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 BENGAL.

311

Santal Parganas, Nadiy^, Maldah, and Murshidabad. jute-supplying

—^Fan'dpur,

Pabnd,

The

principal

Rangpur, 24 Parganas, Maimansingh, Rdjshahi, Nadiyd, Hugh, and Jalpaiguri. Linseed is principally exported from Behar ; mustard seed from the North-Western Provinces and Behar, as well as from the Eastern Bengal District of Maimansingh, and the District of Goalpara within the Assam Districts are

Dacca,

borders.

About _;^8,33 o,ooo worth of European cotton piece-goods are consumed within the territories under the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. The average consumption is at the rate of about two shillings and sixpence per head. The consumption is largest in Eastern Bengal, where the prosperity of the people first

is

This part of the country stands

greatest.

in the export of rice, jute,

and

oil-seeds,

largest quantity of

commodities from Europe.

the consumption

less

of

native

-made

is

it



cloth

is

is

and

also imports the

In Western Bengal

a country of weavers, and the supply

great.

In

Orissa,

native

weavers

still

and the supply of European piece-goods is The statistics show that the consumption of

retain their old position,

comparatively small. salt

among

regard

to

being ii Districts,

the population salt also,

lbs.

is

In at the rate of 10 J lbs. per head. is highest in Eastern Bengal,

the consumption

15 oz. per head; then come the Western and Central lbs. per head. There is no insufficiency in

both above io|

the consumption except in Behar, where a quantity of salt extracted in

the manufacture of saltpetre passes into local use, and so displaces

would otherwise have been consumed by the is in the hands of natives from other Provinces of India, and the enterprising Marwan's in particular have established firms in all the important commercial Generally speaking, the native traders do not resort to the centres. Bulky merchandise, railway with the same confidence as Europeans. such as rice, oil-seeds, jute, and salt, is for the most part financed for But the by native agents, and still prefers the old river routes. tendency to use the railway is rapidly on the increase. For many The foreign trade of Bengal is brisk and flourishing. years past the exportation of raw produce has been exercising a proIt enables them to gressive influence on the condition of the peasantry. get increased returns for their labour, whereby they can afford to lodge, feed, and clothe themselves better than formerly, and to fill their New wants have dwellings with superior implements and furniture. arisen in proportion as the means of supplying them are augmented, together with a spirit of self-reliance and a disposition to appreciate and The value assert the rights which pertain to the tillers of the soil. Bengal including the imports and several ports, of the the trade of exports of all merchandise and treasure, both in the trade with duty-paying

people.

A

salt

that

large part of the local trade of Bengal