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 BENGAL.

3o8

But the survey embraces only the

of the Districts.

exterior

boundary

of the lands of each village, and affords no details of cultivation or waste.

In Bengal, therefore,

we

are almost destitute of professionally

tested information regarding the incidence of the land tax, the pressure

average of cultivation to each husbandman

of rents, the

plough, the average size of holdings, and the

expense

may

possibly prevent a cadastral

throughout Bengal, although of the great rivers

allowance for the

the banks of rivers Settlements

.

periodically

is

effects

— In

each

survey being attempted

this great enterprise is

Meanwhile a re-survey of the

for Behar.

or

The enormous

like.

now contemplated

alluvial tracts in the basins

accomplished, in order to

make

of the changes constantly taking place along

and on the adjacent lands. Bengal Proper and Behar the general Settlement

is

permanent, but a fraction of the revenue is derived from lands under temporary Settlement. These lands consist chiefly of alluvial accretions

and Government

estates.

of a few large

Orissa, with the exception

under a temporary Settlement. Settlement was concluded, which expired estates,

1837, a thirty years’ 1867, but was renewed

In

is

in

without alteration for another period of thirty years, distress

owing to the That Settlement still

by the Orissa famine of 1866.

left

remains in force. Matiufactures

.

— Throughout Bengal there are the usual handicrafts, to Weaving and the spinning of cotton thread

supply local demand.

employ

large

numbers

in every District

import of piece-goods

from England

fabrics out of the market, the decline



and, although the extensive driving

is

the

native

finer

appears to have been com-

pensated by the increase of general trade.

If the

demand

for the

Dacca has been destroyed, native industry is still profitable employment in weaving cloth of a stronger

exquisite muslins of

able to find

texture from English spun yarns.

The growth

of the jute trade has

given an impetus to the manufacture of gunny-bags throughout the

Eastern and Central fibre into cotton bales

Districts. The spinning and weaving of the and grain and sugar bags, and its preparation in

the raw state for exportation, afford occupation to thousands



while

neighbourhood many mills are established, in workCarpenters, ing which the natives have displayed great aptitude. in Calcutta

and

its

blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, and oil-sellers are settled in almost

every village.

The manufacture

of the beads universally worn in

necklaces by the lower orders of Hindus

is

a very

common

occupa-

and one in which the women take a large share. The plaiting of wicker and basket work is the special occupation of the Dom class, a very low caste in Bengal. The native shoes are always made by Muchi's or Cham^rs, who have the monopoly also of all leather work. The sold weed which grows along with rice is manufactured by the gardener tion,