'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1878-79’ [‎108r] (220/759)

SETTLEMENTS.
107 Chap. II.
ADMINISTRA
TION OF THE
In the Province of Sind revised rates were introduced into the LAND -
Dadd Taluka of Kurrachee and into the Sakrand, and five villages Sind,
of the Moro Taluka of Hyderabad. These five villages were for
merly alienated^ and lapsed recently to Government. The result
of revision in this Province is a matter of estimate^ and not of
calculation beforehand^ because^ under the system now in force^ the
revenue depends upon the area of land notified as taken up for
cultivation and not upon the area simply occupied. According
to the estimates^ therefore^ the increase of revenue in the Dadu Dddu.
Taluka will amount to 24 per cent over the average realizations
of the last ten years. The decrease of 2f per cent shown in the
estimated results of the Sakrand settlement is caused by the Sakrand.
exclusion from calculation of the rates fixed on a certain tract
of land, which is cultivated only under special circumstances
connected with the inundation, and the revenue from which is,
therefore, too fluctuating and uncertain an item to be taken into
account along with the more regularly cultivated area. The
above settlements have been introduced for one year only, in
order that the probable financial results may be better ascer
tained before the rates are sanctioned for a longer period. The
rates sanctioned experimentally in 1876 for the Sehwan Taluka Sehwan.
have received during the present season the sanction of Govern
ment for ten years.
New rates were introduced into 77 villages of the Dohad
Taluka of the Panch Mahals, the revenue being raised from
Rs. 45,786 to Rs. 64,530, or 41* per cent. As the survey system
was to be put in force for the first time amidst a population of
whom a large proportion of the agriculturists were Kolis and
hill tribes suffering from two successive seasons of partial failure
of crops, Government postponed the introduction of the new rates
for a year, and finally sanctioned them for a term of five years,
instead of the ordinary period of thirty years. The district is
fertile, well-wooded and well-watered, the soil capable of yield
ing a double harvest every year. The staple food of the people
is maize, which is grown almost universally as a first crop, fol
lowed by wheat or gram. Fifty per cent of the cultivated area is
usually under cereals, about 25* per cent under pulses, and oil
seeds occupy about half that area. There is one trunk road
towards Gujarat passing through the head-quarter town on the
way to the railway terminus at Pali. Gram, oil-seeds and hides
pass by this route, whilst food-grains and pulses usually find
their way by country tracks to Rajputana and Central India.
The proportion of tiled to thatched houses shows the people to
be, as a rule, tolerably well-off, and this view is corroborated by
the returns of agricultural stock and implements. It is satisfac
tory to see that the enhancement of rates, even amongst an agri
cultural population so adverse to change as are Bhils and Kolis,
did not result in the resignation of a single estate, nor call forth a
single protest against alleged over-assessment.
In the Nasik Taluka revised rates were introduced into twelve Ndsik.
villages situated towards the line of Ghat mountains, and includ
ing the celebrated place of Hindu pilgrimage, Trimbak, and the
adjacent hill-forts. Three of the villages lie below the Sahyadri