1839] 



On the Statistics of Dukhun. 



391 



IX. — Special Report 071 the Statistics of the Four Collectorafes of 

 Dulhun, under the British Gover?ime7it. 



{Co'icluded from our last. J 

 Irrigation. 



Preliminary to speaking of agiiculture, it is necessary to state that 

 hnds are watered artificially in two ways. First, by conducting stream- 

 lets from running rivers or brooks. Lands so watered are called Paat- 

 sthul, from Paat, a channel, ai;d Sthul, a field.* These streamlets do 

 not always last through the hot season ; and thoiigli this species of ir- 

 rigation, while available, is infinitely less onerous and less expensive to 

 the cultivator, affording also a more plentiful supply of water than the 

 well watering and great returns : yet it is not so certain, and, on the 

 whole, is less permanently efficient than well watering. The second 

 method is by well watering. Lands so watered are caUed Moht Sthul, 

 from Moht, the water-bucket, and Sthul, a field. Tl.ere is a good deal 

 of trouble attending tliis method, and it requires the continual expense 

 of the support of two or four bullocks, the wear and tear of materials, 

 and the keep of one man, wl o, however, can readily manage two buck- 

 ets, and two pairs of bullocks : at the same time li requires also a boy 

 in the garden or field to open and shut the dilferent channels. This is 

 the most common m-^tho 1 of irrigation in the districts reported on. Usu- 

 ally only two bullocks are attached to each bucket ; in seme instances, 

 however, where the wells are deep, four bullo -ks are attached to each 

 bucket. The cattle pull down an inclined plane and discharge the wa- 

 ter, and readily walk backwards up the plane to the highest part of it ; 

 on the bucket being refilled, they go down the plane again ; the driver 

 sings to them and rides down on the rope. The process is suspended 

 for an hour or two during the middle of the day. A very consi- 

 derable quantity of water is brought up by this method. The 

 buckets in use vary little in size, and the wells, probably, range 



* Literally "firm land." 



