124


ADMINISTRATION   OF   THE    LANP.
Rates  and
amount  of
the  Land
Revenue.
holders  of  property;  64,545,  or  117  per  cent,  of  their  numbers
being  included  under  this  head.  The  Kshatriyas  have  3'1
per  cent.  The  Chetties,  who  have  their  capital  mostly
laid  out  in  trade,  have  only  0"5  per  cent.  The  Vellalers,  or
cultivating  castes,  have  only  1"6  per  cent.,  but  many  of  these  are
wealthy,  though  they  hold  their  lands  only  on  ryotwari  tenure.
The  writer,  or  accountant  castes  are  considerable  holders  of
property  in  the  districts  of  Vizagapatam  and  Tanjore,  where
22-4  and  31*4  per  cent,  respectively  of  their  numbers  are  so
classed.
(c). — The  Collection  op  the  Revenue.
It  is  impossible  to  exhibit,  with  any  approach  to  accuracy,  the
ratio  of  the  Imperial  Land  Revenue  to  the  actual  gross  produce
of  the  whole  country  and  the  net  assets  of  land.  No  information
exists  as  to  the  actual  gross  produce  of  lands  paying  land  revenue
to  Government,  nor  is  it  possible  to  collect  such  information.
