Ott the Population of Bengal. 343 



30,291,051, resulting from other grounds, supports the 

 computation. 



4th. Remains to compare the estimated population with 

 the consumption. 



The diet of an Indian is very simple: the diet of one is 

 the diet of millions ; split pulse, and salt relieving the in- 

 sipidity of plain rice. Two ounces of salt, two pounds of 

 split pulse, and eight pounds of rice, is the usual daily con- 

 sumption of a family of five persons in easy circumstances ; 

 whence we have the average consumption of salt in a year 

 at 9 lb. a head. 



The armual sales of salt, an article monopolized by go- 

 vernment, are 35,31,944 maunds of 80 sicca weight; but 

 the whole quantity is not consumed in Bengal. A propor- 

 tion not inconsiderable is exported. 



On the other hand, the lower classes in the western pro- 

 vinces seldom taste sea salt : these, and the mountaineers 

 from Rajemahl to Palamow, use rock salt imported from 

 western countries, a bitter salt extracted from ashes, or im- 

 pure salt obtained from the mother of nitre. The latter is 

 much- used by the venders of salt in adulterating sea salt; 

 and, generally speaking, no sea salt is allowed to cattle. 



If the substitutes for sea salt be equivalent to the exporta- 

 tion of that salt, it will require a population of 32,228,989 

 persons to consume 35,31,944 maunds of salt. 



5th. From what has been stated as the daily consumption 

 of a family, an average of nine maunds a head arises for the 

 annual consumption of grain. The use of wheat and barley 

 in some provinces will not aflfect the calculation, but millet 

 ,and other small grains, which constitute the principal food 

 of the poor, and which are not equally nourishing with 

 white corn, will increase the average. 



Several sorts of pulse are grown for cattle, but heap a 

 small proportion to the general tillage; for the cattle are 

 mostly supported on pastures and on straw. 



Corn is imported from several of the countries which 

 border on Bengal ; but the exportation from Bengal exceeds 

 the import; we therefore estimate the produce, from the 

 ronsuuiption of the supposed population, at 270 millions 

 <')f maunds ; and at 300 millions after adding grain for cat- 

 tle ; to this add a seventh for seed reserved, and the whole 

 produce in grain will be 34,28,57,140 maunds, — a very 

 moderate produce for the tillage estimated at 9,47,77,797 

 be^hs. 



But the Indian husl)andry mixing in the same field witli 



corn other articles of a very dilfcient nature, to compare 



y'l the 



