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[Page 7]
The Ahmood Purgunah, though very small, abounds with water, that the inhabitants are never at a loss to assist the vegetation when it requires and this is the only cause why this district distinguishes itself in fine cotton from it neighbours.
The soil consist of a heavy clay, and the higher grounds always ploughed as soon the planters are enabled to plough it. The seeds is then immediately put into the ground promiscuously at the depth of 3 inches into narrow furrows, about 3 feet the furrows from each other: which the subsequent rains cover. The planters having intersown and interplanted the proposed grain, give themselves no further concern about it, till it begins to pod, which is about five months after, from the time they had sown it; and this is the period when they assist the vegetation with water, which they perform very simply, for, as all the reservoirs of water are elevated above all the plantations, the watering is executed by simply opening one of the banks of the reservoirs, and to lead the water in narrow channels to the adjacent plantation. In some Purgunah they have draw wells constructed in the curves of the river from whence they lead the water to the distant plantation in a temporary trough, made either of wood, or earthen tiles.
The Tanks, and other reservoirs are so constructed, and calculated, as to contain a sufficient quantity of water for two watering, which are either filled by the rains, or by the freshes when they are at their utmost height. The last watering occurs here commonly in the beginning of December, this is about 3 weeks before the wool begins to be gathered in, they have then nothing further to do with it, than to guard it from the invasion of the coolys, and Beals, which inhabit the other side of the river Myhie.
The lower grounds are likewise ploughed in at the beginning of the rains, but are suffered to lay so unemployed till the greater parts of the rains are over, this is about the month of August, when they then sow the seeds of cotton with other grain at the same distance as the former.
This cotton being sown