Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/342

 ;

BETUL.

332 land suited for wheat in acre,

The

lbs.

495

880-81 was

1

2s.

6d.

the average produce per



Average wages per

price averaged 6s. 4d. per cwt.

—

diem skilled labour, is; unskilled, 4^d. Commerce and Trade. The internal trade of Betul has but scanty

—

The

proportions.

single industry of importance

is

Of

weaving.

the

blacksmiths and workers in the precious metals form the

artisans, the

most numerous

Coal

class.

Tawa rivers; but, except known to occur exceeding

on the Machna and Tawd, no seam is At present such coal

exists at various places

at

Rawandeo on

the

3 feet in thickness.

probably could not be worked at a profit. Betul is better provided with means of communication than any of the Satpura Hill Districts. Five main roads radiate from Badnur, running respectively towards

Of

Nagpur, Hoshangabad, Mau, Ellichpur, and Chhindwara.

and fourth are

these

second bridged the whole way. In 1881, the total length of made roads was returned at 233 miles, being 2nd class 95, and 3rd class 138. The District has no navigable river, and no raihvay passes within its limits.

the

first

partially bridged, the

—

Administration. By the treaty of 1826, Betul District was formally incorporated with the British possessions. It is administered by a

Deputy Commissioner, with

assistants

and tahsUddrs

it

is

divided

revenue purposes into 2 tahstls (Multai and Betiil), and for police purposes into the six circles of Multai, Betiil, Atner, Shahpur, for

Sauh'garh or the

land

taxes,

Chicholf,

revenue


 * ^559



and Amla, with 20

yielded

forests,

^^19,016;

^4186;

In 1881-82,

outposts.

^^12,748;

excise,

assessed

Total revenue,

stamps,

Under the old Maratha Government each village had its pdtel or head-man, who, besides exercising a certain jurisdiction, collected the revenue from the tenants, treasuries, after
 * ^39>532.

and paid

it

into the

deducting his authorized percentage.

generally hereditary



Government

This

office

was

but the exactions of the Maratha Government in

century drove out the pdtels, and brought in a swarm of speculators, who farmed the villages for short periods at rack-rents. The villages continually changed hands ; several often fell under the control of the same man, and the old pdtel gave its

wars

at

the beginning of this

way

In 1837, however, a light Settlement for to the modern mdlgtizdr. 20 years enabled those who then possessed estates to hold on and prosper ; and it is on these men or their descendants that the Settle-

ment lately completed has finally conferred proprietary right, subject only to the payment of the Government revenue and to the recognition of such tenant rights as have been recorded. Total cost in 1881-82 of District officials and police of all kinds, ^^12,228 ; number of civil and revenue judges within the District, 6 ; magistrates, 6 ; maximum average distance, 22 distance of any village from the nearest court, 52 miles ; number of police, 346, costing ^4204, being i policeman to

—