200 STATISTICAL SKETCH 



either of the parties. Suits, for the division of property, or settlement of 

 accounts, are commonly referred to arbitrators selected by the parties. In 

 the issue and execution of decrees, the established forms are followed, but 

 the leniency of the native creditors renders imprisonment and sales, in 

 satisfaction of decrees, uncommon : since the introduction of the British go- 

 vernment, only eight debtors have been confined in the Almora jsiil, six at the 

 suit of individuals, and two on public demands in the commercial and com- 

 missariat departments. At present, only one court (the commissioner's) exists 

 in the province for the cognizance of civil claims, and the absence of fees 

 and simplicity of forms, as therein practised, joined to its frequent removal to 

 every part of the country, have hitherto tended to prevent any inconvenience 

 being experienced from the want of Moofusil courts. The gratuitous 

 administration of justice, has not been found to excite litigation, as the 

 absence of native pleaders, and the celerity with which causes are decided, 

 operate as checks to such an abuse. The number of civil suits enter- 

 tained during the year, from 1st January to the 31st December, 182^, 

 amounted to 1,4-62, of which only four hundred and thirty-eight proceeded 

 to the summons of the defendant; of the latter, one hundred and thirty-one 

 were subsequently withdrawn, by Razinamas, and three hundred and seven 

 finally adjudicated. Disputes regarding land, form the greater portion of 

 suits instituted. The value of those in action rarely exceeds one hundred 

 rupees. The proceedings of the court are written in the Hindi, with the 

 exception of the examinations, which, for the sake of expedition, are recorded 

 in the Persian. 



The revenue administration is here conducted on the same principles as 



are in force in the plains. On the conquest of the province, as a temporary 



. arrangement, the revenue of each Pergunna was farmed for one year to 



the Kamin or Sty ana. The receipts of the preceding year, as exhibited in 



the Kanongo returns, were assumed as a standard, a deduction of twenty-five 



