of these endowments is generally estranged from the purposes to
which it was originally devoted, and enjoyed by persons who
have no claim to it. He seems to have considered that these
endowments also were applicable to purposes of education but
the reasons of the opinion are not given. The statements were
prepared from the public registries of land and I subjoin them
entire, noticing here only their general results. These are that in
twenty-two pergunnahs there are 8,348 beeghas, besides 39
separate mouzahs or villages of dewottur lands; 16,331 beeghas
of nazar lands; 5,086 beeghas of chiraghi lands and 1,015
beeghas of pirottur lands. In fifteen other pergunnahs that had
been then recently transferred from the district of Moorshedabad
to that of Beerbhoom, there are 1,934 beeghas of dewottur and
162 of pirottur lands, making the whole amount 32,877 beeghas
of land, besides 39 villages. I have added to the statements a
brief explanation of the distinctive terms employed to describe
the different sorts of endowed lands; and I have recorded these
endowments in this place because they were in some way
connected in the mind of the acting Agent and Collector with the
means existing in the district for the promotion of education; but
I would not be understood to express a concurrence in the
opinion, if it was entertained, that their application to such a
purpose could be rendered legally obligatory. As far as I can
ascertain from the terms employed to describe them, they are
religious endowments. With the voluntary consent of the
holders, they are, as I understand, capable of being applied to
promote education when viewed as a religious duty; but without
that consent it would be unjust to employ them for such a
purpose, and it would also be imprudent by the employment of
questionable means in pursuit of a great public object, such as
national education, to rouse the religious feelings of the country
against it.
RAJSHAHY: (pp.103-104)
There is no doubt that in this district there are several
schools of Hindoo learning, but I find no mention of any of them
except two which are supported by an allowance from
government. In June, 1813, the Collector of Rajshahy forwarded
to the Revenue Board a petition from Kassessur Bachusputy,
Govindram Sirhat, and Hurram Surma Buttacharjee, stating
that their father had received from Rani Bhawani an allowance
of 90 rupees per annum for the support of a college, which
allowance on the decease of their father had been continued to
their elder brother till his decease; and that since the date of
that event they