BETUL.
332 land suited for wheat in acre,
The
lbs.
495
880-81 was
1
2s.
6d.
the average produce per
Average wages per
price averaged 6s. 4d. per cwt.
—
diem skilled labour, is; unskilled, 4^d. Commerce and Trade. The internal trade of Betul has but scanty
—
The
proportions.
single industry of importance
is
Of
weaving.
the
blacksmiths and workers in the precious metals form the
artisans, the
most numerous
Coal
class.
Tawa rivers; but, except known to occur exceeding
on the Machna and Tawd, no seam is At present such coal
exists at various places
at
Rawandeo on
the
3 feet in thickness.
probably could not be worked at a profit. Betul is better provided with means of communication than any of the Satpura Hill Districts. Five main roads radiate from Badnur, running respectively towards
Of
Nagpur, Hoshangabad, Mau, Ellichpur, and Chhindwara.
and fourth are
these
second bridged the whole way. In 1881, the total length of made roads was returned at 233 miles, being 2nd class 95, and 3rd class 138. The District has no navigable river, and no raihvay passes within its limits.
the
first
partially bridged, the
—
Administration. By the treaty of 1826, Betul District was formally incorporated with the British possessions. It is administered by a
Deputy Commissioner, with
assistants
and tahsUddrs
it
is
divided
revenue purposes into 2 tahstls (Multai and Betiil), and for police purposes into the six circles of Multai, Betiil, Atner, Shahpur, for
Sauh'garh or the
land
taxes,
Chicholf,
revenue
- ^559
and Amla, with 20
yielded
forests,
^^19,016;
^4186;
In 1881-82,
outposts.
^^12,748;
excise,
assessed
Total revenue,
stamps,
Under the old Maratha Government each village had its
- ^39>532.
pdtel or head-man, who, besides exercising a certain jurisdiction, collected the revenue from the tenants, treasuries, after
and paid
it
into the
deducting his authorized percentage.
generally hereditary
Government
This
office
was
but the exactions of the Maratha Government in
century drove out the pdtels, and brought in a swarm of speculators, who farmed the villages for short periods at rack-rents. The villages continually changed hands ; several often fell under the control of the same man, and the old pdtel gave its
wars
at
the beginning of this
way
In 1837, however, a light Settlement for to the modern mdlgtizdr. 20 years enabled those who then possessed estates to hold on and prosper ; and it is on these men or their descendants that the Settle-
ment lately completed has finally conferred proprietary right, subject only to the payment of the Government revenue and to the recognition of such tenant rights as have been recorded. Total cost in 1881-82 of District officials and police of all kinds, ^^12,228 ; number of civil and revenue judges within the District, 6 ; magistrates, 6 ; maximum average distance, 22 distance of any village from the nearest court, 52 miles ; number of police, 346, costing ^4204, being i policeman to
—
