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nial, and certify what I know of his character and conduct, I think myself bound in justice to say, that, in my opinion, he fully merits all the praife which Mr. Petrie has given him. While Chinfura was under British Government, and I prefided in the Court of Justice there, the late Mr. Thomas Dugald Campbel acted under me as Zemindar of Chinfura, and Meer Bundah Aly was his Daroga, in that capacity, as well as in the Calcutta Dewannee Adaulut; I had in that fituation conftant opportunity of hearing what the natives faid of him, and of feeing the ability and temper with which he conducted bufinefs, and from what I have feen and heard of him, I think him a very fit man to be employed in the administration of justice.

(Signed)

ROBERT CHAMBERS.

Tranflation of the Anfwer of Mahomed Abdul Speckoor Khan, Governor of Allahabad in Owde, to the aforefaid eight Queftions.

Anfwer to the First Question.

Formerly the Rajahs and Zemindars throughout the country were the proprietors of the lands, but fince the reign of Timur Shah (Tamerlane is meant) the King has been the proprietor of the foil, and enjoyed the power of difpoffeffing the Zemindars at his pleasure.

Anfwer to the Second Question.

The object of the jurisdiction of the Zemindary office is to promote industry among the Reyuts.

Answer to the Third Question.

The Zemindars, who excite industry among their Reyuts, are entitled, in con

fideration thereof, for every Bega (duely cultivated) to two Bifwahs: or, as in fome Soubabs, to a premium of five per cent.; and this reward is called Nunkar. They alfo are indulged by the Aumils with inconfiderable farms.

Answer to the Fourth Question.

The authority of the Zemindar extends to the realizing of the dues of Govern

ment.

Answer to the Fifth Question.

A Jageer is granted as a fort of increase upon the falary of a fervant.

Answer to the Sixth Question.

Talookdars enjoy no fort of rights; (that is, exclufive of particular rights) being of the clafs of farmers of the revenue.

Answer to the Seventh Queftion.

The Zemindars and Talookdars used to account to Government for the (fettled) taxes, leviable or due on the lands in cultivation; and the fageerdars, in return for

the bounty they enjoyed in their fageers, used to perform the duties of fervice.

Answer to the Eighth Question.

The rights of the Zemindars, in confideration of their promoting the cultivation of the foil, were afcertained (in the manner before fated :) but indigent and powerless Zemindars realize but a small portion of their juft claims; while fuch as are refractory pay themfelves the amount of their Nankar out of their respective Jummas, and even keep back annually fome part of the collections (in the form of balances.) The Jageers conferred upon Jageerdars were in confideration of the duties of fervice to be performed by them; at prefent the bufinefs affumes various forms: and as to the Jageerdars, all their Jageers have been refumed.

CHAP. VIII.

WE are now arrived at the important period of the government of the Marquis Cornwallis, with Sir John Shore at the head of the revenue department: the first revenue measure appeared in the Codes for the general regulation of Collectors in the revenue department, and regulation in the adminiftration of juftice in the courts of Dewannee Adaulut, and in the Fougedarry, or criminal courts, published in 1787. Mr. Grant, in the office of Serifhtadar, having begun to execute the revenue plan which Sir John Macpherson had approved, on the information contained in the Analysis of the Revenues of Bengal, and compiled by him in conformity to the act of 1784, then confidered as the Parliamentary Charter of Rights to the natives of British India*, it became neceffary for Sir John Shore to introduce his

* Introduction to the Analysis of Revenues of Bengal, MS.

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