132 NADIYA. to enumerate the population of Nadiya would, even if they could be considered accurate, be of no value at the present day. The first trustworthy Census was taken in 1872; and according to that enumeration, the population, on the area of the District as at present constituted, consisted of 1,812,795 persons, inhabiting 352,017 houses and 3691 villages, the average density of the population being 530 per square mile. The last enumeration in 1881 disclosed a total population in Nadiyá District of 2,017,847, showing an increase of 205,052, or 11:31 per cent., in nine years. This increase is the largest returned for any District in the Presidency Division ; and the Collector is of opinion that it represents merely the natural increase of births over deaths, aided by a contingent of pilgrims who were enumerated in the District on their way to or from a religious fair at Nadiyá town. The District, however, suffered severely from malarious fever in 1880 and 1881, and it has been estimated that the deaths from fever alone during the eight months preceding the Census of 1881, aniounted to 80,000, or nearly 4 per cent of the population. The Census Commissioner, therefore, thinks that the increase is more apparent than real, and is probably due to the fact that the enumeration of 1872 was not so well taken in Nadiyá District as had previously been believed. The results of the Census of 1881 may be briefly summarized as follows:-Area of District, 3404 square miles, with ii towns and 3689 villages ; number of houses, 378,032, of which 360,686 are occupied and 17,346 unoccupied. Total population, 2,017,847, namely, males 985,245, and females 1,032,602; proportion of males, 48.8 per cent. The preponderance of females is due to the fact that a considerable number of males belonging to the District are employed in Calcutta, only visiting their homes at intervals. Average density of population, 5928 persons per square mile ; number of towns or villages per square mile, 1*09; persons per town or village, 545; houses per square mile, in; inmates per house, 5'6. Classified according to sex and age-children under 15 years, males 420,836, and females 390,392; total children, 811,228, or 43:6 per cent. of the District population : 15 years and upwards, males 564,409, and females 642,210; total adults, 1,200,619, or 56.4 per cent. Religion. — Classified according to religion, Hindus numbered 864,773, or 42:8 per cent. ; Muhammanans, 1,146,603, or 56-8 per cent. ; Christians, 6440; Brahmos, 28; and others,' 3. Hindu high castes number 106,721, namely, Bráhmans, 59,894; Rajputs, 6047 ; and Kayasths, 40,780. The lower castes of Hindus include the following—Kaibartta, the most numerous caste in the District, forming the bulk of the Hindu agricultural castes, 126,063 in number ; Gwálá (cowherds and milkmen), 93,382 ; Nápit, 23,234 ;
