BENGAL.
3o8
But the survey embraces only the
of the Districts.
exterior
boundary
of the lands of each village, and affords no details of cultivation or waste.
In Bengal, therefore,
we
are almost destitute of professionally
tested information regarding the incidence of the land tax, the pressure
average of cultivation to each husbandman
of rents, the
plough, the average size of holdings, and the
expense
may
possibly prevent a cadastral
throughout Bengal, although of the great rivers
allowance for the
the banks of rivers Settlements
.
periodically
is
effects
— In
each
survey being attempted
this great enterprise is
Meanwhile a re-survey of the
for Behar.
or
The enormous
like.
now contemplated
alluvial tracts in the basins
accomplished, in order to
make
of the changes constantly taking place along
and on the adjacent lands. Bengal Proper and Behar the general Settlement
is
permanent, but a fraction of the revenue is derived from lands under temporary Settlement. These lands consist chiefly of alluvial accretions
and Government
estates.
of a few large
Orissa, with the exception
under a temporary Settlement. Settlement was concluded, which expired estates,
1837, a thirty years’ 1867, but was renewed
In
is
in
without alteration for another period of thirty years, distress
owing to the That Settlement still
by the Orissa famine of 1866.
left
remains in force. Matiufactures
.
— Throughout Bengal there are the usual handicrafts, to Weaving and the spinning of cotton thread
supply local demand.
employ
large
numbers
in every District
import of piece-goods
from England
fabrics out of the market, the decline
and, although the extensive driving
is
the
native
finer
appears to have been com-
pensated by the increase of general trade.
If the
demand
for the
Dacca has been destroyed, native industry is still profitable employment in weaving cloth of a stronger
exquisite muslins of
able to find
texture from English spun yarns.
The growth
of the jute trade has
given an impetus to the manufacture of gunny-bags throughout the
Eastern and Central fibre into cotton bales
Districts. The spinning and weaving of the and grain and sugar bags, and its preparation in
the raw state for exportation, afford occupation to thousands
while
neighbourhood many mills are established, in workCarpenters, ing which the natives have displayed great aptitude. in Calcutta
and
its
blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, and oil-sellers are settled in almost
every village.
The manufacture
of the beads universally worn in
necklaces by the lower orders of Hindus
is
a very
common
occupa-
and one in which the women take a large share. The plaiting of wicker and basket work is the special occupation of the Dom class, a very low caste in Bengal. The native shoes are always made by Muchi's or Cham^rs, who have the monopoly also of all leather work. The sold weed which grows along with rice is manufactured by the gardener tion,
