cexxi 



(3) Those who have no lands of their own, but only cultivate 

 the lands of others on different terms of leases. 



Those coming under the second and third class have- improved their 

 status by yearly fresh acquisition of land, and by converting waste 

 lands into cultivable ones. With the exception of a small percentage 

 who are engaged in trade, the major portion of those falling under the 

 first class are by degrees growing poorer and poorer by selling or 

 mortgaging their property. And it is the cry of this section of the 

 population that is likely to be the cause of the general impression that 

 the condition of the agricultural classes is going down. 



The general feeling of the agricultural classes is one of satisfaction 

 with their lot ; this satisfaction can be said to be unalloyed if the rigour 

 of the forest laws were mitigated, and nature were less fickle in the 

 matter of water-supply — rain. The general want of rain in season has 

 driven these classes to the necessity of sinking wells. Lands that were 

 30 years ago wastes overgrown with shrubs, &c., are now under culti- 

 vation. The extension of railway and other communications has not 

 failed to bring in their train to the cultivator advantages which were 

 wanting 30 years ago. He now carries the products to the market, 

 where he secures the highest price possible. He is no more under the 

 painful necessity of parting with the fruits of his labor for a nominal 

 price. The mode of cultivation, the mechanism employed in the act of 

 raising water and of turning up the soil, &c., have, however, remained 

 practically the same as they were 30 years ago. The conservative 

 instinct of the Indian cultivator abhors all innovation in these direc- 

 tions, and he rightly or wrongly prefers his mode and mechanism to 

 all others. 



The people are happy in the safety they enjoy under the good 

 Government of the country. A good Government has brought safety 

 along with it, and hence property has been rendered more secure, and 

 there is nothing of that dread of life or of the prospect of losing 

 property, which places the ryot in eternal anxiety, in the absence of an 

 organized form of Government. 



In ivhat directions the agricultural class has deteriorated. — The causes 

 of deterioration are — 



(1) Heavy marriage expenses. 



(2) Factious spirit and consequent expensive litigation. 



(3) The neglect of the ryots to give any sort of rest to^ the cul- 

 tivable lands. 



(4) The lands are not as of old well manured, the consequence 

 being a low yield with increased population. 



Notwithstanding the safe and peaceful situation of the country, 

 there has been some diminution among the agricultural classes. To be 

 a ryot is considered among the so-called enlightened section something 

 akin to being a serf in an enslaved country. Various other professions 

 have been called in aid, and agriculture has been partially abandoned 

 among the gentry who have taken to the renting system. Many of the 

 population have gone to other places in pursuit of varieties of trade or 

 professions. Reservation of callings to one particular set is gradually 

 dying out. And with the spread of education, less regard, is paid to 



