now married this lady, cent between 1812-13 and 1872, 0.08 per cent as she was of the same family with themselves between 1872 and 1921. and. 2.20 per cent in the ma1e line. This iSI only curious as it between 1921 and 1971. The following table shows that the Hindu law has in modern times shows the movement of population. undergone great changes in other matters, as well as in the introduction of caste. It must be. (162·S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF however, observed, that this custom of several ARAH TOWN, 1812·13, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 brothers ha.ving a common wife is still very prevalent among the Bauddhists of Thibet. The year population variation percentage Pandit of the survey doubts very much of Ma variation having been the scene of this marriage, and the 1812·13 22,200 derivation of the name from the Sangskrita 1872 seems exceedingly doubtful. In Persian the 39,386 +17,186 +77·41 name is written Arah. The place is said to be 1881 42,998 -1-3,612 +9·17 also called Ekachakra, implying the people to 1891 46,905 +3,907 + 9·09 live in unanimity. a virtue for which at present 1%1 46,110 -'135 -1·5? they have by no means the credit. 1911 38,549 -7,621 -16·51 1921 40,769 -1-2,220 +5·76 7. GAPS~ 1931 48,922 -r· 8,153 -f-20'00 Nothing mentioned. 1941 53,122 '1-4,200 -t-8·59 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 1951 64,205 -dl,083 -jf-20·86 1961 76,766 +12,561 Buchanan indicated to a higher population. -I- 19· 56 1971 The average annual growth rate was 1.28 per 92,670 +15,904 +20,72 23-439 R. G. India/ND/79 13. BHAGALPUR TOWN, 1810.11 1. YEAR-IBIO-Jl 2. PLACE-Bhagalpur Town 3. SOURCE- 6. EXPLANATION- (1) Buchanan. Francis The town of Bhagalpur. or the abode of refugees. although reckoned. to extend two .mil~s An Account of the District of Sbahabad in length. and from one mile to half a mIle m in 1812-13. Patna, Bihar & Orissa Research width, except that it is in a beautiful situation. Society, 1934. p. 54-55. is a very sony place. The houses of the [ASj915.4 B 918 S] Europeans and the Moslem places of worship, as I have said. are great ornaments; but the town (2) Buchanan, Francis consists of scattered market places. meanly An Account of the District of Shahabad built, and owing to the declivities of the ground. in 1812-13 ... Micro-film manuscripts. very inconveniently situated. Through and round it however there are tolerable roads. and [lSI/ ] a few trifling bridges. The most compact part is the market place called Shujagunj, in which 4. MATERlALS- there are three or four streets closely built. The (a) Geographical location- other market places are Saray, which has also some compact buildings. Yogeswar. Munshur The town of Bhagalpur, or the abode of gunj, and Khunzurpur, in which last the courts refugees, although reckoned to extend two miles of law are held and the office of the collector is in length, and from one mile to half a mile situated. width. Walter Hamilton wrote, "The modern capital of the district, situated in lat. 25 0 15' N. A majority of the inhabitants arc Moham· long. 86° 58' E. 110 miles N. W. from Moorshe medans, and a college of that religion still exists. dabad". (Hindostan. Vol. I, p. 250). but in a great state of decay. At this place there is a small church belonging to the Papists. (b) Particulars of population- and about fifty Christians of the persuasion. Half of these are the descendants of Portugueze, ZUi3-]) SU \Il.\1A.RY TABLE OF POPULATION OF and the remainder native converts who retain BHAGALPUR TOWN, 1810-11 their own dress and manners. srI. item particulars 7. GAPS- no. Nothing mentioned. 1 area in square miles 2 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- number of villages 2 Buchanan indicated a large population. 3 population : persons . 30,000 Perhaps the popUlation was considerably higher males than 30.000. The annual growth rate is 1.90 females between 1810-11 and 1872, Q.I0 between 1872 4 number of families and 1921, and, 2.73 between 1921 and 1971. The 5 number of houses 5,000 following table shows the movement of 6 population per square mile 15,000 population. 7 average size of a village (164-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF BHAGAL· 8 average size of a family PUR TOWN, 1810·11, 1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 9 average size of a house 6·0 10 females per thousand males year population variation percentage variation S. METHOD- 1810-11 30,000 1872 65,377 +35,377 +117' 92 No estimate could be procured from the native 1881 68,238 ;-2,861 -t-4· 38 office of police concerning the number of llOuses 1891 • 69,106 -t-868 -t-l· 27 contained in the town. My people, after examin 1901 75,760 -t- 6,654 -t-9' 63 ing the whole, think that they may amount to 1911 74,349 -1,411 -1·86 1921 68,878 -5,471 -7·36 about 5,000, but rather more than less, and the 1931 83,847 +14,969 +21·73 alleged importation of commodities from aU the 1941 93,254 +9,407 +11·22 vicinity would imply a very considerable popu 1951 114,530 +21,276 ;-22·82 lation, at least to the rate of six persons for 1961 143,850 +29,320 +25·60 each house. 1911 172,700 +28,850 +20·06 314 14. CH\JPRAH, 1817 1. YEAR-IB17 2. PLACE-Chuprah 3. SOURCE 6. EXPLANATION- Hamilton. Walter In the vicinity of Chuprah the Kharwa tribe are numerous. They occasionally fish and carry A Geographical, statistical, and historical the palanquin, but are mostly cultivators. They description of Hindostan. and the adjacent migrate from hence to Calcutta, Patna, and countries. London, John Murray, 1820. V. I, Benares, and at Calcutta are distinguished by p.278. the name of Patna bearers, which while in their own country they are mostly labourers of the [BSL/XIIA-I, or 915. 4jH222] soil. Although domesticated here, their original country is said to be in the neighbourhood of 4. MATERIALS- an old fortress called Khayra, which is in the (a) Geographical location- district of Chuta Nagpoor. According to Hindoo notions they are a impure tribe, aithough The capital of the Sarun district~ and stands they have abandoned many customs to which on the north side of the Ganges, 32 miles W.N.W. they are addicted to in their original country. from Patna. Lat. 25 0 46' N. long 84 0 46' E. This is a town of little breadth, but extending 7. QAPS- along the Ganges for nearly a mile. Nothing mentioned. (b) Particulars of population- 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT~ (16S-S) SU_\I\f.\RY TABLE OF POPULATION 0l1' It is not clear how the number of families CHUPRAH,1817 were ascertained. The trend of the movement, however, follows the general pattern-an annual sri. item particulars growth of 0.11 per cent between 1817 and 1872. no. 0.16 per cent between 1872 and 1921 and 1.92 per cent between 1921 and 1971. The follow 1 area in square miles ing table shows the movement. 2 number of villages (166-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF CHUPRAH, 1817. 1812, 1881. 1891, ... 1971 3 population : persons 43,500 males year population variation percentage females variation 4 number of families ~_ 8700, 1817 43,500 5 number of houses 1872 46,287 -+-2,787 +6·41 6 population per square mile 1881 51,670 +5,383 +11' 63 7 average size of a village 1891 57,352 +5,682 +11·00 8 average size of a family 5·0 1901 45,901 -11,451 -19·97 9 average size of a house 1911 42,373 -3,528 -7·69 10 females per thousand males 1921 42,415 +42 +0·10 1931 47,448 +5,033 +11·87 S. METHOD- 1941 55,142 +7,694 +16·22 [In 1817, it contained 8,700 families, which at 1951 64,309 +9,167 +16·62 five persons to a family would give 43,500 1961 75,580 +11,271 +17·53 inhabitants.] 