THE INDIAN CENSUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 272, 15 November 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE INDIAN CENSUS.

The total population of British India, according to a statistical abstract issued by the India Office, is 294,360,356. This is an increase of 7,136,925 on the census of 189 L Unfortunately the_ increase is only to be found in British territory, for in the Native states there Is a decline of 3,585,938. This is undoubtedly due to the plag-ue and famine. For instance, in Baroda the population last year was 944,----058, whereas in 1891 it was 2,415,396. Equally startling are the figures in the Rajputana agency—namely, 4,619,055, as against 12,016,102, and in the Bombay states, 6,908, 648 against 8,059,298. Indeed, the difference per cent, in the native states between the two periods shows a decline of 5.43, the population of 1891 being 66,047,487, while in 1901 it is recorded as 62,461,549. In British territory the increase is 4.85 per cent. The largest towns are Calcutta, with a population of 1,026,987; Bombay, 776,006 (a decline of 45,758 on the register of IS9I, due mainly to plague); and Madras, 509,----846.

The number of persons killed in 1900 by tigers was 943, and those bitten by snakes was 22,391, but the latter figure cannot be relied upon, for the reason that relatives frequently poison an undesirable member of the family and. register the death as due to "snake-bite." The number of wild beasts destroyed was 17,250, and the slayers received "rewards" amounting to 104,097 rupeees. No fewer . than .87,910 snakes were killed, the financial recognition totalling 3,218 rupees. In this case also, however, the rewards were found to give rise to a flourishing and profitable industry in snake rearing.