CnAP. XXYII. VILLAGE OFFICIALS. 471 



gates, includes 107 dwelliug-liouses of sun-dried bricks with 

 terraced roofs, a cliowree or town-hall, and three temples. 

 The houses have ivosurees or open porticos in front, and the 

 interiors consist of three or four small dark rooms with no 

 windows. The temples are of hewn stone and cliunam. 



The boundaries and institutions of the village have mider- 

 gone no alteration from time immemorial, and its offices 

 are hereditary. They consist of that of the Pattel or chief 

 magistrate, his deputy the Chowgidla, the Koolkurny or 

 accountant, and of the Barra Balloota, or twelve subordinate 

 servants. 



The Pattel holds his office, which is hereditary and saleable, 

 from Government, under a written obligation specifying his 

 duties, rank, and the ceremonies he is entitled to. He has 

 to collect the Government dues from tlie cultivators, punish 

 offences, redress wrongs, and settle disputes. In important 

 cases he summons a Punchayet or sort of jury, and when 

 they are of a serious nature he refers them to the Amildar or 

 Collector of revenue. 



The Koolcurny or accountant keeps the records and 

 accounts, comprising a general measurement of village-lands, 

 a list of fields, of the inhabitants, and a detailed account 

 of the revenue. He is generally a Brahmin, and has lands 

 or fees allotted to him by Government. 



The Barra Balloota offices are hereditary, and the holders, 

 called Ballootadars, axe bound to their services to the 

 community for a fixed proportion of the produce of the soil, 

 from each cultivator. They are twelve in number, namely, 

 the Sutar or carpenter, who repairs all wooden instruments ; 

 the Lohar or blacksmith, who keeps all iron-work in repau- ; 

 the Parit or Avasherman, who washes all the men's clothes ; 

 the Nahawi or barber, who shaves and cuts tlie nails of the 

 villagers, and kneads the muscles and cracks the joints of the 

 Pattel and Koolcurny ; the Kumhhar or potter ; the Potedar 



