158 Topographical and Statistical Account of 



It frequently happens, that either before or after sowing, 

 it is found that the supply of water will not be sufficient to 

 irrigate the whole field ; in such cases the people resort to a 

 practice called baethme or (i division." A portion of the field, 

 of suitable size, is selected, and all the rest is abandoned. 

 The selected portion is now divided into the same number of 

 equal shares, as there are original shares in the whole field, 

 and every original shareholder gets one baethme share for 

 each original share in the whole field ; and this in no way 

 depends on the amount which he has cleared in his original 

 share. Thus, suppose a man through idleness has not cleared 

 any of the ground allotted to him, but has yet given, when 

 required, labour to fencing, watching, and repair of tank, then 

 when baethme is resorted to, he will be entitled to a baethme 

 share, equal to that of his neighbours. It is to be observed, 

 that the persons whose land is thus selected, do not get 

 larger allotments than others. Frequently, the selected por- 

 tion of land is worked in common, and the produce divided 

 among the peasants according to the number of shares which 

 they hold in their own right ; at other times, it is actually 

 subdivided, and each reaps the produce of the portion allotted 

 to him, just as if it were his own ground. 



Each such baethme arrangement is binding only for one 

 crop ; when it has been removed, matters revert to their 

 original position. 



Other customs connected with paddy cultivation, are as 

 follows : — 



If a man's baethme share is denied to him, then he has a 

 right to demand a supply of water for his original share ; if 

 he insists upon this, it would in many cases happen that both 

 his and his neighbours' crops would die ; an amicable arrange- 

 ment is therefore generally made. 



If a man refuses to give his clue share of work or money 



