An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal: And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of GorkhaHamilton, Francis
History
An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal: And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of Gorkha
Hamilton, Francis
Nepal -- Description and travel; Nepal -- History
In the hilly part of the country, much of the cultivation was carried on
by Adhiyars, who gave to the soldier, officer, or Zemindar that employed
them, one half of the produce for rent. Each family of this kind paid a
rupee a year to the Raja. All persons not employed in agriculture
(Sukhvas and Khosvas) paid eight anas for ground-rent, and two anas for
holidays. No casts were exempted.
In the level country the lands were cultivated by tribes, who had little
or no turn for military affairs, and paid a rent in money, which was
collected under the Dewans by Fouzdars, who managed districts (Garhis) by
means of Chaudhuris, who held manors, (Pergunahs,) and under these by
Mokuddums, who held villages, (Gangs.) In some places the word Pergunah
had not been adopted, but the Chaudhuri held the space between two
rivers, which is called a Khari.
Independent of the Dewans was a register called Suduriya, and, wherever
there was a deputy of the Dewan, the register had also a deputy. In
fact, the Mogul system of finance had been completely introduced, while
in the mountains the Hindu system of military tenure seems to have been
more completely retained.
The trial of civil causes was conducted at the capital by four Bicharis,
who appointed a deputy for the jurisdiction under each Subah, and for
each subdivision; and these judges seem to have had a much greater
authority than is usual in Hindu or Muhammedan governments. Under the
Bicharis and their deputies were petty officers, named Duyariyas, who
arrested offenders, and decided petty suits. These were assisted by
Kotwals, or messengers. The reason of the attention paid to suits seems
to have been, that the Raja took one-fourth of all property recovered by
legal process, and allowed the judge a share; of course, the complainant
usually gained the cause. The principal chance which the defendant had
was giving a bribe higher than the share that the judge would legally
receive; but the Raja was a check on this kind of gain.
In the hilly country there were no duties levied, except at custom-houses
placed on the passes towards the plain, or towards the dominions of Lasa.
On the plain there was a vast variety of duties, similar to those now
exacted, and which will be afterwards detailed.
I shall now proceed to consider the present state of this principality,
in the footing on which it has been placed by the Gorkhalese.
In the first place, it has been divided into districts.
The eastern division of the principality, founded by Lohangga, together
with the part of Sikim, and a portion of Thibet, that have been
conquered, are now divided into two districts, (Zilas,) Morang and
Chayenpur, each under the management of a Subah.
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