1919.] The Rajput Kingdoms of Mediaeval Chhattisgarh. 199 
My enquiries as regards the old territorial divisions of 
bianca disclose the following symmetrical arrangement :— 
(a) The whole country was divided into two kingdoms— 
northern kingdom with its ee at Ratanpur Site 
a southern with its capital at Raipur 
(b) Each me or Raj was subdivided into districts 
k as Garhs or Forts, conventionally supposed 
to be: eighteen in number. The whole owed allegi- 
Rajput ki 
(c) cme Pig or Garh was conv seeeoly supposed to 
in 84 villages, whence the term Chaurasi is 
drive It was held by a Dabek or Thakur, a 
local chief whose powers within his territory were 
the widest kin 
(d) Inside the Garh were smaller units or T’alugs, each con- 
entionally supposed to contain 12 villages and 
therefore known as Barhons. These were held by 
Daos or Barhainihas, minor chiefs, whose authority 
within their Talug closely resembled that of the 
Diwan within the Garh. 
The Dao was ordinarily the Headman or Gaontia of the 
village where he resided, the other villages of his Taluq being 
held “by separate Gaontias who acknowledged his authority. 
Similarly the Diwan was the Dao of the rariculde Taluq in 
which his headquarters were situated, while his other Talugs 
were allotted to chiefs of the second de subordinate to him. 
Lastly the Raja kept under his direct control the Headquarter 
Garh, while the other Garhs of his kingdom were allotted to 
chiefs of the higher rank. Sometimes the chiefs of Garhs were 
kinsmen of the Raja; the minor chiefs of T'alugs were similarly 
related in some cases to the lord of the Garh, and the Gaontias 
rs their degree were sometimes related to the chief of their 
5. In setting forth in detail the evidence which establishes 
the former existence of this — o not mean 
ass hat it was at any one time exemplified in full detail 
as no more than the ‘ theory, 
as one authority! describes it, on which the system worked ; 
for “it is well known to all who have mpgeret into to Indian 
ee is sc loosely acted u 
‘‘ able deviations that are met wi 
‘cover the most universal and so Ps — 
' Lieutenant _Maopherson’ 8 Report of 1842 on the Khonds, Part IT, 
Section I, paragrap! 
_ 2 Major Van Agnew’s Report of 1820 on Chhattisgarh. 
