404 



On the StatisUii, of Didhan, 



[APKIL 



30 becgabs to the tumbling ninl (lancing Avomen at the temple . 



the clarionet and double-drum players had respectively similar 

 Eenams : the gardener, for the supply of flowers, liad 30 beegahs, or 

 22i acres. These Eenams existed untouched under the bigoted Moo- 

 sulman government, and still remain. 



Siii'injam. — Lands held in Surinjam involve the condition of military 

 service: the term is of Persian origin, meaning "furniture," "appara- 

 tus," implying that ihe lands are lo defray the expense of equipment : 

 in fact, Surinjam is synonymous with military Jagheer. In the Poona 

 Collectorate 181 villages appear to be alienated in Surinjam. 



7)oowa//(7.-— Doomalla, in the etymology of the word, means •* two 

 rights" or "properties," from Z)o two, and il/aa^ property : the term is 

 only found in the list of villages of the Ahmcdnuggur Collectorate, ap- 

 plied to villages and lands granted to individuals, on which government 

 has a reserved right. In this sense the tenure appears to be that of quit 

 rent, and the term is synonymous with the Jooree Eenam of the Dhar- 

 war Collectorate. In the Ahmednuggur Collectorate 58 14 villages ap- 

 pear as Doomalla, but this, no doubt, includes Jagheer and Eenam vil- 

 lages. 



Eesaphut — In the Poona Collectorate the term Eesaphut is applied to 

 37| villages : it is probably a corruption from the Arabic Zt^ajo/a*/^, mean- 

 ing " feast," *♦ enteriainment." Lands so held are rent free, and may 

 have been given toas.-'ist in celebrating festivals. 



In the Dharwar Collectorate the terms Jooree Eenam, Surwa Eenam, 

 and Jagheer occur : the first corresponds to the Doomalla of Ahmed- 

 nuggur, and is, in fact, a quit rent tenure ; the second means all gift," 

 from Surwa " all," and Eenam *' gift," there not being any tax or fee 

 upon these lands : Jagheer has been explained before. 



Tenure of Deshmook and Desaes. — It is a general belief that these of- 

 ficers w^ere coeval with the establishment of the land institutions of the 

 Mahratta people.* Deshmooks were the civil governors of districts, col- 

 lectors of the revenue, and executive officers of the government. 

 The name i-j probably a corruption of the Sanscrit DeshuJc, a governor 

 or ruler. In early times they were exclusively Mahrattas, and 

 not Brahmans or Moosulranns. The importa,nce of the office is at- 

 tested bv the fact that, in the earliest mention of the chiefs. of the present 

 great Mubratta families, they are styled Deshmooks of such and such 

 districts. Their rights were hereditary, and saleable, wholly or in part, 

 like those of every other hereditary office or right : the right of alienation 



* I mean, of course, long antecedent to the Moosulman invasion. 



