Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/192

 184 RAE The highest rents are for opium lands in the vicinity of the towns, such pay up to Rs. 13 the bfgha, or Rs. 20-12-0 per acre, Ordinary wheat lands, irrigated by the tenants' own wells, let up to Rs. 7 the bigha, or Rs. 11-3-0 per acre, and unirrigated lands, in which nothing can be grown but gram, barley, and arhar, let at Rs. 5 the bigha, or Rs. 8 the acre, if the soil is not very sandy. When the land is very sandy, and very remote from the village site, so that it is impossible to manure it except at a prohibitive costs, rents fall as low as one rupee an acre. The above figures are not meant to embrace the cases of tenures granted on favourable terms to tenants of high caste or recently settled. The rents have been much raised of late years. The following is from the settlement report :- “Outtum.-The following are approximate statistics. One man with one pair of bullocks can cultivate fairly about four acres per annum, from which he may calculate on an average annual yield of twelve maunds of grain per acre, or forty-eight maunds of grain per annum. The present average value of this, together with the straw, is about ninety-six rupees, and taking the landlord's share at one-third, the rental of the holding should be about Rs. 32, or Rs. 8 per acre. "Seed per acre.—The amount of seeds for a crop of wheat averages about a maund and a half per acre. "Hired labour.–Labourers are paid chiefly in grain, and so are village servants. " Village servants.—Under this denomination come- Watchers. Berdsmen, Astrologers. Barbers. Blacksmiths, Washermen. Carpenters. Kaháre (pálki-bearers). Priests. Potters. Ploughmen. “Some of thege get sometimes grants of lands. The Kahárs are employed to draw water and for other purposes. Besides the above many Brahmans and mendicants, are entitled to what is called "anjurí," or both hands filled with grain before its removal from the threshing floor.. Agricultural seasons.—The agricultural operations are conducted according to certain astronomical divisions of time into which the rainy season is divided « Thus in 1871 Mirgisra commenced on the 6th June. Ardra ditto 20th Punarbas ditto 4th July, Pukkh ditto 18th Ashlekba ditto 19t August. Magha ditto 15th l'urba w ditto 29th Uttra ditto Jeth September. ditto 25th Chittra ditto 9th October. 26 Haet