Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c19.s16: No. XVI

Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c19.s16

Language: English

No. XVI

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Warrant of the Chief of Bijolli to his Vassal, Gopaldas Saktawat.

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Maharaja Mandhata to Saktawat Gopaldas, be it known.

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At this time a daily fine of four rupees is in force against you.

prevent the expenses on these occasions falling too heavily on the poorer classes. It was customary for the women to carry away under their petticoats (*ghaghra*) sufficient sweetmeats for several days' consumption. The great Jai Singh of Amber had an ordinance restricting the number of guests to fifty-one on these occasions, and prohibited to all but the four wealthy classes the use of sugar-candy : the others were confined to the use of molasses and brown sugar. To the lower vassals and the cultivators these feasts were limited to the coarser fare; to juar flour, greens and oil. A dyer who on the Holi feasted his friends with sweetmeats of fine sugar and scattered about balls made of brown sugar, was fined five thousand rupees for setting so pernicious an example. The *sadh*, or marriage present, from the bridegroom to the bride's father, was limited to fifty-one rupees. The great sums previously paid on this score were preventives of matrimony. Many other wholesome regulations of a much more important kind, especially those for the suppression of infanticide, were instituted by this prince.

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Eighty are now due; Ganga Ram having petitioned in your favour, forty of this will be remitted. Give a written declaration to this effect—that with a specified quota you will take the field; if not, you will stand the consequences.

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Viz. : One good horse and one matchlock, with appurtenances complete, to serve at home and abroad (*des pardes*), and to run the country¹ with the Kher.

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¹ The ‘Daurayat’ or runners, the term applied to the bands who swept the country with their forays in those periods of general confusion, are analogous to the armed bands of the Middle Ages, who in a similar manner desolated Europe under the term *routiers*, tantamount to our *rabars* (on the road), the *labars* of the Pindaris in India. The Rajput Daurayat has as many epithets as the French *routier*, who were called *escorcheurs*, *tard veneurs* (of which class Gopaldas appears to have been), *mille-diables*, *Guilleries*, etc. From the Crusades to the sixteenth century, the nobles of Europe, of whom these bands were composed (like our Rajputs), abandoned themselves to this sort of life; who, to use the words of the historian, “ préférèrent la vie vagabonde à laquelle ils s'étoient accoutumés dans le camp, à retourner cultiver leurs champs. C'est alors que se formèrent ces bandes qu'on vit parcourir le royaume et étendre sur toutes les provinces le fléau de leurs inclinations destructives, répandre partout l'effroi, la misère, le deuil et le désespoir; mettre les villes à contribution, piller et incendier les villages, égorger les laboureurs, et se livrer à des accès de cruauté qui font frémir ” (*Dict. de l'ancien régime et des abus féodaux*, art. ‘Routier,’ p. 422).

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When the levy (*kher*) takes the field, Gopaldas must attend in person. Should he be from home, his retainers must attend, and they shall receive rations from the presence. Sawan sudi das (August 10) S. 1782.

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No. XVII

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Maharaja Udaikaran to the Saktawat Shambhu Singh. Be it known.

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I had annexed Gura to the fisc, but now, from favour, restore it to you. Make it flourish, and serve me at home and abroad, with one horse, and one foot soldier.

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When abroad you shall receive rations (*bhatta*) as follows : Flour . . 3 lb. Pulse . . 4 ounces. Butter (*ghi*) . 2 pice weight. Horses' feed . 4 seers at 22 takas each seer, of daily allowance.

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We have this apology for the Rajput *routiers*, that the nobles of Europe had not; they were driven to it by perpetual aggressions of invaders. I invariably found that the reformed *routier* was one of the best subjects; it secured him from indolence, the parent of all Rajput vices.

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If for defence of the fort you are required, you will attend with all your dependents, and bring your wife, family, and chattels; for which, you will be exempted from two years of subsequent service. Asarh 14, S. 1834 [209].