Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/195

 v Báyatha RAE 187 this district, and, being regulated by a sort of standing pancháyat, tends to reconcile malcontents who would otherwise come into court. The pat- wúri is ordinarily ex-officio member of the pancháyat, the remaining three or four members being either zamindars, muqaddams, or other respectable residents. It has come to my knowledge that a practice has begun to prevail in some parts of levying irrigation dues, or in other words of selling water. Pahikást (non-resident) cultivators requiring the commodity are made to pay 8 annas per diem for each 'rik, or raising station, which they work. Wells lately made in this district. -One hundred and four pakka wells, at a total cost of Rs. 19,760, were constructed in this district during the year ending 30th September, 1870. The details are as follows : By Chhattris Brahmatas 1 "Ahirs » DEUS Murkos Et Wells 27 21 3 10 19 Bháta Musalmana Kurnis "Baqqal Cast, 5,805 4,400 300 2,140 575 960 00 300 1,000 2,980 950 des 950 200 150 250 . Pasis » Telig 19 2 6 1 1 10. 10. » European (Captain Bunbury) 1. Total OF 104 19,760 This return has been obtained from the district records which do not show how many of these men are proprietors." The following memorandum on irrigation Rae Bareli has been con- tributed by Mr. P. Gartlan, a resident of the district :- "As regards wells in my part of Oudh, that is, in the tahsil of Salon in the Rae Bareli district, circumstances change from village to village. In some places water is met at 40 feet, at others at 24 and 30 feet, and at others at 12 and 15 feet below the surface. The spring is found now at 65 or 70 feet, now at 45 feet, and now at 30 feet below the surface. Wells are often sunk below 65 feet from surface, without a spring being met with. I have myself constructed wells under the foregoing circumstances, and have seen many such constructed by neighbouring zamindars (few) and asárais. Success in sinking a well does not depend so much on the depth to which the wooden foundation has to be sunk as on the quality of soil through which it has to go. Where pure sand is met above the water level it is walled up from the firm clay, and the actual well is sunk inside of this circular wall; but where the sand is met below the water level, it is next to impossible to succeed in constructing a well fit for irri- gation, except by improved scientific means which do not always succeed, and which owing to expense are beyond the reach of zamindars or asámis. I have tried Bull's patent dredger with sand, through which I managed to
 * Distribution of water by the bachh' system extensively prevails in
 * Barhis