222 
[No 2, 
Q-. N* Dntt —History of the Hatwa Raj. 
( Extract ,) 
We do not find that it is anywhere definitely laid down what a 
Raj is. There are many decisions in which estates have been found to 
be Raj or Principalities, but what exactly constitutes a Raj has not, as 
we are aware, been anywhere set forth. We think, however, that the 
estate of Hussey pore contains all the essential characteristics on account 
of which other large landed estates have before this been regarded as 
Raj, and that it is entitled to be so regarded by us. 
There is no sunnud, or other patent of nobility, owing probably to 
all such papers having been carried off by Futteli Shahee at the time of 
his rebellion. His heirs are not likely, even if they have such a docu¬ 
ment to give it up to another branch of the family, who has supplanted 
them in the honours and possessions of their ancestors, who appear to 
have held that rank. The Husseypore Estate was in Fatteh Shahee’s 
hands a very extensive one, and his means and power were, as the British 
Government experienced, both very considerable. An estate of this 
sort, both large and ancient in such hands, is not to be regarded as an 
ordinary zemindaree. Even where proprietors are not nobles, if their 
estates are very large they are regarded, according to Colebrooke, by mo¬ 
dern Hindoo lawyers as Raj or Principalities. There is evidence of a 
very high character, namely, the evidence of men who are either Rajahs 
or descendants or connections of such, that this is a Raj, and has 
always been so regarded by them and by their families. It has been 
held in the same family for many generations, and has descended entire 
to one heir in exclusion of the rest of the family. The authorities in 
speaking and writing of this property have designated it a Raj, and it is 
commonly called a Raj to this day, and in recognition of it as such the 
title of Maharajah was accorded to Chutterdharee by the Government 
(not immediately but some years subsequent to his accession to the 
estate) on the representation of the highest local authorities that the 
preceding proprietors had all been Rajahs. Then as to the family cus¬ 
tom we need say but little. Having found that the property is a Raj, 
as Raj there must of necessity be impartibility, and we find that it is 
sufficiently established by the evidence, and by the genealogical state¬ 
ment put in by the principal defendant, the accuracy of which has not 
even been impeached in the written pleadings, that the rule of the fami¬ 
ly has invariably been that the property descends entire to the eldest 
son. There is, we say, actual evidence of this, and the very existence 
of the property up to this day in its present state is proof of it. Had 
there been any other rule, the Estate could not have come down to the 
present generation with such a princely inheritance as it is. Had there 
even been any partition, nothing could have been easier to the plain- 
