History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.104

v2.c44.104

Further on Jenkins' report of 1827 is quoted in support of the statement that the zamindaris of Chhattisgaḍh proper and Kondwan were held on service tenure under the Haihayas of Ratanpur and Raipur, but this tenure was changed by the Marathas into a cash payment of tribute.¹ In 1819 the Bhonsle Rājā enquired into the status of these dependent chieftains through its European officers. This enquiry left "The Chieftains on sufferance, entire masters of their own lands and people so long as, by regularly paying their tributes and rendering feudal service and obeisance, they fulfilled the condition of good behaviour." In 1819 when the British Government had taken possession of Chhattisgarh their power was restricted by new engagements and the British Government decided that "A liberal system should be pursued towards them, it being considered of much more consequence, in the actual state of the country, to reconcile and attach these Tributaries to the new order of things, than by endeavouring to gain an inconsiderable financial benefit, or by stretching a doubtful prerogative, incur the risk of exciting discontent amongst them, or rendering it necessary to coerce them in parts of the country unfavourable to the prosecution of military operations." The Tribute of these chiefs was continued at its former figure, but the chiefs were prohibited from having recourse to arms against their neighbours for the settlement of disputes. Their powers of inflicting punishments on their own people were restricted. They were bound down to abstain from capital punishments and to submit to the awards of the Government District Officers in cases of appeal from their own decisions. Further, the right of transit duties was taken away from all of these zamindars. The only zamindar or chief who was regarded as being sufficiently high in rank in the whole of British Central Provinces as it stood at that day was the Chief of Bastar, and Chhattisgarh continued in this state till 1854, when the dominions of the Bhonsles were confiscated by Dalhousie according to his Doctrine of Lapse. How far the chiefs of the Sambalpur Garhjat states were below the premier chiefs of the Orissa Garhjat in rank is proved by the fact that income tax was collected from them. By Act XXV of 1861 some of them were recognised as magistrates. Only the Rājā of Bastar was left practically independent in all matters, Judicial or Fiscal, and the only curtailment of his power was the total abolition of transit duties throughout his state also. Further the Sambalpur Gurhjat chiefs were held like ordinary people, to be "As amenable as others to the nearest Government Courts, whether for the commission of crime, or, when sued in petty matters of dispute, by, it may be, their own people."¹ Till the treaty of 1829 Mayurbhanj certainly possessed the right of levying transit duties through its territories, as perhaps did all other Garhjat chiefs of Orissa unlike the zamindars of Sambalpur, Sonpur and Patna. In a report by H. Ricketts, B. C. S., dated the 31st January 1854, on the district of Singhbhum it is admitted, in paragraph 152, that the right of collecting Sayar or transit duties was still enjoyed by Mayurbhanj:—"Great complaints were also made of the Rājā Mohurbunge and his officers, who will not allow a trader to move without taxing him in territory."