OCUl 



(4) Number of livestock, 8fc. 



Number in 

 millions. 



(a) Cows and bullocka ... ... ... 11*02 



(b) Buffaloes 3-46 



(c) Horses and ponies 0'05 



((/) Mules and donkeys 0*1 2 



(e) Sheep and goats 12*06 



(f) Carts 0-44 



(g) Ploughs 2-50 



(k) Boats 0-02 



(k) — Extracts from Dr. Macleane's Manual of Administration on the 

 economic condition of the labouring classes. 



Arcot, North. — The population is mainly rural. The ordinary agri- 

 culturist is strongly attached to his native village and rarely leaves it 

 except to attend some religious festival. The railway has worked 

 very considerable changes, and by raising the value of agricultural 

 produce has materially improved the condition of the cultivating 

 classes along the line. In the towns stone houses are not uncommon, 

 but all the villagers and the vast majority of the urban population live 

 in mud buildings. The household furniture of the ordinary cultivator, 

 herdsman and small trader consists merely of a bed of wooden planks 

 (visoopalagay), a bench and one or two boxes. The land under culti- 

 vation is reported at 578,731 acres (dry 377,715 and wet 201,016) or 

 only 13 per cent, of the district area. Most of the individual holdings 

 are very small, paying less than Rs. 25 per annum. A cultivator 

 paying more than that may be called a moderately large holder, while 

 those paying more than Rs. 100 per annum are few in number and 

 wealthy. The profits derivable from a holding of 5 acres average* 

 from Rs. 8 to Rs. 10 per mensem. From ragi the people make porridge 

 (sankaty) which constitutes the ordinary food of the masses. Rice, 

 though sometimes mixed as a luxury with the cheaper grains, is eaten 

 as a regular meal only by the wealthy. Male labourers earn from 

 Annas 2 to Annas 2-8 per diem and females about half as much. The 

 wages of a working goldsmith or blacksmith are 6 annas a day ; of 

 carpenter or bricklayer 6 annas to 8 annas. The rate of interest for 

 money lent on personal security varies from 12 to 36 per cent, per 

 annum. On the security of personal goods it averages 12 per cent, 

 and with a lien on crops 18 per cent. From 6 to 8 per cent, is 

 considered a fair return for money invested on land. 



Arcot, South. — With a holding of 5 acres, the peasant is not so 

 well off as a retail shopkeeper, making a net income of Rs. 8 a month. 

 The mass of cultivators, however, hold less, and although the expenses 

 of an ordinary cultivator with a wife and 3 children may be calculated 

 at only Rs. 3-0-0 to Rs. 4-8-0 per mensem, they are as a rule in debt. 

 Twenty acres would be considered a large holding ; less than 2 acres 

 reduces the cultivator to a hand-to-mouth subsistence. Under the 

 regulations in force, cultivable waste is being annually taken up for 

 casuarina and cashewnut. Agricultural and day-labouring males earn 

 Annas 2-8 to Annas 3-4 per day and females about half as much. 

 (Smiths, bricklayers, carpenters obtain 6 annas a day on the average. 



