g6 Tenures in the North- West Provinces. 



land * either personally or by heritage from his pre- 

 decessors ' in interest, from the time of the Perma- 

 nent Settlement, at the same rates of rent. The right 

 of such tenant is transferable, and may descend by 

 succession ; but his rent cannot be enhanced, except 

 on the ground of increase of holding by alluvial 

 deposits or otherwise. 



2}.. Ex-proprietary tenants are a class with whom 

 the indigo planter can have little to do ; and we can- 

 not do better than quote the Act, section 7 : " Every 

 person who may hereafter lose or part with his 

 proprietary rights, in any mahal, shall have a right of 

 occupancy in the land held by him or sir in such 

 mahal at the date of such loss or parting at a rent 

 which shall be four annas in the rupee less than the 

 prevailing rate payable by tenants-at-will for land 

 at similar quality, and with similar advantages." 

 " Persons having such rights of occupancy shall be 

 called ex-proprietary tenants, and shall have all the 

 rights of occupancy tenants." The rate of rent of 

 this class of tenants is fixed by order of the Settle- 

 ment Officer, or by an order under the Act, and the 

 tenant may apply for abatement of his rent, either 

 on account of diminution of the area of his holding 

 from diluvion or other causes, or on account of the 

 decrease in productive power of the land from any 

 circumstance over which he has no control. 



