DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0147
124
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
jN
CHAPTER Panchanga, Talllari, and other village officers, in lieu of the share
"^ which they were formerly wont to receive on a division of crops.
May 20, &c The rent of dryfield is paid in money, according to an old valua-
tion formed on an estimate of its produce. With five ploughs, a
man cultivates about \1\ acres of watered land, and 9,5 acres of
dry field. The Circar, or government, is bound to keep the canals
and tanks in repair.
Tenures. The Ryuts, or farmers, have no property in the ground; but it
is not usual to turn any man away, so long as he pays the custo-
mary rent. Even in the reign of Tippoo, such an act would have
Gaudas. been looked upon as an astonishing grievance. The Gaudas are not
here hereditary, but are appointed by the Amildar, with the con-
sent of the farmers; for the Amildar never attempts to put in any
person contrary to the wishes of the people. These Gaudas receive
a fixed pay of 20 Fanams, or 13s. S%d. a month, and perform the
sacrifices, which in other places are usually offered by the here-
ditary chiefs of villages.
The account of these persons, concerning the quantity of ground
that can be laboured by one plough, is probably under-rated. Ac-
cording to an account of the ground that is now actually cultivated
by the plough in the Pattana Ashta gram, which was procured
from Purnea, and given me by Colonel Close, the watered lands
amount to 1369 Candacas, or 8487 acres, and the dry field to 964
Candacas, or 22,172 acres. This divided by 3078, which, according
to public documents, is the number of ploughs in the same district,
will give for a farm of five ploughs 13. -j^o acres of watered land,
and 36 acres of dry field.
Servants The hire of farmers' labourers at Seringapatam, and generally
° within two miles from the city, when employed throughout the
year, is 10 Suit any Fanams, or 6 s. 8±d. a month. The servant lives
in his own house; and it is customary for the master, on extra-
ordinary occasions, such as marriages, to advance the servant
money. This is not deducted from his wages by gradual instalments;
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
jN
CHAPTER Panchanga, Talllari, and other village officers, in lieu of the share
"^ which they were formerly wont to receive on a division of crops.
May 20, &c The rent of dryfield is paid in money, according to an old valua-
tion formed on an estimate of its produce. With five ploughs, a
man cultivates about \1\ acres of watered land, and 9,5 acres of
dry field. The Circar, or government, is bound to keep the canals
and tanks in repair.
Tenures. The Ryuts, or farmers, have no property in the ground; but it
is not usual to turn any man away, so long as he pays the custo-
mary rent. Even in the reign of Tippoo, such an act would have
Gaudas. been looked upon as an astonishing grievance. The Gaudas are not
here hereditary, but are appointed by the Amildar, with the con-
sent of the farmers; for the Amildar never attempts to put in any
person contrary to the wishes of the people. These Gaudas receive
a fixed pay of 20 Fanams, or 13s. S%d. a month, and perform the
sacrifices, which in other places are usually offered by the here-
ditary chiefs of villages.
The account of these persons, concerning the quantity of ground
that can be laboured by one plough, is probably under-rated. Ac-
cording to an account of the ground that is now actually cultivated
by the plough in the Pattana Ashta gram, which was procured
from Purnea, and given me by Colonel Close, the watered lands
amount to 1369 Candacas, or 8487 acres, and the dry field to 964
Candacas, or 22,172 acres. This divided by 3078, which, according
to public documents, is the number of ploughs in the same district,
will give for a farm of five ploughs 13. -j^o acres of watered land,
and 36 acres of dry field.
Servants The hire of farmers' labourers at Seringapatam, and generally
° within two miles from the city, when employed throughout the
year, is 10 Suit any Fanams, or 6 s. 8±d. a month. The servant lives
in his own house; and it is customary for the master, on extra-
ordinary occasions, such as marriages, to advance the servant
money. This is not deducted from his wages by gradual instalments;