Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924024153987).pdf/315

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BAR



237

kachcha well varies from Rs. 2-8 to Rs. 8. The average cost is about 3. I may be excused poiixting out that it would be bad economy, and from a Hindu point of view, irreligious too, to hinder the digging of wells, Asking permission would be a mere form, and, if it ever existed, has fallen into desuetude. The practice with reference to pakka wells is different, the asami does ask verbal permission and for several reasons First. Because, as a general rule, the zamindar supplies wood to burn the brick, and gives permission to dig for clay. Second. Because the digging a pakka well gives the asami tacitly or expressly a quasi occuRs.

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pancy-right in his holding, i. e., the asami's expenditure gives him certain interest in the soil, whose creation requires the zamindar's assent. The amount and kind of the interest varies the custom of some villages is that the asamis shall hold at a lower rate than he previously paid for five years ; of others, that his rent shall not be raised for fifteen years ; of others, that he gets a patch of mwcl/i land, as Mr. Wood assures me; of others, that he holds at the same rate for five years, and that the then increment shall have certain limits for ever. In many cases express verbal contracts are entered into on this matter in others tacit assent to the custom of the village is presumed the landlord who agrees to the digging of a well is supposed to know and accept the consequences. It must be remembered that, as a rule, owing to the intermingled nature of holdings, the well will water many fields besides those of the digger, who is only entitled to first serving. The rent of those who share in this water wiU be raised by the landlord, who will thus profit largely in the I increased value of the surrounding land from his tenant's expenditure. have heard it quoted as a proof of mere tenant status, that the occupier had asked permission to dig pakka wells which a holder of sir could build





at his pleasure." "

reference to planting trees, the consent of the landlord is necesin fact, nothing can be more certain, so that there is no necessity for quoting authority or urging argument."

sary

With

have already pointed out that a lessee for a term of years may plant a yearly tenant would find any such attempt met with by prompt rooting out of his young trees." " I

a grove



According to the returns of the old as follows

district,

the details of irrigation are



Acres. Irrigated ,,

by jhfla or tanks ... by streams

byweUs „ Unirrigated

The tank water

is,

are early exhausted. copiously dug.

—

of course,

...

more

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

or less precarious

53,505 21,368 106,980 383,610

in dry seasons they

On the other hand, in such emergencies, wells are more

Wages. Ordinary wages are Rs. 2-8 per mensem for a skilled agricultural labourer ; in addition, one kachcha maund of grain worth about one rupee, and a blanket worth about Rs. 1-8, raise the remuneration for labour to Rs. 33 per annum in the neighbourhood of towns in rural districts