1971 83,166 +7,586 +10·04 315 15. MlJNGGER TOWN, .1810-11 1. YEAR-J81O-11 2. PLACE-Mungger Town 3. SOURCE- much more than a half of that number. or 3,600 houses. Their opinion is foundeo orr a- careful (1) Buchanan. Francis inquiry from the people of each market; and An Account of the District of Bhagalpur although it is probable that the numbers may in 1810-11. Patna. Bihar & Orissa Research have designedly been underrated, yet they are Society, 1939. p. 94-95. perhaps, nearer the truth than the native officer of police, who speaks merely by a random [AS/9l5.4 B 918b] estimation. 1 do not think that by any means (2) Buchanan. Francis the population can be extended beyond 5000 An Account of the District of Bhagalpur houses. These, though very small when compar in 1810-11... Micro-film manuscripts. ed with the houses in European cities. are full of inhabitants; for six persons, 1 am told, may [lSI 1 ) on an average be allowed for each. This would give a population of 3Q,000 persons. (3) Hamilton, Walter A Geographical, statistical and historical 6. EXPLANATION- description of Hindostan and adjacent coun [Source (1) and (2)] tries V. I. London, John Murray, 1820. Mungger is a town of some note and great size, p.252. but as usual by no means populous in proportion [ISI/915.4 H 222(1)] to its dimensions. It consists of sixteen different markets scattered over a space about 4. MATER/ALS- I! mile long from N. to S. and 1 mile wide. (a) Geographical location- The only two parts in this extent that are close built, or resemble a town, are without the eastern [Source (3)] and southern gates of the fort: at each is a street so wide as to admit carriages to pass, and A celebrated town and fortress in the province closely built with a good many brick houses. of Bahar situated on the south side of the river Besides these market places. between the river Ganges. Lat. 25° 23' N. long 86° 26' E. and the northern gate of the fort is a suburb, (b) Particulars of popu[ation- which may be considered as the port, but it is chiefly built on the sands of the Ganges, and (167-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF every year during the floods many of the houses MUNGGER TOWN, 1810-11 must be removed. srI. item particulars [Source (3)] no. The fort of Monghir is large and surrounded 1 area in square miles by a wall and deep ditch, and has, probably 2 number of villages owing to its physical advantages, been a place of note from the remotest antiquity. It is most 3 population : persons 30,000 beautifully situa(ed on a bend of the Ganges, males which in the rainy season forms here a prodigi females ous expanse of fresh water. During the whole 4 number of families period of the Mogul government, Monghir 5 number of houses 5,000 continued to be a place of importance, and was 6 population per square mile the station of a series of officers of considerable 7 average size of a village rank. It was strengthened by Shah Shujah, 8 average size of a family brother to Aurengazebe, and almost a century average size of a house 6·0 afterwards repaired by Cossim Ali, when he 9 intended to throw off his dependence on the 10 females per thousand males English Government, which had raised him to the throne. He added considerably to the 5. METHOD- fortifications, and endeavoured to discipline the [Source (1) and (2)] natives for its defence, but in vain; for it was taken after a seige of only nine days. While No enumeration of the inhabitants has been Monghir was a frontier town, it was a place of taken. The native officers of police thinks that considerable importance, a station of one of the in the whole there may be 7,000 houses, but brigades, and a depot of ammunition; but since my native assistants are not willing to allow the expansion of the British dominions beyond 3.16 317 1. Year-1810-11 2. Place-Mungger Town Delhi, and the selection of Allahabad for a 40 houses, and make goods affer the European - depot, the fort of Monghir has been suffered to fashion, very coarSe when compared with English decay, and is now degraded to an invalid &tation, articles, but still useful and cheap as will be a lunatic asylum for the native military,. and a seen by the following prices, viz. double barrelled depot for army clothing; the neighbourhood guns 32 rupees; rifles, 30;. single barrelled being a noted resort of tailors. In case of following pieces, 18 ; mUSkets, 8 ; matchlocks, 4 ; exigence. the fortifications might still be repair pistols, 10; double ditto, 30; table knivt!s and ed so as to exclude a native army; but without forks per dozen, 6 rupees. The barrels of the a total change could nO't be made to resist a fire-arms are made by twisting a rod round an regular attack, the works being of a great extent, iron spindle, and then hammering it together; and apparently never intended for defence by the bore is aiterwards polished and enlarged by ordnance. borers of different sizes. The town of Monghir, as distinct from the 7. GAPS- fortress. consists of sixteen different markets, scattered over a space of about one m.ile and Please see under 5-Method. a half long and one J,llile Y'ide. The only two por 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- tions in this space that are close built, or resemble a town, are without the eastern -and southern The estimate of population is based on varied gates of the fort; at each of which is a street conjectures in the absence of any enumeration. sufficiently wide to admit carriages to pass, and The population increased at a rate of 1.60 per closely built, with several brick houses. Between cent per annum between 1810-11 and 1872, the river and the northern gate of the fort, is declined at a rate of 0.45 per cent between a suburb, which may be considered as the port, 1872 and 1921 and increased at a rate of 2.30 but it is mostly built on the. sand of the Ganges, per cent between 1921 and 1971. The following which renders it necessary every year to remove table shows the movement of population. many of the. hou~es during the floods. The (168-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF number of houses may be estimated at 5,000 MUNGGER TOWN, 1810-11, 1872, 1881, 1891,•. ,1971. and six persons allowed to a house, giving a population of 30,000 souls. The place of year population variation percentage variation worship in most repute among the Mahomm~ dans, is the monument of Peer Shah Hossem 1810·11 30,000 Lohauni, where both Hindoos and Mahomme 1872 59,698 +29,61}8 +98·99 dans make frequent offerings, especially on their -4,326 marriages and other emergencies. The gardeners 1881 55,372 -7'2S of Monghir are noted throughout Bengal for 1891 57,077 +1,705 +3'.08 -21.11}7 -37·14 their expertness, and as has already b~en 1901 35,880 mentioned, the tailors are not ·of less celebrity, 1911 46,913 +11,033 +30· 75 much of the army clothing being made here, 1921 46,825 -88 -0·19 besides shoes, both of n~tive and Euro!,ean 1931 52,863 +6,038 +12· 89 fashions. Here also, and at Boglipoor, are some 1941 63,150 + 10,287 +19'46 workmen who make European furniture, palan 1951 74,348 +11,198 +17·73 quins, and ~arriages, and when furnished with 1961 89,768 +15,420 +20·74 sound materials, and well looked after. are really clever workmen. The blacksmiths occupy about 1971 102,462 +12,694 +14'14 16. CITY OF PATNA, 1811-12 1. YEAR-1811-i2 2. PLACE- City of Palna 3. SOURCE reach along the bank of the Ganges from Sherpur to Baikunthapur, about 11 miles farther west Buchanan, Francis and nine miles farther east than the boundaries An account of the districts of Bihar & Patna which I have assigned. in 1811-1812 Patna, Bihar & Orissa Research (b) Particulars of population- Society, 193. p. 57-65. (169-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF THE CITY OF PATNA. 