1849.] Statistics of the CArcar of Dowlutahad, 4ST 



sandy particles of which mingling with the stiff aluminous soil, coun- 

 teracts its tendency to contract in the hot weather, as well as giving- 

 it higher powers of absorbing moisture ; on the other hand, the wast- 

 ing of the basaltic rocks mixing with light friable earth converts it 

 into rich loamy lands, diminishing its radiating powers and causing 

 it to be more retentive of moisture. 



Such is the exuberant fertility of basaltic soils in general, that 

 some are said to bear wheat cropping for thirty years in succession 

 v/ithout a fallow, the secret rests in the knowledge that those inor- 

 ganic substances plants require for their healthy condition, are lav- 

 ishly afforded in the decomposition of these rocks, which year by 

 year are spontaneously undergoing chemical changes by the alternate 

 influence of heat, moisture, light, and air ; and thus, unseen, are 

 constantly restoring to the soil those inorganic substances the crop 

 has been consuming. In the absence of these facts, it would be 

 difficult otherwise to conceive how such fertility could exist in such 

 a wretched looking soil, but here appearances are no criterion of 

 its quality. 



The number of beeghas contained in the whole Circar is estimated 

 at 18,56,266, of which the Baghaet lands, or such as receive the bene- 

 fits of irrigation, amount to 54,263 beeghas, 15 pds. The remain- 

 ing cultivated portion, comes under the head zeroyet, and are stat- 

 ed at 4,80,543 beeghas, 17^ pds.; besides these 1,57,718 beegahs, 

 12 pds. are occupied inEnams, and 7,26,411 beeghas, 7f pds. lie fal- 

 low, the remaining portion being taken up by waste and barren lands, 

 amounting in the aggregate to 4,37,328 beeghas, 19 pds. 



The Koonbees call the dark soil kala muttee, and that remarkable 

 white description only found in the neighbourhood of villages, pun- 

 dree muttee; when calcareous matter is much mixed in the land 

 it is termed choonkuda ; if sand prevails, mulwut thamdee is the 

 red soil formed by the breaking down of the ferruginous clay beds, 

 and bulda when very stony, as is often the case along the foot of 

 the hills. 



The climate of the Circar derives its peculiari- 

 Climate. ^.^^ ^^^^^ ^ combination of circumstances princi- 



pally referrable to its geographical position, prevailing winds, and 

 the nature of its soil, and* substratum, all of which have their share 

 in modifying the climate. 



