Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/108

48 employed with the different classes. The instruction appears to be exclusively religious. The progress of the children is slow and the attendance irregular.

There was a girls’ school at Bancoora, which, in consequence of the removal of all its supporters from the station, has been discontinued.

At Culna there is a girls’ school attended by 51 scholars. The instruction is of the same character as in the school at Burdwan.

At Cutwa, in connection with the Calcutta Baptist Female School Society, there is a girls’ school with about 30 scholars who, after learning the alphabet, &c., are instructed to write, commit to memory different catechisms and portions of scriptures, and read the gospels, parables, history of Joseph, geography, &c., &c. The attendance is very irregular.

Population.—In 1801, the district was estimated to contain 1,200,000 inhabitants, in the proportion of nine Mahomedans to seven Hindoos. The southern portion of this district is in the Soonderbuns, and is composed of salt marshy islands, formed by the alluvium and successive chfinges of the channels of the Ganges, and covered with wood.

Indigenous Schools.—I have met with no reference to indigenous schools, either elementary or learned, in this district, but it is beyond all question that the number of both amongst Hindoos and Musulmans is considerable. This district is a perfect and entire blank in as far as information regarding the state of indigenous education is concerned.

Elementary Schools not Indigenous.—The Serampore Missionaries have four schools in connection with their mission in this district; one at Neelgunge, attended by about 25 boys; a second at Sahibgunge, the sudder station, attended by 14; a third at Poolaghat, attended by 20; and a fourth at Bhurasapore, a Christian village, attended by 12 Christian children; in all 63 scholars. These schools do not prosper owing to the prevalence of sickness and death among the children. A few boys, from twelve to sixteen years of age, read Christian books and improve in Christian knowledge.

In the ninth report of the Serampore College (1830) mention is made of certain endowed schools in Jessore, of which I find no detailed account in that or in any other publication. They are stated to have been carried forward in nearly the same manner as in the preceding year; and the late Judge of the district, after examining them, expressed his satisfaction with the progress they had made.