514 PABNA. houses per square mile, 111°75; inmates per occupied house, 6'54. Classified according to age and sex there were in 1881—under 15 years of age, males 275,421, and females 267,407; total children, 542,828, or 41°4 per cent. of the population : 15 years and upwards, males 372,890, and females 396,010; total adults, 768,900, or 58:6 per cent. Religious Classification. The bulk of the population of Pabná District are Muhanımadans by religion. In 1881 the Muhammadans numbered 949,908, or 72'4 per cent. of the District population ; Hindus, 361,479, or 27.5 per cent. ; Jains, 226; Christians, 114; and Buddhist, I As in other Districts bordering the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra, there can be no doubt that the great bulk of the population are of aboriginal descent; and that the majority willingly adopted the conquering faith of Islán, in preference to remaining out-castes beyond the pale of exclusive Hinduism. The Census Report of 1881, however, does not give any ethnological classification, and the aborigines are all included in the general Muhammadan or Hindu population. A few immigrants from the north-west are to be found, either as merchants in Sirajganj, or as stalwart retainers at the offices of the zamindárs. gration is unknown to the natives of the District. The aboriginal hill tribes are very poorly represented, and consist of a few Bi Chutiá Nágpur, occupied in reclaiming the marshy jungles. Of the higher caste Hindu population, Brahmans number 20,970 ; Rajputs, only 455; and Káyasths, 34,602. The lower Hindus include the following :-Chandál, the most numerous caste among the Hindus, 53,319; Jaliyá, 39,279 ; Sunri, 26,049 ; Kaibartta, 23,306 ; Barhai, 12,714; Goálá, 11,783 ; Nápit, 11,718; Kumbhár, 9841 ; Teli, 9824 ; Lohár, 8119; Kapálí, 6378; Mallah, 5851 ; and Chamár, 5792. Casterejecting Hindus number 13,175, of whom 13,157 were Vaishnavs. The Brahma Samáj is represented by a few members at Pabná town and Sirajganj, who are almost all strangers from other Districts. Their numbers are not returned separately in the Census Report of 1881. The Muhammadans of Pabná do not appear to separate themselves strongly from their Hindu neighbours, though doubtless the recent Wahabi or Faraizi revival has exercised some influence upon their religious conduct and mode of life. They are said to be declining in position, owing to their bigoted conservatism, which keeps them outside the Government system of education, and to the jealousy and competition of the more pushing Hindus, who monopolize all, or nearly all, the Government appointments. The leading cultivators are generally Muliammadans; and they frequently rise to the position of traders, boat-owners, and holders of small estates, their savings being usually spent in building boats or in purchasing land. Prosperous Muhammadan cultivators spend considerable sums in feasts and marriage
