224 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XV, 
‘* that, before the district came under British Administration 
« while it was mee the rule of the Rajas of Sambalpur, the 
“upon.” Here we find clear indications of an arrangement 
exactly analogous to the Chhattisgarhi System, and I therefore 
conclude that these Zamindaris are the relics of an earlier sys- 
tem of st hase administration which gave rise to the term 
Atharahga 
and not to the relations of the echelon: king with the ad- 
joining *‘ countries.” This feudal system with Zamindars in 
possession of Garhs (as may be inferred from their title of Gar- 
hatia) is so clearly parallel to the system of Ratanpur and 
Raipur that, looking to the significance of the term elsewhere. 
Iam satisfied that the title of Atharahgarh was here as else- 
where derived from the existence of these a hoget units.! 
48. Nor is Mr. Motte my only witne It would be 
easy to disparage his testimony by sayin that he was a mere 
European adventurer, probably ill-acquainted with the lan- 
guage of the country , who, from the fact that he never speci- 
fie ab Ww = was cers b the Atharahgarh stands convicted ‘a 
h 
Rajas on the Sambalpur “ Gaddi.”’ And this poem complete- 
ly refutes those who regard the Atharahgarh as a confederacy 
of States, and makes it clear that they were internal subdivi- 
em. This testimony is unimpeachable. It was prepared 
1 Not only have we this eng of the existence of Garhs in Sam- 
one Al but there Bo also wie though unmistakable, reference 
(1910). . 
** Community is sided over by ae called Bartha who in some 
** cases hold several villages as their r. ey are the intermediaries 
** between the Raja and the Gonds in all caste matters. 
