Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c19.s19: No. XX. Charter given by the Rana of Mewar, accepted and signed by all his Chiefs; defining the duties of the contracting Parties
Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c19.s19
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No. XX. Charter given by the Rana of Mewar, accepted and signed by all his Chiefs; defining the duties of the contracting Parties
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Charter given by the Rana of Mewar, accepted and signed by all his Chiefs; defining the duties of the contracting Parties.
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A.D. 1818.
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Siddh Sri Maharana Dhiraj, Maharana Bhim Singh, to all the nobles my brothers and kin, Rajas, Patels, Jhalas, Chauhans, Chondawats, Panwars, Sarangdeots, Saktawats, Rathors, Ranawats, etc., etc.
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Now, since S. 1822 (A.D. 1776), during the reign of Sri Ari Singhji, ³ when the troubles commenced, laying ancient usages aside, undue usurpations of the land have been made: therefore on this day, Baisakh badi 14th, S. 1874 (A.D. 1818), the Maharana assembling all his chiefs, lays down the path of duty in new ordinances.
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³ The rebellion broke out during the reign of this prince.
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1st. All lands belonging to the crown obtained since the troubles, and all lands seized by one chief from another, shall be restored.
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2nd. All Rakhwali,¹ Bhum, Lagat,² established since the troubles, shall be renounced.
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¹ Salvamenta.
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² Dues.
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3rd. Dhan,³ Biswa,⁴ the right of the crown alone, shall be renounced.
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³ Transit duty.
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⁴ Ditto.
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4th. No chiefs shall commit thefts or violence within the boundaries of their estates. They shall entertain no Thugs,⁵ foreign thieves or thieves of the country, as Moghias,⁵ Baoris,⁵ Thoris :⁵ but those who shall adopt peaceful habits may remain ; but should any return to their old pursuits, their heads shall instantly be taken off. All property stolen shall be made good by the proprietor of the estate within the limits of which it is plundered [210].
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⁵ Different descriptions of thieves. [The Moghias are settled principally in E. Mewār ; if not identical with, they are closely allied to, the Bāori (Luard, *Ethnographic Survey, Central India*, App. V. 17 ff.). Gen. C. Hervey (*Some Records of Crime*, i. 386 ff.) makes frequent references to dacoities committed by them from their headquarters, Nīmach. The Bāori or Bāwariya are a notorious criminal tribe (Rose, *Glossary*, ii. 70 ff. ; M. Kennedy, *Notes on Criminal Classes in Bombay Presidency*, 173 ff., 198 ff.). The Thori in Mārwār claim Rājput origin, and are connected with the Aheri, or nomad hunters (*Census Report, Mārwār*, 1891, ii. 194). According to Rose (*op. cit.* iii. 466) those in the Panjāb are rather vagrants than actual criminals.]
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5th. Home or foreign merchants, traders, Kafilas,⁶ Banjaras,⁷ who enter the country, shall be protected. In no wise shall they be molested or injured, and whoever breaks this ordinance, his estate shall be confiscated.
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⁶ Caravans of merchandise, whether on camels, bullocks, or in carts.
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⁷ Caravans of bullocks, chiefly for the transport of grain and salt.
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6th. According to command, at home or abroad service must be performed. Four divisions (*chaukis*) shall be formed of the chiefs, and each division shall remain three months in attendance at court, when they shall be dismissed to their estates. Once a year, on the festival of the Dasahra,⁸ all the chiefs shall assemble with their quotas ten days previous thereto, and twenty days subsequent they shall be dismissed to their estates. On urgent occasions, and whenever their services are required, they shall repair to the Presence.
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⁸ On this festival the muster of all the feudal retainers is taken by the Rana in person, and honorary dresses and dignities are bestowed.
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7th. Every Pattawat holding a separate patta from the Presence shall perform separate service. They shall not unite or serve under the greater Pattawats : and the sub-vassals of all such chiefs shall remain with and serve their immediate Pattawat.¹
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¹ This article had become especially necessary, as the inferior chiefs, particularly those of the third class, had amalgamated themselves with the head of their clans, to whom they had become more accountable than to their prince.
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8th. The Maharana shall maintain the dignities due to each chief according to his degree.
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9th. The Ryots shall not be oppressed : there shall be no new exactions or arbitrary fines. This is ordained.
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10th. What has been executed by Thakur Ajit Singh and sanctioned by the Rana, to this all shall agree.²
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² This alludes to the treaty which this chief had formed, as the ambassador of the Rana, with the British Government.
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11th. Whosoever shall depart from the foregoing, the Maharana shall punish. In doing so the fault will not be the Rana's. Whoever fails, on him be the oath (an) of Eklinga and the Maharana.
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[Here follow the signatures of all the chieftains of rank in Mewar, which it is needless to insert] [211].
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PALACE OF UDAIPUR.