The dreadful consequences which follow a deficiency of moisture have often been experienced in Hindostan; and the apprehension of these consequences induces the inha bitants to be so extremely anxious respecting the over flowing of the rivers, and the erection of tanks and wells. In Surat, and the neighbouring counties, there was a dread. ful famine in the year 1630. In the year 1661, the famine was almost general throughout the Mogul empire ; but the most destructive was that which occurred in Bengal in the year 1770. The crops of December 1768, and August 1769, were both scanty, and hardly a drop of rain fell in October 1769, which caused an almost total failure of the third crop of rice. The refreshing showers which usually fall between January and May, and on which the interme diate crops of inferior grain depend, also failed : the heat was insufferable. Upper India suffered nearly in an equal degree with Bengal, and consequently could not send any supply of rice. Famine began to appear in November 1769, and before the end of April 1770, rice rose to ten prices, and even then could scarcely be had : the roads and streets were filled with the dead and dying; the inhabi tants fed on forbidden and abhorred animals ; the child on its dead parent, the mother on her child. The number who died in Bengal at this period may be estimated at three millions. In the same year, nearly one half of the Midna poor district of Orissa were swept away by famine. The coast of Coromandel, perhaps, suffers more frequently under this calamity than most other parts of India ; and in an especial manner the Carnatic, in consequence of its sultry climate, sandy soil, and irregular and inadequate supply of water.
In India, the ground under the wet cultivation brings forth crops almost all the year round ; the first crop of rice is gathered in about the- end of August, the second, which is the greatest, early in the end of April. Even on land which is not under the wet cultivation, there are two harvests. Li.heerisf, in September and October, and Rub beef, in March and April. In the province of Agra, the following are the principal articles produced in the spring harvest. Wheat, vetches, barley, adess, a species of lentil, linseed, maaseer, arzewara, a kind of millet, mustard, peas, fenugreek, shaly-kour, a particular kind of rice ; pot herbs, ayewain, an inferior kind of onion-seed, omons, carrots. In the autumn harvest, common sugar-cane,. shaly muskur, common rice, mash, mowng javar, a kind of pea, shamath, a grain resembling poppy seed ; gall, a grain resembling mustard; hederissa, sesame, a grain of which oil is made ; tureyab, a small grain resembling mustard; turmeric, wa ter melons, pot-herbs, moroth, lisclerah, arzan, a kind of kor.e, indigo, cotton. The average produce of the spring harvest is about three maunds one seer; a m .und is about 74 lbs. and a half ; and a seer nearly 2 lbs.; and me average produce of the autumn harvest is about 3 maunds 6 Secr per begah. This is the common pro duce ol land in the Company's service. Hence it appears that the produce of the two harvests is about 25 maulds 24 seers per acre,or nearly four quarters. Besides the grain, /cc. above enumerated, there are-cultivated on those lands which have a regular spring and autumn harvest, bhootsh, which flowers in July, and is reaped in August and Sep tember ; congree, panicuat italicum, which flowers the end of July ; inurhua, the raggy of Mysore, natcheny in the Carhatie, and maud or mal, in the upper provinces; cyno surus coracanus; bagira, holcus spicatus, this is reaped in both harvests ; beertia. a species of panicum ; these be
long to the autumn harvest. In the spring harvest, chan nah, ciccr arietinum ; torr, or arber, cytysus cajan ; this is sown -during the rains mixed with the javar ; and when that crop is reaped, it stands till the wheat harvest.
It will be seen hum this account ol the different kinds of produce in the spring and autumn harvests, that in the latter arc reaped most of the European grains. As it would carry us Iar beyond our limits, we shall, in our !la ther notice of the agrirulture of Ilindostan, confine our selves to such articles as are known in Europe, beginning with those which arc most generally cultivated in that quar ter of the world.
Wheat is principally cultivated in Hindostan Proper, and in one or two provinces of the Decan ; but the climate to the south of the Decan is much too hot for it ; nor in deed is there much demand for it, in consequence of rice being the favourite and almost universal food of all classes in Hindostan. From Allahab.td to the frontiers on the north, wheat is the principal object of the farmer's atten tion. It is sown on the sandy loafs, which are ploughed once, about the commencement of the rainy season in June. After the rain ceases, it is ploughed repeatedly again, sometimes fifteen times. In September or Octo tober it is sown. When the dry season begins, it must be watered : it requires four bullocks and three men to water an acre in nine days. The average crop is estimated at fifteen inaunds per begah, or seven quarters per acre. In the Benares district of Allahabad, the Ryots, or husband men, are very industrious in the labour they bestow on their wheat and other crops. It is not unusual for them co plough by moonlight, and for some crops they plough the land forty times. Barley, peas, oil cakes, and a plant affording a yellow dye, arc often mixed with the wheat in .\llahabad : the last is generally planted at the distance of six or ten feet. The wheat of the province of Bahar, espe that part of it which is watered by the Gant:es, Soane, Zee. is of a superior quality to that which is usually grown in India : that perhaps of the worst quality is grown in the Dinagepoor district of Bengal. The flour produced from it is very dark, and scarcely saleable among Europeans. Cluzerat is famous not only for the quantity, but also the quality ol the wheat it produces, especially on the rich black soil near \Vurgaum. From this province the F.uro neans.in Bombay are principally supplied with wheat. Bar icy is a most abundant crop in all the upper districts of In where it is made into thin cakes by the natives. 'March and April are the harvest months for barley, and the grainy, Etc. which are almost always sown in tne same field with them. As there is a very great and almost uni versal demand for vegetable oil among the natives of Hin dostan, such plants as produce it arc cultivated most abun dantly in both harvests, mixed with other crops. Flax and mustard are generally •own along with wheat and barley for this purpose ; and as they ripen first, they are pulled from among the wheat and barley. The latter are reaped together; but are necessarily much injured by pulling out' the flax and mustard, and still more so when the plant affording the yellow dye is also sown in the same field. The produce of these grains is also diminished by their being often permitted to stand till they are over-ripe. In some parts of Itindostan Proper, where pasture for cattle is scarce and bad, the wheat and barley straw will sell for as much as will pay the rent.