Bahraich District
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
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Bahraich District, 1908
Physical aspects
North-western District of the Fyzabad Division, United Provinces, lying between 27 4' and 2 8° 24' N. and 8i° 3' and 82 13 E., with an area of 2,647 square miles. The shape of the District is that of an isosceles triangle, with its apex pointing north-west, and its base running from south-west to north-east. It is bounded on the west by the Kauriala or Gogra, which separates it from the Districts of Kherl, Sltapur, and Bara Bank! ; on the north-east by Nepal territory ; and on the south-east by Gonda. The physical features are well marked by the courses of the Gogra and Raptl.
A belt of compara- tively high land of a uniform breadth of 12 or 13 miles, and a total area of about 670 square miles, Physical runs through the District in a south-easterly direction, dividing the basins of the two rivers. The great plain of the Gogra stretches away from the western edge of this strip of upland to the river itself. Tradition asserts, and the appearance of the country supports the theory, that in past ages the Gogra flowed immediately under this high bank. The plain is scored with numerous channels having a course generally parallel to that of the great river.
The Gogra, or Kauriala as it is called in its upper reaches, enters Bahraich from Nepal on its extreme north-west corner. After a course of a few miles it is joined by the Girwa, which itself is merely a branch of the Kauriala, leaving the parent stream in Nepal. The only other tributary of importance is the Sarju, a river also rising in Nepal, which joins the Kauriala at Katai Ghat. An old channel, likewise called the Sarju or Suhell, passes below the edge of the upland into Gonda. It is said that this formerly carried the main stream, but a European timber merchant diverted it to secure a more expeditious route for floating timber. The Rapt! crosses the north-east corner of the District, its principal tributary being known at first as the Bhakla, and later as the Singhia. A small stream, named the Tirhl, rises a short distance from Bahraich town and flows into Gonda. There are numerous lakes and jhl/s, the largest being the Baghel Tal near Payagpur. Many of them have been formed by the old beds of rivers. The whole District is composed of alluvium, and even kankar or calcareous limestone is rare.
The flora is that of the sub-Himalayan area. At annexation most of the District, excluding the river valleys, was jungle, and considerable areas are still occupied by low forest growths. Along the Nepal border lie large stretches of ' reserved ' forests, which will be described later. The rest of the District is also well wooded, groves of mangoes and mahua (Bassia latifolid) having been planted largely, and shasham Dalbergia Sissoo) to a smaller extent.
Owing to the large area of forests and jungle, the District presents a varied fauna. Tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas, wild hog, sambar, spotted deer, swamp deer, hog deer, barking-deer, antelope, and nilgai are all found. In some places cattle have run wild and do much damage to the crops. Game-birds of the usual kinds are common, and fish abound in the rivers and tanks. The climate is moist, and cooler than that of the Districts south of the Gogra ; the cold season lasts long and the prevailing winds are easterly. The District is, however, malarious, especially after the close of the rains.
History
The annual rainfall averages 45 inches, the north receiving a slightly larger amount than the south. Variations are large: in 1870 the fall was 79 inches, and in 1864 only 24 inches. Legend connects the name of the District with Brahma, who is said to have chosen this area as his own special kingdom. Other traditions include it in the realm of Raja Kama, who is referred to in the Mahabharata. At the dawn of history the tract formed part of the kingdom of Northern KoSALA, with its capital at Sravastl. The identification of the site of this great city, at which Gautama Buddha spent several years of his life, is still a disputed question. Some writers place it at Set Mahet on the borders of Bahraich and Gonda, while others believe that it lies on the RaptI in Nepal. In the fifth and seventh centuries the country round Sravastl was found by the Chinese pilgrims to be waste and desolate.
Later traditions state that Bahraich was held by the Bhars, whose name it bears. The half-mythical raid of Salar Masud, the Muhammadan warrior saint, ended in battle with the chiefs of the neighbourhood near Bahraich town in 1033. It was not, however, till the thirteenth century that a regular Muhammadan government was established in the trans-Gogra region. One of the earliest governors was Nasir-ud-dln Mahmud, son of Altanish, who ruled here rigorously until he succeeded to the throne of Delhi in 1246. For the best part of a century the records of Bahraich contain nothing of note. The Ansaris, the descen- dants of the early Musalrnan settlers and invaders, gradually extended their hold over the south of the District; but the Bhars were not crushed till later. In 1340 Muhammad bin Tughlak visited the tomb of Saiyid Salar, and made the first of a series of grants, from which sprang several of the great talukddri estates. This grant was in favour of the Saiyids, who expelled the Bhars and acquired a large estate.
