’Nothing.  There is more water for my five bighas, and I give them what they require gratis; they acknowledge that it is a gift from me, and that is all I want.’

’And what does the land beyond the range of your water of the same quality pay?’

’It pays at the rate of two rupees the bigha, and it is with difficulty that they can be made to pay that.  Water, sir, is a great thing, and with that and manure we get good crops from the land.’[11]

‘How many returns of the seed?’

’From these twenty bighas with six waterings, and cross ploughing, and good manure, we contrive to get twenty returns; that is, if God is pleased with us and blesses our efforts.’

’And you maintain your family comfortably out of the return from your five?’

’If they were mine I could; but we had two or three bad seasons seven years ago, and I was obliged to borrow eighty rupees from our banker at 24 per cent., for the subsistence of my family.  I have hardly been able to pay him the interest with all I can earn by my labour, and I now serve him upon two rupees a month.’

‘But that is not enough to maintain you and your family?’

’No; but he only requires my services for half the day, and during the other half I work with others to get enough for them.’

‘And when do you expect to pay off your debt?’

’God only knows; if I exert myself, and keep a good “niyat” (pure mind or intentions), he will enable me or my children to do so some day or other.  In the meantime he has my five bighas of land in mortgage, and I serve him in the cultivation.’

’But under those misfortunes, you could surely venture to demand something from the proprietors of the other fifteen bighas for the water of your well?’

’Never, sir; it would be said all over the country that such an one sold God’s water for his neighbours’ fields, and I should be ashamed to show my face.  Though poor, and obliged to work hard, and serve others, I have still too much pride for that.’

’How many bullocks are required for the tillage of these twenty bighas watered from your well?’

’These eight bullocks do all the work; they are dear now.  This was purchased the other day on the death of the old one, for twenty-six rupees.  They cost about fifty rupees a pair—­the late famine has made them dear.’[12]

‘What did the well cost in making?’

’I have heard that it cost about one hundred and twenty rupees; it would cost about that sum to make one of this kind in the present day, not more.’

’How long have the families of your caste been settled in these parts?’

’About six or seven generations; the country had before been occupied by a peasantry of the Kalar caste.  Our ancestors came, built up mud fortifications, dug wells, and brought the country under cultivation; it had been reduced to a waste; for a long time we were obliged to follow the plough with our swords by our sides, and our friends around us with their matchlocks in their hand, and their matches lighted.’