540 



MAXUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTKICT. 



CHAP. XIIL 

 PART II. 



Retekue 

 History. 



(2.) This officer's award was to be binding, subject to appeal to tlie 

 Board of Revenue touching rent, adjustment of boundaries, and the 

 like. 



(3.) The tenure was to be leasehold, not freehold ; but the terms 

 of the lease w^ere undefined. 



(4.) Only " Europeans of respectability, being persons of course 

 duly licensed as to residence," might be authorized to take out lease. 



(5.) Before establishing a coffee plantation the intending planter 

 must apply to Government for permission to do so, naming the 

 district and the quantity of land to be included in the plantation. 



(6.) On receipt of the permission of Government the party had to 

 forward to the Collector full information regarding the tract and its 

 occupants. 



(7.) This statement was to be duly published in the neighbourhood 

 and at the Collector's ofiice ; objectors to appear within a month. 



(8.) On objection being taken, the Collector to hold a regular 

 inquiry, and, if he allow it, to report the matter for orders of the 

 Board of Revenue. 



(9.) If he do not allow it, he shall order an ofiicer to proceed to the 

 spot, and, after measurement, &c., of the land, shall see that the 

 necessary deeds are exchanged between the parties. 



(10.) The Board of Revenue to confirm these proceedings. 

 (11.) Persons licensed to bear all expenses. 



(12.) Lands occupied under hereditary right of occupancy not to be 

 transferred without consent of such occupiers. As regards zemindars 

 and middle-men the right to object depended upon " the nature of 

 the intermediate tenure, but in general it (was) the desire of Govern- 

 ment that no lands should be taken by Europeans unless all parties 

 possessing an interest in the soil or in the rents shall consent to the 

 arrangement." 



(13.) Collector's decision, subject to appeal to the Board of 

 Revenue, to be final in disputes of every kind and description relating 

 to the land, water- courses, wells, rents, &c. 



(14.) Lands (except malgoozaree) liable to sale in satisfaction of a 

 Collector's award ; also, if a planter should " violently disturb the 

 possessions of his neighbours or should otherwise be guilty of any act 

 in breach of the peace," the enforcement of this penalty was reserved 

 to the Governor- General. 



In the despatch of 1829 the Court extended these rules, which 

 related to coffee only, to the cultivation of indigo and other 

 agricultural products, providing that the length of the leases 

 must in all cases be regulated with reference to the nature of the 

 cultivation, and must not be greater than would be necessary to 

 afford the undertaker the prospect of a fair remuneration for 

 the capital he may expend. In no case was a lease to exceed 

 twenty-one years without the express sanction of the Court. 

 In the case of a European eveiy transfer of a lease was to be 

 approved by Government; so that they might satisfy them^^clves 



