The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s3.t4.28

v2.c15.s3.t4.28

The karaṇam (like the northern paṭwāri) kept the accounts and plans of the village, called collectively guḍikaṭṭu or āyakaṭṭu, in which were set out the boundaries of each hamlet, the extent and the limits of the site, the crematorium, the lands owned by cultivators, the holders of the vṛittis and tax-free lands granted by the king to the brāhmans and to the temples, the origin and history of these, and in general everything concerning the land belonging to the village. Besides this he had to measure the extent and keep the accounts of the cultivable, the non-cultivable, and the waste lands, gardens, dry fields, and pastures. He was closely associated with the reḍḍi or peḍḍa-kāpu in the administration of the village. This reḍḍi or the peḍḍa-kāpu was the headman of the village. His main duty was to collect the taxes due to the State, as stipulated in the settlement of accounts, and he had to work in close co-operation with the karaṇam in realizing these payments. The talāri was the village policeman.