Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/34

 26 NIG is most amusing to a European ; the southerner looks on the people of the Gánjar as rustic boors, and on their country as an outlandish jungle, and parties and witnesses in court constantly apologize for their inability to speak intelligibly, or their ignorance of the simplest rule of procedure, by begging the presiding officer to remember that they are simple people living in the Gánjar. The aversion with which the low river plains are regarded is most advantageous to the inhabitants, though they do not know it. But it keeps out population, and therefore keeps down competition for land. Immi- grants from the upper country have to be tempted to settle by the most liberal offers. The nakshi tenure is probably more favourable to the cultivator than any other in India. Consequently the people as yet are very well off, and it is gratifying to see their prosperity, and the independence that must accompany it, shared by low castes as well as by high. The evidences of it stare one in the face. Little children, with golden ear-rings and bracelets, meet me in every village, and the wives of even Chamárs and Pásis load themselves with silver ornaments, The same is the case in Khairigarh. The independence and prospcrity of the lower castes tends to weaken the feelings by which caste distinctions are supported. Brahmans, Chhat- tris, and Goshains are not ashamed here to plough with their hands ; wbereas in Baiswara the high caste man is degraded by the touch of the plough. In the densely inhabited villages of Baiswara, and districts in the south of Oudh, the females of the lowest castes are not allowed to wear any jewellery whatever, and generally would be too poor to possess any. The low castes keep great herds of swine, and pigs attain a size and fatness that would win them honourable mention even in Baker street Dogs abound in Ganjar villages, testifying by their independent bearing and loud and bold barkings that they too share in the general prosperity. Banjáras specially have a fine large breed of dogs which they use for the chase of wild animals, principally boars, of the flesh of which this caste is immoderately fond. Garerias also keep dogs in great numbers for watching their flocks of sheep and goats. Table showing the population of the pargana. HINDUS MUSALMAN TOTAL, AGRICULTURE NON-AGRICUL- TURE, AGRICULTURE NON-AGRICUL- TURE, Neuber of villages and granta Total area in British square Total cultivated area in Britlet Date. Female Yale. Fremale. Male. Femalo. Wala Female, III 3.ntnus Adults. Childreu. Adults. Children. Adults. Children. Adults, Children. Nighasan Tahsil- Nighisant Parga 10,601 Boys. 8,998 Girls. 31,636. Males. 57,6*- Total 263 14,403 103 7,759 12,402 6,613 5,657 2,399 4,111 2,076 RU BLE 492 318 TARI 393 124 98 209