1850.] Astern Districts of the Souhah of Hijclralail 211 



his villages and repairs to Hydrabad, where, if he gets no redress 

 at the hands of the Talooqdar, he goes at once to the minister 

 with his wrongs, and there obtains redress, if he is in a condition to 

 give a good bribe ; if he comes empty handed his grievances are 

 declared to be without foundation, and he is recommended to re- 

 turn as speedily as he can, to make his peace with the Naib, lest 

 worse should befall him : such are the relations the INTaib and Ze- 

 mindars bear to each other, to the Talooqdar and Government. The 

 Sur bastu cowl, as it is called, on which tenure Zemindars farm the 

 revenue, is more or less comprehensive, and of greater or less du- 

 ration according to circumstances. In the Elgundel Sircar not 

 only is the land revenue farmed to the Dessaee or Surdeshmook 

 as he is called, but the Sahyer and every other branch. This has 

 arisen from the trouble the Government had, some sixty years 

 ago, with a rebellious Zemindar of the name of Cona Eeddy, who, 

 taking advantage of the unhealthiness and natural strength of the 

 country, set the authorities at defiance ; he was at last put down 

 but his successors benefited by his resistance and obtained the col- 

 lection of the entire revenue ; but Zemindars are often excluded 

 from collecting the Sahyer, that branch of revenue being left to 

 the Talooqdar who appoints an Officer for the express purpose of 

 collecting it. The Ijaru cowl differs in no respect from the Sur bas- 

 tu, save that in this case the farmer of the revenue is a Patell — 

 an Ijaru cowl, it is true, may be granted to any individual who may- 

 wish to re-people a deserted village by repairing a ruined tank but, 

 generally speaking, there is no other real difference. Such indepen- 

 dent Patells exist about Maiduck and this kind of lease is common 

 there, elsewhere, Patells enjoying the full rights and immunities 

 of their office, are seldom met with. There are, it is true, persons 

 who call themselves so in most villages, but they are merely head 

 Coonbees, with little authority, save in caste disputes, and with 

 consequence only in as far as it is conceded by their brethren, who 

 accord to them precedence at feasts and processions. At Maiduck 

 on the other hand the Patell is a real functionary, settling direct 

 with Government, and in the enjoyment of considerable emolu- 

 ments in virtue of his office — four beegahs per cent, of beegahs 

 in the Poonass, as many in the Eubbee, four per cent, of the rice 

 rain crop, and two per cent, of the rice cultivated in the dry wea- 

 ther. 



VOL. XYI- NO- XXXVIIL E 1 



