Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/98

 90 PAR in this district since annexation. Of this number 2,256 have been built siuce the revised assessments were declared in 1863 to 1866. Very few masonry wells are built by persons possessed of any right or title in the soil. With the exception of about 1,106, all the wells in this district have been constructed by persons who have no proprietary or under proprietary rights in the land. It will be observed that more skilled and industrious cultivators--such as Muráos, Kurmis, and Ahírs--have been the most enterprising in this respect. Next come Brahmaus, after these, longo sed intervallo, Mahajans (bankers) and Baniáns. It is at first difficult to perceive the motives, which induce the sinking of so much capital on little or no security, and where there is an impossibility, it appears to me, of ever obtaining such returns in the way of interest as would justify the outlay in the light of a moderately profitable speculation. Desire for dis- tinction and for the grateful recollection of posterity, coupled with the feeling that the act is in accordance with the teachings of the religious codes of both persuasions, appear to be the principal incentives. Manure.- Animal and vegetable mavures are made use of wherever procurable. Ashes of burnt cow-dung (kanda), and less often of wood, are also sprinkled over the fields. During the rainy season the leaves of the dhák and dhera trees are strewed over fields, which are to be sown with wheat, barley, poppy, and tobacco, and wbich are ordinarily called "chaumás" lands. Cultivators stack their manure in convenient places near the village ; if possible, on a piece of waste, otherwise in a grove. These manure heaps are a constant and fertile source of dispute, and it is a great object to carefully record in the "wajib-ul-arz," or administration paper, such rights in them as are clearly ascertainable. There is at present no traffic in manure except within the limits of municipalities. If a laudlord has not enough for his own use, he has no scruple in relieving such of his tenants as are well off in this respect of their surplus stock, and the latter seldom demur to the demand, as it is generally regarded as a manon rial right. Cattle, drarught, and milch.For agricultural purposes bullocks are chiefly used. These are as a rule a small breed of cattle, but are capable of undergoing pretty hard work. If there were but a sufficiency of good pasture, I believe they would not be by any means the inferior animals they are generally considered. Buffaloes are used only by those of the more impoverished cultivators, who are unable to afford to buy bullocks, and who are not prevented by local caste prejudices from making use of them. The market price of bullocks varies according to size and age from Rs. 12 to Rs. 40 per pair; whereas a pair of he-buffaloes may be purchased for Rs. 10; more than Rs. 12 is very seldom given or demanded. There is apparently no effort or desire to improve the present breed, and the services of the Government stud bulls are but seldom called into requisi- tion. Nevertheless at several of the local bazars a brisk trade in draught and milch cattle and in buffaloes is carried on. Of milch cattle the buffalo is the most esteemed, and yields the finest ghí. As much as Rs. 20 is frequently paid for a really good animal of this sort. The country cow gives but little milk, and that little of very poor quality.