Page:Adam's reports on vernacular education in Bengal and Behar, submitted to Government in 1835, 1836 and 1838.djvu/359

Rh of 100 rupees per month, and an allowance of 50 rupees per month for establishment, stationery, and travelling expenses. This will be an expenditure of 1,800 rupees per annum.

The second item of expense will be occasioned by the survey of the district, to be conducted under the direction of the examiner. I will suppose that the district contains eighteen thanas; that a census both of the population and of schools is to be extended over the whole district; that five waqifkars will be requisite for each thana; that each waqifkars will receive ten rupees per month, including salary and allowances of every kind; and that the survey will occupy three months. The total expenditure will be 2,700 rupees, but as the benefit of the survey will be diffused over the whole period of four years, this is equivalent to an expenditure of 675 rupees per annum.

The third item of expense is that of books. I have no means of judging what the cost of preparation will be, and I can but conjecture what will be the cost of printing since the books are not yet written. In gross, however, let us suppose that the total cost to Government will be covered by two rupees per copy; and even this probably will be found in excess of the ultimate cost, if Government retain the copyright and stereotype the works. Suppose, further, that twenty-five teachers will appear as successful candidates in each thana, or four hundred and fifty in the whole district, and that each will receive one book for himself and six for his scholars in the year. That number will cost Government 6,300 rupees per annum.

A fourth item of expense may be found in the advantage of having an inspector for the number of districts included in a division to aid, advise, direct, and control the examiners, and to see generally that nothing is wanting to give efficiency to the plan. I would propose to give this officer a salary of 400 rupees per month, and 100 rupees per month for establishment, stationery, and travelling expenses. This will amount to 6,000 rupees per annum for a division, and assuming that the division contains five districts, it will be equivalent to 1,200 rupees per annum for each district.

The total expenditure for one district will thus be 9,975 rupees per annum, or 831 rupees per month, and for a division containing five districts 4,155 rupees per month, a sum less than many European servants of Government derive individually from the public revenue; and yet with this small sum—small in comparison of the good to be effected—might a foundation be laid for infusing fresh, moral, and intellectual life into seven or eight millions of an impoverished, debased, and neglected population.

Exclusive of fundamental objections to the principle, or the cost of the measure, practical difficulties may arise, some of which perhaps I do not now anticipate. Difficulty, for instance, may be experienced in consequence of the proposed exclusive employment