Firoz Shah Tughlak passed through the District and left a young Janwar Rajput, named Bariar Sah, to clear the country of banditti. Bariar Sah resided at Ikauna, and his clan has provided owners for several estates in both Bahraich and Gonda. About forty years later the Raikwars established themselves in the west. Under Akbar the District, together with parts of Gonda and Kheri, formed the Bahraich sarkar. The Muhammadan rule was, however, never thoroughly effec- tive till the appointment of Saadat Khan to the governorship of Oudh. The great Rajas fought with each other or with the governor of Bah- raich, and paid as little revenue as they could. All, however, had to yield to the new power, and for many years they were kept in check.
Saadat All Khan, the sixth Nawab, first introduced a system of farming the revenue, under which the local governors paid a fixed amount, and appropriated surplus collections. The system worked well as long as it was adequately supervised, and the nazims or governors of Bahraich were at first able and considerate. Deterioration then set in, and oppression rose to its height under Raghubar Dayal, who held the contract for 1846-7. The state of desolation to which the country was reduced is graphically described by Sir W. Sleeman, who passed through the District in 1849. The annexation of Oudh in 1856 put an end to this misrule and misery, though the work of organization was delayed by the Mutiny. The troops at Bahraich rebelled ; and the officers, after an attempt to reach the hills, made for Lucknow, but were murdered on the Gogra. The talukdars had lost little by the land policy adopted at annexation, compared with those of other Districts ; but on the out- break of the Mutiny, the majority joined the mutineers. Troops were not sent into the District till December, 1858, when the rebels fled to Nepal after a short campaign. Large estates were confiscated, and part of the District was restored to Nepal, from which it had been taken in 18 16.
A number of ancient sites still await exploration ; relics of the Buddhist period have been discovered in places. The celebrated shrine of Saiyid Salar is situated about two miles north of Bahraich Town. An old town, called Dogaon, was an important centre of trade in the Mughal period .
Population
The District contains 3 towns and 1,881 villages. Population is in- creasing. The numbers at the last four enumerations were as follows : (1869) 775,915, (1881) 878,048, (1891) 1,000,432, and (1901) 1,051,347. There are three tahsils — Bahraich, Kaisarganj, and Nanpara — each named from its head- quarters. The principal towns are the municipalities of Bahraich, the District capital, and Nanpara, and the 'notified area' of Bhinga. The following table gives the chief statistics of population in 1901: —
Hindus form more than 81 per cent, of the total, and Musalmans more than 1 8 per cent. The density of population is much below the average for Oudh, but the increase during the last decade was con- siderable. Almost the whole population speaks the Awadhi dialect of Eastern Hindi.
The most numerous Hindu caste is that of Ahlrs (graziers and culti- vators), who number 125,000. Other castes largely represented are Kurmls (agriculturists), 95,000; Brahmans, 92,000; Chamars (tanners and cultivators), 76,000; Koris (weavers), 51,000 ; Pasls (toddy-drawers and cultivators), 48,000 ; Lodhas (cultivators), 43,000 ; Muraos (market- gardeners), 26,000 ; and Rajputs, 25,000. Tharus, a tribe confined to the submontane swamps, are found in small numbers in the north of the District. The Muhammadans are chiefly Pathans, 33,000 ; Julahas (weavers), 21,000; Behnas (cotton-carders), 14,000; and Nais (barbers), 11,000. Agriculture supports 70 per cent, of the total population, and general labour 5 per cent. Kurmls occupy more than one-sixth of the area held by tenants, and Brahmans, Rajputs, and Ahlrs also cultivate large areas.
Of the 173 native Christians enumerated in 1901, 148 were Metho- dists. The American Methodist Mission began work here in 1865, and has several branches in the District.
