]28 Report on the District of Azimgurh. [Feb. 



with far more difficulty than elsewhere; it had previously been the 

 custom to measure the village before the boundaries were fixed. This 

 pernicious practice had given rise to endless intrigues and chicanery 

 on the part of the native Ameens. The lands of one village had some- 

 times been measured, or rather the measurement inserted in the 

 papers of another village, and the settlement formed on this measure- 

 ment. It hence became often necessary before the demarcation of a 

 boundary, to examine many previous proceedings, and refer to volumi- 

 nous documents. This, and the habit of intrigue andl itigation, which 

 it had fostered amongst the people, rendered the work very tedious 

 and difficult. I fear that in some cases knavery and corruption ob- 

 tained their ends, and I know not how this could have been avoided. 

 But in every case, a clear decision has been given, a good demarcation 

 on the ground has been made, and a record of the boundary has been 

 formed. The value of this can only be known to those who were ac- 

 quainted with the previous state of things. It has already in many cases 

 of itself altered the face of the country, and saved many persons fromruin. 

 132nd. The imperfections of the boundary work in some degree affect 

 the value of the survey, at least in the eastern and southern portions of 

 the Pergunnah, which were surveyed in the first season. The profes- 

 sional survey cannot be there taken as an infallible indication of the 

 boundary, but references must also be had to other documents put up 

 with the proceedings in each case. In the western and northern parts, 

 which were surveyed in the second season, there is little or no fear 

 of error. 



1 33rd. The same imperfections which adhered to the other parts of 

 this settlement, exist also in the record of the fractional shares of pro- 

 prietors, and in the adjustment of the rent rates. In the previous 

 settlements it had been usual to express the hereditary rights of the 

 proprietors in fractions of a rupee, without ascertaining whether their 

 actual interests in the State did, or ought to correspond with them. 

 Arbitrary rates were also frequently fixed, which never could be paid. 

 Great progress was made by myself in correcting these irregularities, 

 and amending the records. Mr. Montgomery has since been actively 

 employed in the same way, and I trust that all material defects have 

 already been remedied, or will be soon. 



134th. The circumstances of Cheriakote and Keriat Mittoo are so 

 similar, that they may be considered together. These were surveyed 

 by Captain Simmonds, and settled by Mr. Montgomery in the season 

 of 1834-5. The culturable area has been often overstated. There is no 

 reason, however, to think that the defects of this survey have produced 

 any evil consequences. 



