17^ STATISTICAL SKETCH 



of the rents. Hence the original of Kamms in Kamaon, and Sianas in Gerhwal. 

 The latter, again, appointed one of the proprietors of each village, under 

 the designation of Padhan, to levy and account directly to them for its cess. 

 These officers were both removeable, the first at the pleasure of the assignee, 

 the second at the will of the Kamin and Siana. The influence once obtained 

 in the situation, generally led to its continuance in the same family, even 

 when the individual holder was changed, and, in some instances, the Kamms 

 themselves eventually succeeded in obtaining a grant of the feud under the 

 usual conditions, which arrangement led to the nomination of Under Kamins 

 and Sianas, who are to be found in some pergunnas. The remuneration 

 of the Kamms and Sianas, consisted in a trifling Nazerdna from each 

 village, and in offerings from the Fadhdns on certain festivals, and on 

 occasion of births and marriages in their own families. They were also 

 entitled to a leg of every goat killed by the Fadhdns in their division, 

 and enjoyed a portion of land, rent-free, in their own village. The dues 

 of Padhans were exactly similar, but leviable only from their own tenants. 



In the reserved districts, the royal domains were managed by the Vizirs 

 and BhanddriSy (treasurers,) and the rents of the alienated villages were col- 

 lected by the grantees. No establishment of Kamins or Sianas existed in these 

 pergunnas. 



A general record of the arable lands of the country, their extent, appro- 

 priation, &c. was kept in the office of the Defteris. To render these accounts 

 more complete, these officers had deputies in each district, whose duties cor- 

 responded, in a great measure, with those of the pergunna Kanungos in the 

 plains. To defray the expences of this establishment, the Defteris were enti- 

 tled to a percentage of half an anna in the rupee on the rent of every village ; 

 and for their own support, they received grants of lands in common with the 

 other public servants. 