1811-12 [AS/915.4 B918A] srI. item particulars no. 4. MATERIALS- 1 2 3 (a) Geographical location- 1 area in square miles 20 [boundaries of the city] 2 number of villages 3 population : persons , 312,000 There is a good deal of difficulty in ascertain males ing the boundaries of Patna. To exclude what females is without the walls would reduce its dimensions 4 number of families to a trifle, while the suburbs are built in a very 5 number of houses 52,000 straggling ill defined manner. I find it most 6 population per square mile . 15,600 suitable for my purpose to include in this 7 average size of a village section the whole of that part of Patna Pergun 8 average size of family nah, or Haveli Azimabad, that is under the 9 average size of a house 6.0 females per thousand males jurisdiction of a Katwal and 15 Darogahs, who 10 are appointed to superintend the police of the The whole population will amount to 16 wards (Mahullah), into which the abovemen 312,000 ... tioned extent is divided. Each ward includes S. METHOD- part of the town, but several of them also include [An enumeration of houses was conducted to an adjacent part of the country, consisting levy taxes. Actually perhaps, a list of owners chiefly however of garden land with some low was prepared since more than one houses might have belonged to one p~rson in certain cases. marshy ground ,that intervenes. It must how Religious establishments were outside the scope ever be observed that the Darogah of Bakipur, of enumeration. The number of houses enume besides one of those wards, has under his charge rated was 45,867. Francis Buchanan considered a country district of considerable extent, which the shortcomings of enumeration as stated does not form a part of the Pergunnah of Patna, above and estimated the number of houses at 52,000. He then made conjecture about persons and that a great part of the division of Phatuha per house at 6 on the basis of partial enumera is composed of a portion of pergunah Azimabad, tion attempted.] but I shall treat of both these separately, as 6. EXPLANATION they must be considered as entirely in the [population] country. The city of Patna, taken in this sense, A city nine miles long sounds large, but, when includes the suburbs of Bakipur and J afur Khan's we come to investigate particulars, we shall be garden, an extent nearly of nine miles along the a good deal disappointed. It having been last bank of the Ganges. The width from the bank year proposed to levy a tax on houses, the acting of the Ganges is on an average about two miles, collector proceeded to make an enumeration, and the returns pl'ocured gave 45.867 houses, exclu but some part of the channel of the Ganges and sive of those occupied by persons dedicated to of the islands opposite to the city, must be religion. Two or three houses belonging to one also considered as belonging to this jurisdiction, person were often I understand returned as one, so that on the whole I shall allow it an extent which saved trouble, as the tax was to be laid on the value of each property. On account of of 20 square miles. It must however, be observ this and of the religious houses, and a few that ed that, among the natives the gerdnawah or may be supposed to have escaped the vigilance ~~tellt of the cit>, of Patn~ is uSllally said to of the surveyors, the number must be allowed to 318 319 1. Year-I8lJ-I2 2. Place-City of Patlla be somewhat more than the return given to the into sloughs, is occasionally repaired with earth collector. The late magistrate had commenced thrown in by the convicts; the others are left to ~n enumeration of the people, but it was left nature by the police, and the neighbours are too lUcomplete, and has not been continued. I am, discordant to think of uniting to perfonn any the~efore, under t~e necessity of proceeding by work. Paving. cleaning and lighting, considered conjecture concernmg the number of people in so essential in every European town in such each house and the addition that must be allow circumstances. are totally out of the question. In ed to the number of houses returned to the the heats of spring the dust is beyond credibility. coll~ctor. On the fitst point, the average and in the rains every place is covered with mud, conjectures of all the Darogahs, each of whom through which however it is contrived to drag had carried his investigation by actual enumcra· the little one horse chaises of the natives. In t~on to a certain extent, will give an average of the rainy season there is in the town a consider SIX persons for each house, and the total number able pond or lake, which, as it dries uP. becomes of houses, according to the conjecture of the exceedingly. dirty, and in spring is offensive. Darogahs. amounts to rather more than 52,000. [suburbs: street and housing pattern] The whole population will, therefor..!, amount to East from the city is a very great suburb, the 312,000, which I do not think liable to any chief part in which, called Marusgunj, is situat considerable error. There are besides a great ed between the eastern gate and the river, and many persons, sepoys, camp-followers, travel is the principal market. It contains many store lers, boatmen, etc. whose numbers fluctuate; but houses for grain. Most of the buildings. espe are generally pretty considerable. cially the store-houses, are built with wooden [city proper: housing pattern] posts and walls made of straw-mats, with tiled A plan* made by a native assistant will show roofs. Although almost the whole was burned t~e su~d~visions and ~xplain my meaning. The to the ground last year, and although a similar city wlthm the walls IS rather more than a mile accident usually happens once in five or six and a half from east to west, (as may be seen years. it has been rebuilt exactly on the mme by the plan in the Beng(ll Atlas No. ] 5) extends footing. Immediately above the town is a long three quarters of a mile north and south, and narrow suburb extending almost four miles in is exceedingly closely built. Many of the houses length. but seldom half a mile wide. and there are built of brick, more however are built of are many short interruptions from gardens; but mud with tiled roofs. but very few are thatched. one great street. lined in most parts on both sides To outward view they are exceedingly unsightly with houses. extends the whole way. and near and slovenly and are rendered peculiarly mean the city divides into two branches, which rejoin by the lower storey towards the stn:et, in even at the ea8tern gate. Many narrow crooked