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 parts west from the river Kali, almost the whole revenue, whether
on the mountains or plains, being reserved under the immediate management
of the prince, a fuller establishment was necessary; and that which
existed under the petty chiefs, entirely resembled what is described by
the late Mr Grant, Sereshtahdar of Bengal, as the proper Mogul system.
The actual cultivators, or farmers as they would be termed in England,
only they all occupied very small farms, were called Zemindars, and were
very moderately assessed. In Almora, (and the other estates did not
materially differ,) the rent was fixed by the Visi, which, on an average,
may be taken at 10 Calcutta bigas, or 3-1/5 English acres; but the Visis
varied a good deal in size, especially in such as were exempted from
assessment, which were in general much larger than such as paid it. The
extent of 10 bigas for the Visi is chiefly applicable to the latter. The
rent was paid partly in kind, partly in money. Each Visi in October paid
28 sers of clean rice, (Calcutta weight,) 4 sers of the pulse called
Urid, and 2 sers of Ghiu or oil: in May it paid 28 sers of wheat, 4 sers
of Urid, and 2 of Ghiu: in August it paid one rupee in money. On each of
the two holidays called Dasahara, there was besides a kid offered to the
sovereign for every 10 Visis. The possessions of a convenient number of
Zemindars formed a gram or gang, and one of them held the hereditary
office of Pradhan, entirely analogous to the Umra of the eastern parts.
The Pradhan was allowed a deduction of rent, and enjoyed some honourable
distinctions, and, when the heir was in any manner incapacitated, a
relation was appointed to act for him. The representations of the other
Zemindars or farmers in the same gram, were usually considered as the
most just criterion of this incapacity. Besides the judicial powers and
the magistracy of his territory, the Pradhan kept an account of the other
tenants, and of their payments and debts to government, and, receiving
what was due, transmitted it to the collector. He was also an agent for
the other Zemindars of his village, to represent losses which they had
suffered, and to solicit indulgences on the occasion. Over from twenty
to fifty Pradhans was another hereditary officer named Kamin, analogous
to the Desali of the eastern states. He assisted the Pradhans in
settling their accounts, and in obtaining indulgences on account of
peculiar losses; and it was his duty, in an especial manner, to protect
the Zemindars, and to induce new comers to occupy waste lands. The rents
were never farmed out, but were delivered by the Pradhans to the
messengers of the collector, or Bandari, who received an account of what
was due from the Kanungoe or register, and he made up his accounts from
those forwarded to him by the Pradhans. Where the lordship was petty, no
other officers were necessary; but where large, the country was divided
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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