Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/147

Rh Raigunge, Mathura, and Pubna, were in like manner separated from Rajshahi to contribute with four from Jessore to form the joint magistracy and deputy collectorship of Pubna. After these large reductions the district still contains ten thanas and three ghatis, in all thirteen police sub-divisions.

These sub-divisions are here enumerated in the order of their estimated relative territorial extent, beginning with the largest; viz., thanas Bhawanigunge, Hariyal, Nattore, Chaugaon, Bauleah, Bilmariya, Tannore, Manda, Dubalhati, and Godagari; and ghatis Puthiya, Surda, and Mirgunge. Of these Nattore is the most central and is that to which the tables in the Appendix refer, being taken as a standard by which to judge of the condition of the remaining sub-divisions. Its greatest length from north to south is estimated by well informed persons in the district at 22 miles, and its greatest breadth from east to west at 20 miles. These are estimated, not measured, distances, and may be a little below or a little above the truth; and even, if taken as strictly correct, they must be understood to express only the distance of the extreme and opposite limits without implying that the same length and breadth will be found at all points. As the different districts run into and dove-tail with one another, so do the different sub-divisions of the same distinct. The space, therefore, contained in the thana of Nattore will not be correctly judged from the extreme length and breadth which would make it equal to 440 square miles, whereas the actual area probably does not amount to more than 350. Comparing the other sub-divisions with Nattore, Bhawanigunge and Hariyal have each a larger extent of surface, but much of the former is occupied by jungle and of the latter by water, the Chalan Bil, the largest lake in Bengal, being principally included within its limits. Chaugaon and Bauleah are about equal in extent, and each rather smaller than Nattore; and Bilmariya and Tannore are one grade smaller, Manda is rather larger than Dubalhati or Godagari, the two latter being the smallest in size of the thanas. The ghatis are still smaller considered merely in reference to territorial extent, and of the three Puthiya is the largest. Besides Bhawanigunge, Manda, Tannore, Dubalhati and Godagari have much jungle in which the wolf and tiger have their haunts. The three ghatis are sections of contiguous thanas, placed under separate Native superintendents, to give greater vigour and efficiency to the administration of the police.

About the end of 1834, Mr. Bury, the magistrate and collector of the district, caused returns to be made to him by the different daroghas, showing the number of families—of men, women, and children—and of chowkidars in each thana. I was permitted to examine them, and the following are the results which they exhibit, omitting the column relating to chowkidars