Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/242

182 as well as his wealth, which amounts, however, only to a moderate competence, give him high consideration in native society. The only species of literary composition he appears to have attempted is that description of propositions which it is usual for the professors of logical philosophy to discuss at the meetings of the learned. None of the other pandits are authors.

Almost every pandit has a separate school-house either built at his own expense, or at the cost of a former or present benefactor. The amount varies from 25 rupees to 400, and, of course, the extent of the accommodation varies with the outlay.

In 24 Sanscrit schools there are 153 students, averaging 6.3 to each school. Of the total number of students, 106 were present and 47 absent at the time the schools were visited; 41 are natives of the villages in which the schools are situated and 112 natives of other villages, and one is of the Kayastha or writer-caste, and 152 are Brahmans.

The following are the different studies pursued in these schools and the number of students engaged in each at the time the schools were visited:—

The age of each student was recorded with reference to three distinct periods, viz., the age at which he commenced the study he was then pursuing, his present age, and the probable age at which he would complete the study of the branch of learning on which he was then engaged. It will be noted that two of these periods are certain, and that one is prospective and conjectural. The following is the average age, at each period, of the students belonging to each branch of learning:—

Grammar, lexicology, and literature, which includes poetical and dramatic productions, although begun in succession are generally studied simultaneously, and the same remark is, in some measure, applicable to law and logic. Taking, however, each branch of learning separately, it would appear that the study of grammar occupies about seven years, lexicology about two, literature about ten, law about ten, logic about thirteen, and mythology about four.

In describing the works employed as text-books in each branch of learning, all that can be attempted in this place is to give the