540 On the tenures and fiscal relations of [No. 164. 



exercised in calculating a money rent from an estimate of raw pro- 

 duce. It will be of importance to ascertain from evidence what pro- 

 portion of this produce local custom assigns to the zemindar, and 

 then carefully to bear in mind the fluctuations of markets, seasons, 

 price, and other points before noticed in the discussion on money 

 rents. 



Nerick-i-Deh. In parts of the country where the villages are built 

 in rows or streets, and the houses clustered together, the value of all 

 lands is somewhat affected by their degree of proximity to the vil- 

 lage, but the fields in the immediate vicinity of the houses are of 

 peculiar value from the facility with which they are guarded, and the 

 opportunity afforded of irrigating these from the village wells. These 

 are called Deh lands, and are devoted to the more valuable crops, 

 poppy, spices, tobacco, sugar-cane, and all others which require irriga- 

 tion and watching. The rates on these are proportionate to the advan- 

 tages conferred by position, and will generally be found recorded in the 

 village accounts; where these are not procurable, nor appear trust- 

 worthy, evidence of former payments on cultivators of similar land will 

 afford some guide as to what the rates ought to be. In adjusting 

 a money rate, reference must be had to the amount of labor bestowed 

 in raising and gathering the crop, more particularly the latter, when 

 it consists of opium or spices. 



Nerick Muteherfa. In Behar, the cultivating classes do not pay 

 ground rent for the spaces occupied by their houses ; this however is 

 levied from artizans, and shopkeepers and other residents not cultiva- 

 tors, under the head of Muteherfa. In Bengal the word Chandnee is 

 more commonly used for this peculiar class of rent ; local usage, vil- 

 lage accounts, and evidence of past payments, will afford the best guide 

 in deciding claims regarding this rent. In adjusting a money rent, it 

 is necessary to consider what are the advantages obtained, and what 

 is included in the rent, such as a right of wharfage on the banks of 

 a River, of frontage in a Bazaar, or of participation in the commercial 

 privileges of the place in a large town ; all which will affect the rent 

 materially, and will, under peculiar circumstances, raise it to nearly 

 500 or 1,000 per acre. 



Nerick-i-Bhatai, is the rate or proportion at which the rents of 

 land are levied in kind. Where the simple word Bhatai is used, the 

 produce is usually divided into two equal shares, of which one is 



