Book I. AGRICULTURE IN ASIA, 145 



ignoble race is reputed kadischi. These \v\\\ bear the greatest fatigues, and pass whole 

 days without food, living, according to the Arabian metaphor, on air. They are said to 

 rush on a foe with innpetuosity ; and it is asserted that some of them, when wounded in 

 battle, will withdraw to a spot where their master may be secure ; and if he fall, they will 

 neigh for assistance ; accordingly, their value is derived from their singular agility, an 

 extreme docility, and an uncommon attachment to their master. The Arabian steeds are 

 sometimes bought at excessive rates by the English at Mocha. The duke of Newcastle 

 asserts, that the ordinary price of an Arabian horse is 1000^., 2000/., or even 3000/. ; and 

 that the Arabs are as careful in preserving the genealogy of their liorses, as princes in re- 

 cording that of tlieir families : the grooms are very exact in registering the names of the 

 sires and dams of these animals ; and some of them are of very ancient date in tiiis species 

 of pedigree. It is affirmed that Arabian colts are brought up with camels' milk. 



876. Of the agricultural implements and operations of Arabia almost nothing is knovvn. 

 Their plough, as we have seen (872. ), is a poor implement, and instead of a spade they use 

 the pick. The principal exertion of the husbandman's industry is to water the lands from 

 the rivulets and wells, or by conducting the rains. Barley is reaped near Sana in the 

 middle of July ; but the season depends on the situation. At Maskat, wheat and barley 

 are sown in December, and reaped in March ; but doura is sown in August, and reaped 

 in the end of November. The Arabians pull up their ripe corn by the roots ; but the 

 green corn and grass, as forage for their cattle, are cut with the sickle. In threshing 

 their corn, they lay the sheaves down in a certain order, and then lead over them two 

 oxen dragging a large stone. 



SuBSECT., 5. Presetit State of Agriculture in Hindustan. 



877. The climate and seasons o^Xhi^ejiiQn^ive region are considerably diversified by differ- 

 ence of latitude and local situation ; nevertheless, through the wide regions of Hindustan 

 there is some similarity of climate. Although in Thibet the winter nearly corresponds with 

 that of Switzerland and other parts of Europe, in the whole extent of Hindustan, except 

 in Cashmere, there can hardly be said to be a vestige of winter, except the thick fogs of our 

 November ; and excessive rains, or excessive heats, form the chief varieties of the year. 



878. The surface of the country is much diversified ; but there are no mountains 

 of any very great height ; the ghauts not being estimated at above three thousand feet. 

 The vast extent of Hindustan consists chiefly of large plains, fertilized by numerous 

 rivers and streams, and interspersed with a few ranges of hills. The periodical rains 

 and intense heats produce a luxuriance of vegetation almost unknown to any other 

 country in the globe ; and the variety and richness of the vegetable creation delight the 

 eye of every spectator. Bengal is a low, flat country, like Lower Egypt, watered and 

 fertilized by the Ganges, as the former country is by the Nile; and which, like the lat- 

 ter river, forms an immense delta, before it falls into the sea. The interior of the coun- 

 try is so flat, that water runs only at the rate of three miles an hour ; and the ground 

 rises from the sea towards the interior, at not more than four inches in a mile. 



879. The soil varies, but is in most places light and rich: that of Bengal is a 

 stratum of black vegetable mould, rich and loamy ; extending to the depth of six feet, 

 and in some places fourteen, and even twenty feet ; lying on a deep sand, and inter- 

 spersed with shells and rotten wood, which indicate the land to have been overflowed, 

 and to have been formed by materials deposited by the rivers. It is easily cultivated 

 without manure, and bad harvests seldom occur. In this country they have two 

 harvests ; one in April, called the "little harvest," which consists of the smaller grains, 

 as millet ; and the second, called the " grand harvest," is only of rice. 



880. Landed properly in Hindustan, as in all the countries of Asia, is held to be the 

 absolute right of the king. The Hindu laws declare the king to be the lord and proprie- 

 tor of the soil. All proprietors, therefore, paid a quitrent, or military services to the 

 king or rajah, excepting some few, to whom it would appear absolute grants were 

 made. In general, the tenure was military ; but some lands were appropriated to the 

 church and to charitable purposes, and in many places commons are attached to villages 

 as in Europe. Lands in Hindustan, and in Bengal more especially, are very much 

 divided, and cultivated in small portions by the ryots, or peasants, who pay rent to 

 subordinate proprietors, who hold of others who hold of the rajah. The actual culti- 

 vators have hardly any secure leases ; they are allowed a certain portion of the crop for 

 the maintenance of their families and their cattle ; but they are not intrusted with the 

 seed, which is furnished by the proprietor or superior holder. The ryot, or cultivator^ 

 is universally poor; his house, clothing, and implements of every kind, do not amount 

 to the value of a pound sterling ; and he is considered as a sort of appendage to the land, 

 and sold along with it, like his cattle. So little attention is paid to any agreement made 

 with him, that in a good season. Dr. Tennant informs us, the zemindar, or superior holder^ 

 raises his demands to a fourth more than the rent agreed on. Custom has rendered this 

 evil so comtnon that the miserable ryot has no more idea of obtaining redress from it 



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