Bengal District Gazetteers: Puri Volume 40th

Due to the very old age and scarcity of this book, some pages are missing and may be hard to read due to the blurring of the original text. The present volume gives a detailed description of the district of Midnapur. It was published in 1911. It states that Midnapur is the largest and most populous of the Bengal regulation districts. The Gazetteer provides valuable information about its boundaries, configurations, natural divisions, Geology, Botany, Zoology, wild animals, and game birds. It tells about the growth of population, religious gatherings, amusements and village customs. It informs about the public health, prevailing diseases, infirmities and vaccinations. It also lists various medical institutions of the region. The volume elaborates upon agriculture, irrigation— waterlifts usage, principal crops, miscellaneous products, and extension of cultivation. The author has described about various canals of the region, embankments, and drainage system.Cyclone and floods were the main natural calamities that had hit the region.Chief occupations of the people were mining, silkweaving, tusserweaving, matmaking, cotton and woolweaving, and salt trade.During those days, education of Muhammadans, education of Santals and girls’ education were emphasized.