Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/96

 88 PAR the Gumti. The cost of well-irrigation may be set down in Partabgarh, north of the Sai, as varying between Rs. 2-4-0 per acre and Rs. 4-0-0. Irrigation is extensively carried on from wells both bricked and unbrick- ed, or as they are styled "kachcha," as well as from jhíls, ponds, and exca- vated tanks. Some of the rivulets or rain streams are also utilized by damming the current. Streams.—Where the banks of the stream are sufficiently low, the water is baled out with the "dogla" or bamboo basket, swung on double ropes, and worked by a couple of men. Four men are told off to each dogla, and each couple works for about half an hour, and is then relieved. A day's work continues for fourteen or fifteen bours out of the twenty-four, and thus each man has more than seven hours of it. Where the banks of the stream are too high for the dogla a convenient spot is selected, and the well apparatus of the moth (leathern bucket) and pulley is brought into play. Jhéls, ponds, and tanks.-Irrigation from jhils, ponds, and tanks is car- ried on by means of the "dogla" or the “ dauri." The latter is a smaller and lighter basket than the dogla, and is preferred to the latter where the water is deep, and consequently the labour of lifting thereby enhanced. Where the water is some little distance from the cultivation, and the dif- ference of level considerable, a succession of two and three doglas or dauris may be seen working simultaneously at successive points. These points are called "riks," and the water is collected in more or less deep pools at each of them. This system of irrigation is frequently carried on by a co-operative or mutual aid society, the members whereof combine to work together by gangs, until the lands of the whole have been watered. This is in practice found to be more economical than the independent hiring of labourers. In the latter case the daily wage consists generally of three sers of some one of the inferior food grains. Wells.-- The water is lifted out of wells by means of the "moth" or 'pur," a flexible leathern bucket, containing from two and a half to twelve and a half gallons, which is attached by a strong rope to a pulley. In masonry wells the number of “láos" or runs, which can be worked at one and the same time, varies from four to twenty. The aver- age number may be set down at eight. As regards unbricked wells, I have seldom seen more than two láos worked. These láos are worked in this district by men or women, bullocks, and buffaloes. The latter are, however, comparatively rare. Bullocks are of course preferred, and may be said to be the rule. Where men and women are employed, six per- sons are told off to one láo, twelve to two láos, and so on. These are exclusive of two persons, one of whom directs the course of the water in the field, and the other receives and empties the bucket on its arrival at the mouth of the well. A third man is necessary, where bullocks are used, to drive them. Human labour irrigates more quickly than bullocks, but is obviously more expensive, and is only had recourse to when the cultivator 3)
 * The "pur" is larger than the "moth," and is peculiar to certain parts of the district.