Page:Calcutta Review Vol. II (Oct. - Dec. 1844).pdf/324

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in bengal and behar.
319

Now, here are several castes, the members of which were by the customs of society formerly wholly debarred from the benefit of instruction in letters; but the above enumeration shows that some individuals of those castes have even become instructors of others. The following presents, at one view, a comparison of the number of Kayastha teachers with those of other castes:—

Moorshedabad, total teachers 67; Writer caste 39; Other castes 28
Beerbhoom total teachers 412; Writer caste 256; Other castes 156
Burdwan total teachers 639; Writer caste 369; Other castes 270
South Behar total teachers 285; Writer caste 278; Other castes 7
Tirhoot total teachers 80; Writer caste 77; Other castes 3

In the Bengal districts Mr. Adam ascertained that about twenty in all gave their instructions gratuitously, as they had other and independent means of support; in the Behar districts, not one. In some of the former instances, however, it appeared that, though no fixed payment was received, either in the form of monthly wages or of fees, presents were accepted at the periods of the great annual festivals and other occasions. Very nearly the whole of the teachers therefore earn their livelihood by teaching, being regularly paid for their professional services. Bearing in mind that presents, whether monthly, yearly, or occasionally, consist of rice, fish, salt, oil, vegetables, cooking utensils, tobacco, clothes, &c., the following enumeration will present at once to the eye a tabulated view of the exceedingly varied, or rather grotesquely diversified ways in which the teachers are remunerated. As a specimen, we select the case of Tirhoot. In that district the number of vernacular teachers is eighty, whose pedagogal labours are thus rewarded:—

1 receives monthly wages only Rs. 0 10 0
3 ditto ditto fees only Rs. 0 14 0
1 ditto ditto subsistence-money only Rs. 1 4 9
1 ditto ditto monthly wages and uncooked food Rs. 2 8 0
1 ditto ditto wages and subsistence-money Rs. 2 0 0
6 ditto ditto fees and subsistence-money Rs. 9 2 6
1 ditto ditto fees and weekly presents Rs. 0 4 6
9 ditto ditto fees and annual presents Rs. 9 10 6
1 ditto ditto weekly presents and annual presents Rs. 2 11 9
2 ditto ditto monthly wages, uncooked food, and subsistence-money Rs. 2 4 0
3 ditto ditto fees, uncooked food, and subsistence-money Rs. 3 4 0
1 ditto ditto fees, uncooked food, and annual presents Rs. 0 8 0
4 ditto ditto fees, subsistence-money, and weekly presents Rs. 4 10 0
1 ditto ditto wages, subsistence-money, and annual presents Rs. 3 4 3
11 ditto ditto fees, subsistence-money, and annual presents Rs. 30 3 3

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