Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/122

62 are no regular schools and seminaries for teaching the Hindoo or Mahomedan law, but that in different places there are private schools where boys are taught to read and write. Of Mymunsing the reverse was stated, that it had schools of learning, but nothing was said of elementary schools. It is probable that in Sylhet the former are to be found as well as the latter, although neither may be numerous or very efficient.

In 1827, the Collector of the district was directed to make enquiry respecting a madrasa supported by endowments, and to report the result to Government. He reported that upon investigation he had discovered sunnuds of endowments for the support of the shrine of Shah Jullah, which limited the allowance to lighting it up, and to the bestowment of alms and other charities, and other sunnuds containing provisions for the education of students not attached to any public institution; that the latter were of a very limited extent, and contained conditions for the support of the grantee and his family and descendants; that the descendants of the grantee performed the obligations of the grant in so much as to instruct a few disciples in their own family; and that the parties appeared to be extremely indigent, and the assigned lands not of sufficient importance to merit the interposition of Government. Under these circumstances the Government resolved not to interfere with the endowments of this madrasa.

Population.—This district comprises a portion of territory in the immediate vicinity of the city. In 1801, the total population of the district, including the city, was estimated at 1,020,572 persons, in the proportion of two Hindoos to one Mahomedan.

Indigenous Elementary Schools.—Nothing is said of such schools by any of my authorities, but I deem it quite unquestionable that, although possibly not very numerous, they exist to some extent both in the district and city.

Elementary Schools not Indigenous.—I find mention made only of one such school. It is in the city and is connected with the Bengal Auxiliary Missionary Society. At the close of 1834 it contained upwards of 60 regular scholars, but since the scriptures have been introduced as a class-book all the Brahmans and some other boys have left. Upwards of 40 remain. The higher classes are taught arithmetic, letter-writing, geography, &c.