DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0222
214
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER
IX.
Oct. 16,17.
Munigars, or
chiefs of vil-
lages.
Inferior vil-
lage officers.
Pay of the
village offi-
cers.
Lands be-
longing to the
village gods.
Unreasona-
ble exactions
abolished.
rent. This is the principal duty of the CanicapiUay, but he is also
bound to assist the Munigar in collecting the rent.
The Munigars are not now permitted to rent or farm their villages;
as it was found that they spent the money, as it was raised from the
cultivators, and were not able to fulfil their encao-ements. The
rents are now paid by eight monthly instalments, which are re-
ceived from the cultivators by the Munigar, and immediately trans-
mitted to the chief officer of the district, called aTahsildar. Whenever
a farmer is deficient in the payment of an instalment, he is by the
Munigar carried to the Tahsildar, who puts him in confinement
until his effects are sold; and any deficiency that there may then
be, is made up by a contribution from the other farmers. It be-
comes thus impossible for any man to conceal his property in order
to defraud the government, as every neighbour is interested to
watch over his conduct.
The only other village officer is the Toti, who serves as a messen-
ger and watchman. In villages where there is rice ground, there is
also a Nunjy, or man to distribute the water, and watch over the
reservoirs and canals.
The whole of these are paid by government, and the proper allow*
ance is for the Munigar two per cent, on the rental; for the Cani-
capiUay two per cent.; for the Toti 1^ per cent.; and for the Nunjy
1^; in all, Q\ per cent.: but in small-villages this allowance is in-
creased, and in large ones it is diminished, so as to make the whole,
reasonable.
In every village there are charity lands belonging to the Grama
Devatas; that is to say, to their priests, who in this country are
never Brdhmans. These lands are cultivated by the priest, who pays
a small rent, but one very inadequate to their value. The Sultan or-
dered all these lands to be resumed; but he could not carry the
order into execution, and Major Macleod does not attempt to en-
force a measure so odious.
The officers of government, in travelling on public business, were
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER
IX.
Oct. 16,17.
Munigars, or
chiefs of vil-
lages.
Inferior vil-
lage officers.
Pay of the
village offi-
cers.
Lands be-
longing to the
village gods.
Unreasona-
ble exactions
abolished.
rent. This is the principal duty of the CanicapiUay, but he is also
bound to assist the Munigar in collecting the rent.
The Munigars are not now permitted to rent or farm their villages;
as it was found that they spent the money, as it was raised from the
cultivators, and were not able to fulfil their encao-ements. The
rents are now paid by eight monthly instalments, which are re-
ceived from the cultivators by the Munigar, and immediately trans-
mitted to the chief officer of the district, called aTahsildar. Whenever
a farmer is deficient in the payment of an instalment, he is by the
Munigar carried to the Tahsildar, who puts him in confinement
until his effects are sold; and any deficiency that there may then
be, is made up by a contribution from the other farmers. It be-
comes thus impossible for any man to conceal his property in order
to defraud the government, as every neighbour is interested to
watch over his conduct.
The only other village officer is the Toti, who serves as a messen-
ger and watchman. In villages where there is rice ground, there is
also a Nunjy, or man to distribute the water, and watch over the
reservoirs and canals.
The whole of these are paid by government, and the proper allow*
ance is for the Munigar two per cent, on the rental; for the Cani-
capiUay two per cent.; for the Toti 1^ per cent.; and for the Nunjy
1^; in all, Q\ per cent.: but in small-villages this allowance is in-
creased, and in large ones it is diminished, so as to make the whole,
reasonable.
In every village there are charity lands belonging to the Grama
Devatas; that is to say, to their priests, who in this country are
never Brdhmans. These lands are cultivated by the priest, who pays
a small rent, but one very inadequate to their value. The Sultan or-
dered all these lands to be resumed; but he could not carry the
order into execution, and Major Macleod does not attempt to en-
force a measure so odious.
The officers of government, in travelling on public business, were