ABSTRACT
A tea company obtained a higher type of rice, known on the Calcutta market as ‘Jhabra,’ for their coolies. This was white and polished, but shortly afterward the coolies complained of it as not being as satisfying as the commoner grade. In the first place the amount of rice is greater; a coolie in full work in Assam eats normally about 12 chitaks of rice per day only, or 22 seers 8 chitaks per month of thirty days. In other respects the diet is fairly closely followed except that potatoes are only used at certain times of the year, their place being much more normally taken by potherbs, or other vegetables which are often available. Thus it may be said that the dietary represents, except in the matter of rice, almost the normal standard of food for a coolie in Upper Assam in respect to quantity.
