1876.] H. Beverley — Some Mef^idts of ilie Eecent Census of Calcutta. 113 



This was a very striking result, and it was impossible to deny the conclusion 

 that the variable element in the Calcutta population must be looked for 

 among the males. This conclusion was borne otit by the statistics in regard 

 to age, which showed that the excess in the number of males over females 

 was mainly to be found between the ages of 20 and 60. Up to ten years 

 of age, the males and females were nearly equal, the males being 26,216 

 and the females 25,179 ; and over 60 years of age the males numbered 

 9,85-i only, against females 10,774. But between the ages of 20 and 40, for 

 instance, we found 134,820 males against 58,724 females. This clearly 

 showed that the excess of m.ales, so far from being a flaw in the census, was 

 simply due to the immigration of adult males for the piu'poses of trade or 

 service. It was a variable and inconstant element, and sufficed to ex2:)lain 

 both the imcertainty which hung about the population of Calcutta, and the 

 absurdly low death-rate hitherto put forward. JSIr. Beverley trusted that, 

 with these figures before him, the Health Officer would be in a j^osition to 

 exhibit the vital statistics of this City in a new and striking light. 



As so many other gentlemen had to address the meeting that evening, 

 Mr. Beverley would not detain them longer than just to ask them to bear 

 in mind two things in regard to the late census : first, that it was merely a 

 census of the Town proper, exclusive of the Subm'bs, and so did not show 

 the entire population of the city as a whole ; and secondly that it was an 

 enumeration of the sleeping and not of the day j^opulation. If the Suburbs 

 were taken into account, Calcutta had a population of at least 800,000 

 souls ; while the numbers that frequented the Town for business purposes 

 during the day would considerably augment that figure. Madras with an 

 area of 27 square miles, had a population of less than 400,000 souls ; Bom- 

 bay, with 18^ square miles, 614,405. In point of mere numbers, there- 

 fore, Calcutta still deserved to be regarded as the capital of the Indian 

 Emj^ire. 



The Chairman said that the thanks of the meeting were due to Mr. 

 Beverley both for the very interesting remarks he had made, and for the 

 aJjility, care and forethought with which he had conducted the last Census of 

 Calcutta. It was expected tliat the result woukl be much more satisfactory 

 than that of all former attempts of the kind had been. The probknn of 

 taking a census in India was an exceedingly difficult one. Subject races 

 could not be expected to sympathise witli their conquerors in the hitter's 

 attempt to collect statistical information about the domestic details of the 

 conquered. There would invariably be apj^rchensions of fresh taxation, 

 which tlie weak would always attempt to overcome by cunning. No amount 

 of i^rotestation on the part of the conquerors, who have to meet the exi- 

 gencies of a progressing state by devising new sources of revenue, will convince 

 the people of their good faith. Even if the people believed in the good faith 



