OP KAMAON. 199 



the Tarai from Deceits. These posts have superceded the Chokis formerly- 

 occupied by the Heri and Mewati Chokidars, who, under the former go- 

 vernments, engaged, on certain considerations, to repress robberies in the 

 Tarai, and made themselves answerable for the restoration of ail property 

 which might be stolen within their respective jurisdictions. The remunera- 

 tion for this service consisted in a fixed tax leviable on all persons, mer- 

 chandize, or cattle, passing certain limits. On the introduction of the British 

 government, it was found, that the system itself was far from efficient, and 

 that numerous abuses were daily practised in the collection of the authorized 

 Chokidari dues. Thefts of cattle were frequent, and suspicion attached to the 

 Chokidars themselves, of being participators, if not principals in their perpstra- 

 tion. The responsibility of the head Chokidar proved merely nominal, as res- 

 titution of the stolen property was, in most instances, evaded. The system 

 was, on these grounds, totally abolished in the year I8I7, and the advantages 

 resulting from this measure have been fully evinced, in the almost total sup- 

 pression of robberies and other outrages, hitherto so prevalent in that part of 

 the country : the Tarai under the Gerhwal Pergunnas, which is almost wholly 

 in the Moradabad jurisdiction, must be excepted in this remark. No class of 

 people answering to the village Chokidars in the plains, are to be found in this 

 province. 



In Civil Judicature, the simple forms of the preceding government have 

 been generally retained. The petition originating the suit, is required to be 

 written on an eight anna stamp, but no institution or other fees are levied : a 

 notice, in the form oi itala ndma, is then issued, which process is served by the 

 plaintiff, and in three cases out of four, produces a compromise between the 

 parties : where ineffectual, it is returned by the plaintiff into court, when 

 the defendant is summoned. The parties then plead their cause in person, 

 and should facts be disputed on either side, evidence is called for. Oaths 

 are never administered, except in particular cases, and at the express desire of 



