RAJPCTS AND THE HISTORY OF RAJl'DTANA. 



79 



4. Ten or twelve villages established by his vassals he has 

 resumed and left their families to starve. 



5. From time immemorial sanctuary has been esteemed sacred ; 

 this he has abolished. 



6. On emergencies he would pledge his oath to his subjects, 

 and afterwards plunder them. 



7. In old times, it was customary when the presence of his 

 chiefs and kindred was required, to invite them by letter ; a 

 fine is now the warrant of summons, thus lessening their 

 dignity. 



8. Such messengers in former times had a takka (a copper 

 coin) for their ration, now he imposes two rupees (64 times as 

 much). 



9. Formerly when robberies occurred in the mountains within 

 the limits of Deogarh, the loss was made good ; now all complaint 

 is useless, for his faujdar (military commander) receives a fourth 

 of all such plunder. The Mers range at liberty ; but before they 

 never committed murder, they slay as well as rob our kin, nor 

 is there any redress, and such plunder is even sold within the 

 town of Deogarh. 



10. Without crime, he resumes the land of his vassals for the 

 sake of imposition of fines, and after such are paid, he cuts down 

 the green crops, with which he feeds his horses. 



11. The cultivators on the lands of the vassals he seizes by 

 force, extorts fines, or sells their cattle to pay them. Thus 

 cultivation is ruined, and the inhabitants leave the country. 



12. From oppression the town magistrates of Deogarh have 

 fled to Eaipur. He lays in watch to seize and extort money 

 from them. 



13. When he summons his vassals for purposes of extortion 

 and they escape his clutches, he seizes on their wives and families. 

 Females, from a sense of honour, have on such occasions thrown 

 themselves into wells. 



14. He interferes to recover old debts, distraining the debtor 

 of all he has in the world ; half he receives. 



15. If any man have a good horse, by fair means or foul he 

 contrives to get it. 



16. When Deogarh was established, at the same time were 

 our allotments ; as is his patrimony, so is our patrimony. Thou- 

 sands of rupees have been expended in establishing them and 

 improving them, yet our rank, privileges, and rights he equally 

 disregards. 



17. From these villages, founded by our forefathers, he at 

 times will take four or five skins of land, and bestow them on 



