ORCHHA STATE
245
Population has been: (1881) 311,514, (1891) 333,020, and (r9oi)
32x,634. An increase of 7 per cent. was recorded in the period
x881-9r, but during the last decade the total fell by 3 per cent.,
owing mainly to the severity of the famine of x896-7. The density
is 155 persons per square mile. The State contains one town, TIKAM-
GARH (population, x4,050), the capiial; and 706 villages, most of which
are very small. Hindus number 306,347, or 95 per cent.; Musalmans,
8,248; Jains, 5,884; Animists, 11,155. The prevailing language is
Bundelkhandi, spoken by 94 per cent. of the population. About 40
per cent. of the inhabitants are supported by agriculture and 23 per
cent. by general labour.
The chief castes are Chamars, 36,300, or r r per cent.; Kachhis,
25,goo, or 8 per cent.; Brahmans, 23,200, or 7 per cent.; Lodhis,
22,400, or 7 per cent. ; Dhimars, 15,6oo, or 5 per cent. ; and Chhatris,
including Bundela and other Rajputs, 15,200, or 5 per cent. The
other castes are of minor importance.
The soil of Orchha is nowhere of very high fertility, the greater
part of the country being covered with the red and yellow soils common
to the gneissic area. Here and there intrusive dikes of trap have given
deposits of a richer black soil. The people distinguish a large number
of varieties. The principal are mota, the loamy soil found in the in-
trusive dikes; kdbar, a brown soil, but of a lighter quality; jarua,
a yellow loam; and rcinkar, a rocky soil strewn with boulders. The
best soil is found in the Tahrauli jargana to the north. The usual
systems of cultivation prevailing in Bandelkhand are followed. The
cultivators are assisted by grants of grain and money at the beginning
of the sowing season, the State taking a commission of 25 per cent. in
kind on seed given, and of 12 per cent. on cash loans. Of the total
area, 11,614 square miles, or 78 per cent., are khdlsa (State land), while
466 square miles have been alienated in grants (jdgirs). About 994
square miles are cultivated, of which 232 square miles are irrigated. Of
the uncultivated area of 1,086 square miles, 166 square miles are
covered with forest, 6ox square miles are cultivable, and the rest is un-
cultivable waste. Pasture land is ample, but no special breeds of cattle
are raised. jowar occupies 94 square miles, or 9 per cent. ; rice, 76
square miles, or 8 per cent. ; barley, 711 square miles, or 7 per cent. ; til,
70 square miles, or 7 per cent. ; gram, 57 square miles, or 6 per cent. ;
wheat, 47 square miles, or 5 per cent.; and pulses, 29 square miles,
or 3 per cent.
Irrigation is confined to the spring crops and garden produce, and
water is obtained from tanks, or raised from wells by the Persian wheel.
It is a common practice to have the watering done by contract, one-
third of the produce of the land being given in payment. Wages for
agricultural work are paid in kind, 2 to 3 seers of grain being given to
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