CULTIVATION OF THE POPPY, ETC., IN INDIA. 
119 
upholding the sub-officers, is bound to see justice done to the cul- 
tivators when imposed upon. As the duties of the sub-deputy 
agency are numerous, there are a number of subordinates called 
gomashtas, each of which has a special district, called kotee illaquct, 
of such extent that he can give personal care to the operations 
conducted in it. The head quarters of the gomashta is called the 
kotee, which is built in a central position, and contains his trea- 
sury, under the custody of a tehvildar and his accountants. 
The sub-deputy agent having concluded his agreements with 
the cultivators, it is the gomashta's duty to measure out the land 
according to the contracts. His further duty is to pay the culti- 
vators of his illaqua their advances, and to receive and weigh 
their produce, for the safe delivery of which at the factory at Gha- 
zeepore, he is held responsible. The gomashta has also under his 
direction subordinates called jemadars and zilladars, who person- 
ally overlook the cultivators in every stage of the culture. There 
is also in each division a general officer called a mohotomim, who, by 
keeping a supervision of all that happens, acts as a check to the 
sub-deputy and his assistant. Some idea may be gained of the 
extent of the Benares agency when it requires near 150 first class 
officers, and 1200 subordinates, in constant employ, and a much 
larger number in the manufacturing season at the factories. 
Of the cultivators, there were in 1849-50 no less than 21,549 
lumberders or contractors, and 106,147 laborers, not to speak of 
the families of the latter who are more or less interested in the 
business. 
So well regulated are the affairs of the agency, that all works 
smoothly ; the officers have clearly defined duties, the cultivators 
have justice done them, and are not compelled to work except as 
they contract with tin; lumberders, who in turn are bound by an 
agreement written in Hindee called a hath chittee, which sets forth 
the contract and the penalty of its infringement. This document 
contains the names of the lumberder and his laborers, the quantity 
of land each agrees to cultivate, the gomashtas' measurements, the 
receipts for monies received, the weight and consistence of all 
opium delivered, and its value. Hence, when the lumberders make 
their final settlement with the sub-deputy agent in person, the 
hath chittee enables that officer to see at a glance the condition of 
