A History of the Mahrattas v1.c7.158

v1.c7.158

or desirable on account of religious observances and common amusements. Very few villages are complete, and in a great part of the Concan, the Khotes,¹ or ancient farmers of the village revenue have long become hereditary, and superseded the name and office of the chief village magistrate; but in the upper country every village has its Patell and Koolkurnee, and each of the larger villages has its bard and astrologer, as well as its carpenter, blacksmith, barber, and watchman. The smaller have only one or two of the most useful artizans.