1 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
2 Y ,
3 REVIEW BY SECTIONS. extraction of salt, further sanctioned the payment to the Khar-
4 PACHBADRBA.
5 Results of ecleavanees of
6 heape.
7 wals of a bonus of 3 pies per maund on all salt extracted by
8 them on ‘or before the 15th January 1894. The concession
9 ona further representation was extended to the end ‘of Feb-
10 ruary. ‘These concessions—though I do not think they covered
11 the losses in salt dissolved which the Kharwals sustained
12 by extracting salt while the brine in the pits was weak and
13 percolation of weak brine into the pits so very active as it was
14 until quite up to the end of March — were substantial encourage-
15 ments to them to work, and it is mainly owing to the induce-
16 ment given by these concessions that over 6 lakhs of maunds
17 of salt were extracted and issued to the trade during December
18 to March; that no break occurred on the exhaustion of old
19 stock in the issue of salt to the trade; and that, though the
20 supply of salt to the public bristled with difficulties, the
21 enormous uncleared balance of rawannahs amounting to over
22 44 lakhs of maunds was cleared off and current demands
23 met.”
24 “ Before the year closed Rs. 5,988 were paid as bonuses
25 to the Kharwals. The amount set out in this way seems large ;
26 but though the bonus was a substantial encouragement to the
27 Kharwals, it cannot be said that it represents extra profits to
28 them, as to earn that bonus they lost from one-third to one-
29 fourth of the salt in their pits, as it was extracted while the
30 brine was so weak and percolation so very active. I am con-
31 fident I have not over-estimated the losses of the Kharwals in
32 salt dissolved, as though water was drawn off night and day
33 until the pits were emptied of salt, the close of extraction found
34 the brine in the pits from 16° to 22°B. and from 3 to 4 feet in
35 depth. To give two extreme instances of the amount of salt
36 dissolved and lost :—Pit No. 143 in Hiragarh, one of the big-
37 gest in the tract, estimated to contain not less than 25,000
38 maunds, produced only 12,465 maunds, and is, as I write, full
39 of weak brine, and Pit No. 147, estimated to contain 12,000
40 maunds, produced only 3,000 maunds. These are certainly
41 extreme cases ; but they show that my estimate of loss amounting
42 to from one-third to one-fourth is not too high. Loss of salt was
43 not the only loss the Kharwals sustained, for as labour doub-
44 led in value, the cost of extracting the salt doubled. Extrac-
45 tion and storage labour, which in previous years cost from
46 3 to 4 annas per man per diem, had to be paid at 7 to 8
47 annas. Before the year closed Rs. 2,733-2-10 were paid for
48 drawing off water from the pits. Though the work in the
49 exceptional circumstances of the year had to be paid for at
50 more than double what it would have cost in other years, too
51 much was not paid, as is proved by the fact that in every
52 instance the Kharwals jaid something out of their own
53 pockets over and above what the Department paid to induce the
54 people employed to draw off water by bullock-power to work
55 vigorously. Owing to the prevalence of epidemics of fever
56 and chest complaints and the richness of the wheat cultiva-
57 tion of the year, labour even. at fancy prices could not be
58 obtained in sufficient quantity. Doing the utmost possible
59 under the circumstances, only sufficient salt to meet the current
60 demand has been extracted.”
61 The following summary shows the result of clearances of
62 heaps of salt during the year. It will be seen that ultimately
63 the Kharwals or pit owners receive their dues upon all the
64 _valt that is extracted and storéd, though in the first instance
65 (80 }