112 Report on the District of Azimgurh. [Feb. 



according to the different Mehals to which they are attached ; and the 

 fair proportion of Jurama allotted to the Mouzah, may be readily 

 assigned to each field, or knot of fields. The fragments of villages 

 thus assessed may be grouped together in Mehals, so as to suit general 

 convenience, and without any trouble to the revenue officers of 

 the Government, or any risk to the interests of the Government. 



83rd. It may be useful to attempt a definition of these two terms, a 

 Mouzah, or village, and a Mehal, or estate. 



84th. A Mouzah, or village, is one or more parcels of land called by a 

 certain name, of fixed limits, and known locality, neither of which are 

 liable to change. At the time of settlement, each Mouzah has a name 

 and number assigned to it in the Government lists, and must so 

 remain till the ensuing settlement, or till, for any special reason, it 

 should appear fit, under express orders from the Government, to break 

 up or alter the arrangement of the Mouzahs. 



85th. A Mehal, or estate, consists of one or more Mouzahs, or a part 

 or parts of one or more Mouzahs, covered by one engagement with the 

 Government, or Durkhaust, and belonging to one individual or body 

 of persons, who are jointly responsible for the Jumma assessed upon the 

 whole. These are liable to constant variations, according as transfers 

 of property may take place. An annual adjustment of Mehals at the 

 time of making up the annual kistbundee if done with discretion, and 

 under certain precautions, will be found very conducive to the comfort 

 of the people, and the convenience of the Government officer. 



86th. I would now proceed to notice the right possessed by non-pro- 

 prietary cultivators, i. e. cultivators not under engagements with the 



V. p. 23, Gov. Government themselves, or through their representative. 



Genl's. minute of mi ,,..,,. 



Sept. 26, 1833. These may be divided into, 



First, — Those having an hereditary and transferable right to hold 

 their land at a fixed rate. 



Second. — Those having a right of occupancy at a fixed rate, either 

 for a certain period or during their own lives, or those of their imme- 

 diate descendants. 



Thirdly, — Mere tenants at will. 



87th. Under the first term I would include all holders of resumed 

 Maaffees, with whom such an arrangement has been expressly con- 

 cluded by the Collector at the time of settlement, and generally those 

 who by purchase, gift, or special compact, have obtained rights of this 

 nature from the Zemindars, such as Bisweedars, Sunkullupdars, the 

 holders of land at reduced rates, or rent free, as security for loans, the 

 holders of land on special terms in lieu of proprietary claims on the 

 estate. These persons may be, as it happens, themselves cultivators or 



