MURSHIDABAD, 29 1881-82 averaged £7591 per annum. According to the returns furnished by the old registration systen, Murshidábád stands twelfth among the Bengal Districts in the total value of its exports and imports. In 1876-77 the exports were valued at £1,020,124, of which £553,690 was carried by river and £466,452 by rail; the imports were valued at 4739,906, of which 523,036 was carried by river and £216,870 by rail. The total export of rice was 1,061,900 maunds, of gram and pulses 342,400 maunds, of wheat 184,300 maunds, of silk 10,377 maund's (valued at £518,850), and of indigo 1560 mannds (valued at £31,200). The chief items of import were European piece-goods (£200,550), almost entirely conveyed by rail; salt (278,000 maunds), chiefly conveyed by river; raw cotton (22,100 maunds, valued at £33,150). The four leading marts are thus arranged :-Murshidabad, exports in 1876–77) £129,000, imports £25,000; Dhulián, exports $68,000, imports £118,000; Jangipur, exports and imports, £89,000 each ; Jiaganj, exports £38,000, imports $123,000. Owing to an alteration in the system of registration, details of District trade are not available for a later year than 1876–77. The little State railway from Nalháti to Azimganj runs for ab 14 miles within the limits of Murshidabad. In 1871 there were 13 principal lines of road in the District under local management, with a total length of 182 miles, maintained at an annual cost of £2410. In addition, 44 miles of the main road from Nadiya to Bhagwángola, passing through Barhampur, were under the charge of the Public Works Department. Since that date, the introduction of the Road Cess has given a great impulse to the extension of means of communication. Administration. In the year 1870–71 the net revenue of Murshidábád District amounted to £192,046, towards which the land-tax contributed £133,062, or 69 per cent.; the net expenditure was £ 57,692, or less than one-third of the revenue. In 1883–84 the six main items of revenue yielded £176,822, as follows:-Land revenue, £124,235; excise, £15,864; stamps, £22,978; registration, £1471; road cess, 4,6278; and municipal taxes, £5996. In 1883 there were 3 covenanted officers stationed in the District; 8 magisterial, 9 civil, and 8 revenue courts. For police purposes, the District is divided into 25 thánás or police circles. In 1883, the regular District and town police force numbered 78; men of all ranks, maintained at a total cost of £12,947. There was also a rural police or village watch of 4034 men, maintained by the villagers themselves. The total machinery, therefore, for the protection of person and property, consisted of 4819 officers and men, giving i man to every oʻ44 of a square mile of the area, or to every 255 persons of the population. The estimated total cost was £26,369, averaging £12, 6s. per square mile, and 5d. per head of population.
