Indigo in the North- Western Provinces. 83 



the setting in of the rains, and they are weeded twice 

 before the plant arrives at maturity. 



If the contract be concluded with the zemindar 

 instead of with the ryot, as is generally the case, 

 a higher rate of about Rs. 22 per 100 maunds is 

 paid by the purchaser to the contractor. If the 

 contract be made with a ryot, he brings forward the 

 zemindar of his village as his security. The same 

 strict supervision is exercised over the zemindar as 

 over the ryot, and the same forms are gone through in 

 both cases. Having received his advance in January, 

 and paid a time-honoured one per cent to \hegomashta, 

 the contractor does what he pleases with the money ; 

 but he must sow between April and June. 



Each factory has a number of peons called sepahis. 

 These servants look after the welfare of their master, 

 keep the contractor to his engagement, see that the 

 ryots irrigate the indigo fields and otherwise exer- 

 cise a strict supervision over zemindar and ryot 

 alike. Without such unflinching surveillance, the 

 engagement would run but a poor chance of being 

 properly fulfilled, and the purchaser would be the 

 inevitable loser. In the event of idleness on the 

 part of the contractor, he is brought up to the factory 

 and admonished, or he may receive warning through 

 the peons. These men do not get dasturi, or hush- 

 money ; but it is feared that they too often batten in 