alleys the best of them being let for shops to low trades extend on both sides of this road. and are lined men or even to artificers, who are verv careless. with hovels of all kinds, mostly. however, Within many of them are no doubt "neat. and having mud walls and tiled roofs, and some of according to the idea of the inhabitants very them have two stories; but there are scarcely any comfortable, as everyone who has means to responsihle houses occupied by natives. The afford it resides in this part of the town. nor is Nawab Bakur Ali has, however. as J have said it fashionable for the wealthy to have country above a large house: Raja Kalyan Singha. last houses. The Nawab Bakur Ali Khan has it deed native governor of Behar. has. two or three a house in a suburb, but this was formerly houses, which. from the caprice of enonnous occupied by an European gentleman. and I wealth, are now empty; and Raja Mitrajit of believe, has been bought by the Nawab with a Tikari has built a house. where he occasionally view chiefly to receive visits from Europ~ans. and resides. This part of the town seems to have his family resides in the city. Kasinath. a rich risen in consequence of the European settlement. banker, is the only person, as far as I saw, that and the houses of the Europeans ~re scattered has a country house; and both the buildings and through it, chiefly along the bank of the river; garden are neat. and of a respeotable size: but, while no precautions havin_g been taken, their I ~lieve. arc used very rarely. and that only on dependents have huddled along the great road. festivals and entertainments. and his family and fanned lanes and crooked passages between constantly resides in the town. it and the gentlemen's premises, so that the access to several of these has become exceedingly [city street] disagreeable, and to some of them difficult. This predilection for the city would be hard Notwithstanding that this is one of the chief t<;> exp_Jain. as it is difficult to imagin~ a more European settlements in India, being the seat of dlsgusttng place. There is one street tolerably a court of appeal, of a city judge and magistrate, wide that runs from the eastern to the western of the collector of a very fertile district, of a ga!e, but it is by no means straight nor regularly custom-house, of a commercial resident, of an budt.. Every other passage is narrow, crooked. opium agent, and of a provincia] battalion. the and Irregular. The great street. when it breaks number of European houses is trifling. and they 'not reprinted in th~s volume. 320 1. Year-181l-12 2. Place-City of Patna tlre so scattered that they make no show. One of is mean. Indeed, at a little distance them is a very elegant abode, and had it not been south from the walls, it is not discernible: there made to consist of two orders, one above the is no building that overtops the intervening other, and both therefore too small, it might have trees. and no bustle to indicate the approach te. been a fine piece of architecture; as it is, how a city. The view from the river owing to the ever, it is undoubtedly the best private dwelling European houses scattered along its bank, is that I have seen in India. The others are rather better, and is enlivened by a great number indifferent, and some of them very bad. of fine formed native women that frequent the [type of houses] banks to bring water. Still however, the appea rance of the town from thence especially in the Of the 52.000 houses estimated to be contain dry sooson, is very sorry, the predominant ed in this city. it is said that 7.187 are built of brick. 11.639 are of two storeys with mud walls feature. being an irregular high steep bank of and tiled roofs. 53 differ from the last in having clay WIthout herbage, and covered with all thatched roofs. 22,188 are mud wall;;!d huts manner of impurities, for it is a favourite retreat covered with tiles, and the remainder consists of of :the votaries of Cloacina, accompanied by the mud walled huts covered with thatch. Some of ~Wllle and curs that devour the offerings. the roads in this quarter are kept in tolerable I shall now give some account of the public repair by the labour of the convicts, but the dirt, huildings which are suitable to such a town. dust, and mud of the greater part of the suburbs Major Rennell has given in the Bengal atlas are almost as bad as those of the city. a plan of the poor fortifications by which the [water supply] city is surrounded; and, as ever since his survey The town is very indifferently supplied with they have been totally neglected their condition water. Near the river the supply from thence IS now to the last degree wretched. A very is abundant, but in the dry season the bringing little pains would, however, render them a of it from thence is a severe task on the women, security against predatory horse, and would and in the rainy season it is very dirty and bad. enable them to preserve the effects of all the Near the river the wells are deep. and the water vicinity from such a force, which in the present which they contain is generally saline. Farther reduced state of the native princes is now more from the river many wells are good, and some likely to be employed than any other. I have of them not very deep, so that on the whole the little doubt that in case of alarm the inhabitants people there are best supplied. One magistrate would willingly undertake the necessary work, some time ago, compelled the people to water were they directed by the Magistrate. The gates the street, each person in front of his own house, !lre now in a most deplorable state of decay. and this, no doubt, was a general comfort for and are rather alarming to strangers that enter~ the whole, but in . many particular cases was Tn order to prevent accidents, they should attended with hardship, so that this has been probably be pulled down, as in the present abandoned. The bank of the Ganges occupied state of the rampart they can be of no use in by the town is tolerably high, and in most parts defending the place. The fort at the N.E. comer the town might be extended farther south than of the city is now so overrun with rilodetil has been yet done, but all along its northern buildings that its form can be no longer distin boundary is a tract of low land deeply inundated guished, nor could I perceive any remains. except in the rainy season; this, however, when the ~ome old gates. It is the common idea among floods subsidise, is well cultivated. and I do the natives that the fort and city were built by not believe that it renders the situation of the I\zim, the grandson of Aurungzebe, and that town unhealthy. PataIiputra had long been completely destroyed [city proper: present and past] when that prince arrived; and, as I hav~ before said, it would appear that A. D. 1266 Patali The principal road, especially in the city, is had become a nest of robbers, and was then very much crowded; but there are no such punished; but a fort was built; nor can I trace multitudes of passengers going in and out as are anything relating to it in Dow's history until to be seen near the large towns in England. A the year 1611, when a convention of Afgan hundred yards from the southern wall (jf the chiefs assembled at the place, which was then city you are completely in the country, and the capital of Behar. Farther, it would appear within sight of it I found myself, in looking that about this time the town was not only after the curiosities of the place, just as great fortified. bi.lt had within the walls a palace. 