1839.] Report on the District of Azimgurh. 131 



trict, yielding mostly very uncertain rice crops, and the Zemindars are 

 numerous, each holding a small portion of Seer land on which he sub- 

 sists, whilst from being Rajpoots of high caste, they are unthrifty 

 cultivators. The main object in the settlement was to equalize the 

 assessment, and much has been done towards this. The settlement 

 has perhaps given more satisfaction than any other in the district, and 

 this result was mainly attributable to the impartial, upright, and very 

 conciliatory conduct of the Tuhsildar. 



146th. In estimating the character of the settlement by the averages, 

 it must be borne in mind that the cultivated area has certainly been 

 under-measured, and that no land has been put down by the profes- 

 sional survey under the head of culturable. Whatever was not under 

 the plough, or had not evidently been so within the two or three pre- 

 ceding years, was classed as barren waste. 



147th. The record of proprietary rights has been carefully, and well 

 done by the Tuhsildar. The Persian papers are very complete, though 

 the English statements have not been as yet drawn out in the form 

 best adapted to elucidate the peculiar tenures of the Pergunnah. These 

 however are now in a course of preparation, on a plan prescribed by 

 the S udder Board of Revenue subsequently to the conclusion of the 

 proceedings. No difficulty will be experienced in giving the materials 

 any form which may be thought most expedient. 



148th. Pergunnah Mahol was surveyed by Lieutenant Fordyce, in 

 the seasons 1834-5 and 1835-6, and settled by Mr. Montgomery, in the 

 latter year. 



149th. The boundaries were mostly laid down by the Native Deputy 

 Collector, and by the Tuhsildar, Buksish Ally Khan. The work was 

 not satisfactorily performed. The people are low, and litigious. The 

 Tuhsildar had little experience in the Pergunnah. 



150th. The survey was very well conducted, and may be relied 

 upon. 



151st. The settlement though showing a high average, is very light, 

 for the land is exceedingly valuable. The finest Sugar land, perhaps, 

 in all India is to be found here. 



152. The tenures are simple, being mostly Zemindarry, where the 

 co-parceners held jointly or severally according to their hereditary 

 shares. The point of greatest importance was the formation of good 

 rent rolls to show the rights, holding, and rates of all the non-proprie- 

 tary cultivators. This has been carefully done by Mr. Montgomery, 

 and these relations are now placed on the best footing. The rent rolls, 

 or Jummabundee, were formed after the settlement, drawn up in the 

 common Nagree character, published to those concerned in every possi- 



