Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/120

60 Committee the local agents of Government stated in 1823 that they could not discover that any endowments or funds of a public nature exist in the district, or that any grants have ever been made applicable to the purpose of public instruction.

Elementary School not Indigenous.—In 1820, a school was commenced by the Serampore missionaries at Comilah, the capital of the district, encouraged by the pecuniary support of private individuals, but the attendance of the scholars was so limited and irregular that it was discontinued. The scholars were the children of laborers who needed their assistance in the fields. The local agents strongly recommend that in future attempts to spread education in the district, the Native zemindars, several of whom reside in Calcutta, should be solicited to give their co-operation, which would greatly contribute to the removal of prejudice and to the final success of the design.

Population.—This district is intersected through its whole extent by the Brahmaputra and the innumerable streams flowing into it; and the surface of the country being low and flat it is during the height of the floods nearly submerged. In 1801, the total population was estimated at 1,300,000 persons, and the majority of the inhabitants are stated to be Mahomedans in the proportion of five to two Hindoos.

Schools.—Hamilton states that there are not any regular seminaries in this district for teaching the Mahomedan law, but that there are two or three schools in each pergunnah for instruction in Hindoo learning. The district is divided into nineteen pergunnahs and six tuppas, in all twenty-five local sub-divisions, which will give from 50 to 60 schools of Hindoo learning in the district. The scholars are taught gratuitously, it being deemed disgraceful to receive money for instruction.

Indigenous schools for learning imply the existence of indigenous elementary schools, but I find no mention of them in any authority to which I have referred.

The alleged non-existence of Mahomedan schools in a district in which the proportion of Mahomedans to Hindoos is as five to two is incredible.

I have not been able to discover that any institution of education that owes its origin to European philanthropy exists in this district.

Population.—In 1801, the inhabitants of this district were computed at 188,245 men, 164,381 women, and 140,319 children,