Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/99

 PAR 91 Sheep and goats. — There is a fine breed of sheep in the Kunda tahsil. They may be seen in considerable flocks, and are bred by the shepherds who sell but few, as they prefer to keep them for their wool, out of which they manufacture blankets at a larger profit than they could otherwise obtain. There is little to be said regarding the breed of goats in this district. Attempts to improve the breed by the introduction of the larger Trans- Jumna goat have hitherto resulted in failure. The absence of proper pasturage will probably account for this. Goat's flesh as well as goat's milk is a universal item of food amongst all classes. Shepherds, who keep large flocks of sheep and goats, manufacture and sell ghi mado froni the mixed milk of both animals; it is much sought after, and is mainly consumed by the poor. Prevalent diseases amongst stock. Since the fatal outbreak of rinder- pest in England, attention has been more closely directed to the diseases of cattle in this country, and there can be no doubt but that the cattle of India are liable to many of the diseases, which have been hitherto sup- posed to be more or less peculiar to a European climate. The complaint known as the foot and mouth disease broke out in this district a short time since, but not of a fatal type. While a few weeks previously there had been great mortality in several places amongst sheep and goats by the ravages of a disease somewhat resembling rot. It was highly infec- tious, but in many instances yielded to segregation, with complete change of air and water, when all other means tried had failed. Distribution of land.—The land is well distributed, the averages taken on the cultivated area falling as follows: Acres. 3.1 4.9 513 466 Per agricultural male adult Per cultivator's house Per plough With reference to the extent to which the land is distributed, and the consequent smallness of the average holding, this district stauds next to Fyzabad: Cultivators may be broadly classified into resident and non- resident. The resident cultivator, or chhapparband," is so called because he tills land situated within the limits of the village in which he resides. The non-resident, or " pálikásht," cultivates land in one village while residing in another. Of course there are a considerable class, who from inotives of self-interest, expediency, or other cause cultivate land in two or more villages, and who may be said to come under both categories; that is to say, they not only till land in their own village, but are also tenants in a neighbouring village. In point of fact, however, they are reducible to one or other class, according as reference be made to either one or other of the villages in which they cultivate. Thus A, cultivates land in Rámpur and Kisámpur; but his house is situated in the latter village. He is a páhikásht with respect to Rámpur, but a chhapparband with res- pect to Hisámpur. Increase to cultivated and wooded areas.--Since the declaration of the revised assessment, very extensive clearances of jungle and waste land bave been and are still being made. By an approximate calculation,