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their proportion of the village assessment to government, and then 

 dispose of their grain, cotton, and fruit, without being accountable 

 to the patell; for between the palell and the collectors belonging to 

 government, are a set of venal corrupt men, called zemindars, who 

 by a powerful influence in every district, take an advantage of 

 both parlies; these men, in fact, ought to be only intelligent 

 clerks and accomptants, conversant in the revenue department; 

 and, from being acquainted with its forms and usages, should 

 settle accounts between the collectors and patells, and see that jus- 

 tice is done on both sides. But so much is this office abused, that 

 the zemindars are permitted to advance money to the patells and 

 cultivators, to purchase cattle, seed, and other things wanted at the 

 commencement of the rainy season, at the exorbitant interest of 

 three and three quarters per cent, per mensem, or at the rate 

 of five and forty per cent, per annum ; though it is always lent 

 by the month. For the security of money thus advanced, the 

 produce of the land is mortgaged to the zemindars, who, at the 

 time of settling the Jummabunda, assume the new title of minute- 

 dars; which is a name and an office by right only belonging to 

 the seraffs (bankers) and monied men of the district; who, by a 

 proper agreement, and for a reasonable consideration, take upon 

 themselves to pay the sum assessed by the collectors, to the officers 

 of government. The pernicious practice of permitting the zemin- 

 dars, who have already too much influence, to be the minutedars 

 also, extends their power to a dangerous length; and is productive 

 of the worst consequences to the cultivators. The cunning, chi- 

 canery, and wickedness of the minutedars cannot easily be de- 

 scribed, or comprehended, by a generous mind, unused to their 



