Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/432

 424 MAJ branches are subject to subdivision amongst the heirs. Under this rule, when Bábu Bariar Singh of Bhíti died, his property was divided between his two sons, the elder of whom is now the taluqdar, while the younger, Bábu Abhaidatt Singh, is taluqdar of Khajuráhat. I have a high opinion of both these brothers, Bábu Jai Datt Singh is much esteemed by his countrymen for his justice and uprightness ; and he is readily accepted by them as a referee for the settlement of disputes. He is one of the few men of his class who lives within his income, and pays his revenue with punctuality. He is much appreciated as a landlord, and he has more idea of spending his money usefully than men of his class generally have. For instance, he has made an excellent raised and metalled road to connect his residence with the Government road, two miles off, and, in the course of this work, he has built a masonry drain-bridge and a large rough pile-bridge over the Mujwi, which last is really a considerable work to have been undertaken by him. It is the only bridge over this river within a space of 30 miles, and, as it is of public utility, it might, with advantage, be taken over and kept up by Government. I was surprised to find in his gården a walnut and a fir tree brought from Baddrináth by him ten years ago, when he went on a pilgrimage to that boly shrine ; besides many good fruit trees brought from Benares, Lucknow, and other distant places. It is so rare to see these gentlemen taking an interest in 30 rational an amusenient as gardening, that my visit to Bhíti really afforded me much pleasure. The population is 45,202, beiug at the rate of 611 to the square mile. The population is nearly entirely agricultural, and its condition is equal to about the average of people of this class. About 60 per cent. of the houses are tiled, and there are no masonry buildings. The only mahájao or banker is Ghirau Sáh of Ráeganj, whose annual transactions in the neighbourhood do not exceed from two to three thousand rupees. There are only three paltry bazars-viz., Sátinpur, Dharamganj, and Ahrauli,none of which are inhabited by more than 200 persons. The trade of the pargana consists of about Rs. 9,000 worth of cotton, piece-goods, thread, and spices imported from Fyzabad and other surrounding, towns, and about Rs. 7,000 worth of country-made cloth, grain, and gur exported to Fyzabad and Jaunpur, Indigo and cotton are not grown, but over 800 acres are under sugarcane, from which 8,000 maunds of gur (molasses) are annually made, which would be equal to 2,000 maunds of soft sugar, but that sugar is not manufactured here. There is nearly 100 acres of land under poppy, which yields an average of 6 sers of opium per acre. The outturn of wool is estimated at 15 maands only, and of patua (hemp) fibre for rope at 100 maunds. The prevailing soils are as in pargana Aldemau--viz., 1st class, duras (loatin), 2nd, matiyar olay), 3rd, balva (sand). The rabi is the superior harvest in the proportion of 10 to 6. Shrines and fairs.- Mahadeo Parudewa.-On the 13th of every Phágun, which day is known as the Shiuráttri, or anniversary of Mahadeo's marriage, a fair is here beld, to which the villagers, to the number of 2,000, inhabit- ing the country within 16 miles, annually resort for the day. No mer- chaùdize is exposed for sale. A smaller gathering is also held on the 13th