'l matter of wonder to the women and children where the Subah resided. The inscription al~o IS in the most remote parts of Behar. It did (m the gate of the fort, dated in the H. 1042, not appear (hat the villagers, at least the women llttributes its erection to a Firoz Jung Khan. and children, had ever seen an Europ::an, and The vulgar opinion must therefore be a mis+ak:!. they flocked round my palanquin with gre'lt and takes its rise from the name of Azim eagerness. having been given to the city. It is alleged The inside of the town is disagreeable and that until the Mahratta invasion. the city walls disgusting, and the view of it from a distance contained all the inhabitants. and its principal 321 1. Year-J81J-12 2. Place-Ciy of PaIno increase and prosperity seem to have been owing entirely of stone. It stands with one end to the to the European commercial factories, for at one street, and the house of a descendant of the time the English, Dutch, Danes and French had prophet, who is styled the inotawoli of the factories here, and traded to a great extent, mosque, is situated in front. This drawing will especially in cotton cloth. This trade has no give an idea of the style of building 'in Patna, doubt suffered, and although that of nitre and and of the manner in which it is disfigured by opium has increased, yet the parts of the town the wretched sheds built in front for artificers adjacent to the factories have declined; but and petty traders. Although the owner ha's let then the city is said to have greatly increased, his mosque for a warehouse, he is strenuous in and the value of the ground in it, within these his calls on the faithful to pray, and he is the 15 years, is said to have doubled, owning to the loudest crier and ,the loudest prayer in the whole difficulty of procuring a spot for building a town. house. 7. GAPS- The English Company's original factory is now occupied by the Opium store-house, a very Nothing mentioned. substantial good building, well fitted for the purpose to which it is applied. Near it is the 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- J ail, also a large building, but neither handsome nor strong enough to confine ruffians. The house It was stated in tile Imperial Gazetteer that at present occupied as the city court is near the Buchanan Hamilton estimated the popUlation at jail, but is very abominable looking place. The 312,000 and his calculation referred to an area court of appeal is a handsome modern building, of 20 square miles. The area of the town was but very small. mentioned at 10 square miles in 1881, 15 square miles in 1921 and 22 square miles in 1961. The At the western extremity of the suburbs is a number of houses was 52,000 in 1811-12, 40,353 building called the Golghar, intended as a in 1881, 30,188 in 1921 and 52,093 in 1961. granary, and perfectly sui generis. For the' ~ake The average person per house was assumed at of the great man by whose orders this building 6 in 1810-11, it was nearly 5 in 1881, 4 in :1921 was erected, the inscriptions should be removed, and 7 in 1961. It is difficult to locate the were they not a beacon to warn governors of boundary of the city as p0'inted out under the necessity of studying political economy, and item 4(a). It will be interesting to find out the were it not of use to mankind to know even the reasons why persons per house fluctuated ovet weakness of Mr. Hastings. the period. According to the description con tained in the Imperial Gazetteer (1908), Patna Immediately above and below the city two was "closely built, mainly with mud houses, but native merchants built brick keys of considerable with the fortifications which surrounded the length' to facilitate the landing and shipping of city having long since disappeared. The popula goods in the rainy season. Boats can then lay tion return2d in 1872 was 158,900; but the along the key, and deliver and take in goods accuracy of the enumeration was doubted, and it with ease; but they never would appear to have is thought that the real number of inhabitants been of use in the dry season, when some was considerably geater. It is thus probable contrivance to facilitate the conveyance of goods that the growth indicated by the census of 1881. up and down the enormous bank is most wa.nted. which showed a population of 170,654 was ficti These keys are called Poshta, are pnvate itibusl. There wa$ a falling oil 5,462 persons property, and at present are chiefl.y used for between 1881 and 1891, while the census of lodging coarse goods such as tlmber ~nd 1901 gave a population of only 134,785, which bamboos, which in the dry season are depoSIted represented a further decrease of more than on the bank. . 18 per cent. This was due mainly to the plague, which was raging at the time of census and not Parallel to the city, at some distance south only killed a great number but drove many more from it, and extending some way farther each away. A second enumeration taken five months way, is an old bank, which seems to .have been later disclosed a population of 153,978. Tl:e intended to exclude the floods and stIll answers decrease in the figure of 1891, which still for. the purpose. amounted to 7 per cent. may be ascribed, in These with the roads and a few miserable addition to' the actual loss by deaths. from plague, brick bridges are all the public wo~k.s that I to a declining prosperity due to the gradual have seen, except those dedicated to rehgI?n. In .decay of the river-borne, trade" (India. The the middle of the city the Roman Cathohcs have Imperial Gazetteer. Vol. XX Pardi to Pusad, a church, the best looking building in the place. new ed. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908. p. 65-69). There are many musjids, or mosques, but none The population practically remained stationary of them very large, and many of them let as between 1901 and 1911 aild declined sharply by warehouses by their owners. This: is the case 12 percent due to the great influenza epidemic. with the handsomest of tberp which is built Thereafter population made an upswing. 322 1. Year-18Jl-12 2. Place-City 01 Patna A decline occurred througl!!:lUt a century. The 2 3 4 main reason is perhaps economic. The following table shows the trend of population. 1921 119,976 -16,177 -11'88 (17o·S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF THE CITY 1931 159,690 +39,714 +33'10 01< PATNA, 1811-12,1872, 1881, 1891, ... 1971 1941 196,415 -I- 36,725 +23'00 1951 283,479 -; 87,064 Year population variation percentage +44'33 variation 1961 361-,594 +-81,115 +28'61 1971 472,051 + 107,457 +29'47 1 2 3 4 1811-12 312,000 A comparison of house types according to pre 1872 158,900 -153,100 -49'07 dominant material in walls and roofs has been 1881 170,654 -t-1l,754 +7'40 attempted. Francis Buchanan estimated the 1891 165,192 -5,462 -3'20 number of houses at 52,000 and their distribution 1901 134,785 -30,407 -18'41 hy material used in walls or roofs has been 1911 136,153 +1,368 +1'01 worked out as follows: (171-S) DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSES BY MATERIALS USED IN WALLS AND ROOFS IN THE CITY OF PATNA IN 1811-12 roof! brick tiled (double) flltC:hld tiled (single) thatched total percentage wall (double) (single) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 brick. 