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
into pergunahs or taluks, each managed by an officer removeable at will.
In the most important of these districts, especially towards a weak
frontier, were stationed military officers called Foujdars, who had
authority to determine many small suits without appeal, but always with
the assistance of a Pangchayit. In the less important stations, the
officers managing taluks or pergunahs were on the hills named Negis, and
on the plains Adhikars. These also decided causes by means of a
Pangchayit; but there was an appeal to the chief’s court, in which he sat
in person, assisted by his principal officers, the Darogah or judge, and
the Dharm’adhikar or chancellor. These often decided the cause without a
Pangchayit; but this was only when the parties were obstinate, and would
not consent to the use of this kind of jury. The facts in criminal
prosecutions were often investigated by the inferior officers and
Pangchayit on the spot, and the chief and his chancellor judged from
their report, what punishment was due. The Foujdars, Negis, and
Adhikars, besides their duties as judges, magistrates, and military
guardians of the boundary, which the Foujdars were, received from the
Pradhans all the rents, and, having sold those paid in kind, remitted the
proceeds to the (Bandari) collector, or rather store-keeper.
About six parts in ten of the whole lands had been alienated to the
Brahmans and temples, nor do I hear any complaint in this quarter of the
present government having invaded this property; but much of the
Zemindary lands have been granted to the soldiers and officers, on the
same terms as towards the east, and the Zemindars of such lands have in a
great measure been left to the discretion of the new occupants, who have
of course raised considerably the rate of rent. In former times the
chiefs received the whole proceeds, and paid from thence the whole
establishment, civil and military. In comparing the following accounts,
therefore, of the states east and west of the river Kali, particular
attention must be paid to this circumstance. For instance, the revenue
of Gorkha has been stated at 12,000 rupees, and that of Bhajji at 15,000;
but the latter, even in comparison with the former, was altogether petty,
as this 15,000 rupees was the whole sum destined for the support of the
chief and his family, and of his officers, servants, and soldiers;
whereas the 12,000 rupees in Gorkha was entirely disposable for the
personal expense of the chief, and his children; his kinsmen, and even
most of his domestics, as well as the civil and military establishments,
being supported entirely by land.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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