CCXIX 



(6) Note hy B. Snbbramania Aiyar, Usq., B.A., District Registrar, 



Tinnevelhj, 



Changes i)i the value of land. — There is no ready and easy means of 

 tracing out the various sales to which particular lands have been subjected 

 in the course of the past 25 years. The only course open was to see hy 

 going through a good number of instruments of sale in the registers 

 whether they contained* any references to previous sales affecting the 

 same properties. Even this was not attended with complete success. 

 The lands mentioned in the previous and subsequent sales ai-e not 

 wholly identical. Prior to 1874, the lands were not described by their 

 Survey numbers, and there is no means of knowing as to what Adangal 

 numbers correspond to the present Survey numbers. Besides, the 

 price of the same land is not distinctly ascertainable in all the years, as 

 such lands are found intermingled with others in subsequent transac- 

 tions, or only a portion detached and alienated. In ascertaining the 

 price of one acre of average nun j ah and pun j ah, recourse was had to 

 the method of ascertaining the price of any piece of land in one year, 

 and finding out the value of the same land in subsequent years, or of 

 lands in proximity to it, bearing the next previous or succeeding 

 number. The fluctuation in prices is noticed to be not based on any 

 principle, and the only explanation which can be rendered for this is 

 that the price varies according to the grain produced by it, /.«"., in 

 famine years and those of ordinary scarcity the value of grain being 

 rather high, the productive lands go for a very high price, and others 

 fetch only an inconsiderable amount. Further, it appears that tJiere is 

 a general tendency for the increase in the number of landholders, 

 which means diminution in the extent held by individuals, and conse- 

 quently each man is able to devote better attention to lands under his 

 care, which, therefore, in their impi^oved condition, rise in value. As 

 civilization advances, the artisans, such as carpenters, bricklayers, 

 smiths, &c., find enough of work for them, and an increasing demand 



