the great landholders of Bengal. This is the original sense of the word; but it is now more strictly applicable to those who have their title constituted or confirmed by a patent or charter from government, by which they hold their lands or Zemindaries upon certain conditions. As far as can be ascertained from the narrations of history, it appears that, in times prior to the irruptions of the Mahomedans, the rajahs who held their residence at Delhi, and possessed the sovereignty of Hindostan, deputed officers to collect their revenues (Khuraj), who were called in the Indian language Ghoulakeries. The word Zemindar is Persian, and that language can have had no currency in the countries of India, until it was introduced by the people of Persia. When the Emperor Shehab ul Dien Ghory conquered the empire of Hindostan (A.D.), he left Sultan Cutub-ul Dien to be his viceroy at Delhi, and administer the government of Hindostan. From that time the customs and practices of the Mahomedans began gradually to be established in India; their armies were sent into the countries of the reduced Rajahs, under the command of Omrahs, in order to preserve the conquest; and lands were allotted to them to defray the expense. From hence arose the system of Jaghire-darvaz. But when these Omrah Jaghire-dars had established their own strength, several of them rebelled against the imperial authority, and aspired at the crown. Thus circumstanced, the emperors, in order to obviate these mischiefers, thought it would be more politic to commit the management of the country to the native Hindoos, who had most distinguished themselves by the readiness and constancy of their obedience to the sovereign power.

In pursuance of this plan, districts were allotted to numbers of them under a reasonable revenue (Jumma Munsif), which they were required to pay in money to the governors of the provinces, deputed from the Emperor. And in case any one of the Omrahs or provincial governors should swerve from his allegiance, the Zemindars of that country were to exert themselves in such a manner as should check rebellion, and restore good government. For this purpose, grants of Zemindary were severally conferred upon such of the Hindoos as were obedient; describing their apportionment of the country; and every person who had received a grant under the authority of the crown was thereby Zemindar, fully invested with the functions of Zemindar.

The functions of a Zemindar are, 1st, The preservation and defence of their respective boundaries from traitors and insurgents; 2dly, The tranquillity of the subjects, the abundance of cultivators, and increase of his revenue. 3dly, The punishment of thieves and robbers, the prevention of crimes, and the destruction of highwaymen. The accomplishment of these objects is considered in the royal grant as the discharge of office to the sovereign; and on that account the word office (Khidmat) is employed in the Dewanny Sunnud for a Zemindary.

It was a rule in the times of the ancient emperors, that when any of the Zemindars died, their effects and property were sequestrated by the government. After which, in consideration of the rights of long service, which is incumbent on sovereigns, and elevates the dignity of the employer, Sunnuds for the office of Zemindary were granted to the children of the deceased Zemindar; and no other person was accepted, because the inhabitants could never feel for any stranger the attachment and affection which they naturally entertain for the family of their Zemindar, and would have been afflicted if any other had been put over them. For this reason, the emperors, considering it as a means of conciliating the minds of the people, graciously fixed and confirmed the children of the deceased Zemindar in the office of their fathers and grandfathers, by issuing new sunnuds to transfer the possession to them. By degrees Zemindaries became truly heritable property, which, however, could be transferred by gift or sale from one family to another. They could likewise be forfeited to the sovereign, by the Zemindar's deviating from his allegiance, neglecting to pay his tribute, or to discharge the duties of his station.

It is universally known, says Sir Charles Rouse Boughton, that, when the three provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, were ceded to the British East India Company, the country was distributed among the Zemindars and Talookdars (see that article in this Vol.), who paid a stipulated revenue, by twelve instalments, to the sovereign power or its delegates. They assembled at the capital in the beginning of every Bengal year (commencing in April), in order to complete their final payments, and make up their annual accounts; to settle

(A) This event took place towards the close of the 12th century. N.B. Khuraj signifies specifically the tribute paid by a conquered country. Zemindars settle the discount to be charged upon their several remittances in various coins for the purpose of reducing them to one standard; or adjust their concerns with their bankers; to petition for remissions on account of storms, drought, inundation, disturbances, and such like; to make their representations of the state, and occurrences of their districts: after all which they entered upon the collections of the new year; of which, however, they were not permitted to begin receiving the rents from their own farmers, till they had completely closed the accounts of the preceding year, so that they might not encroach upon the new rents, to make up the deficiency of the past. Our author proves, we think completely, the right of the Zemindars to transfer their possessions, either by inheritance to their children, or, with the consent of the sovereign, to other families; and he argues strenuously and successfully against the bad policy, as well as injustice, of interfering with those rights, as long as the Zemindars discharge the duties of their several stations.

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES.

PART I.

Plate XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. to face Page 82 110 158 262 312 380

PART II.

Plate XLII. XLIII. XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX. L. to face Page 522 670 722 734 758 802

Edinburgh: PRINTED BY JOHN BROWN, ANCHOR CLOSE, 1801.