BENGAL.
311
Santal Parganas, Nadiy^, Maldah, and Murshidabad. jute-supplying
—^Fan'dpur,
Pabnd,
The
principal
Rangpur, 24 Parganas, Maimansingh, Rdjshahi, Nadiyd, Hugh, and Jalpaiguri. Linseed is principally exported from Behar ; mustard seed from the North-Western Provinces and Behar, as well as from the Eastern Bengal District of Maimansingh, and the District of Goalpara within the Assam Districts are
Dacca,
borders.
About _;^8,33 o,ooo worth of European cotton piece-goods are consumed within the territories under the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. The average consumption is at the rate of about two shillings and sixpence per head. The consumption is largest in Eastern Bengal, where the prosperity of the people first
is
This part of the country stands
greatest.
in the export of rice, jute,
and
oil-seeds,
largest quantity of
commodities from Europe.
the consumption
less
of
native
-made
is
it
cloth
is
is
and
also imports the
In Western Bengal
a country of weavers, and the supply
great.
In
Orissa,
native
weavers
still
and the supply of European piece-goods is The statistics show that the consumption of
retain their old position,
comparatively small. salt
among
regard
to
being ii Districts,
the population salt also,
lbs.
is
In at the rate of 10 J lbs. per head. is highest in Eastern Bengal,
the consumption
15 oz. per head; then come the Western and Central lbs. per head. There is no insufficiency in
both above io|
the consumption except in Behar, where a quantity of salt extracted in
the manufacture of saltpetre passes into local use, and so displaces
would otherwise have been consumed by the is in the hands of natives from other Provinces of India, and the enterprising Marwan's in particular have established firms in all the important commercial Generally speaking, the native traders do not resort to the centres. Bulky merchandise, railway with the same confidence as Europeans. such as rice, oil-seeds, jute, and salt, is for the most part financed for But the by native agents, and still prefers the old river routes. tendency to use the railway is rapidly on the increase. For many The foreign trade of Bengal is brisk and flourishing. years past the exportation of raw produce has been exercising a proIt enables them to gressive influence on the condition of the peasantry. get increased returns for their labour, whereby they can afford to lodge, feed, and clothe themselves better than formerly, and to fill their New wants have dwellings with superior implements and furniture. arisen in proportion as the means of supplying them are augmented, together with a spirit of self-reliance and a disposition to appreciate and The value assert the rights which pertain to the tillers of the soil. Bengal including the imports and several ports, of the the trade of exports of all merchandise and treasure, both in the trade with duty-paying
people.
A
salt
that
large part of the local trade of Bengal
