15. The depth to water varies from 20 to 25 feet in the Ganges-Panda 



Depth of water doab, 25 to 35 feet in the Pandu-Rind doab, 35 to 45 feet 

 below surface. gouth of the md to 60 or g Q feet even a ] ong the J amna> 



where irrigation is practically impossible. 



The method of irrigation I notice below. 



16. The agricultural population of Cawnpore district consists of Tbakurs, 

 Classes of cultivators. Brahmans, Ahirs, Garariyas, Kurmis and Kachhis in about 

 the proportion of the order in which they are enumerated. 



17. The four first named castes are found all over the district ; the 

 Kurmis are more localised, being confined to well defined tracts in Bilhaur, 

 Shiurajpur, Bhognipur, and Ghatampur. Kdclihis are found wherever a large 

 village attracts them by the amount of available manure or demand for 

 market garden produce ; but in the southern parganas one or two Kachhis may 

 be found in many small villages where the proprietor has induced them to 

 settle by the use of a good masonry well. 



18. The relative characteristics of the above six classes are well known, 

 and but brief notice is required here. Thakurs and Brahmans grow the ordi- 

 nary crops, and being compelled by caste prejudices to employ hired labour, 

 occupy somewhat larger holdings which they do not cultivate closely, but, ge- 

 nerally speaking, in a careless neglectful manner. 



19. Ahirs and Garariyas are good, honest cultivators, whose command 

 of manure makes them raise better crops than we should expect from their 

 unscientific method of cultivation. 



20. Kurmis are sound cultivators : every able member in the family is 

 in the field from morning till evening ; every one knows the proverb quoted by 

 Elliott in his supplementary glossary 



n vrat ^im gf%^ SRI *ufi WTO ii 



" A good caste is the Kunbin ; with hoe in hand 



They weed the fields together with their husbands." 



21. By sheer dint of industry crops are raised even in dry tracts by this 

 class such as enable them to pay much higher rents than any other cultivators 

 except Kdchhis, whilst where irrigation is complete, as in pargana Shiurajpur, 

 and population is dense, their cultivation approaches that of the real market 

 gardener, the Kdchhi (or Murdo). Round Bhaisau, Kansamau, &c., the richest 

 crops are raised and exorbitant rents (where the proprietor is not self-cultivating, 

 as he often is in this caste) demanded and paid. The Kurmi, as a rule, occu- 

 pies a medium-sized, manageable holding, all of which he manures in turn, and 

 most of which (if possible) he will irrigate. 



