Abstract

Vizagapatam is the largest district in India and the most thickly populated, as far as the coastal tracts are concerned, in this Presidency. Its people are strong, hardy and prolific, and its land presents a most interesting variety of conditions. Emigration is a most marked feature, however, and large numbers move yearly into the deltaic tracts of Godaveri and Krishna, and across to Rangoon for work in the Burmese rice fields. Most of this emigration is due to a desire to evade the clutches of the money lenders, mainly Komatis and Marwaris who are the only agricultural bankers in this Presidency. Reference may be made to the District Manual for accredited instances of the most exorbitant rates. In one case a ryot 50 years ago borrowed Rs 20. He paid back Rs. 50 in instalments, worked the whole of his life and died in harness. His son took on this debt and he too worked for the whole of his life, eventually dying in bondage and leaving two small sons whose services were also claimed for an alleged arrear of Rs. 3. Co-operative credit, could it become established, should do much to make such cases impossible.

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