DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29302#0070
( 36 )
consisting of a range of bills the most commanding between the snowy ranges
and the plains containing many excellent military pests—among the rest the
fort of Hattu, termed the mistress of the north-eastern hills, and also affording
level ground for cantonments on some of the slopes—appeared in this point of view
a most valuable acquisition and its permanent retention was accordingly determined
upon.
17. Some difficulty, however, was encountered in causing the Kullu Rajah
to evacuate the forts and districts which he considered he had a right to retain
under the guarantee afforded by the British Government to all who had co-
operated with them, of restoration to their ancient territorial possessions. As
however Kotgarh did not originally belong to Kullu and had been wrested from
that State by Bussahir forty years previous to the Goorkha invasion, and as our
guarantee extended to the restoration to chiefs of such possessions only as they
had been expelled from by the Goorkhas, the Kullu Rajah was held to have
no right to Kotgarh.
18. A small force was moved up from Subathu to compel him to evacuate
the district, which he did on its arrival in the neighbourhood. Kotgarh was then
formally taken possession of by our Government, garrisons placed in the three
forts of Hattu, Seelajan, and Bajee, and a portion of the then newly-raised
Goorkha battalion permanently cantoned in the district,
19. As soon as it was seen that the Goorkha power in the hills was completely
broken and no further attempts to regain their lost footing likely to be made,
and that the hill people were willingly subject to our power, these strongholds
were dismantled ; but a portion of our troops continued to occupy Kotgarh until
1843, when the detachment was finally withdrawn.
20. The administration of this newly-acquired district was entrusted under
the general superintendence of the agent at Delhi, to
Ad ministration and Settle- (,fqcer commanding the troops in it, who was de-
sired to lose no time in making a settlement with the
people for the payment of the revenue.
21. The first arrangement with the zamindars appears to have been made in
1816 by Captain Ross, the officer then in command. The collections were made iu
kind, and the Government shave of each crop was to be fixed from time to time,
by what its actual produce might prove. Subsequently Captain Ross, after ex-
amining the old records of the district recovered from its former possessors, agreed
with the zamindars for an annual money payment of Es. 600.
22. This Settlement remained in force until 1826, when a new one was made
for Es, 938-4-0 by Major Kennedy in command of the troops in the Hill district,
through one of his officers, Lieutenant Gerrard, Commanding the Detachment
stationed at Kotgarh.
23. This Settlement continued in force until 1830, when a third one was
completed by Major Kennedy, through Lieutenant Nicholson, Commanding at
Kotgarh, for Rs. 1,167-12-6 for a period of five years. A fourth Settlement for
Es. 1,500 and for a further period of four years appears to have been subse-
quently entered into by Major Kennedy; but beyond the mere fact recorded that
these settlements were made, there are no documents, English or Vernacular,
forthcoming to show the mode in which they were completed, whether by agree-
ment with the headmen of the district, or by measurement of lands then in
cultivation.
24. Up to 1830, no establishment was allowed for the administration of the
district. The revenue was collected through the
mookeas* or headmen of the villages, who received
an allowance of from 3 to 4 per cent, on their collec-
tions, and the police duties were carried on by the
troops. In 1830 the establishment noted in the
margin was proposed by Major Kennedy, and sanc-
tioned by the Government, at a cost of Es. 125.
# * # #
Es.
* 1
Moofeea
... 30
1
Mate
... 20
3
Malress
... 27
1
Writer
... 48
125
consisting of a range of bills the most commanding between the snowy ranges
and the plains containing many excellent military pests—among the rest the
fort of Hattu, termed the mistress of the north-eastern hills, and also affording
level ground for cantonments on some of the slopes—appeared in this point of view
a most valuable acquisition and its permanent retention was accordingly determined
upon.
17. Some difficulty, however, was encountered in causing the Kullu Rajah
to evacuate the forts and districts which he considered he had a right to retain
under the guarantee afforded by the British Government to all who had co-
operated with them, of restoration to their ancient territorial possessions. As
however Kotgarh did not originally belong to Kullu and had been wrested from
that State by Bussahir forty years previous to the Goorkha invasion, and as our
guarantee extended to the restoration to chiefs of such possessions only as they
had been expelled from by the Goorkhas, the Kullu Rajah was held to have
no right to Kotgarh.
18. A small force was moved up from Subathu to compel him to evacuate
the district, which he did on its arrival in the neighbourhood. Kotgarh was then
formally taken possession of by our Government, garrisons placed in the three
forts of Hattu, Seelajan, and Bajee, and a portion of the then newly-raised
Goorkha battalion permanently cantoned in the district,
19. As soon as it was seen that the Goorkha power in the hills was completely
broken and no further attempts to regain their lost footing likely to be made,
and that the hill people were willingly subject to our power, these strongholds
were dismantled ; but a portion of our troops continued to occupy Kotgarh until
1843, when the detachment was finally withdrawn.
20. The administration of this newly-acquired district was entrusted under
the general superintendence of the agent at Delhi, to
Ad ministration and Settle- (,fqcer commanding the troops in it, who was de-
sired to lose no time in making a settlement with the
people for the payment of the revenue.
21. The first arrangement with the zamindars appears to have been made in
1816 by Captain Ross, the officer then in command. The collections were made iu
kind, and the Government shave of each crop was to be fixed from time to time,
by what its actual produce might prove. Subsequently Captain Ross, after ex-
amining the old records of the district recovered from its former possessors, agreed
with the zamindars for an annual money payment of Es. 600.
22. This Settlement remained in force until 1826, when a new one was made
for Es, 938-4-0 by Major Kennedy in command of the troops in the Hill district,
through one of his officers, Lieutenant Gerrard, Commanding the Detachment
stationed at Kotgarh.
23. This Settlement continued in force until 1830, when a third one was
completed by Major Kennedy, through Lieutenant Nicholson, Commanding at
Kotgarh, for Rs. 1,167-12-6 for a period of five years. A fourth Settlement for
Es. 1,500 and for a further period of four years appears to have been subse-
quently entered into by Major Kennedy; but beyond the mere fact recorded that
these settlements were made, there are no documents, English or Vernacular,
forthcoming to show the mode in which they were completed, whether by agree-
ment with the headmen of the district, or by measurement of lands then in
cultivation.
24. Up to 1830, no establishment was allowed for the administration of the
district. The revenue was collected through the
mookeas* or headmen of the villages, who received
an allowance of from 3 to 4 per cent, on their collec-
tions, and the police duties were carried on by the
troops. In 1830 the establishment noted in the
margin was proposed by Major Kennedy, and sanc-
tioned by the Government, at a cost of Es. 125.
# * # #
Es.
* 1
Moofeea
... 30
1
Mate
... 20
3
Malress
... 27
1
Writer
... 48
125