colxi 



Mirasi villages, they should, iu the first instance, be communicated to 

 the -Mirasidars, to whom in the event of their being Avilling to cultivate 

 or to give security for the revenue assessable on the lands, the 

 preference should be given. 



" In the case which has now been brought under discussion, this 

 course was not adopted by the Collector, and it would appear that the 

 question still remains undecided, whether Government possesses the 

 right, in the event of the Mirasidars refusing to cultivate or to give 

 security for the revenue, to alienate waste lands in Mirasi villages to 

 Porakudi cultivators either for a term or in perpetuity. We trust, 

 however, that on all occasions care will be taken that the just rights of the 

 Mirasidars shall be respected." 



^In Q-.O., dated 1st March 1849, Government said, '' The Right 

 Honorable the Governor in Council has only to obsei've, in reference to 

 the foregoing Proceedings of the Board of Revenue, that the principle 

 which the Honorable the Court have laid down for the guidance of this 

 Government, in the disposal of waste lands, is, that the ryots of 

 the village in which the waste land is situated should invariably have 

 the option of holding it for cultivation on certain terms. If they refuse, 

 the Collector is justified in giving such land to strangers." 



The Court of Directors in their Despatch, dated 17th December 

 1856, remarked as follows : — 



" In para. 27 you have referred to the rights of Mirasidars over the 

 waste lands of their villages, and you observe that ' under moderate 

 assessment ' land ' will become valuable, the rightful holders will 

 occupy it themselves, sub-letting it or part of it, and will no longer 

 quietly submit to its being given away to those who have no rightful 

 interest in it.' 



" The question involved in this para*, is one of very considerable 

 importance and it would appear that you now propose to deal with it 

 in a manner at variance with the practice which has hitherto prevailed. 

 We desire that in the disposal of waste land you will be guided by the 

 principles laid down in para. 55 of our Despatch of the 28th July 1841, 

 3rd July 1844, &c. 



"■ We see no reason to change the opinions respecting the rights of 

 Mirasidars which we entertained when these paras, were written. 

 Whenever, as in Tanjore, any remains of Mirasi right have survived to 

 the present time and have actual existence, we do not desire that it 

 should be interfered with, but where, as in the greater portion of your 

 Presidency, it has fallen into desuetude, and has only been known in 

 name ever since we have obtained possession of the country, we think 

 that it would be unwise and inexpedient to make any attempt for its 

 revival. 



'' When applications for waste land are made by strangers, they 

 should be communicated to the resident ryots of the village, whether 

 claiming to be Mirasidars or not, and the option should be given to 

 them of engaging for it, finding security for the payment of the assess- 

 ment. Should they or any of them think fit to do so, they would of 

 course be at liberty either to cultivate the land themselves or sub-let 

 it ; but the payment should be strictly enforced, in order, on the one 

 hand, to prevent transactions in the nature of land jobbiu^^ aii,d on the 



