1839] 



On the Statistics of Didllim. 



481 



otherwise than as constituents of Hindoo land denominations, that there 

 the assessments are on the quality of the soil, and vary accordingly. 



Gardens being dependent on the local advantages of a suitable supply 

 of water and some depth of soil, usually met with in hollows or on the 

 banks of riveps, it might be expected that considerable uniformity would 

 prevail in the quality of garden-land, and that it would rarely be divid- 

 ed into classes ; such is usually found to be the case. Most commonly 

 all garden-land appertaining to a village pays the same rate per beegah ; 

 and where chissificaiion exists, it is founded, not on the cj^uality of the 

 land, but on the extent of the supply of water. 



The first great feature, in this respect, is whether the garden is water- 

 ed from small streams conducted from rivulet-^ or rivers, or whether it 

 is watered from wells ; in the former case it is called Paatsthul,^ and in 

 the latter Mohtsthul.^ Most Pahts failing in the dry months of March, 

 April, and May, the former land is usually assessed at a lower rate than 

 the latter, as at Tellegaon and Parnair ; but where the Paht supply is 

 perennial, as at Dytnn, both descriptions of land pay the same rate. De- 

 pendent on these primary distinctions, are modifications, affecting garden 

 assessments: laud with a perennial and sufficient supply of water, whe- 

 ther from pahts or wells, is called Wohol-Waho, or fully watered, and 

 pays the highest rate; this rate, unless on rice land, and isolated spots, 

 wdiere fruits of considerable value are raised, such as grapes and golden 

 plantains, &c., as at Joonur, within my observation, has never exceeded 

 6 rupees per beegah, ^ including sugar-cane land. The other classes of 

 land are comprised in the Kord Waho or not fully watered. It is readily 

 intelligible that a well may supply a sufficiency of water for great part 

 of a garden within a reasonable distance of the well, but that the extre- 

 mities may be inadequately watered, and this affords just grounds to de- 

 mand a lighter tax for the extremities : two classes should result from 

 such circumstances, i. e. fully watered and not fully watered, and such 

 is generally the case where distinctions are made at all : but at Ahmed- 

 nuggur there is an affectation of discrimination, which has determined 

 that garden-land receives its watering in the proportions of "fully," 

 " thirteen-twentieths," " tlnee-fifihs," and *' one-half," and such lands 

 are respectively assessed at 5 rupees, 3| rupees, 3 rupees, and 2i rupees 

 per beegah. The assessment on garden-land at present is unequal, and 

 the whole requires revision. There is every motive to make garden- 

 cultivation assessments light with a view to insure to each cultivator, 



a From Taat " a cliamiel," anrl Sthul " afield." 



b From Molit " a water-bucket/' and Stlnil a " field.'' c 15#. %d. per aero. 



