'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎5] (20/496)

V
Provinces, and a partial enumeration of the houses, the amount is taken at
32 206 80 6 an( j the number of square miles occupied by this vast mass, as ascer
tained by measurement upon a map, is stated to be 66,510. Thus, rejecting fractions,
it would give a population of 484 to the square mile ; while in an estimate of the
population of the principal portion of the Lower Provinces of the Bengal Pre-
sidency in 1822, the amount is given at 37,503,265, and the amount in square miles
(ascertained as in the Northwestern Provinces by measurement upon a map) at
153,802, aifording no more than 243 inhabitants to the square mile, little more than
half the number claimed for the North Western Provinces, notwithstanding that
the Lower Provinces contain the great Cities of Calcutta, Lucca, IVloorshedabad,
and Patna, and the populous tracts around them.
« 18 . But the population of China, universally considered one of the most
densely peopled countries, is, according to the highest native * estimate, only 277
to the square mile.
“19. Further, in a Statement of the Statistics of the North Western Pro
vinces, printed by order of the Lieutenant Governor, and bearing date the 25th
February 1842, exhibiting a view of the area and population of twenty-two Dis
tricts, constituting by far the larger portion of those Provinces, we observe par
ticulars which lead us to suspect that even this latter document is not trustworthy.
Aligurh, a district without any considerable Town, is stated to have an agricultural
population of 56 , 679 , and a non-agricultural population exceeding it more than
eleven times, the number given being 644,499; while the District of Benares, con
taining the great and populous city of the same name, which, with its suburbs, has
been estimated to contain 200,000 souls, is said to have 299,167 agricultural in
habitants, and only 145,940 non-agricultural.f
“ 20 . We notice these extraordinary errors, that we may impress upon those
who may be called upon to act upon our present orders, the necessity of employing
such vigilance and attention as may be sufficient to guard against the transmission
hereafter of any statement so deficient in accuracy.
“ 21 . It should be fully borne in mind, that every statement that may be fur
nished will undergo searching examination at home, and we trust that each one will
be prepared with such care as may ensure our approbation.
“We are, &c.
(Sd.) F. Warden.
“(sa.)
L W. Hogg.
E. Macnaghten.
>>
H. St. G. Tucker,
H. Shank.
John Loch,
J. Petty Mustratt.
J. L. Lushington.
Henry Willock.
John Cotton.
John C. Whiteman.
?>
W. L. Melville.
Henry Alexander.
>>
W. H. C. Plowden,
Robert Campbell.”
“London, the 3rd June, 1846.”
* Census taken in 1812. Vide Davis’s China, page 413.
t Note. — According to Mr McCulloch, vide Geographical Dictionary, Vol. 1, page 852, the
relative density of the population of France, abounding as it does in capital manufactures, and
large towns, is only 161 to the square mile.