86 Report on the District of Azimgurh. |_Feb. 



whom their concerns, especially in the Opium department, are 

 managed. The cultivation of the Poppy might be very much in- 

 creased, and the north eastern parts of the district are peculi- 

 arly adapted for its production ; but the expenses attending the 

 cultivation are heavy, and now that Sugar yields so profitable a 

 return, and is so much in demand, it is not probable that the 

 production will be greatly increased at the present price. The 

 cultivation is also generally unpopular ; the Zemindar is jealous of his 

 Keorees taking advances from the Opium department, because it 

 renders them, in some measure, independent of him, and introduces 

 into the village another authority than his own. The Keorees 

 themselves would like the employment, if they were always sure of 

 protection from the exactions of the inferior officers of the depart- 

 ment. This of course depends upon the nature and vigilance of the 

 superintendence exercised over the department. At present the organi- 

 zation is far more complete and efficient than it has been for some 

 time. 



12th. The manufactures of the district are a considerable source of 

 wealth to it. These consist mainly of Cotton cloths, but some Silk 

 goods are also made, and others, containing a mixture of Cotton and 

 Silk, commonly called Tussur. The demand for these goods used to 

 be very great, but is now much diminished by the competition of 

 English goods. English twist is also very extensively introduced into 

 the market, and has in a great measure supplanted the use of the 

 native thread. This again has much injured the quality of the cloth, 

 for though the English is more regular and even in its texture, it is 

 far less durable than the country thread. The Cloth is made at looms 

 erected in the private houses of the weavers, who are congregated in 

 great numbers at some of the principal towns, such as Moobaruck- 

 poor, Kopah, and Mhow, and are also to be found in many large 

 villages in all parts of the district. They are all Mahomedans, a 

 weak and sickly looking people, but mostly possessing fire arms, and 

 very liable to be excited to riot by any thing which affects their 

 religious prejudices. They have of late years been particularly tur- 

 bulent, in consequence of the spread amongst them of the tenets of 

 Seyud Uhmud. This sect is especially opposed to the ceremonies of 

 the Mohurrum, and the several superstitions which characterize the 

 prevailing belief of the Sheeas ; whilst, by its general intolerance, it 

 tends to embroil the whole body of Mussulmans with the Hindoo 

 population. 



13th. Every loom pays a small acknowledgment to the Zemindar, 



