IN THE WURDWAN. 87 



The males give me the idea of being contented and 

 happy enough in their ignorance. They profess Mahom- 

 edanism, and in each hamlet is a small musjed, with 

 either a resident moulvie, or an itinerant one, to officiate. 



They complain much, as do all the Maharajah's sub- 

 jects, of the heavy imposts levied on them, and to this 

 attribute their indifference to bettering their condition, 

 asserting that if they increased their substance, they 

 would be only the marks for the rapacity of the govern- 

 ment screws. This is, no doubt, in part true ; but I think 

 their natural indisposition to exertion is now the main 

 hindrance to industry and enterprise. These poor 

 peasants have to pay the Maharajah five rupees per 

 annum for every hundred head of sheep, cattle, &c., and 

 three rupees for every measure of ground computed to 

 yield one maund (eighty Ibs) of grain. This latter 

 burden they bitterly complain of, as whatever the harvest 

 the full amount is exacted : and when it is considered 

 that the intrinsic value of the maund of grain, the 

 marketable price is but one rupee, it does appear 

 abominably rapacious to extort three times the value, 

 and whether the harvest fails or not. Formerly, under 

 a system but lately changed, the cultivators paid in kind, 

 equally dividing the produce, and with this they were, 

 they say, satisfied. At any rate, they now view its 

 abrogation with regret. 



As regards the sporting resources and capabilities of 

 the Wurdwan, they no longer exist, but in the traditions 

 and memories of by-gone days. These grounds have 

 been now so constantly hunted, and the animals yet 

 surviving, so harassed and disturbed, that with the 

 exception of a few bears ignoble game there remains 

 hardly an animal to reward the toil of the hunter. 

 After my present experience, I would not myself again, 



