482 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, (September, 1908. 
land construction; or else the Italian system of Bonificazione 
(artificial pai construction) must be reso 
The former will necessarily mean that at times of heavy flood 
the interests of those for whom embankments have been construct- 
ed must be sacrificed in the interests of posterity ; orbs must 
probably be ruined if the river would have flooded them if un- 
and a state of affairs brought about by Government 
which would be liable to grave misunderstanding from those who, 
accustomed to look upon an embankment as a protection against 
the loss of their crops, find, on occasion, that, to their uneducated 
minds, the embankment is in itself a menace; although, if 
careful discrimination is used, it is quite possible todo much to 
alleviate the lot of those at present in difficulties, it is extremely 
doubtful if even a really well-devised system of “‘ bands” would be 
administratively advisable. 
he Italian system might perhaps be used; briefly stated, it 
consists of the running of silt-laden waters into low- oe areas in 
such a manner that, after the water hae come to res sil 
sho : 
system is doubtless excellent, if a careful chemical examination 
a the silt carried at certain heightsof rising or falling flood 
is known, and if if the fall of the river and surrounding country is 
enficent to permit of the water admitted to low lands being run 
vitation after it has performed the work intended to be 
obtamed from it. In the case of the Kosi, it ix possible that much 
might be done by this system, but without accurate levels it is 
case of Chota Nagpur (where a form of Bonificazione has been 
practised probably for many centuries, and where it is perhaps more 
actively used than anywhere else in India) has no plies i in Sir 
Edward’s able note. The traveller in Chota Nagpur cannot but 
notice the quaint way in which rice lands collect on each side of 
the “nalas” in undulating country ; the running water is directed 
down the centre of the depression and is capable of deflection into 
any “kiari,” ov sub-field, at will; the silt of the stream is thus 
deposited where wanted, without any difficulty; Sir Edward 
briefly reviews the different methods reported to him by Indian 
Cotepede in his oe , and since no mention is made of the Chota 
ur system it must be assumed that the officials in those parts 
, at the time of enquiry, failed to notice it. The case is quoted 
at some length here since it shows that, from the methods of an 
race only half emerged from savagery, we may learn at 
any rate some of the elements of one system which is perhaps 
applicable to the mi mitigating of the ovil-dotag of the Kosi River. 
a a ict ee ne WR i De 


eee i italy, 
—~s 
