24a ON O HISS A PROPER 



times of the Mogul government, when the financial system of the empire 

 existed in full vigour, the misapplication of the term Zemindar to the Chow- 

 dris and Canungos of the Khaliseh land?, or to any inferior class, had 

 not become general in Hindustan. That the designations, and, perhaps 

 too, the offices and rights of the two classes, were in latter times much con- 

 founded together, is abundantly clear. It cannot, of course, be expected, 

 when we consider the vague, mutilated, and imperfect state of all Indian 

 histories and revenue accounts, that the origin and progress of this confu- 

 sion should admit of being explained with such' precision as to remove all 

 doubt, or difference of opinion. The first symptoms of it are perhaps to 

 be observed during Aurangzeb's reign.* After his death, and especially 

 from the time of Mohammed Shall, and the early period of the eighteenth 

 century, we meet with frequent instances, in Firmans and Perwannehs, of 

 the word Zemindar being either added after Chowdri and Canungo, or 

 substituted in lieu of those terms. In proof of this statement, I need only 

 refer generally, to the numerous documents of the kind which are yet forth- 

 coming, and may be consulted by those who feel interested in the discussi- 

 on. It will be observed, that they always purport to address, and convey 

 orders to, the whole body of persons eounected, in any way, with the land in 

 a Pergunnah or Chakleh, belonging to the Khaliseh Slier if eh — the Amile, 

 Mutasaddis, Chowdris, Canungos, Mokaddams, ryots, and cultivators. It 

 is superfluous to add, after what has been above stated, that the proper 



* The Famous grant ofthe 'Zemindar?, &e. of the 2l-Pergunnahs to the Company by Jaffer Ali Khan 

 in 1764 A. D. furnishes an apt and curious illustration of the extraordinary confusion which prevailed 

 latterly, in regard Ito the designation of the head classes of middle-men connected with the land. £ 

 shall therefore give a translation of it from the original, on the records of the Persian Office, " Let the 

 Zemi idars, Chowdris, Canungos, Talakdars, Mokaddams, Ryots and Inhabitants of the Chakleh of 

 Boogie y, &c. in Bengal, know, that since the office (or service) of the Zemindari, and Chowdrahi and 

 .Taluk'.lari, as be'ow, has been assigned to the English Company, they must be allowed to enter upon 

 the fail exercise and enjoyment of all the duties and privileges of the same, and the Ryots within the 

 limits of their Zemindari mustexperien.ee no annoyanci. Let the aforesaid Company constantly ex- 

 ert themselves to increase the cultivation,' and let them pay regularly the Revenue ofthe estate into the 

 Exchequer, &c. &c. Considering the above Company as Zemindar and Chowdri, and Talukdar, you will 

 allow them to appropriate all the perquisites and advantages thereunto annexed, and feel assured that 

 all their complaintsand representations will be attended to." A., the foot ofthe grant, the21-Pergun- 

 nahs are specified by r.ame. In this sannad, it may be remarked, there is little enough appearance of a 

 gxant of land and proprietary rights. 



