Extracts from the topography and vital statistics of Calcutta : embracing observations on these subjects formed at different periods, and officially submitted to the local authorities / by F.P. Strong.
- Strong, F. P. (Francis Pemble)
- Date:
- [1849?-1852]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Extracts from the topography and vital statistics of Calcutta : embracing observations on these subjects formed at different periods, and officially submitted to the local authorities / by F.P. Strong. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![beard of one respectable countryborn gentleman who with great industry and assiduity cleared an extensive tract of land beyond the lands I have been speaking of : he fell a victim to malaria. Another who has cultivated and cleared a good deal of jangal lands between this place and Tarda, is con- stantly suffering from fever though he visits his grounds only one day at a time, and that only two or three times a month. He employed as an overseer a healthy Portuguese, but he died of fever before he had been there two months. I may here mention as regards fresh water, that this latter cultivator informs me that in March 1827 he dug a tank on a high spot, in which he found a spring perfectly pure which filled a place walled in to retain the water about two feet high, and the water continued at the height, although the two adjoining settlements and all the passengers to the amount of some hundreds went to this well daily, and if it did sink a little in the day it was sure to fill up the following morning. He made it into a tank of 10 cottahs, and it continues to sup- ply all the neighbourhood, who without this would have to go a distance of 10 or ]2 miles for water. He also says that near a village called Narrainpore there is a fresh spring about th ree feet from the surface, but such was the idleness of the villagers that they would not dig a tank; and when he asked them why they did not prefer living upon the higher ground on the river side, they said, they were afraid of being plundered by the boatmen, which is a common occur- rence, and he tells me that no native moodie or merchant dares to settle any where except near a Company’s thannah. This individual says that he finds very generally upon spots a little raised, a simul or cotton tree, which makes him think these parts were formerly inhabited ; and the other gentleman found an old house. I believe that the remains of old tanks are here and there to be found*': upon the whole I have no doubt that if bormg for water in these parts should be found inexpedient or inconvenient, it can be collected and pre- served in tanks, at least as good as such water generally is about Calcutta, so that the want of water should not form an objection to the clearance and ultimate cultivation of these jangals which are so close upon Calcutta. But the boring appears to me to be a preferable mode as being cheaper, more expeditious, and as by going to a much greater depth * Sir ce th’9 period about 100,000 biggahs hove been cultivated, and in all di1 * ct'1 ns the same proofs of former cultivation appears. — Still furtl er | roof ot these lands having been f< rmerly inhubited is now i-vbiev, arid Government have, as encoun-gfMuent to the granges lengthened the leases of many, F. P. S. 1849.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28988048_0046.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
