Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/400

 392 LUC carving, and coloured frescoes. The Oudh Nawabs employed Italian sculp- tors who generally worked in Ajmer marble, which by no means equals Carrara ; many of their works are scattered over the public gardens of Lucknow, specially in the Wingfield Park, and others are in the houses of the princesses and nobles, specially of Malka Jahán and Chhoti Sháhzádi. As a rule, these works are mainly intended for decorative purposes, and do not even aim at correct or graceful modelling. A statue of Actæon at- tacked by his dogs is of a higher class, it bears the following inscription :- " The first premium in London to N. Read by the Society of Políte Arts, one hundred guineas, A.D. 1761." The alabaster medallions and frescoes which are found in the Martiniere are elaborate specimens of an art which has practically died out, its followers having betaken themselves to model- ling in clay with more success than could be anticipated, considering that they receive no instruction and have no models beyond engravings in art journals. European industries and trade. - In addition to the mercantile firms there is only one enterprise conducted by Europeans. This is an ice-mak- ing machine which supplies the community with clear ice at the rate of two annas a ser. The railway workshops employ many hundreds of work- men, including not less than 32 pupils of the Martiniere school, besides other Europeans and Eurasians. There are several steam engines in Lucknow, but there is no water-power, windmills might perhaps be introduced. At Cawnpore one was erected some years ago at a cost of Rs. 85; it worked up to about four horse-power, the area of the sails being only 15 square yards. No repairs hardly were required and no storms injured it; it was ultimately superseded by steam- pover. It was mainly made of wood; it might be used with excellent effect for irrigation or drainage. The price of all materials varies much in Lucknow, and the facts are rather strange. The Railway Company, for instance, found it cheaper to import red gum sleepers from Australia at Rs. 8-6 each delivered, than to use the sál wood from the Government forests which cost Rs. 3-4-0 per foot. Mahua or mango firewood can be had for Rs. 16 the bundred cubic feet, dhák for Rs. 10; pit coal is imported from Rániganj. It is difficult to understand these things. Means of communication and carriage are generally very good; it appears probable that the system of purchasing in the cheapest local market has not yet been perfected, and that part of the prices paid is interrupted. Wages.-Wages in Lucknow of course differ somewhat from the rates prevailing in the rural districts. Jewellers get from 2 annas to 8 annas per day; but, as a rule, however, they are paid by a rate on the gold or silver they work up, from anna to 2 annas in the rupee for silver work, and from 8 annas a tola to Rs. 2 per tola for gold. Weavers are very badly paid; they rarely eam above 2 arinas a day; even the skilled artists who effect the intricate patterns of the Kashmir shawls do not receive more, but often less. These artisans are always in debt to their employers, and their position differs little from that of slaves, save that they are safe from personal