cessary always to have plenty of these men who are able to conduct their duties systematically, and in strict acccordance with the orders laid down for them, and to train and instruct others who may always be ready to be enlisted in the service. Ameens are generally to be found and are easily taught, though good and trustworthy ones are not quite so easy of attainment. Each Ameen generally is obliged to employ one or more mohurrurs, (writers) and after a season or two, these men become experienced and fully qualified to undertake measurements themselves. Thus a full complement is always kept up, and spare men available on every emergency, and as a survey is extended from one district to another the Ameens are taken on, with the rest of the Establishment.

In unsettled districts the proper number of Ameens necessary to keep pace with the Professional Survey also depends very much on the nature of the tenures, and is always fluctuating. If the settlement is to be made ryutwarry then every separate field under a separate cultivator (ryut) must be defined, and the proceedings become very tedious and voluminous, but if the agreements are to be made only with the maliks, talookdars or proprietors, the record of estates only is sufficient, and an Ameen can in the latter instance make infinitely greater progress. Much depends on the humour of the Zemindars, if they will readily afford assistance, the Ameen can get through his work in half the time it otherwise takes him; some Ameens will remain the whole season in a moderate sized village, whilst others will complete ten times the area in the same time. There are so many things to facilitate or retard progress, that it is next to impossible to make any effectual provision to establish an uniform rate of work, and for this reason a contract payment only can be resorted to, there is no limit to the sum drawn for under this head, and it is not included in the fixed annual maximum. The steam, therefore, must be put on according to circumstances at the discretion of

the Surveyor, so as to meet the exigencies of the ope

rations.

Combined operations how to proceed.

The first great object is always to keep the two combined operations of Khusrah and Professional well up to or abreast of each other, it being necessary that the Khusrah should coincide with the Scientific Survey, as nearly as the means employed will admit. Such a result cannot be more effectually attained than by making the two operations proceed simultaneously under one and the same guidance-in fact this is a sine qua non—and for this reason the Surveyor is the proper person to superintend and control all the proceedings relative to measurements, as in like manner the Civil Officer is for all questions and duties of a revenue character. In the NorthWestern Provinces, this was invariably the case, while the quality of the soil and record of the crops rested on the responsibility of the Settlement Officer. If the operations are under different management, it is evident simultaneous progress cannot be expected. The Settlement Officer is either in advance, or in arrears of the Professional Survey, and if the work is carried on without reference to the Surveyor, the probable chances are that the same lands are not measured, the Thaks or marks erected in the field from the lapse of time, are not found, and thus discrepancies are engendered, which will cause extreme difficulty and delay in reconciling, and where identity between the two operations does not exist, the matter remains a contested point between the Surveyor and Settlement Officer, the former has perfect confidence in his work, and the latter, knowing the impracticability of making Ameens re-measure, or even re-investigate their work, believes that he is equally as near the truth-thus constant correspondence between the two offices gives rise to serious delay and incessant annoyances. On the other hand, if the Ameen is on the spot, as he invariably ought to be when the boundary of the village is professionally surveyed, and

before the marks and pillars have been removed or washed away, he is at once made acquainted with the correct limits of his work, and by co-operating with the Assistant Surveyor can compare his exterior boundary, and rectify any errors, which he may chance to perceive between the marks on the ground, and the Thakbust Sketch Map as furnished by the Settlement Officer. For the check on the Khusrah to be in the smallest degree effectual, it must be prompt, the delay of a year or a season in this respect will prove fatal to the value of the measurement.

By these means the records are compared at once, and thus by mutual assistance, both parties proceed with confidence, and the first step towards accuracy is attained. The Professional Maps and Registers are all dependant on the Khusrah Returns, and by the preparation of these, in his own office, the Surveyor is enabled to complete and lodge each season's work during the recess, a point of the utmost importance to accuracy and fair progress; and on commencing a fresh field season his time and attention is not distracted by arrears and an inconvenient excess of office documents, to move about with in the district. By an absence of this due and speedy comparison of the two operations, both are left in doubt and distrusted by the local Officers, and upon this bare fact, the survey of whole districts have been recommended for revision, entailing immense expense, as well as confusion in the records, and anxiety and vexation to both Zemindars and Surveyors. It is in vain to expect a large body of Ameens to be kept in check except by the presence of a Professional Survey, and by the knowledge that detection of misconduct is certain, through some of the agencies at the command of a Professional Surveyor.

CHAPTER III.

ON THE COST OF THE KHUSRAH.

Cost of Khusrah.

THE following Table exhibits the general average cost of the Khusrah measurement, including the Purtall Office Establishment, and proportion of European Superintendence on 15 completed Surveys in Bengal-from the year 1839 to 1849.

Table exhibiting the average Cost of Khusrah Work on Fifteen completed Districts in Behar and Bengal.

It must be observed that where the extent measured is greatest the expense is diminished, the cost of superintendence and Purtall being much the same in any case, therefore the lesser area has the greater proportion of expense thrown on it. An insight into the earnings of Ameens in each season, would, however, amply show that this class of public servants do not depend on the money they receive from the Government, and as before remarked, without bribery and corruption they could not possibly exist. Every Ameen is obliged to keep a Mohurrur and two men to drag his rope, besides generally a Peadah, a Chattah Bearer, &c.

Measuring Ameens how paid.

The mode of paying Khusrah Ameens is invariably by contract; fees at the rate of about two rupees for every hundred acres of land under cultivation in Bengal, are paid as soon as the measurement of the village is passed and approved of, and one rupee for the same quantity of jungle or waste. This sum includes the paper and every expense necessary for the production of a fairly written and intelligible record, which, eventually, is filed in the Collector's Office. This rate of payment, however, is somewhat higher than that observed in the North-Western Provinces, where the remuneration was not more than one rupee for a hundred acres of cultivation and eight annas for waste. The difference, however, between the two Provinces is great: in one the fields are small and complex, requiring much nicety; in the other the tenures are large, and easily and speedily measured. Ameens being paid only for work performed in the field it is their object to remain out as long as possible, but 8 months out of the 12 is the utmost that can be made available for such work. During the recess therefore it is most difficult to keep this class of men in attendance at the office, and if possible miscellaneous employment should be found for them, such as the preparation of the Khatteeawoonee, by which a subsistence allowance may be earned.