The English are our rulers, our masters. Sri Man Singh has seized our lands; by your government interposing these troubles may be settled, but without its guarantee and intervention we can have no confidence whatever. Let us have a reply to our petition. We will wait it in patience; but if we get none, the fault will not be ours, having given everywhere notice. Hunger will compel man to find a remedy. For such a length of time we have been silent from respect to your government alone: our own Sarkar is deaf to complaint. But to what extreme shall we wait? Let our hopes be attended to. Sambat 1878, Sawan sudi duj. (August 1821.) True Translation: (Signed) JAMES TOD. No. II _Remonstrance of the Sub-Vassals of Deogarh against their chief, Rawat Gokul Das._ 1. He respects not the privileges or customs established of old. 2. To each Rajput’s house a charas[3.a.7] or hide of land was attached: this he has resumed. 3. Whoever bribes him is a true man: who does not, is a thief. 4. Ten or twelve villages established by his pattayats[3.a.8] he has resumed, and left their families to starve. 5. From time immemorial sanctuary (_saran_) has been esteemed sacred: this he has abolished. 6. On emergencies he would pledge his oath to his subjects (_ryots_), and afterwards plunder them. 7. In old times, it was customary when the presence of his chiefs and kindred was required, to invite them by letter: a fine is now the warrant of summons: thus lessening their dignity. 8. Such messengers, in former times, had a taka[3.a.9] for their ration (_bhatta_); now he imposes two rupees [199]. 9. Formerly, when robberies occurred in the mountains within the limits of Deogarh, the loss was made good: now all complaint is useless, for his faujdar[3.a.10] receives a fourth of all such plunder. The Mers[3.a.11] range at liberty; but before they never committed murder: now they slay as well as rob our kin; nor is there any redress, and such plunder is even sold within the town of Deogarh. 10. Without crime, he resumes the lands of his vassals for the sake of imposition of fines; and after such are paid, he cuts down the green crops, with which he feeds his horses. 11. The cultivators[3.a.12] on the lands of the vassals he seizes by force, extorts fines, or sells their cattle to pay them. Thus cultivation is ruined and the inhabitants leave the country. 12. From oppression the town magistrates[3.a.13] of Deogarh have fled to Raepur. He lays in watch to seize and extort money from them. 13. When he summons his vassals for purposes of extortion and they escape his clutches, he seizes on their wives and families. Females, from a sense of honour, have on such occasions thrown themselves into wells. 14. He interferes to recover old debts, distraining the debtor of all he has in the world: half he receives.