ABSTRACT
The inquiries referred to in paragraph 158 were carried on to remedy the confusion in lots 217, 218, and 219. In fact they formed but a portion of the large subject of encroachments on the Sundarban lands to which Uma Kanta Babu’s attention was directed in 1844. Uma Kanta Babu holding that Mr. Stopford had no authority to settle the chaks, and finding there were more lands than that officer had assessed, went beyond his instructions and concluded fresh settlements of the chaks according to the survey. The lands were assessed at the Sundarban rate of 8 annas per 40-yard bigha. The Raja of Jessore objected to that rate on the ground that the lands had been resumed as invalid lakhiraj and not as Sundarban land, but his plea was disallowed, since they fell inside the lots. The settlements were made with the parties in occupation as jangalburi abadkars.