7,187 7,187 13'82 l1Ilud (double storey) • 11,586 53 11,639 22'38 mud (single). 22,188 10,986 33,174 63'80 total 7,187 11,586 53 22,188 10,986 52,000 percentage • 13'82 22'28 0'10 42'67 21'13 100.00 The census of 1961 showed distribution of (173-S) DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS DWEL LING IN HOUSES CLASSIFIED BY PREDOMINANT sample households living in census houses used MATERIAL OF ROOF IN PATNA MUNICIPAL COR- wholly or partly as dwelling by predominant PORATION IN 1961 material of wall and pre-dominant material of roof based on 20 per cent sample. The total type of material number of percentage number of households in 1961 was 64,139 of households to total which 12,489 were tabulated for information on 1 2 3 housing type on a 20 per cent sample. The grass, Iea ves,reeds, tha tchwoods following two tables have been prepared on the or bamboo 283 2·27 basis of information available in 1961 census tiles, slate, shingle 7,371 59'02 tables. corrugated iron, zinc or other (tn·S) DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS DWELL metal sheets 224 1'79 ING IN HOUSES CLASSIFIED BY PREDOMINANT asb(lstos, cement sheets 46 0'37 MATERIAL OF WALLIN_PATNAMUNICIPAL COR PORATION IN 1961 brick and lime 4,534 36'30 concrete and stone slabs 28 0'22 type of material number of percentage all other material. 3 0'02 households to total total . • 12,489 100'00 1 2 3 In 1811-12. 86.18 per cent of houses contained grass, leaves or bamboo 103 0'82 mud walls; the percentage of households living timber. 42 0'34 in houses with mud walls was 24.57 in 1961. On mud 3,068 24'57 the other hand, brick walls accounted for only unburnt bricks 416 3'33 13.82 per cent of houses in 1811-12; the per burnt bricks 8,816 70'59 centage of households living in houses with G. Lsheets or other metal sheets 9 0'07 brick-walls was as high as 73.92 in 1961. Thus mud walls have been largely replaced by brick stone walls. But mud and brick walls together account cement, concrete 35 0'28 for hundred per cent in 1811-12 against 95.16 all other material. per cent in 1961. In the former year. mud walls pre-dominated. in the latter year. bricks pre total. 12,489 100'00 dominate. This is a definite betterment. i. Year-1811-12 2. Place-City of Patna Now coming to the material used in roofs, a one-seventh in 1811-11 were practically absent striking similarity is; found. In 1811-12. 64.95 in 1961. percent of houses contained tiled roof; in Walter Hamilton estimated the population at 1961, 59.02 per cent of households live in houses 150.000. The basis is not known. Francis with roofs of "tile. slate and !>hingle". "Concrete Buchanan's estimate is based on number of and stone slabs" account for roofs of 36.30 per houses. The number estimated at 52.000 is Hkely cent houses in 1961. This type of roofs did to be near the truth. But the average persons not practically exist in 1811-12. In 1811-12. per house at 6 was a conjecture though made thatched roofs were contained in 21.23 per cent on a certain objective basis. This size was 5 in houses; in 1961 only 2.27 per cent of households 1881. 4 in 1921 and 7 in 1961. With 4 as live in houses having roofs of "grass. leaves. average persons per houses (as in 1961). popu reeds. thatchwoods or bamboo". Roofs with lation in 1811-12 would have been 208.000. It hrick constituted 13.82 per cent in 1811-12 seems therefore that the population of 1815 as against 0.22 per cent in 1961. Thus about given by Walter Hamilton is a more conjecture two-thirds of houses had similar type or group havi:Q,g no objective basis. It has already been of material both in 1811-12 and in 1961. Con pointed out that boundaries of 1811-1812 could crete and stone slab as roof material was a new not be clearly demarcated. Area varied at diffe arrival accounting for more than one-third of rent periods. 20 square miles in 1811-12. 10 in the houses. The thatched roofs constituting 1881. 15 in 1921 and 22 in 1961. Population about one-fifth in 1811-12 is negligible at 2.27 per may not be exactly comparable. but the broad cent in 1961. Brick roofs constituting about trend seems to be correct. 17. PATNA CITY, 181S 1. YEAR-IBIS Z. PLACE- Patna City 3. SOURCE- handsome appearance. which is not the case with Hamiltoll, Walter the rest of the city. There are several large Tht East India gazetteer... London, John buildings of brick, but they are old. and without Muray, 1815. p. 651-652. ornament. It was formerly fortified after the Hindostany manner, with a wall and small citadel. [BSL/XI--36] which are long gone to decay. The surrounding 4. MATERIALS- country is perfectly flat. This town is extremely (a) Geographical location- prosperous and po~ulous,... every article of food is remarkably cheap here. A large city in the province of Bahar, of which it is the capital. Lat 25° 37' N. long 85° 15' E A large quantity of saltpetre is annually dis (b) Particulars of population- patched from hence to Calcutta. for internal con supmtion and exportation. (174-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF PATNO\ CITY, 1815 The Company many years ago erected a depot srI. item particula rs here to contain rice. It is a building of stone no. in the shape of a bee-hive, with two winding .------.-~-~- stair-cases on the outside. which have been 1 2 3 ascended on horseback. 1 area in square miles 2 number of villages At Bankipoor, one of the suburbs of Patna, 3 population : persons 150,000 the East India Company's c.ivil servants reside. males· The provincial court of appeal and circuit. its registrars and clerks, the district and city coun, females . with the commercial resident. collector, and other 4 number, of families agents of the Company. compose a numerous S number of houses establishment, with liberal appointments. The 6 populaton per square mile . Patna division of the court of circuit compre 7 average size of a village hends the following districts. viz. 1. Ramgur; 8 average size of a family 2. Bahar; 3. Tirhoot; 4. Sarun; 5. Shahabad; 9 average size of a house 6. The City of Patna. 10 females per thousand males • Patna is a city of great antiquity, and ~upposed The number of inhabitants have never been by some to be the site of the ancient Palibothra. correctly ascertained. they cannot however be By the modem Mahommedans it is named estimated at less than 150.000. Azimabad, and by the Hindoos Sri Hagur. S. METHOD- Nothing mentioned. Travelling distance from Patna to Calcutta by Moorshedabad, 400 miles: by Birbhum, 340; 6. EXPLANATION- from Benares, by Buxar, 155, from Delhi 661 ; This place is situated on the south side of the from Agra, 544; and from Lucknow, 316 miles. Ganges. which is here five miles wide during the rainy season. and the eastern limits not dis 7. GAPS- cernable. The town of Patna IS one Con11flued street for many miles along the Ganges, the Nothing mentioned. houses of the natives being generally (if mud; but those of the Europeans, which extend from 8. EDITORIAL COMMENl'- Bankipoor, are of brick, and make a very Please see the City of Patna, 1811-12. 