88 Indigo in the North-Western Provinces. 



has now fallen on much better times, when he 

 receives his advance of Rs. 18, 20, or 22 for his 

 khaski indigo. It might be noticed that in Behar 

 the khaski assami generally receives his seed free 

 and suffers little or no vexatious supervision from 

 the planter. 



The only time he is required to be present, is 

 when the European Manager or Assistant measures 

 his fields. This is generally done twice once to 

 settle the advance, and, again, after the crop is up, to 

 certify that the proper amount of land has been sown 

 and to see what the crop is like. In some parts 

 the former Bengal bundle-system has been improved 

 upon by the introduction of the maund-system- 

 rates varying from 7 maunds (equal to about 3^ 

 bundles) to four maunds (equal to about 2 bundles) 

 to the rupee being paid in different parts of Behar. 

 The average rate is, however, about 5 maunds to 

 the rupee, an amount which admits of a very hand- 

 some profit to the assami. 



The question of indigo-cum-opium has frequently 

 attracted attention occasional alarm being caused 

 by the opium agents clashing with managers and 

 tenants alike. There is absolutely no reason for any 

 such friction, as opium and indigo are grown at 

 different seasons, and there is nothing to hinder the 

 assami growing his opium from October, and his 



