The History of Bengal (Vol. I: Hindu Period; Vol. II: Muslim Period 1200–1757) v1.c19.s6.18

v1.c19.s6.18

Here we may notice a significant fact about some of the units of land-measure mentioned above. As already suggested, the term hala or hāla originally meant an area of land which could be cultivated by one plough. It has also been suggested that the term kulyavāpa originally signified an extent of land which could be sown with seeds contained in a kulya (winnowing basket). Other terms such as droṇavāpa (or its shorter form, droṇa) and āḍhavāpa (or āḍhaka) may be etymologically explained along similar lines. These terms of land-measure, therefore, seem to originate from the practical methods used in cultivation, and bear witness to the important fact that the rural economy of ancient Bengal was essentially agricultural, not pastoral.