288 SEVENTH REPORT—1837. 
The offices of Deshpandeh and Koolkurnee are sometimes 
found united. Their duties are in abeyance, but, like the 
Deshmooks, they enjoy their rights. 
Paieel.—The next and the most important tenure of all is 
that of Pateel or headman of towns and villages. Pateel is a 
Mahratta term, and may be derived from the Sanscrit Putiruh, 
“deed,” “lease,” the Pateel anciently having had the disposal 
of all vacant lands in his village by deed or lease. Originally 
the Pateels were Mahrattas, but sale, gift, or other causes 
have now associated in the office various casts, and there are 
sometimes six or seven or more sharers in the office,—Brah- 
mans, Mahrattas, Moosulmans, Shepherds, Lingaeets, &c., 
and these not holding in equal proportions. I have elsewhere* 
given a translation of a very remarkable and curious Mahratta 
document, proving in the most distinct manner the right of 
the Pateel, not only to sell his family or hereditary property, 
and the lands he held in virtue of his office, but also the 
lands of extinct families, and his other emoluments and ad- 
vantages; but, in doing so, he also alienated part of his dig- 
nity, rights, and authority as Pateel: the honours went with 
the lands. ‘The rights and emoluments of the Pateel are very 
numerous; free land, fees of grain on the cultivation, called 
googree, presents on investitures, on granting letters of in- 
heritance, on marriages ; annual presents from the shoemaker 
of shoes, from the potmaker of pots, from the shopkeepers of 
cocoa-nuts, &c., market fees, all the sheeps-heads offered in 
the temple of Dawai! daily service, and supply of wood and 
water by the Mahr and the potmaker; precedence in all re- 
ligious or other festivals, in communicating with government, 
and with others. ‘The details of the translation before noticed 
show with what jealousy the Pateel maintained all the minutest 
rights and dignities. Of such importance and so profitable 
was the office, or in such estimation was the dignity of Pateel 
anciently, that princes of the Mahratta empire established 
themselves wholly or in part in the office in various towns and 
villages; Holkur, for instance, at Munchur; Seendeh (Sin- 
diah) + at Jamgaon; the Nagpoor Bhosleh at Ahmed- 
nuggur, and Powar of Dhar at Multun and Kuweeteh. There 
are traditionai accounts of a share of the Pateel’s office 
having been sold for 7000 rupees. 
The right of the Pateel to dispose of the village lands not 
occupied by hereditary proprietors, together with his respon- 
* Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 
+ This prince has six out of seven shares in the office; nevertheless the 
poor Mahratta who has the seventh share has precedence of the prince. 
