474 CENSUS OF THE POPULATION 



At the close of each mehala is given a summary or goshivara. As the 

 mehalas are not arranged according to any system, a double index has 

 been appended, for alphabetical reference and for the distinction of the 

 Town divisions. A general abstract of the whole, in English, forms the 

 record now submitted to the Society. 



I will now beg leave to recapitulate some of the results of the Census. 



1. The number of houses nearly corresponds with Zulficar Ali's 

 statement, being nearly thirty thousand ; but there must have been a 

 considerable increase of buildings towards the south and west of the town 

 since 1800; as has been observable within the last few years on the side 

 of Secrole : we can hardly, therefore, allow that the dimensions of the 

 town have remained stationary during the last thirty years, although 

 seemingly borne out by the above coincidence. 



2. The gross population of the City may be stated at one hundred 

 and eighty thousand souls ; while Secrole and the vicinity contain 

 twenty thousand, making a total of two lakhs ; much beneath the for- 

 mer estimate, but still amply sufficient to justify the title of a populous 

 city ; for Benares exceeds in population either Edinburgh or Bristol, and 

 is twice as large as Rotterdam or Brussels. 



3. The average number of inmates to a house rather exceeds six ; being 

 one-twelfth greater than the average rate for the Burdwan Zillah, according 

 to the statistical report of Mr. (late the Hon'ble) W. B. Bayley. It might 

 have been expected, indeed, that the loftier houses of the City would affect 

 the average more considerably, but there are circumstances which coun- 

 teract such a tendency. In the first place, the term Chouk employed in the 

 Register, does not express precisely a house, but rather a " Court" or 

 " Quadrangle," of a tenement capable of being separately occupied or 



