Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/121

 BAJ^A BANK!. The

rivers

the dry season

in

in

flow too far below the level of the

much use for irrigation, but ponds and small shallow lakes {jhih) are numerous (covering 7 per cent, of the total area), and yield a precarious water-supply. Irrigation from them is costly work. The water is swung up in buckets over successive ‘lifts,’ until the fields are reached. Two pairs of labourers work at each lift, relieving each other hour by hour another pair guides the It takes 18 men to work a fourslender stream over the thirsty fields. lift watercourse and as in most seasons two waterings are absolutely necessary, it has been calculated that to irrigate by this method costs Irrigation from wells is widely practised, and is pre8s. 4d. an acre. Water is generally found at about 30 feet below ferred for the crops. the surface, and unbricked {kachhd) wells, watering from 5 to 10 acres, They seldom, however, last longer than can be dug for from 6s. to 12s. country on their banks to be of





a year, unless lined with the twisted stems of the malabar nut (n/sa). leather bag,

worked by two men and a

To

ing the water.

dig a

pair of bullocks,

new kachhd

well,

and

is

used

for

A

draw-

to give the required

couple of waterings, costs, on an average, 6s. 8d. an acre. In the northeastern part of the District, between the Kalyani and Gogra, the sandiness of the subsoil makes irrigation far more

can here be dug



difficult.

Only very small wells

every day or two sand falling from the sides chokes

Nothing larger than an earthen worked by hand over a pulley or by a lever, can here be used.

the spring, and has to be cleared out. pitcher,

The average different crops,

rates of rent is

13s.



— Rice,

17s. 6d.

us. 3d.; indigo, 34s.; cotton,

inferior grains,

seeds,

per acre in 1881 for land growing the

returned as follows

4d.



fibres,

These are the rates Report for Oudh in

14s.; sugar-cane,

officially 1

28s.



wheat, 20s. qd.

opium, 40s.;

6d.

tobacco, 37s. qd.



As

oil-

returned in the Revenue Administration

880-8 r, but they seem excessive when compared

with those returned for neighbouring Districts, and are in fact

higher



8s.;

than those given for any other

District

in

the

much

Province.

it will be seen that the average rent for all varieties under 9s. an acre, according to the Census of 1881. Average produce of land per acre: Rice, 343 lbs. wheat, 503 lbs. inferior grains, 551 lbs.; indigo, 106 lbs.; cotton, 144 lbs.; opium,

stated below,

of land

is

just

—





313 lbs.; oil-seeds, 242 lbs.; fibres, 202 lbs.; sugar, 2656 lbs.; tobacco, 632 lbs. Prices of food grains and agricultural produce per cwt. in September 1881: Rice, ist quality, us. 7d. per cwt.; 2nd quality, 2nd quality, 5s. id. gram, wheat, ist quality, 5s. 3d. 7d. 6s. 2nd quality, 4s. 7d. sugar (refined), 40s. qd. ist quality, 4s. qd.

—











sugar (raw), qs.

The



estimated agricultural stock in the District in

—

1881 was returned as follows: Cows and bullocks, 175,817; horses, 468; ponies, 3523; donkeys, 3975; sheep and goats, 58,445; pigs,

39,289;

carts,

1980; ploughs, 111,147.