A History of Assam c23.54

c23.54

Sylhet was included in the permanent settlement carried out in Bengal in 1793, but it differed from all other districts, except Chittagong, in that the settlement was made after measurement, and was effected, not with the zamindars, but with the superior raiyats or middlemen. There are thus many more estates than elsewhere; and considerable areas, which were then waste, were not included in any permanently settled estate. Most of these areas, or *ilām* (proclaimed) lands, have since been brought under cultivation, and have been surveyed and settled on various occasions. The area dealt with in the settlement effected in 1902, including Pertābgarh and certain small tenures of a similar status but different origin, was about 160,000 acres. On its expiry in 1922 a new settlement on the soil-unit system was taken in hand. This is exclusive of the Jaintia parganas which, though they form part of the Sylhet district, have a revenue history more nearly akin to that of Cachar. These parganas have been settled at different times for varying terms. Here also the soil-unit system has now been introduced in a twenty years' settlement dating from 1918. The rates per *bigha* vary from 1 to 2 annas for waste land, from 2 to 9 annas for cultivation, and from 4 to 12 annas for homestead.