g villages in
ticka, or farm, by far the best and cheapest plan that has ever been
resorted to for the cultivation of indigo.

When the planter cultivates the ground himself, it is called in
Tirhoot _Zerant_ cultivation. _Zerants_, or _Neiz_, are taken on a
pottah or lease for five years, at the average rent of three rupees
per biggah. The heavy cost attending this cultivation has occasioned
its decrease in most factories in Tirhoot and particularly since the
fall in prices. About a third, I believe, was the proportion it
formerly bore to the whole cultivation of the district, but of late
such factories only have retained it as cannot procure sufficient
good land under the Assamewar system; but now that the plan of
taking villages in farm is becoming more and more prevalent here, it
is very likely that Zerants will be entirely abandoned. From all the
information I have been able to collect, the cost of a biggah of
Zerant (ten feet luggie) may be estimated at sixteen rupees; that of
Assamewar is generally twenty-five per cent. less, both exclusive of
interest, agents' charges, and private expenses.

It can only be the reluctance of the ryot to cultivate indigo that
induces a manufacturer to grow it himself, for it has been found an
expensive plan, profitable only when the dye is at its highest rate,
and even then scarcely furnishing an adequate return. They not only
could not cultivate so cheaply as the native laboring husbandman,
but ordinarily had to engage extensive tracts of land, much of
which was not suitable for their purpose, or, perhaps, for any
other, and consequently, although the average rate of rent was even
low on the whole, it constituted a very heavy charge on the portion
from which they obtained their return.

In Oude there are three systems of obtaining a supply of the plant,
viz., _Kush Kurreea_, _Bighowty_, and _Nij_; but the latter is a
mere trifle in proportion to the others, and is, therefore, not
worth mentioning. On the _Bighowty_ system, which prevails chiefly
in the Meerut and Mooradabad districts, the planter advances for a
biggah of _Jumowah_ (irrigated sowings) nine rupees, and for a
biggah of _Assaroo_ (rain sowings) five rupees four annas. The next
year's plant, or _khoonti_, becomes his on an additional payment of
eight annas per biggah. He also