92 



An Account of the Tribe of Mhadeo Kolies. [Jan. 



a fowl is also presented to h'm annually by each village, as well as the 

 Wannolla of rice varying fron. four to sixteen seers, according to the 

 size of the place. The Desmook receives .from government three per 

 cent, on the revenue of each village. The Desmook sends a sepoy to the 

 different villages for these articles, ai d they are transported to his house 

 by the village Mhars. 



The Desmooks originally were the hereditary collectors of the reve- 

 nue of their respective districts, which they paid into the government 

 treasuries — owing however to their great dishonesty, and having been 

 guilty of embezzlement, and corruption in the performance of their du- 

 ties, they do not appear to have been employed in the fiscal department 

 for a very great number of years. As they are in general very intelli- 

 gent persons, and possess much influence in their districts, I suggested 

 to government, about six years ago, the advantages likely to arise from 

 engaging their services to some extent in aiding the police of their dis- 

 tricts, thinking them fit instruments to be employed in assisting the go_ 

 vernment agents in maintaining the tranquillity of the parts of the 

 country in which they resided, to prevent gang robberies, &c. Lately, 

 they have been called upon to communicate information respecting the 

 state of cultivation in their districts, and to encourage the extension of it. 



The Naikwary of Rajoor. — This office has been held, for many gene- 

 rations, by the Bhauggrah Koly family of Ekdurrah. This appointment 

 was instituted for the purpose of watching the agricultural interests of 

 the district. The Naikwary was constantly on "he move, visiting every 

 village within his range, and seeing that the cultivation was not 

 neglected. If any of the cultivators were unable to carry on their farm, 

 having lost their bullocks or incurred any heavy loss or expense, 

 the Naikwary obtained an advance of money for their use from 

 the government, or in some other way enabled them to go on with 

 their labours. If a cultivator absconded, owing to his having been op- 

 pressed by the Patell or other persons, the Naikwary had to discover 

 |he place of his retreat ; and it became his duly to bring him back to 

 his village, and to settle any quarrel that might have existed between 

 him and any of the villagers ; the Naikwary warned the Patell against 

 his behaving ill towards this man, and he explained to the villagers that 

 if, in consequence of their threatening or maltreating him, he absconded 

 a second time, the inhabitants would be obliged to make up the loss by 

 paying the rent of his fields to government. 



Should the man have absconded to escape paying his rent to govern- 

 ment, the Naikwary went in search of him and persuaded him to return 

 to his village. The Naikwary, accompanied by the Desmook, the Des- 

 pondiah and the Koolkurny, also by the absconder, then proceeded to the 

 Soobahaars, when the Naikwary explained matters, and became secu- 

 rity for the good conduct of the absconder. The Naikwary hud to re- 



