NADIYA. 135 per cent. of the general population, in the eight largest towns mentioned above they only form 28.5 per cent. Of the 3700 towns and villages in the District, 847 are returned as containing less than two hundred inhabitants; 1506 from two to five hundred; 958 from five hundred to a thousand; 325 from one to two thousand ; 48 from two to three thousand; 8 from three to five thousand ; 5 from five to ten thousand; and 3 upwards of ten thousand inhabitants. As regards occupation, the Census divides the male population into the following six classes:-(1) Professional and official class, 19,244; (2) domestic servants, inn and lodging-house keepers, etc., 14,616; (3) commercial class, including merchants, traders, carriers, etc., 33, 121 ; (4) agricultural and pastoral class, including gardeners, 371,162 ; (5) manufacturing and industrial class, including artisans, 103,699; (6) indefinite and non-productive class, comprising general labourers and male children, 443,403. The general condition of the people has steadily improved of late years, as regards clothing, living, and other comforts. Krishnagar, which is the administrative head-quarters and chief town of the District, is situated on the Jalangi river. A Government College was established here in 1846. The town is noted for the manufacture of excellent coloured clay figures. Nadiya, the ancient capital of the District, was formerly situated on the east bank of the Bhágírathi, but, owing to changes of the river-course, it now lies on the west bank of the stream. It has always been celebrated for the sanctity and learning of its pandits. Reference will be made further on to the famous tols or indigenous Sanskrit schools of Nadiya. The battlefield of PLASSEY was situated within this District, but the floods of the Bhágíraths have washed away the scene of that memorable engagement. Agriculture.— The staple crop of Nadiya, as of most other Districts in Bengal, is rice, of which there are four crops-namely, (1) the áus or autumn crop, reaped in August and September; (2) the áman or winter crop, reaped in November ; (3) boro or spring rice, harvested in March or April ; and (4) jáli, the late autumn crop, cut in October or November. Both the áman and the boro rice require transplantation. Among the other cereal and green crops are wheat, barley, oil-seeds, peas, gram, chillies, etc. The fibres grown in Nadiya are hemp, flax, cotton, and jute. This last is not grown to any great extent, and the produce is inferior in quality to that of the eastern Districts of Bengal ; the average out-turn of the fibre per acre is from 12 to 15 cwts., and the gross value is estimated at about £7, ros. per acre. Sugar-cane, indigo, tobacco, turmeric, mulberry, and pán are among the other special crops. Indigo is the chief export staple of the District; there are two
