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there is no work on the farms they are not maintained by 

 the masters and they are allowed to seek work elsewhere. 

 During the time of harvest fixed wages cease and the reapers 

 — men and women — are paid a share of the grain, generally 

 one-tenth ; in the southern part of the district it is stated 

 that as much as one-sixth is paid. The amount earned varies 

 according to the strength of the labourers, and is stated not 

 to exceed one or two rupees. They are allowed, however, 

 presents on special occasions and receive 2 parahs (7|- seers) 

 of paddy yearly, if they continue in the service of the masters. 

 On occasions of marriages and deaths, small presents are 

 made, and, during confinement of women, a small quantity of 

 oil and paddy, in addition to a daily subsistence allowance 

 for a period of 28 days, is granted. Their position, as regards 

 wages for subsistence, has, therefore, distinctly improved, 

 though they cannot be said to have, to an appreciable extent, 

 emerged from the position of social degradation which they 

 have occupied for ages. In South Canara, farm-servants (who 

 were originally slaves), if men, get from 1 to 2 seers of clean 

 rice, (80 tolas each) with condiments, the average rate being 

 1^ seer with condiments ; and women and children get less ; 

 the labourers are generally given a midday meal by the masters. 

 In addition to the daily wages, they receive annual perquisites 

 consisting of cloths and blankets, presents of rice and other 

 eatables at important festivals and for marriage purposes, and 

 they are given an allotment of rent free land from -I to |- acre 

 in extent, except on the coast of the Mangalore taluk. In 

 the Malay alam portion of the district, the alloXvances to the 

 farm-labourers do not appear to be so liberal, but, on the 

 whole, it seems to be clear that the farm-servants are in 

 good seasons well off in the sense that their food is not in- 

 sufficient for subsistence. Mr. Sturrock, who made careful 

 enquiries on the subject, estimates the annual income of a 

 labourer's family at Rs. 107 and the expenditure at Rs. 

 76, the greater portion of the balance being expended in 

 toddy. Buchanan, writing in 1801, stated that a male 

 slave was allowed daily 1^ hanies (2 seers) of rice or three- 

 fourths of the allowance for a hired servant. With reference 

 to this statement, Mr. Sturrock observes, " These rates cor- 

 respond rather with my maximum rates than with those I 

 have adopted as typical ; but Dr. Buchanan seems to have got 

 his information from the masters who would naturally mention 

 the highest rates allowed. In the preceding paragraph, he 

 remarks that the amount said to be paid in wages for trans- 

 planting rice seems to be exaggerated. With regard to hired 

 servants, whose wages are said to be higher than those of the 



