DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2375#0240
MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR.
235
objectof cultivation is rice; as toward the west the farmers are chiefly CHAPTER
occupied with plantations. I measured two fields, in order, if pos- v^v-O
sible, to ascertain the rate of seed and produce, but without getting March l6>-
any thing satisfactory. By measuring a great extent an average
may be struck, as has been done by Mr. Ravenshaw; but it will be
found, that some fields are alleged by the cultivators to require
one half less seed than others of equal extent. Great allowances
must be made, in a point even of such importance, to the ignorance
of the farmers; but still I do not suppose them to be so grossly
inattentive, as to make such a difference in the seed actually sown.
I rather suppose, that what they call a,Cdndaca's sowing has nothing
to do with the real quantity of seed, which is concealed with a view
of lowering their burthens. One of the fields which I measured
contained 72,698 square feet for the nominal Candaca, which is at
the rate of iT'oVo bushel an acre. The other field was at the rate of
48,749 square feet a Candaca, or at %\ bushels an acre. These fields
were contiguous, and the difference appeared to me to have arisen
from two plots of Ragy ground having been stolen into the first,
which in the revenue accompts was still kept at its original rate of
sowing, but actually required more seed. As a foundation for cal-
culation, I therefore prefer the last measured field.
The rains are not so heavy as to the westward; but, in ordinary
seasons and a moist soil, are sufficient to bring to maturity a crop
of rice that requires six months to ripen. Where the soil is very
absorbent, small tanks are formed, to keep a supply for a few days
that may occasionally happen to be without rain. A few of the
highest fields are cultivated with a kind of rice that ripens in three
months; but the natives here consider as totally useless much
land that might be easily formed into terraces, like the Mackey
land of Kanhana, and of which the soil is apparently good. The
rice ground never gives two crops of rice in one year, although, by
means of tanks, a constant succession of crops might be obtained
from the lower parts of the vallies. This kind of land is divided
235
objectof cultivation is rice; as toward the west the farmers are chiefly CHAPTER
occupied with plantations. I measured two fields, in order, if pos- v^v-O
sible, to ascertain the rate of seed and produce, but without getting March l6>-
any thing satisfactory. By measuring a great extent an average
may be struck, as has been done by Mr. Ravenshaw; but it will be
found, that some fields are alleged by the cultivators to require
one half less seed than others of equal extent. Great allowances
must be made, in a point even of such importance, to the ignorance
of the farmers; but still I do not suppose them to be so grossly
inattentive, as to make such a difference in the seed actually sown.
I rather suppose, that what they call a,Cdndaca's sowing has nothing
to do with the real quantity of seed, which is concealed with a view
of lowering their burthens. One of the fields which I measured
contained 72,698 square feet for the nominal Candaca, which is at
the rate of iT'oVo bushel an acre. The other field was at the rate of
48,749 square feet a Candaca, or at %\ bushels an acre. These fields
were contiguous, and the difference appeared to me to have arisen
from two plots of Ragy ground having been stolen into the first,
which in the revenue accompts was still kept at its original rate of
sowing, but actually required more seed. As a foundation for cal-
culation, I therefore prefer the last measured field.
The rains are not so heavy as to the westward; but, in ordinary
seasons and a moist soil, are sufficient to bring to maturity a crop
of rice that requires six months to ripen. Where the soil is very
absorbent, small tanks are formed, to keep a supply for a few days
that may occasionally happen to be without rain. A few of the
highest fields are cultivated with a kind of rice that ripens in three
months; but the natives here consider as totally useless much
land that might be easily formed into terraces, like the Mackey
land of Kanhana, and of which the soil is apparently good. The
rice ground never gives two crops of rice in one year, although, by
means of tanks, a constant succession of crops might be obtained
from the lower parts of the vallies. This kind of land is divided