5.

6.

2

0

0

In the usual method of measurement, each field is merely recorded as lying to the North, South, East or West of the preceding ones, and frequently even this is omitted, but this is not sufficient to ensure a large number of fields plotting accurately within a circuit laid down by compass. Although the fields are for the most part rectangular, still they are to be found of various admeasurements and to enable the map to be made by any other person than the Ameen himself, who possesses a local knowledge of the disposition of the fields, and sketches them in on his map at the time, it is essential to have a defined starting point for the measurement of each field: thus it is recorded in the Khusrah that field No. 2, commences, from the South-West corner of No. 1, and No. 3, from the NorthEast corner of No. 2, and in this expression of the corner. starting point, lies the whole secret of the system. If this is not observed, the relative positions of Nos. 1 and 2 fields may be inverted as shown in the diagram, and the whole disposition of the fields of the entire village thrown out; in fact, the Khusrah Fieldbook

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 1.

defies all attempts to reduce it to an intelligible map.

The circuit having thus been effected, all the interior fields are laid down merely with the rod or rope in the usual way, but still preserving the corner system, without any further aid from the compass, and by plotting the circuit of exterior fields according to their magnetic bearings, the interior details are found to fit in very accurately indeed. The first or rough plot of course will always show defects, but all errors are thus recorded on the first protraction, as in Plate XV., and brought to the Ameen's notice, and after he has put them to rights by re-in

vestigation in the field and filed his answer, the necessary corrections are made on the map, which will then bear the closest comparison with the Professional one, as regards the inflections of the boundary, the distribution of details of cultivation, waste, nullahs and roads, &c., as well as area, and it is by these means that a Surveyor is enabled to check with the utmost nicety all inaccuracies in the Khusrah measurement, and at the same time satisfies himself that the large mass of vernacular papers brought in by his Ameens are trustworthy, and bond fide contain what they pretend to do.

It must not be supposed that the Ameen is able to make the bearings of large village circuits close without error by such means, the enormous number of observations, to say nothing of the very roughly constructed compass, and rude measuring implements, forbid this. The village is subdivided into convenient small circuits of 150 to 200 acres, round each of which the bearings are taken, and thus the error in filling in the very large number of fields, is diminished and compressed within reasonable limits.

One very desirable object in this method is to place the Khusrah Fieldbook, in such a form, that any other person, who may have had no local knowledge and no intercourse with the Ameens, is capable of protracting the fields, and constructing the map, by which, every inaccuracy in the Fieldbook is brought to light and corrected. Thus not only the bearings of each circuit and the several linear measurements are tested, but many other discrepancies regarding quality, area, possession, &c. are prominently brought to notice and at once rectified.

The circuit and the fields in the interior of the circuit, must be protracted separately in the first instance, as from inaccuracies of the circuit bearings and various other defects of measurement and notation of the cardinal points in the Khusrah Fieldbook they cannot be expected to fit in precisely, but after all the defects both of circuit and interior field

measurement have been adjusted, the fair map is then put together. A proportional scale, 3 or 4 times larger than that used for the Professional maps, is employed, either of 12 or 16 inches to the mile, (equal to 5 chains to the inch,) which is large enough to show the smallest holdings. The Plate No. XV. exhibits the precise method of constructing this Khusrah map, and the explanatory notes thereon, account for each step in the work. The map when completed has the several items of waste, nullahs, roads, village site, &c., colored, and shows the limits and extent of each interlaced and separate mehal. It then bears a perfect resemblance with the map of the Professional Survey with which it is compared, and identified in all its particulars, and by means of a pair of proportional compasses, the most satisfactory check is established, and no doubt can then exist of the true boundary having been adopted by both parties. By the same means also, the interior details may be taken from the Khusrah map, and reduced on to the Professional one, with sufficient accuracy, and thus save a very considerable expense for carrying on this part of the work by Professional means.

The fair colored Khusrah map may either be attached to the Fieldbook, or formed up into Pergunnahwarry volumes, for better preservation, and then made over to the Civil Authority, and by the aid of such records, not only is a settlement effected with great facility and convenience, but subsequent suits in the Civil Courts are rendered at once intelligible and easy of adjustment. In fact, in a country where the settlement is made ryutwarry, it is difficult to understand how the assessment can be fairly levied, and the rights of the numberless cultivators preserved, without something of this kind.

The expense of this method of Khusrah must next be considered. The work is done by contract, and the rates are nearly the same, as in other districts varying from 2 rupees 8 annas to 2 rupees 12 annas per 100 acres for cultivated land, and 12 annas to 1 rupee for the same quantity of waste, and

when the extra labor of the system, and the very small size of the tenures in the Bengal districts is considered, this remuneration must be acknowledged to be very inadequate. The only difference consists in the salaries of the "Nucksha Nuvees" or mappers, who are employed in the Office, and receive from 10 to 20 rupees per mensem, but with this extra expense, the general average of the Khusrah work thus performed in Jynteah and Sylhet, as exhibited in the Table in page 598, forms a very good comparison with the 15 districts therein enumerated; in fact, the cost is lower than 6 of these districts, in none of which do the Civil Authorities possess any authentic Khusrah map, beyond the common rough sketch made by the Ameen himself in the field, and who in so doing, of course, takes care to make up his map, whether his Fieldbook is right or wrong.

The expense of the "Nucksha Nuvees" also is balanced in a great measure by the duties they perform as Purtallers, and the good and efficient aid they render in this way, more than compensates the amount of their salaries. A practised Nucksha Nuvees will protract 150 fields in a day, and this quantity has generally been done where the holdings were particularly intricate and small, but with inexperienced hands and beginners 100 fields is as much as can reasonably be expected per diem.

The great difficulty in placing this system on an efficient footing, is the procurement of qualified Ameens and Nucksha Nuvees. But Ameens who are expert, as the generality of them undoubtedly are, and have been shown to be capable of producing eye-sketches of their measurements with wonderful accuracy, and approach to the identical shape of the village, may soon be taught. The most intelligent Ameens should be first instructed in the use of the compass, and to construct his own map on any given scale. After a few good men become expert (and which they soon will do if the Surveyor personally labors in their behalf, and is not above