Thus, setting aside marriage (which even in Europe was only partial and local) and alienation, four of the six chief incidents marking the feudal system are in force in Rajasthan, viz. relief, escheats, aids, and wardships. =Duration of Grants.=—I shall now endeavour to combine all the knowledge I possess with regard to the objects attained in granting lands, the nature and durability of these grants, whether for life and renewable, or in perpetuity. I speak of the rules as understood in Mewar. We ought not to expect much system in what was devoid of regularity, even according to the old principles of European feudal law, which, though now reduced to some fixed principles, originated in, and was governed by, fortuitous circumstances; and after often changing its character, ended in despotism, oligarchy, or democracy. =Classes of Landholders.=—There are two classes of Rajput landholders in Mewar, though the one greatly exceeds the other in number. One is the Girasia Thakur, or lord; the other the Bhumia. The Girasia chieftain is he who holds (_giras_) by grant (_patta_) of the [164] prince, for which he performs service with specified quotas at home and abroad, renewable at every lapse, when all the ceremonies of resumption,[3.3.15] the fine of relief,[3.3.16] and the investiture take place. The Bhumia does not renew his grant, but holds on prescriptive possession. He succeeds without any fine, but pays a small annual quit-rent, and can be called upon for local service in the district which he inhabits for a certain period of time. He is the counterpart of the allodial proprietor of the European system, and the real zamindar of these principalities. Both have the same signification; from _bhum_ and _zamin_, ‘land’: the latter is an exotic of Persian origin. =Girāsia.=—Girasia is from _giras_, ‘a subsistence’; literally and familiarly ‘a mouthful.’ Whether it may have a like origin with the Celtic word _gwas_,[3.3.17] said to mean ‘a servant,’[3.3.18] and whence the word vassal is derived, I shall leave to etymologists to decide, who may trace the resemblance to the _girasia_, the vassal chieftain of the Rajputs. All the chartularies or pattas[3.3.19] commence, "To ... _giras_ has been ordained."