Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/225

 — BAH and that

147

an increasing motive, is shown by the increasing numbers Every second man met with in the fertile plains of Hisdmpur is a Sawak, and it seems strange to an Englishman to listen to the proprietor pointing to them as they stand behind or drive the four-footed cattle at the ploughs. He descants upon the sums he paid for them fiftyone rupees for that one, sixty for his neighbour, because the latter had a large family, which went with the lot. this is

of Sawaks.^

—



Further, of recent years it is said, mainly since annexation, the Ahir caste has been drawn reluctantly into the Sawak status. The caste as yet protest against it, and when the matter is brought before the brotherhood formally, the oifender is expelled from amongst them, in local phrase, has his pipe put out. The pressure of poverty is too great, and the caste winks at all but the most open violation of their rule.

—

There

Bahraich the contract system under which a labourer breaks up waste land with spade husbandry at a fixed Contract labour. rate. For average land that now current is two bfghas for one rupee this includes merely turning over the clods with a large hoe. A stout man can do his two bighas and earn his rupee in ten days, or nearly three rupees per month, by job-work but such a labourer will be rather an athlete, and will eat one ser of flour per day. An ordinary labourer will spend fourteen days over his two bighas, and earn only two rupees per month. modification of the sawak system called the ulti sdwaJc has been recently introduced. Under it a labourer receives an advance of six to twelve rupees, and gives his services for one year, receiving in one-seventh of the crop. Other landholders pay addition the usual share their labourers two rupees a month, a blanket in winter, and possibly a couple of local maunds of grain as a reward at harvest. is

also in





A

—

The

district,

Eents

on the whole, is in a very backward condition there are ^'^ mines or European industries of any kind there are no reform societies, local institutions or printing



presses. It is believed, however, that the tenantry are better off than elsewhere in at least the local officers assert it.

Oudh,

Rents are lower than in other follows

Per

districts.

The

last official return is as



acre,

land suitable for rice

...

wheat maize, barley

cotton

...

...

Es. A. 3 14 3 14 3 5 3 8

oilseeds

9 3

sugar tobacco

7 8

opium

P. 2

2 8 9

12

6 7

6

4

It is no doubt true that plenty of good land can still be got at such rates, but the average rents paid are considerably higher, perhaps about ten per .cent, lower than those recorded as prevailing in Bara Banki.

Cultivation is of a backward character. Little sugarcane or garden crops There is good tobacco, but not in large quantity ; consequently are grown.

K 2