240 ON ORISSA PROPER 



no doubt have contributed greatly to puzzle and entangle the question of 

 Zemindari rights as relating to that province.* There are about five or six 

 instances of the kind in Cuttack subsequent to Raja Man Sihii's time, of 

 which the Zemindari composed of Pergnnnah Kurdes, Antrudh, and Kal- 

 juri, created as late as 1780—90, A. D. is the most remarkable case. The 

 new tenure thus created would be naturally of rather a mixed and ambi- 

 guous nature. It was obviously by no means the policy or general prac- 

 tice of the Mogul Government to raise up an hereditary nobility, though 

 they might occasionally adopt proceedings leading to that result, to an- 

 swer some special end. If we look to the proper original import of the 

 word Zemindar, the tenure in question would have some claims to be con- 

 sidered as involving a right of property in the soil : but if we try the nature 

 of the grant by the contents of the sunnud or deed itself which conferred 

 at, we must unhesitatingly class the Zemindari so created, as nothing 

 higher than a Talukdari, or a mere official trust, of the description called 

 Ihtimam. Instead of military service which the policy of the Musselman 

 government did not require, the khidmat or service enjoined in the Ze- 

 mindari sunnuds to which I refer, is that of keeping up a good police and 

 paying a certain fixed revenue. The remuneration to be enjoyed in return 

 is always distinctly indicated, viz. the Nancar, Rassum and Lowazimeh, 

 or percentage and perquisites. The old Talukdars, where Pergunnahs 

 were thus granted, continued sometimes to exist in a dependent capacity ; 

 sometimes were altogether ousted or bought out. 3rd. In latter times as the 

 vigour arid regularity of the old system became relaxed, the Chowdri and 

 Canungo Talukdars came to be known as the Zemiudw's of (heir '•Pergun- 

 nahs generally. Their Taluks were not, to be sure, entered in the public 

 accounts as Zemindaris, nor would any single Taiukdar call himself a Ze- 

 mindar, but they assumed conjointly the distinction of Pergnnnah Zemin- 

 dars and were so termed often by the ruling power. It is curious and not 

 unimportant to remark that whilst the Talukdars became thus exalted to 



* Tliey may be in general distinguished by their MusselaKin appellations as Rajsbahi, Mahroud 

 aShahi, Fattihabad; Fattebpur, &c. 



