INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

THE local weights and measuresare given in detail at pp. 113-114, and 309. In some instances in the following volume, these weights and measures have been converted into their English equivalents, and the native names have not been added. In such cases the reconversion from the English equivalents may be effected with sufficient accuracy in accordance with the following tables :

The rupee is worth, according to the rate of exchange, from is. 8d. to 2s.; but for conventional conversions it is taken at 2s.

WEIGHTS.

The unit of weight is the ser (seer), which varies in different Districts from about 1 lbs. to 2205 lbs. This latter is the standard ser as fixed by Government, and corresponds to the metrical kilogramme. For local calculations in Lower Bengal, the recognised ser may be taken at 2 lbs. The conversion of Indian into English weights would then be as follows::

The unit of land measure is the bighá, which varies from

an acre to almost 1 acre.

of

The Government standard bighá is 14,400 square feet, or say of an acre; and this bighá has been uniformly adopted throughout the following volume.

STATISTICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

DISTRICT OF MURSHIDABAD.1

M

URSHIDABAD District was, until 1875, a portion of the Division or Commissionership of Rájsháhí; but in that year it was transferred to the Presidency Division, of which it now forms the north-western corner. It is situated between 23° 43′ 15′′ and 24° 52′ 0′′ north latitude, and 87° 39′ 5′′ and 88° 16′ 55′′ east longitude. The area, exclusive of the larger rivers, is 2462'44

1 This Account of Murshidábád District has been compiled chiefly from the following sources :-(1) The answers to my five series of questions, signed by Mr. Hankey, C.S., the Collector, by Mr. Jeffery, C.S., Assistant Magistrate, and by Bábu Bankim Chandra Chattarji, Deputy-Collector, dated 1870-71; (2) Statistical and Geographical Report of Murshidábád District, by the Revenue Surveyor, Captain (now Colonel) Gastrell, dated 1857; (3) Report on the Rivers of Bengal, by Captain W. S. Sherwill (Calcutta, 1858); (4) Report on the Bengal Census of 1872, by Mr. Beverley, C.S., with subsequent District Compilation by Mr. Magrath, C.S.; (5) Report on the Land Tenures of the District, by Bábu Bankim Chandra Chattarji, Deputy-Collector, dated October 1873; (6) Statement of the prevailing Rates of Rent in the District, drawn up by Mr. Wavell, C. S., officiating Collector, and dated August 1872; (7) An article in the Calcutta Review (vol. vi.) on 'The Banks of the Bhagirathi,' by the Rev. J. Long; (8) Selections from Records of the Government of India, edited by the Rev. J. Long; (9) Ms. Records of the Board of Revenue at Calcutta, from 1782 to 1807; (10) Stewart's History of Bengal (Calcutta reprint, 1847); (11) Mill's History of British India (quarto, 1817); (12) Orme's Military History of the British in Hindustán (Madras reprint, 1861); (13) Travels of a Hindu, by Bábu Bholanáth Chandra; (14) Resolution of the Bengal Government on the Boat Traffic of Bengal, dated October 1875; (15) Annual Reports on the Administration of Bengal, 1871-1874; (16) Selections from Annual Administration Reports by the Collector, 1871-73; (17) Annual Reports on the Police of the Lower Provinces, 1872-74; (18) Annual Reports on the Jails of the Lower Provinces, 1872-1874, with statistics for earlier years, specially prepared by the Inspector-General; (19) Annual Reports of the Educational Department for 1856-57, 1860-61, 1870-74; (20) Postal Statistics,

VOL. IX.

B

square miles, as returned by the Boundary Commissioner in 1874. The total population, as ascertained by the Census of 1872, is 1,353,626 souls. For the purposes of the Census, the area was taken at 2578 square miles; and out of regard to uniformity, this figure has been adopted for the calculation of all averages in this Account. The Civil Station and the Administrative Headquarters are at Barhampur (Berhampore), situated on the left bank of the Bhágirathí river, in 24° 6′ 30′′ north latitude and 88° 17′ 31′′ east longitude. Barhampur is also the site of long-established military cantonments, and was until 1875 the headquarters of the Commissioner of the Rájsháhí Division. The largest town, however, in the District is the city of Murshidábád, the latest Muhammadan capital of Bengal and still the residence of the Nawáb, which lies on the same bank of the Bhagirathí, some five miles farther up the river, in 24° 11′ 5′′ north latitude and 88° 18′ 50′′ east longitude.

BOUNDARIES.-The District of Murshidábád is bounded along its whole frontier from the extreme north to the south-east by the Ganges, which separates it from the Districts of Maldah and Rájshahí. On the south it is bounded by the Districts of Nadiyá and Bardwán, the river Jalangí forming the south-eastern frontier for a considerable distance. To the east lie the Districts of Bírbhúm and the Santál Parganás.

CHANGES IN JURISDICTION.-As enclosing in its centre the metropolitan city of Murshidábád, this tract of country rose into importance towards the close of the Muhammadan rule in Bengal. For some time, also, after the acquisition of the diwání by the East India Company, the entire administration was suffered to remain in the hands of the Musalmán officials. The English Governor of Bengal always lived at Calcutta, but a Resident was stationed at Murshidábád, to be present at the darbár of the Nawáb, and to control the finances of the whole of Bengal. The British obtained the diwání in 1765, and in 1772 Warren Hastings removed the Supreme Civil and Criminal Courts to Calcutta. After an experience of three years, the furnished by the Director-General of Post Offices; (21) Area, latitudes, and longitudes, furnished by the Surveyor-General; (22) Parganá Statistics of Bengal, printed by the Board of Revenue; (23) The answers to my series of medical questions, signed by J. White, M.D., Civil Surgeon; (24) Annual Meteorological Reports of Bengal for 1871 and 1872; (25) Annual Reports on the Charitable Dispensaries of Bengal for 1871 and 1872; (26) A MS. compilation on the Díwání of Murshidábád, by Mr. Gribble, C.S.; (27) Various numbers of the Calcutta Gazette; (28) Aitchison's Treaties and Engagements relating to India.