On the Vopulation of Bengal. 345 



vijices, but make it probable that it has been under-rated. 

 It is undoubtedly adequate to undertake greater tillage, and 

 more numerous and extensive manufactures, than now em- 

 ploy the labour of our Asiatic subjects ; but, wanting a vent 

 for their produce, they have no inducement for greater in- 

 dustry. If more produce were obtained, its market being 

 "barred, industry would be unrewarded. The necessaries of 

 life are cheap, the mode of living simple; and though the 

 price of labour be low, a subsistence may be earned without 

 the uninterrupted application of industry. Often idle, the- 

 peasant and manufacturer may nevertheless subsist. A few 

 individuals might indeed acquire wealth by diligent appli- 

 cation ; but the nation at large, doomed to poverty by com- 

 mercial limitations, can apply no more labour than the de- 

 mand of the market is permitted to encourage. If industry 

 be roused, the present population is sufficient to bring into 

 tillage the whole of the waste lands in Bengal and Bahar ; 

 and in most districts improvement may be expected when- 

 ever new channels of trade are opened to take off more or 

 new produce. In all it may soon follow the event, if Eu- 

 ropeans interest themselves in undertakings for the reclaim- 

 ing of waste tracts. 



Of this we are convinced, aware, however, that the cul- 

 ture must require a considerable proportion of labour, for 

 in the common husbandry the field yields several crops 

 within the year. But requirijig no manure except for some 

 articles, and for these manured without labour or expense, 

 the same quantity of land should need fewer hands in 

 Bengal than in England, since the labours of the husband- 

 man suffer less interruption from the inclemency of seasons. 



The improvements to be expected from a better and more 

 diligent husbandry may be appreciated after reviewing the 

 present system of agriculture. 



That the revenue mostly follows a proportion to the area 

 of the districts, may be shown by a comparison to the re- 

 venue of 1784, which distant period is taken because di- 

 stricts having been new modelled, their area under late dis- 

 tributions is not ascertained. 



Square miles 

 Districts. according to Revenue 



Rcnnel. of 1794- 



Bccrbhoom - - - 3,858 6,11,321 



Bishenpore _ - . 1,256 3,86,707 



Chittagong, Islaamabad, and 

 Tipperah Lowlands, Tip- 



perah 



