Question

Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

On clearance and settled cultivation Passing through one village in the lower Rajmahal hills, Buchanan wrote:      The view of the country is exceedingly fine, the cultivation, especially the narrow valleys of rice winding in all directions, the cleared lands with scattered trees, and the rocky hills are in perfection; all that is wanted is some appearance of progress in the area and a vastly extended and improved cultivation, of which the country is highly susceptible. Plantations of Asan and Palas, for Tessar (Tassar silk worms) and Lac, should occupy the place of woods to as great an extent as the demand will admit; the remainder might be all cleared and the greater part cultivated, while what is not fit for the purpose might rear Plamira (palmyra) and Mowa (mahua).

1. How did Buchanan describe the view of the lower Rajmahal hills? (1)
2. Why did Buchanan believe that the area had high potential for improved cultivation? (1)
3. How did Buchanan propose utilising the land for economic benefits? (2)

Answer 1

1. Buchanan portrayed the lower Rajmahal hills as extremely attractive, marked by narrow valleys under rice cultivation, cleared stretches of land with scattered trees, and scenic rocky hills. His description highlights the area’s natural beauty along with signs of existing agricultural use within a largely underutilised landscape.
2. He felt that the region had great scope for agricultural improvement due to its fertile valleys and vast land area. According to Buchanan, with organised clearing and planned development, the land could yield much higher agricultural output.
3. Buchanan suggested replacing natural forests with plantations of asan and palas trees to promote tussar silk and lac production. He also recommended that less suitable land be used for growing palmyra and mahua trees, thereby increasing the area’s economic potential through commercial cultivation and forest-based products.