Agriculture
The soil of Bahraich is chiefly loam and clay. North of the RaptI, and at one or two other places near the Nepal frontier, a moist tarai 1 W. Vost, Journal, Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. lxiv, p. 69. tract occurs, which is especially favourable for the valuable late rice, but produces little else. The central plateau yields excellent wheat. The inferior early rice, followed by wheat or other spring crops, is grown in this tract, while late rice is A £ ncu ture. grown in small depressions. The basins of the Rapti and Gogra are more distinctly alluvial, and are very fertile except where the layer of rich silt above the sandy subsoil is thin. The larger rivers constantly flood their banks, but the Sarju and Rapti generally deposit good silt, while the Gogra causes damage by bringing down sand. The tenures are those usually found in Oudh. About 78 per cent, of the total area, excluding the forests, is held by talukdars, and more than half is included in four large estates. A very small proportion is occupied by sub-settlement holders and under-proprietors. The main agricultural statistics for 1903-4 are given below, in square miles : —
Wheat, maize, and rice are the crops most largely grown, and in 1903-4 covered 459, 447, and 422 square miles respectively, or from 29 to 27 per cent, of the net area cultivated. Gram (273 square miles), barley (156), and peas and masur (59) are the remaining food-crops of importance. Poppy covered 15 square miles and oilseeds 189. There has been a very large increase in the cultivated area since the first regular settlement, amounting to 25 per cent. This is due both to the recovery of the District from the effects of misgovernment, and also to the clearing of jungle. No conspicuous changes in methods have taken place ; but double cropping is more extensively practised, and the area under rice, wheat, and poppy is increasing rapidly. Population is still comparatively thin, and a large area is held by Brahmans and Rajputs, who are inferior cultivators. Very few advances are taken under the Land Improvement and Agriculturists' Loans Acts. Out of a total of Rs. 11,600 lent during the ten years ending 1900, the single year 1896-7 accounted for Rs. 9,000. In four years since 1900 the loans averaged less than Rs. 2,000.
In the south of the District the cattle are of the ordinary inferior type, but towards the north they improve, and two good breeds are locally recognized, known as the Nanpara and the Risia. Though small, these cattle are active and hardy, and well fitted for agricultural work. The ponies are also of poor quality, but better animals are imported from Nepal. Sheep and goats are kept in very large numbers and are used for penning on the land.
Irrigation is required to a comparatively small extent. Tanks and j hi Is are the most important source, supplying ioo square miles in 1903-4, while wells irrigated 29, and other sources 9 square miles. In the river basins there is very little irrigation, as the soil retains sufficient moisture except for garden crops. Masonry wells are rarely used for irrigation. Small streams are dammed to supply water, especially the hill streams in the north-east. Water is raised from jhi/s by the swing- basket and from wells by the lever.
Bahraich includes an area of 334 square miles of ' reserved ' forests in charge of a Deputy-Conservator. They are situated chiefly along the Nepal frontier, but also extend some distance south of the boundary. The chief timber tree is the sal(Shorea robustd) ; but many other species are found, including the tun (Cearela Toona), mahud, haldu (Adina cor- difolia), asna (Terminalia tomentosa), dhau (Anogeissus latifolia), etc. In the low-lying alluvial land shlsham (Dalbergia Sissoo) and khair {Acacia Catechu) are common. The receipts on account of forest pro- duce in 1903-4 amounted to 1-5 lakhs, the chief item being timber (1-2 lakhs).
A little kankar is extracted in places and is used for making lime, but lime is also largely imported.
Trade and Communication
Coarse cotton cloth is made in many villages for local consumption. The only industry known outside the District is that of felt-making. Small rugs of felted wool are made and ornamented communications. with P atterns - Blankets are made at a few places, and excellent wood-carving was formerly produced.
The trade of the District has grown up since the commencement of British rule. The chief exports are grain, forest produce, oilseeds, and opium, while piece-goods, metals, salt, and sugar are imported. Timber is floated down the river, but the railway carries most of the trade.
The chief markets are thus situated on the line of rail at Bahraich, Nanpara, Payagpur, and other smaller places. Gram, oilseeds, and spices from Nepal are largely carried by a branch of the railway which terminates on the frontier close to Nepalganj, and piece-goods, metals, salt, tobacco, and sugar enter Nepal from the same place. There are also other routes, and the total traffic with Nepal is valued at 25 to 30 lakhs a year. The main line of the Bengal and North-Western Railway crosses the extreme southern corner of the District, while a branch from Gonda traverses it from end to end. The latter terminates at Katarnian Ghat on the Girwa, with a branch from Nanpara to Nepalganj Road on the frontier. Road communications are poor. There are 619 miles of roads, but only 14 miles are metalled, owing to the difficulty and expense of obtaining stone. The whole cost is charged to Local funds. Avenues of trees are maintained on 133 miles.
