Sll 



shells •^■'^ In 1804 the official exchange was 5,120, and the practical 

 rate of exchange from 6,460 to 7,680. 



The piirchaSffeg power of silver in Orissa has, therefore, declined to 

 one-half during the last seventy years, whether estimated in the local 

 currency or in the staple food of the province. The depreciation has 

 of late been accelerated by the vast amount of specie expended upon 

 the irrigation enterprises, and by the large payments in silver which 

 have been made to Orissa forrice and other products since the canals 

 opened up the seaboard. These great works practically date from the 

 year 1860, and during the twenty years between 1850 and 1870 prices 

 have risen from one-third to one-half. Thus to take the town of Bala- 

 sor, which exhibits the rise in its extreme degree. In 1850 the best 

 unhusked paddy sold at 168 pounds per rupee ; in 1870 at 84 pounds, 

 or just one-half. Fine cleaned rice was 100 pounds per rupee in 1850 ; 

 80 pounds in i860 ; and 40 pounds in 1870. Common rice has not 

 risen quite so much, as the cultivation has in the meanwhile extended. 

 It was reported at 120 pounds per rupee in 1850 ; 100 pounds in 1860 ; 

 and 70 pounds in 1870, Wheat sold at 33 pounds per rupee in 1850 ; 

 29 in 1860; and 18 in 1870. 



The rate of wages has risen in proportion. In Balasor, unskilled 

 laborers earned a penny halfpenny a day in 1850 ; they now get from 

 twopence halfpenny to threepence. Carpenters' wages were in 1850 

 threepence a day ; they are now fivepence farthing. Smiths and brick- 

 layers could be had at threepence three farthings in 1850 ; they now 

 earn sixpence. If we take the two other large cities in Orissa, Cuttack 

 and Puri, the same results appear. In Cuttack, day-laborers received 

 twopence farthing in 1850 ; they now obtain threepence three farthings. 

 Smiths got fourpence halfpenny in 1850 ; they now earn sixpence. 

 Bricklayers' wages have risen more rapidly, or, from twopence farthing 

 in 1850, to sixpence in 1870. In Puri, the money wages are officially 

 returned at the following rates ; unskilled labprers in Puri town, four- 

 pence a day ; in the rural parts twopence halfpenny. Their wages 

 twelve years ago were twopence halfpenny in the town, and three 

 halfpence in the country. In I860, smiths and carpenters got three- 

 pence three farthings in the town, and twopence in the country ; they 

 now get sixpence a day in the town and threepence three farthings in 

 the country. Bricklayers, who used to get fourpence halfpenny in the 

 town twelve years ago, now get sevenpence halfpenny. 



Within the last twenty years, therefore, the price of food in the 

 large city of Balasor has almost doubled ; and throughout the whole 

 province, so far as statistics exist, it has risen by about one-third. The 

 rates o-f wages have also increased by upwards of one-third during 

 the same period. That these results are due, not to any altered degree 

 of pressure of the population on the land, or in their demands on the 

 food of the province, is clear from the following fact. While town 

 wages, which are paid in money, have thus risen, agricultural wages, 

 which are paid in kind, have remained absolutely the same. The field- 

 laborer has always earned a lower wage than unskilled workmen in the 

 towns. In 1850 he received from twelve to fifteen pounds of unhusked 



349 "phe rate, of course, varies, but I am informed that 14 gandas or .56 cowries per 

 pice has of late been the ruling exchange in the larger marts." This gives 3,584 to the 

 rupee. 



