VARSINGHPUR. 221 much on one side as almost to cover one eye, or, what appears to be the Gond fashion, a turban composed of innuinerable folds of cloth twisted like a rope. Their dress seldom matches their pretensions, and some of the oldest Rajás and Thákurs might be taken for poor peasants. It is true that titles of honour are so common as to have lost much of their significance. There is in Narsinghpur neither the strictness of ritual nor the social rigidity which prevail in Hindustan Proper. Among Brahmans, the Kanaujias still inaintain their traditions; but the Sanoriás, who take a high rank in Upper Inclia, in Narsinghpur are very lax, forming connections with women of other castes, and neglecting the neceties of Hindu ritual. Toni'n and Rural Population.—There were, in 1881, only 2 towns in Narsinghpur District with a population exceeding 5000-VARSINGHPUR, the District capital (population, 10,222), and GADARWARA (8100). Besides the above, three other towns have been created inunicipalities, namely, KAURIA (population, 3295), TEXDUKHERA (2977), and ChhindWARA (3519). These five towns disclose a total urban population of 28,113, or 797 per cent. of the District population. Total inunicipal income (1882–83), £2877, of which £2456 was derived from direct taxation, mainly octroi duties; average incidence of taxation, is. 8 d. per head of the town population. Of the 982 minor villages, 462 contain less than two hundred inhabitants ; 328 from two to five hundred; 137 from five hundred to a thousand; 44 from one thousand to two thousand; 1o from two to three thousand; and 1 from three to five thousand. The male population is thus divided according to occupation (1) Professional class, including civil and military, 3912 ; (2) domestic servants, inn and lodging-house keepers, etc., 2991; (3) commercial class, including bankers, merchants, traders, and carriers, 3039; (4) agricultural and pastoral class, including gardeners, 68,702 ; (5) industrial and manufacturing class, 34,054 ; (6) indefinite and nonproductive, comprising general labourers, male children, and persons of no specified occupation, 73,937. Agriculture.-Out of the total area of 1916 square miles, 994 square miles are cultivated, and of the portion lying waste, 230 square miles are returned as cultivable, and 692 square miles as uncultivable waste ; 485 acres are irrigated, entirely by private enterprise. Wheat forms the staple crop of the District, occupying (in 1881) 269,674 acres; 20,375 acres were devoted to rice, and 279,947 to other food - grains, while sugar - cane was grown on 2059 acres, oil-seeds on 20,550 acres, and cotton on 37,503 acres. Most of the cotton is produced, not on the so-called black cotton-soil, but on the light undulating lands near the banks of rivers and nálás. The out-turn of wheat from average land is about 420 lbs. per acre ; of rice, 400 lbs.; of inferior grain, 455 lbs. ; of sugar (gúr), 560 lbs.; of cleaned cotton, I