Famine
An extensive failure of the crops owing to drought is unknown in Bahraich, and damage from excess is more common than loss from deficiency of rain. The principal effects of an excep- tionally dry season are to injure the late rice, and curtail the sowings of a second crop after maize or early rice. Prices rise when there is famine elsewhere, and the labouring classes suffer. Thus in 1877 relief works and poorhouses were opened. In 1896-7, however, no relief was required.
Administration
The Deputy-Commissioner is usually assisted by three Deputy-Collec- tors recruited in India. An officer of the Opium
department is stationed in the District, and a tahsilddr at the headquarters of each tahsil. Two District Munsifs and a Subordinate Judge comprise the ordinary civil courts of the District, which is included in the Civil and Sessions Judgeship of Gonda. Criminal work is usually light ; but outbreaks of dacoity occur, and breaches of the peace are common. Although Bahraich has large grazing-grounds there are no professional cattle thieves.
The records of the summary settlement made in 1856 perished in the Mutiny. On the restoration of order a second summary settlement was made, the revenue demand amounting to 5-8 lakhs. In 1865 a survey commenced, which was followed by a regular settlement completed in 1872. In the greater part of the District the soil was divided into classes, and rent rates were selected from those actually paid, which were applied to the area in each class. The ' assets ' of the grain-rented land were estimated by ascertaining the average annual value of the crops in each class of soil. The revenue demand was raised to 9-6 lakhs.
This settlement was revised between 1896 and 1899, when regard was had to the different rates paid by high-caste and low-caste tenants. Where rents were paid in cash, the recorded rents were used as the basis of assessment. Nearly half of the area included in the holdings of tenants is, however, held on grain-rents, and rates were estimated for this land on the basis of the actual receipts recorded in the village papers. The result was an enhancement to 12-8 lakhs, of which 1-7 lakhs repre- sented the revenue on permanently settled estates. The revenue of the temporarily settled portion of the District amounted to 45 per cent, of the corrected net 'assets,' excluding forests. The incidence is R. 0-9 per acre, varying in different parganas from R. 0-3 to Rs. 1-5. Collec- tions on account of land revenue and revenue from all sources are shown in the table on next page, in thousands of rupees.
The District contains two municipalities, Bahraich and Nanpara , and one ' notified area,' Bhinga. Outside these towns, local affairs are managed by the District board, which in 1903-4 had an income of 1-2 lakhs, of which half was derived from rates. The expenditure was 1 lakh, including Rs. 40,000 spent on roads and buildings.
There are 1 2 police stations ; and the District Superintendent of police has under him a force of 3 inspectors, 74 subordinate officers, and 293 constables, besides 71 municipal and 2,153 rural police. The District jail contained a daily average of 250 prisoners in 1903.
The District takes a medium place as regards the literacy of its popu- lation, of whom 3-1 percent. (6-5 males and o-i females) could read and write in 1901. The number of public schools increased from 94 with 4,425 pupils in 1880-1 to 114 with 4,821 pupils in 1900-1. In 1903-4 there were 166 such schools with 6,694 pupils, of whom 121 were girls. Only 639 pupils had advanced beyond the primary stage. Two schools were managed by Government, and 91 by the District and municipal boards. The total expenditure on education was Rs. 30,000, of which Rs. 22,000 was derived from Local funds, and Rs. 6,000 from fees.
There are 14 hospitals and dispensaries, with accommodation for 88 in-patients. In 1903 the number of cases treated was 111,000, including 877 in-patients, and 4,082 operations were performed. The expenditure in the same year amounted to Rs. 14,000, chiefly met from Local funds.
About 34,000 persons were successfully vaccinated in 1903-4, repre- senting a proportion of 31 per 1,000 of population. Vaccination is compulsory in the municipalities. [P. Harrison, Settlement Report (1901); H. R. Nevill, District Gazetteer (1903).]
