6 to 8. Boys are said to be kept at school generally no longer
than 2 years in which time they are expected to have attained all
that they are desired to acquire, that is a certain degree of
knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic in which they are
afterwards to improve themselves by practice at home, in a shop,
or in a public office. The only schools which can be denominated
public in this district are the charity schools at Cuddapah,
supported by the European gentlemen of the place. There are no
schools or colleges for instruction in the Sciences. Theology, Law
and Astronomy are taught privately, the pupils residing in the
houses of their preceptors. Besides the instruction afforded in
the schools to those whose parents are able to pay for it, it is
also given gratuitously in many places by Bramins to those of
their own caste who have no other means of obtaining it—young
Bramins for the sake of receiving instruction in this way, leave
their homes and wait upon the preceptor in his own village,
where they are supported by the daily charity of the Bramins
residing in it.
Chingleput:
There are no colleges properly so called in this district but
there are a few places in which the higher branches of learning
are taught to a small number of pupils—a village school master
earns from 3½ to 12 rupees per month—the average is not more
than 7 rupees. It does not appear that any allowance was made
by the Native Governments for the promotion of education but in
some villages there are trifling mauniums from a quarter of a
Cawny to 2 Cawnies of land for Theological teachers.
N.D. Arcot:
Of the 69 colleges in this district it appears by a separate
statement No.2 submitted by the Principal Collector that 43 are
for Theology, 24 for Law, etc., and 2 for Astronomy; 28 of these
colleges are supported by mauniums and marahs granted by
former governments yielding rupees 516 per annum—The
allowance to each teacher for the lower class is rupees 3-8- per
annum and for the higher class rupees 36-12-. Of the rest the
greater number are free of charge and a few are supported by
trifling contributions from the scholars. The period of attendance
at the colleges is from 8 to 12 years. Of the Hindoo schools only
3 are free of charge. The rest are supported by payments from
the scholars varying from 1 anna 3 pice per mensem to 1 rupee
12 annas. Of the Persian schools 6 are maintained at the public
expense at a yearly charge of rupees 1,361. The greater