ON THE STATISTICS OF DUKHUN. 271 
would disable them from letting their children profit by in- 
struction, even though gratuitous. In a stage of civilization 
which is by no means contemptible, the general illiterateness 
of the cultivators is remarkable. It might have been supposed 
that the pressure of the inconveniencies and the risk of loss 
attending the solving their constantly recurring arithmetical 
computations, whether in settling their assessments with go- 
vernment, in ascertaining the amount of their produce, or in 
computing its saleable rate to ensure a profit, or in their 
money transactions with each other, would have stimulated 
some families of the past or present generations to have pur- 
sued steadily a course of instruction for their children, which, 
by its example and the visible beneficial results attending it, 
would have originated a thirst of knowledge, and advanced 
the march of intellectual improvement. 'The Shoodra, however, 
is led to believe by the wily Brahmans that letters and science 
are not within his province, and the farmer is content to go on 
mastering his arithmetical difficulties with the assistance of his 
fingers, and relying upon the village clerk for the keeping his 
accounts with the government, and on his ability, judgement, 
and secrecy in the management of his private correspondence, 
which, it may be supposed, will not be very important or volu- 
minous. Were it ascertained, I believe not one cultivator in 
a hundred would be found able to write, or count up to 100 
but by fives; and my daily unreserved intercourse for hours 
with numbers of this class of persons has given me facilities for 
forming this opinion. And yet the Koonbees are far from 
_ wanting intelligence ; they are not slow in observing; they are 
_ quick in communicating, and the rationale of an agricultural 
| process is frequently explained with a simplicity and effect 
| which we might not always meet with in the educated En- 
| glish farmer. There would not be any difficulty in teaching 
| the Koonbees, provided the instruction were gratuitous, and 
_ that the farmer could spare his children; and several im- 
_ portant effects might attend this instruction: the mind of the 
_ cultivator would be invigorated with new ideas; enlarged views 
_ Of action would break in upon him; a spirit of improvement, 
_ €nterprise, and innovation might spring up, in place of the 
apathetic routine that at present prevails in rural ceconomy, 
| and in the social relations of life; and an amelioration, both 
_ physical and moral, would take place in his condition. But 
“at present the little education that exists is confined to the 
4 Brahmans and to the shopkeepers, Shaitees*, and Mahajuns.+ 
* Heads of trades, ¢ Bankers, 
