Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/254

194 Kaumudi. In medicine, Sarangadara. In mythology, Harivansa, and Sapta Sati, a chapter of the Markandeya Parana. In astrology, Muhurta Chintamani, Muhurta Martanda, Muhurta Kalpadruma Lilavati, and Sighrabodha; and in the Tantra, Sarada Tilaka.

This district contains fifty-six Sanscrit schools, of which one village contains five, four villages contain three each, six villages contain two each, and twenty-seven villages contain one each. The number of teachers is the same, and their average age is 47.3 years. They are all Brahmans, fifty Maithila Brahmans, three Sarajupariya, two Kanyakubja, and one Sakadwipi.

Of the body of teachers, six are independent of patronage, and are either supported from the resources of their own families, or support themselves by farming. The following are the sources of income of the remaining fifty teachers:—

Fifty teachers thus receive an estimated income of rupees 2,515, averaging to each rupees 50-4-9 per annum. The practice of divination is very common in this district, and it is a source of income to men of learning which has not come to my knowledge elsewhere.

None of the teachers have distinguished themselves by written compositions, and amongst the whole body only two are to be found having separate school-houses for the accommodation of their students, and those built at their own cost,—in one instance amounting to two, and in the other to ten, rupees. The rest assemble their pupils in the verandas of their own dwelling-houses.

In 56 Sanscrit schools there are 214 students, averaging 3.8 to each school. They are all Brahmans, 147 of them being natives of the villages in which the schools are situated, and 67 natives of other villages. The students of three schools receive in the form of occasional presents rupees 65, which averages to the students of each school collectively rupees 21-10-8 per annum.