The family of Dursun Sing, like good landholders in all parts of Oude, assigned small patches of land to substantial cultivators, merchants, shopkeepers, and others, whom it is useful to retain in their estates, for the purpose of planting small groves of mango and other trees, as local ties.  They prepare the well and plant the trees, and then make over the land to a gardener or other good cultivator, to be tilled for his own profit, on condition that he water the trees, and take care to preserve them from frost during the cold season, and from rats, white ants, and other enemies; and form terraces round them, where the water lies much on the surface during the rains, so that it may not reach and injure the bark.  The land yields crops till the trees grow large and cover it with their shade, by which time they are independent of irrigation, and begin to bear fruit.  The crops do not thrive under the shade of the trees, and the lands they cover cease to be of any value for tillage.  The stems and foliage of the trees, no doubt, deprive the crops of the moisture, carbonic gas and ammonia, they require from the atmosphere.  They are, generally, watered from six to ten years.  These groves form a valuable local tie for the cultivators and other useful tenants.  No man dare to molest them or their descendants, in the possession of their well and grove, without incurring, at least, the odium of society; and, according to their notion, the anger of their gods.

The cultivators always point out to them, in asserting their rights to the lands they hold; and reside and cultivate in the village, under circumstances that would drive them away, had they no such ties to retain them.  They feel a-great pride in them; and all good landlords feel the same in having their villages filled with tenants who have such ties.

December 21, 1849.—­Bhurteepoor, ten miles, almost all the way through the estate of Maun Sing.  No lands could be better cultivated than they are all the way, or better studded with groves and beautiful single trees.  The villages and hamlets along the road are numerous, and filled with cultivators of the gardener and other good classes, who seem happy and contented.  The season has been favourable, and the crops are all fine, and of great variety.  Sugar-cane abounds, but no mills are, as yet, at work.  We passed through, and by three or four villages, that have been lately taken from Maun Sing, and made over to farmers by the local authorities, under instructions from Court; but they are not so well cultivated, as those which he retains.  The cultivators and inhabitants generally do not appear to enjoy the same protection or security in the engagements they make.  The soil is everywhere good, the water near the surface, and the climate excellent.  The soil is here called doomuteea, and adapted to all kinds of tillage.