324 18. RAJMAIIAL TOWN 1810-11 1. YEAR-18IO-I1 2. PLACE-Rajmahal Town 3. SOURCE manner in which the town now stands. renders Buchanan, Francis its app~rance very dismal. An account of the District of Bhagalpur The officers of police maintained. however, that in 1810-1l. Patna, Bihar & Orissa Research it still contains 20,000 houses and 50.000 people, SoCiety, 1939. p~ '147. but even the latter seems greatly exaggerated, [AS/915.4 B 918b.] although it is in no proportion to the number of houses which they state. On inquiry, I found 4. MATERIALS- that it still contains 12 market places, Neyamu- (a)' . Geographical location- tullahbazar. K,achha-saray, Kutra, Matsyabhuvan, Walter Hamilton writes, "This town and adja Sirsigali, Kasemgunj, Sufiya-bazar. Gudagunj, cent territory belong to the province of Bengal, Imamgunj, Pirgunj, Ratnagunj and Saiud-bazar, although now annexed to the division of Bogli scattered over an immense extent. On applying poor, which ranks as a Bahar district... The to the owners for an account of the people belong city of Rajamahal stands on the S.W. side of the ing to these market places, they gave me a list ~f Ganges, about 70 miles N.N.W. from Moorsheda 1,285 houses; hut this is probably as much dimi bad. Lt. 25° 2' N. long. 87° 43' E." (Hindostan. nished as the other account is exaggerated. V.L p. 200). Besides, in villages scattered in the places between thp~,e market places, there are a great m~ny (b) Particulars of populartion- houses, so that I do not thik that the populatIOn (175-S) SUMMARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF be less than from 25,000 to 30,000 persons; and RA.JMAHAL TOWN, 1810-11 the number of travellers by land and water is generally very considerable. The supply of these srI. item particula r s no. with necessaries i~. indeed, the chief support of ---_------_. the town. 2 3 There are many small mosques and monuments area in square miles too numerous to be mentioned here, although in 2 number of villages other parts of the country I have noticed some 3 population: persons 25,000 that are of less size; because, from the scantiness to 30,000 of anything except hovels in their vicinity, they males have become of importance in the eyes of the females people who have seen no better. 4 number of families 5 number of houses 7. GAPS- 6 population per square mi Ie Nothing mentioned. 7 average size of a village 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- 8 average size of a family 9 aVerage size ofa house Rajmahal, now a town in the district of Santhal Parganas, Bihar, ceased to be a town during the 10 females per thou~and males . early census period from 1872 to 1911. popu 5. METHOD- lation figures are not available for the period 1872-1891. In 1901, the population was returned [Francis Buchanan applied to the owners of the as 2,047. In 1911, Rajmahal gained the market for an account of the people belonging status of a town with a population of 5,357. The to these market places; they gave him a Ii~t of population remained below this level up to 1951 1,285 houses. Buchanan conSIdered it to be an and in 1971. the population 8,185 is only understatement. He took into consideration that nne-third or nearly one-fourth of the estimated great many houses existed between these markets. population of 1810-11. He estimated the population on the basis of these considerations. ] It is obvious that the population of Rajmahal 6. EXPLANATION- sharply declined. In 1908, Rajmahal was Rajmahal has no doubt greatly diminished described as a vi1lage. headquarters of the sub since it was the seat of the government, which division of the same name in the SanthaI Parganas ruled the whole of Bengal and Behar, it has lost District then in Bengal situated in 25 0 3' N even in Consequence since the courts have been and 87° 5' E on the right bank of the Ganges. removed from it to Bhagalpur; still. however, it "Rajmahal is now a mere collection of mud huts, is a large place; but the ruins and the scattered interspersed with a few respectable houses. The 325 326 1. Year-18JO-ll 2. Place-Rajmahal Town ruins of the old Muhammudan city, buried in (176-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF RAJ rank jungle. extended about 4 miles to the west MAHAL TOWN, 1810-11, 1872, 1881, 1891,... 1971 of modem village. In 1860 when the loop-line year population variation percentage of the East India Railway was opened to variation Rajmahal. an arm of the Ganges ran immediately under the station, forming a navigable channel 2 3 4 for steamers and boats of all sizes. In 1863-64, 1810-11 27,500* the river abandoned this channel. leaving an allu vial bank in its space. Rajmahal was till 1879 1872 N.A. 3 miles distant from the main stream of the 1881 N.A. Ganges, and could be approached by large boats 1891 N.A. only during the rains. In that year, the Ganges returned to its old bed, but in 1882 it showed 1901 2,074 -25,426 -92'46 indications of again deserting it. In consequence 1911 5,357 +3,283 +158'29 of these changes. the bulk of the trade was 1921 3,454 --1,903 - 35'52 transferred to Sahibganj, though Rajmahal stilt retains the local traffic across the Ganges with 1931 3,685 +231 +6'69 Maida district. (India. The Imperial Gazetteer 1941 4,676 +991 +26'89 of India, Vol. XXI, Puskkar to Salween. Oxford, 1951 4,876 +200 +4'28 Clarendon Press, 1908. p. 77-78). It appears that the town declined mainly due to economic 1961 6,801 +1,925 +39'48 reasons. The following table shows the trend of 1971 8,185 + 1,384 +20'35 population. *average of 25,000 and 30,0((1. 19. CUTIACK TOWN, 1818 1. YEAR-I8I8 2. PLACE- Cuttack Town 3. SOURCE Ewer. William The date [data] of the calculation for Cutlack Report of Mr. William Ewer. Commissioner are tolerably dear & satisfactory. Mr. Webb in Cuttack. dated 13th May. 1818. In Bengal in a letter to the salt agent on the subject of Territorial (Revenue) Proceedings, 17th July, supplying salt for the town, dated 1808. states 1818. No. 15. that the average daily consumption of that [WBSA/ articles in Cuttack was 30 mds. Mr. Becher 4. MATERIALS in one of the letters annexed to his report, (a) Geographical locaJion- notices that there were then 600 maunds in the Walter Hamilton writes, "The capital of the market. which would only suffice for 18 days. preceding district [Cuttack District] situated in According to this, the consumption would be \at. 2Q o 27' N. long 86° 5' E. 251 miles t,ave} rather more than 33 maunds per decim-at ! ling distance from Calcutta. This town is built a chuttack, this would supply a population of on a tongue of land from whence the hilly coun 40,000 souls·_ a greater number of consumer try is visible, washed by two branches of Maha however, should be allowed. as the seapoys. nuddy river. which diverge about three miles camp followers, servants of Europeans & the to the wtJStward of the city. and in the rainy Courts. etc.. numerous foreign residents at the season insulate it." (East If.l'(iia gazetteer, 2nd ed. sudder station. would not consume more than V.I.p. 472). has been considered a fair average in Bengal, or (b) Particulars of population- about ! chuttack per decim. (177'S) SU_\1\1ARY TABLE OF POPULATION OF_! Recent actual enumeration for the purpose of CUfTACK TOWN, 1818 assessing the chowkee-darree tax shows the num sri. item particulars ber of houses in Cuttack, exclusive of these no comprehended within the limits of the exten 1 2 3 sive cantonment to be 5,699. Cuttack is a 1 area in square miles flourishing & respectable city. containing a few 2 number of villages Bazar and numerous large Pucka houses. If 3 population : persons 40,000 5 be a fair average for the size of a family in males females. the mud houses of the interior. 