This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com \l \ \ » C_^ \ , A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF BENGAL. VOL. XVII. MURRAY AND G1BB, EDINBURGH, PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. A STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF BENGAL. BY W. W. HUNTER, B.A., LL.D., DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF STATISTICS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ; ONE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY ; HONORARY OR FOREIGN MEMBER OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF NETHERLANDS INDIA AT THE HAGUE, OF THE INSTITUTO VASCO DA GAMA OF PORTUGUESE INDIA, OF THE DUTCH SOCIETY IN JAVA, AND OF THE ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY. LONDON ; HONORARY FELLOW OF . THE CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY ; ORDINARY FELLOW OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, ETC. VOL UM-E 'X'VIL ' SINGBHUM DISTRICT, TRIBUTARY STATES OF CHUTIA NAGPUR, AND MANBHUM. This Volume has been compiled by H. H. RlSLEY, Esq., C.S., Assistant to the Director-General of Statistics. TRUBNER & CO., LONDON 1877. i -•:: : -.- : vr ..: ... - - ..-/ ... PREFACE TO VOLUME XVII. OF THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF BENGAL. THIS Volume treats of the British Districts of Singbhum and Manbhiim, and the collection of Native States subor dinate to the Chutia Nagpu-- Commission. Minbhum, with the adjoining estate of Dhalbl1um in Singbhu1n District, forms a continuation of the plarn of Bengal Proper, and gradually rises towards the plateau -of .Chutia. Nagpur. The population, which is now coroparatrv^y. dense, is largely composed of Hindu immigrants, and the ordinary codes of judicial procedure are in force. In the tract of Singbhum known as the Kolhan, a brave and simple aboriginal race, which had never fallen under Muhammadan or Hindu rule, or accepted Brahmanism, affords an example of the beneficent influence of British administration, skilfully adjusted to local needs. In three estates in Singbhum, as in the seven States which constitute the Tributary Mahals of Chutia Nagpur, petty chiefs exercise their hereditary rights of government, subject to the minimum of English interference, but effectually restrained from the abuse of their powers. Primeval forests, the home of many species of large game, still cover a great portion of the country. Cultivation is confined to the narrow valleys of the hill torrents, which are 6 PREFACE. carefully embanked and terraced for the rice crop. Mineral wealth abounds, but the natural difficulties of communication are so great as to have hitherto prevented the development of these resources. Towns, or even large villages, do not exist. The chief export trade consists of forest products ; and pasture-rates levied on the herds, driven annually from the plains to graze in the jungle, constitute an important part of the income of the landholders. The total area dealt with in this Volume amounts to 24,836 square miles, containing in 1872 a population of 1,816,573 souls. W. W. H. 1877. TABLE OF CONTENTS: SINGBHUM DISTRICT, TRIBUTARY STATES OF CHUTIA NAGPUR, AND MANBHUM. DISTRICT OF SINGBHUM. PAGE TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT, ..... 17-31 Area and Boundaries, . 17-18 Jurisdiction, . 18 Physical Aspects, . 18-21 River System, . 21-22 Minerals, .... 22-23, 99-105 Forest and Jungle Products, . 23-24 Ferae Naturae, .... 24-31 THE PEOPLE, . 31-79 Population — the Census of 1872, . 31-36 Ethnical Division of the People, . 36-39 Aboriginal Tribes, .... 39-63 Emigration and Immigration, . 63 List of Castes, .... 63-69 Religious Divisions of the People, . 69-70 Towns, Fairs, and Places of Interest, . 70-74 Village Officials and Institutions, . 74-77 Material Condition of the People ; Dress, Dwellings, Food, etc., . 77-79 TABLE OF CONTENTS. DISTRICT OF SINGBHUM— continued. PAGE AGRICULTURE, ..... 79-95 List of Crops and Rice Cultivation, 79-81 Cultivated Area and Out-turn of Crops, 81-82 Condition of the Cultivators, 82-83 Domestic Animals, .... 83-84 Wages and Prices, .... 84-85 Weights and Measures, 85-86 Land Tenures, .... 86-94 Rates of Rent, .... 94 Rotation of Crops, .... 94 Manure and Irrigation, 94-95 NATURAL CALAMITIES, ETC., 95-98 Droughts, ..... 95 The Famine of 1866, 95-98 Famine Warnings, .... 98 MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, MANUFACTURES, COMMERCE, INSTITUTIONS, ETC., 99-107 Roads, ..... 99 Mines and Quarries, .... 99-105 Manufactures, .... 105 Trade and Commerce, 105-106 Capital and Interest, 106 Missions, ..... 106-107 Income of the District, 107 ADMINISTRATIVE, 107-139 Administrative History, 107-115 Revenue and Expenditure at different Periods, 115-117 Land Revenue, 117 Civil and Criminal Courts, . 117 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 9 DISTRICT OF SINGBHUM— continued. Administrative — continued. PAGE Rent Law, . 