Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/136

 128 PAR rivers, nálas, jhils, and swamps; while under the latter are comprised all rights in wells, excavated tanks and ponds, and embankments. With reference to irrigation from natural sources, the custom is that should the landholder require water he is first to be served, then the cultivators, according to priority of sowing, on the principle that the earliest sown crop soonest requires water. The second class ordinarily gives rise to disputes and litigation, but in this district irrigation suits have been remarkably few. Artificial reservoirs. — Rights in wells are clear, and are seldom, if ever, called in question. With regard to artificial reservoirs two classes may be said to exist, viz., (1) those in the case of which the excavator or his heir is living and in possession, and (2) those in which all rights have lapsed. In the former case, after taking as much water as his purpose requires, the owner usually allows the privilege of irrigation to such cultiva- tors of the village or neighbouring village as he pleases. In the latter case, howeyer, it is usual for the lord of the manor to first irrigate his sír lands; afterwards those cultivators, whose lands are situated within reach of the water, appoint a committee to estimate the contents of the reser- voir and the amount of land which it is proposed to irrigate. The amount of water to which each man is entitled is then apportioned in dauris. The daari contains about five gallons, and the dogla rather more than twice as much. This distribution of water by the “báchh" system exten- sively prevails in this district, and, being regulated by a sort of standing panchayat (court of arbitration), tends to reconoile mal-contents who would otherwise come into court. The patwari is ordinarily ex-officio member of the “pancháyat," the remaining three or four members being either landholders, muqaddams, or other respectable residents. It has come to my kuowledge that a practice has begun to prevail in some parts of levying irrigation dues, or in other words of selling water. Páhikásht cultivators requiring the commodity are made to pay 8 annás per diem for each "rik” or raising station which they work. This is another innovation which characterises the age we live in, in connection with the gradual decay of caste prejudice. Grazing rights.—The subject of grazing rights may be dismissed in a few words. Unfortunately for the cultivator and his live stock, the graz- ing area is yearly becoming more restricted. The uncultivated land of a village is, as a rule, free for grazing purposes, not only to its own cattle, but to the cattle of the neighbourhood. In other words, clusters of vil- lages possess pasture lands common to all. This simple arrangement, based on ancient custom, does away with all ground of contention. Dis- putes when they do arise are nearly always connected with the trespass of cattle in the cultivation, and the consequent damage to the crops. They are not occasioned by any abstract ideas of right in this or that patch of waste. Grazing dues are at present unknown amongst the agricultural population, but how long they will remain so it would be hazardous to conjecture. A system of irrigation dues may be soon followed up by the levy of a tax on grazing. Manure stacks.—Manure heaps are in some districts frequent cause of contention. In this district however disputes have been rare. Since the