234 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XV, 
63. It is to sense of toleration, that we must attri- 
bute the mildness of the change from non-Aryan to Aryan 
redominance in Gphataiegaxh: The Rajput conquerors of 
m 
“under its own chief. These petty chiefs carried on inter- 
“them to subjection.” (Gazetteer, Chhattisgarh Feudatory 
States, p. 227). But though subdued they were kept in pos- 
session of their old Estates and retained very wide adminis- 
trative and political powers right down to the 19th century. 
Thus Major Roughsedge writes in 1818: “The Rulers must 
“have conquered Sarguja from the Gonds, Kawars, Korwas, 
and lawless subjects. J cannot discover nevertheless any 
‘traces of its exertion except for general purposes.........- 
“The Rajah occasionally settled diferences between disagree- 
ing members of his aristocracy (i y be allowed the ex- 
pression) and whenever he found himself strong enough 
“ marked his dis-satisfaction with any individual by his expul- 
‘sion or destruction. But there is hardly an instance, I 
“believe, of the permanent deprivation of any family of its 
" hereditary possessions........ A force of horse and foot. 
‘buted to keep the Jagirdars in awe. At the period of Col. 
Soe = of that district it consisted of 500 horse and 
“7 or 800 foo . It will be inferred from the foregoing state- 
Sul that relhiag like police or Civil or Criminal Justice has 
. “ existed for many years in Sarguja. The Jagirdars have 
“enjoyed and very often, I fear, abused the power of life and 
‘“‘death in their respective Estates.” (Roughsedge’s Report, 
para. 32). 
- It may be as well at this point to emphasize the fact 
that the weakness of the central authority was an essential 
characteristic of the mediaeval polities in and around Chhattis- 
garh. All mre writers whose attention has been drawn to 
g y of the royal house. It was notso. 
was finally deposed on the arrival of Raghoji in 1745 A.D., ‘* 5 villages 
were assigned for his support.’’ (Vans Agnew’s Report. page 3.) 