6!- will not be 4 number of families considered too large an estimate for a f,amily 5 number of houses . • 5,699 in a town like Cuttack. Hence also might be 6 population per square mile. deduced an estimate of a population of nearly 7 average size of a village 8 aVeragesizeofa family 40,000. The amount of population deduced from 9 average size of a house 7'0 the ascertained number of houses answers the 10 f !.nales per thou~and males . purpose both of confirming the inference drawn from the quantity of salt known to be daily & Population was stated to be not less than monthly consumed in the town, whilst it at the 50,000. On the basis of salt consumption, the same time shows the average allowance of -! population was estimated at 40,000. Again, chuttack per day for each soul to be near the taking 6t as the average size of a family, the population was estimated at 40.000 residing in truth. 5,699 houses. The detailed discussion by Ewer 7. GAPS- is presented under 6. Explanation. [The minimum population was stated hy the author at 50.000. On the basis of salt consump 5. METHOD- tion. the population was estimated at 40,000. [William Ewer first stated a minimum popula but a larger population. was indicated. The tion at! 50,000, then the population was placed same figures were arrived at by the author on at 40,000 on the basis of salt consumption at the basis of enumerated number of houses.] the rate of t chuttack per day and on the basIs 8. EDITORIAL COMMENT- of a count of houses. Details are presented The estimate of population varies from 40,000 under 6. Explanation.] to 50.000. William Ewer was inclined to think 6. EXPLANATION- that less cannot be given for Cuttack than For the purpose of the present argument, 50.000 or 100.000 souls for the three towns of however. the number of inhabitants in the large Cuttack. Pooree and Balasore. On the basis towns should be taken into consideration. I of salt consumption, a population of above am inclined to think tha!t less cannot be given 40,000 was indicated. Again. 5,699 houses were for Cuttack than 50.000 or 100.000 souls for supposed to contain a population of 40.000 on the 3 towns of Cuttack, Pooree & Balasore. the basis of the average size of a family at 6t· 327 328 1. Year-1818 2. Piace-Cuttack Town A. Sutton wrote in 1822, "Cuttack or kuttaka, It appears that the number of houses in is supposed to have been a royal city in the Cuttack as pr=sented from different sources vary tenth century, and with Chowdar, Jajipur, and from 5,699 to 7,000. The estimated population Pipplee, for several centuries divided the honour appears to be 40,000 or above.- 'TIle average of accommodatmg the court of Hindoo princes size of a household was near 6 in 196J, the in Orissa. The royal palace was probably the average size of a family was estimated at 61 superb edifice, situwted in the fort of Barrabatty. in 1818. The following table shows the move The present population of Cuttack is estimated ment of populatoin. at 40,000. There are about 7,000 houses, the great majority ()f which consist of mud walls thatched with the long coarse beni grass. Then:: (179-S) VARIATION IN POPULATION OF CUTTACK are, however, a few well built stone and brick TOWN, 1818, 1872, 18.81, 1891, ... 1971 houses in some of the principal bazars." (Narra tive of the rise and progress of the mission at year population variation percentage Orissa with a site of the temple at Juggurnallt variation by A. Sutton with an introductory eassay by the Rev. James C. Ewing Partick. Glassgo, John 2 3 4 Reid & Co., etc. 1834. p. 26) Walter Hamilton 1818 wrote, "The principal street is remarkably well 40,000 built, containing many houses, two and some 1872 42,667 +2,667 +6'67 three stories high, a specious chowk and several 1881 42,656 -11 -0'02 respectable Mahomedan buildings, such as the 1891 47,186 +4,530 +10'62 Jumma Musjeed, the mosque and Octagon Shrin~ 1901 51,364 +4,178 -+ 8'85 or Cuddam Resool, whe:e a s'.o:-':! from M'xca is 1911 52,528 + 1,164 +2'27 exhibited bearing an impression of the prophet's 1921 51,007 -1,521 -2'90 foot. The dwellings of the civil establishment 1931 65,263 + 14,256 +27'95 partly occupy as open space on the skirts of the 1941 74,291 -I 9,028 +13'83 ci:ty, and are partly dispersed over the environ1.. 1951 The high bank of the Laul baugh is now the 102,505 +28,214 +37'98 site of European villas, not a stone of the old 1961 146,308 +43,803 +42'73 palace remaining" (East India Gazetteer. 2nd ed. 1971 194,036 -[ 47,728 +32·62 vol. 1 p. 472). A. Stirling also mentioned the population of Cuttack at 40,000 in 1825 residing in 6,512 houses. The methodology of the estimate is It appears' that popUlation actually did not not stated. (Report on the Population Estimates increase between 1818 and 1872. Et is quite of India. 1820-1830. Delhi. Manager of Publi likely due to the fact 'that one-fourth of the cations. 1965. p. 169-170). A. Toynbee men popUlation of Orissa was wip2d out in 1860's. tions that the town was divided into 17 mohal Cuttack certainly shared this calamity. Popu las or wards subsequently reduced to 6 (by lation began to increase rapidly from 1921. The 1820's ). He presents the foHowing interesting highest growth occurred between 1951 and 1961. table. The growth rate fell again between 1961 and 1971. The rate of growth per annum was 0.12 (178-S) HOUSES IN EACH WARD OF CUTTACK per cent between 1818 and 1872, about 0.4 per TOWN AROUND 1820 * cent between 1872 and 1921, and 5.6 per cent between 19~1 and 1971. The growth rate was srI. nlmeofward no. of chow- costofchow- no. of no. or mO:1Ulla kidars em- kidars at Rs. houses more than 3 times higher during 1872-1921 com ployed in each 3siccaeach in each pared to 1818-1872, and 14 times higher during ward per mensem ward 1921-1f>71 compared to 1872-1921. 1 2 3 4 5 1 Balubazar 12 36 1,199 Another interesting event is worth mention· 2 Telinga Bazar 15 45 1,612 3 Kafta Bazar . 7 21 1,046 ing. Under Regulation XIII of 1813 and III of 4 Ganga Manzul 6 18 722 1814, a chowkidari tax was imposed 011 the town 5 Kadam Rasul 5 15 622 of Cuttack. A massive demonstration of the 6 :IJaxi,Bazar 12 36 1,190 people demanded abolition of the tax. There total 57 171 6,391 was something like a successful general strike in the town when shops were closed and business Toynbee mentions that. the number of houses was sllspended for several days. The movement increased to 7,046 in 1.827 (Toynbee. A. (A sketch gradually grew in strength by a growing partici of the History of Orissa.from 1803 to 1828 with pation of the people. The authorities at last App~ndices. Calcutta, p. 64). sought military help to disperse 'the crowd. "'Heading and column numbers insterted by the editor. SELECf BIBLIOGRAPHY Aitchison, C. U. compo India Company from 1771 to 1826 based on A collection of treaties, engagements and original English and Assamese so~rces. Gau sanads relating to India and neighbouring coun hati,. 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