210. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.8., XV. 
‘* Over and above the village groan the Mundas in 
‘‘course of time came to have a tribal organization of their 
Motives similar to those nc prompted them to hold 
“stronger, so as to be able to effectually protect his brother- 
“hood against the aggressions of other village units that were 
‘‘came to be grouped together as a patti, with the strongest 
‘‘and most influential among the headmen of these villages as 
) “ the Manki or Patti Chief. The remaining village headmen 
‘swore allegiance to the elected Manki. Military Service was 
anki 
‘*‘ But in course of time, the origin of the = —— 
** was lost sight of and what aos as free gifts came 
‘regarded as rightful dues. But all the same the M anki i‘tike 
? « the Munda (Village Headman) was always looked upon as 
‘a chief among equals—a leader and not a ruler. Nor did 
“any superior rights or property appertain to the Mankiship. 
“ As under most oriental institutions the offices of the Manki 
as well as of the Munda gradually became hereditary. In 
“the internal ie ae oe of each village the Munda was 
“assisted by the v village nch or Council of village elders. 
“ The tribunal tl arbitrated in all disputes amongst 
“ villagers inter se. apis was the rec —— IAW vknisiee In 
“ disputes between village and village and in cases of unusual 
‘*‘ importance or tribal interest the Patti Paneh presided over 
“by the Manki was called upon to adjudicate. And even now 
the village punch and the Parha Panch or Patti panch play 
‘important parts in Munda village polity 
. Looking to the statements 1 have quoted, it is natural 
for us to suppose that the ancient Taluqdari system of Chhat- 
tisgarh as described by Mr. Hewitt, corresponding as it did to 
the Parha or Patti system among the Mundas of Chota Nagpur, 
originally involved the existence of a net-work of small groups 
of about 12 villages each, spread over the whole country. 
this view receives immediate confirmation from evidence still 
available in the Zamindari Estates which lie together in 
Northern Chhattisgarh. This peculiar tract, known locally as 
the Satgarh, was left practically untouched by the Mahrattas, 
and obvious traces of a Taluqdari system were still vis ig 
there when British rule isla, As the best instance of all, 
may quote the following extract from para. 4 of a Report of 
ce 
