Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/221

 ;

BAH

143

Of the 490 villages now held by Sikhs, all, with the exception of about were owned in the Nawabi by Janwars and Eaikw^rs. None of the castes in Bahraich call for special mention there are no hill

20,



or any of distinct aboriginal extraction the pnly one of local interest is the Thdru, described fully in the Kheri and Gonda articles ; they number 1,741 in this district. Nearly the whole population is agricul-

tribes,



tural, and the statistics about those engaged in other occupations are not trustworthy.

There can be ^°^ °

about but that the general condition of the cultivating class is improving very fast in this district. Popu-

little

^

cultivator

lation

is

still

sufficiently

scanty to set agriculturists

at a premium ; and though in some estates they are disinclined to shift their quarters as the ryots in more

probably as much populous districts, and thus are more likely to tolerate oppression at the hands of the landlord than they otherwise might be, stiU the existence of the immense tract of waste land owned by men who are bidding for cultivators on all sides, cannot but give the ryot a great advantage in the settlement of the terms on which he is to hold.

now-a-days the cultivator sets apart his own seed-grain at harvest time, and even though hard pressed during the ""P^^oved No yg^j.^ refrains from touching this sacred store. condHL"^ sign can be better than this, for no link in the chain which binds him to the Banian can possibly be stronger than such a necessary loan as seed. At the doors, or just within the threshold of most cultivators' houses, may be seen those earthenware amphora-like granaries (dheri), which are a sure indication of thrift and independence of the money-lender and if we penetrated farther into the dwelhng, we should find in most cases a full set of brazen vessels.

As a

rule,



Notwithstanding, however, these proofs of comparative prosperity, it is too much to expect that such a creature of habit as ^^^ *^® ordinary Indian peasant can altogether break off throne" Jeiider However little his connection with the village usurer. necessity there may be for it, he cannot avoid every now and then borrowing a little at ruinous interest, and there are many who actually think that The taluqdars themselves their respectability is at stake in this matter. are not free from this mistaken notion, for many of them, notably one who has one of the finest estates in the district, come periodically into Bahraich to transact a little business with their bankers. rate of interest varies from Ks. 2 to Rs. 3-2 per cent, per mensem, being equivalent to Es. 24 to 37| per cent, per annum The rate of interest. ^^^^ when it is remembered that as long as the loan is

The

not a very heavy one the security is fairly good, it makes it a matter of wonder that the asdmi cannot be made to see his own interest. however, more often the case that grain is advanced to the ryot to be repaid at harvest time at the current rate, and Gram loans. The peculiar something more by way of interest. form of loan called " up" is one which is never made except a few weeks It

is,