*6% ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, 



plicity and ignorance which mark the character of 

 the generality of the inhabitants of Ramgur. 



From habitual neglect in ascertaining the quanti- 

 ties of land held in lease, and in defining with ac- 

 curacy their respective tenures, frequent disputes 

 arise between the inhabitants of different villages re- 

 garding their boundaries : to determine them, a re- 

 ference is" usually made to one or more of the oldest 

 inhabitants of the adjacent villages ; and if these 

 should not agree in their decision, other men are se- 

 lected from the inhabitants of the villages claiming 

 the disputed ground ; and the trial proceeds as fol- 

 fows : Holes are dug in the contested spot, and in- 

 to these holes each of the chosen men puts a leg, 

 and the earth is then thrown in upon it; and in this 

 situarion they remain until one either expresses a wish 

 to be released, or complains of being bitten or stung 

 by some insect. This decides the contest, and the 

 property of the ground is adjudged to belong to 

 that village the inhabitant of which goes through the 

 trial with the most fortitude, and escapes unhurt by 



ccts. 



If the preceding detail has no relation to science, 

 it is at least descriptive of manners; and in availing 

 myself of the opportunities afforded by official occu- 

 pations (which is all indeed that these occupations 

 admit ^ to contribute my portion to the researches of 

 the Society, my example will, I hope, be imitated by 

 those who with the same, or greater opportunities, 

 possess more knowledge, ability, and leisure. 



. NOTE. 



