( 12 ) 



Curiously enough, however, in the south of Sikandra the water-level it said to hare fallen, 

 but with the same result, viz., the falling in of the wells. 



43. It would be tedious, if possible, to detail the various strata met with 

 in digging wells ; they vary from village to village, and even in the same village, 

 and nothing but most minute investigation, only profitable for any special pro- 

 ject, would give satisfactory results. 



44. An ordinary well with one run will water 5 biswas (one-eighth of 

 an acre) a day, if on the edge of the field ; less, if at some distance : this is the 

 work of one pair of bullocks, who have to be allowed a rest for an hour or so 

 at noon. It is not unusual to work two pairs of bullocks in the day when as 

 much as 8 biswas can be watered, but this depends on the supply of water. 



45. The cost of well irrigation is most difficult to calculate, so many 

 elements of variation enter into it. One man with his. family will do all the 

 work, another has to employ hired labour ; cattle differ ; depth to water differs ; 

 amount of water available differs ; some wells give a constant supply, in others 

 not only has the water to be slowly used, but oftentimes given for the well to 

 replenish. The fairest method in my opinion is to calculate the cost of the 

 entire agricultural operations for a whole year of any one cultivator : this 

 alone can give a trustworthy basis for the comparison of irrigation from wells 

 with other means of irrigation. 



46. The following is the minimum cash outlay for irrigating one acre : 



Rs. a. p. 



Hire of pair of oxen with gear and driver, 8 days @ 8 annas per diem ... 400 



Wages of 2 men for 8 days @ 1 j anna per diem, lifting and distributing water ... 140 



Total Rs. 



640 



47. In low lands where the water is close to the surface (e. g., the 

 lands of pargana Jajmau) the lever well or " (Jhenkli" is commonly 