117-118 Police and Jail Statistics, . 118-127 Educational Statistics, . 127-133 Postal Statistics, . 134 Administrative Divisions, . 135-139 METEOROLOGICAL, MEDICAL, ETC., . 139-146 Climate, Temperature, and Rainfall, . 139-140 Endemic and Epidemic Diseases, . 140143 Cattle Disease, .... 143 Vital Statistics, .... 144-145 Conservancy, Sanitation, etc., . 145 Charitable Dispensaries, . 145-146 THE TRIBUTARY STATES OF CHUTIA NAGPUR. TOPOGRAPHY, GENERAL ASPECTS, ETC., . 149-152 Area and Boundaries, . , 149 Administrative History, . 149-152 Physical Features, . 152 THE PEOPLE, ..... 152-164 Population — the Census of 1872, . 152-156 Ethnical Division of the People, . 156-162 List of Castes, .... 163-164 Religious Divisions of the People, . 164 AGRICULTURE, ..... 164-165 Police Statistics, .... 165 1o TABLE OF CONTENTS. SHORT NOTICES OF THE TRIBUTARY STATES OF CHUTIA NAGPUR. BONAI STATE. PAGE Topography, General Aspects, etc., . 165-168 The People, ..... 168-176 Agriculture, ..... 176-178 Police Statistics, ..... 178-179 CHANG BHAKAR STATE. Topography, General Aspects, etc., . 179-181 The People, ..... 181-188 Police Statistics, ..... 188 GANGPUR STATE. Topography, General Aspects, etc., . 189-191 The People, ..... 191-196 Agriculture, . 196-197 Village Institutions, .... 197-198 Police Statistics, ..... 198-199 JASHPUR STATE. Topography, General Aspects, etc., . 199-202 The People, ..... 202-208 Agriculture, ..... 208-212 Police Statistics, . .213 KOREA STATE. Topography, General Aspects, etc., . 21 3-2 1 5 The People, . .215-219 Revenue and Police Statistics, . 219-221 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 11 SHORT NOTICES OF THE TRIBUTARY STATES — continued. SARGUJA STATE. PAGE Topography, General Aspects, etc., 22I-23O The People, 230-235 Places of Interest, 235-240 Agriculture, 24O-24I Fiscal Divisions, . 241 Manufactures, Trade, etc., 242 Police Statistics, . 242 Revenue and Expenditure, 243-244 UDAIPUR STATE. Topography, General Aspects, etc., . 244-247 The People, . 247-249 Villages, Markets, etc., . 249-250 Police, etc., . 250 DISTRICT OF MANBHUM. TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT, ..... 253-268 Area and Boundaries, . 253-254 Jurisdiction, .... 254 Physical Aspects, .... 254-256 Mountains, ..... 256 Rivers, ..... 256-258 River Traffic, . 258-259 Minerals, ..... 259-260 Forests, ..... 260-264 Jungle Products, .... 264-265 Pasture Grounds, .... 265-266 Ferae Naturae, .... 266-268 TABLE OF CONTENTS. DISTRICT OF MANBHUM — continued. PAGE THE PEOPLE, . 268-309 Population — the Census of 1872, . 268-273 Ethnical Division of the People, 273-277 Aboriginal Tribes, . 278-288 Immigration and Emigration, 288-290 List of Castes, 20XD-295 Religious Divisions of the People, . 296 Division into Town and Country, . 296-297 Fairs, . 297-298 Ruins of Jain Temples, 298-302 Ruins at Dalmi, 302-304 Village Officials and Institutions, . 304-307 Material Condition of the People ; Dress, Dwellings, Food, etc., 307-309 AGRICULTURE, ..... 309-339 List of Crops, .... 309-310 Rice Cultivation, .... 310-313 Pulses, Green Crops, and Oil-seeds, . 313 Miscellaneous Crops, . 314-315 Cultivated Area and Out-turn of Crops, . 316-317 Condition of the Peasantry, . 317 Domestic Animals, . 317-318 Wages and Prices, . 318-319 Weights and Measures, . 319-320 Landless Day-labourers, . 320 Spare Land, .... 320-321 Land Tenures, .... .321-336 Rates of Rent, .... 336-337 Operation of Rent Law, . 337-338, 356 Rotation of Crops, . 338 Manure and Irrigation, . 338-339 TABLE OF CONTENTS. DISTRICTOF MANBHUM — continued. PAGE NATURAL CALAMITIES, ETC., . 339-347 Blights and Droughts, 339 The Famine of 1866, 340-346 Famine Warnings, . 346-347 MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, MANUFACTURES, COMMERCE, ETC., .... 347-352 Roads, ..... 347 Coal Fields,. .... 347~351 Manufactures, .... 351-352 Commerce and Trade, . 352 Capital and Interest, . 352 ADMINISTRATIVE, .... 353-370 Administrative History, . 353 Revenue and Expenditure at Different Periods, 353-354 Land Revenue, . 354 Civil and Criminal Courts, . 354-356 Rent Law, ..... 356 Police and Jail Statistics, . 356-362 Educational Statistics, . 362-365 Postal Statistics, . 365 Administrative Divisions, . 366-367 Fiscal Divisions (Pargands), . 367-370 METEOROLOGICAL, MEDICAL, ETC., 370-374 Climate, Temperature, and Rainfall, 370 Endemics and Epidemics, . 370 Fairs as Causes of Disease, 370-371 14 TABLE OF CONTENTS. DISTRICT OF MANBHUM — continued. Meteorological, Medical, etc. — continued. PAGE Native Physicians, . 371 Vaccination, .... 371-3/2 Vital Statistics, .... 372-373 Conservancy, Town Sanitation, etc., . 373 Charitable Dispensaries, . 373-374 INDEX, ...... 375 INTRODUCTORY NOTE. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. THE local weights and measures are given in detail at pp. 85-86 and 319-20. In some instances in the following volume, these weights and measures have been converted into their English equivalents,