Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 127

APRIL, 1873.]
SERVICE TENURES IN CEYLON.
115
notation, 45th. Thus ! + + = 1 + 4 + 40 = 45. The corresponding name of the second scheme saj (Dzuburjud) will number the same, according to the Ubtus or Zur notation thus-; + + + + 3 = 20 + 2 + 10 + 5 + 8 = 45.
Now taking the two different notations we have merely to substitute letters of those notations to the number we want to indicate. For example, take numbers 57 and 28, which are not in the table given above, or in Col. Kirkpatrick's work. I suppose their names would be according to the first schemeji (nuz) and is (kaza) respectively; and according to the second scheme or the Ubţus notations (sukh) and láj (zukha) respectively. For
= u + j = 50 + 7 = 57, and 21st
= 3 +; + 1 = 20 + 7 +1 = 28 scheme. Foute=50 + 7 = 577 2nd &j= i + <= 20 + 7 + 1 = 28 scheme.
These are not the only names that may be given them, for there may be as many others as
there are component parts to 57 and 28-a pleasant algebraical problem! Therefore any names I give may not be those given to them by the Sultan.
There is a resemblance between this calendar and thnt in use in Southern India, commonly named "the Malabar" cycle. To the years composing this cycle the Sultan appears to have given new names, as he did to the months of the year. Among several of the Brahmanical secta of Southern India it is still in vogue to have an adhika masa, or extra month, once in the course of thirty months.
The numerical order of the years was the same as in the era of the Hejira; and the Sultan was satisfied with the mere change of the appellation. He gave to it the name of “the era of Muhammad," and he sometimes called the same the "Mauludi era." The latter does not seem very applicable, for Mauludi means birth, and the difference between the Prophet's birth and his flight to Medina from Mecca is nearly thirteen years.
SERVICE TENURES IN CEYLON.
(From the Reports of the Commissioner for 1870 and 1871.) The Service Tenure Ordinance, No. 4 of 1970, Besides the land thus held by the ordinary peahaving for its object the abolition of predial serf. sant proprietors, there were the estates of the dom in the Kandyan Provinces, and the payment, crown, of the church, and of the chiefs. These in lieu of services, of an annual money-rent, was are known as Gabadagam, royal villages,-Vihabrought into operation on the 1st of February ragam and Dewálagam, villages belonging to Bud. 1870, by Proclamation dated 21st January 1870. dhist monasteries and temples (dewala), and
The Ordinance requires the Commissioners to Nindagam, villages of large proprietors. These determine the following points :
last either were the ancestral property of the (1) The tenure of every service panguwa, whe- chiefs (pravênigam), or were originally royal ther it be Pravêni or Måruwena. (2.) The names, villages bestowed from time to time on favourites so far as can be ascertained, of the proprietors and of the court. In these estates, certain portions, holders of each pravêni panguwa. (3.) The nature known as Muttetta or Bandára lands, were reand the extent of services due for each pravêni tained for the use of the palace, monastery, or panguwa. (4.) The annual amount of money-pay. manor house, while the rest was given out in ment for which such services may be fairly com- parcels to cultivators, followers, and dependents, muted.
on condition of cultivating the reserved land, or Here, as generally in oriental countries, the performing various services from the mogu menial king was the lord paramount of the soil, which to mere homage, or paying certain dues, &c. These was possessed by hereditary holders, on the con- followers or dependents had at first no hereditary dition of doing service according to their caste.' title to the parcels of land thus allotted to them. The liability to perform service was not a personal These allotments, however, generally, passed from obligation, but attached to the land, and the father to son, and in course of time hereditary maximum service due for a holding large enough title was in fact acquired... to support an entire family was generally the There were thus two distinct sources whence labour of one male for six months in a year. the claim to service was derived. The right
* A panguwa is a farm, allotment, or holding; a pravêni panguwa is an hereditary holding; marawena panguwa is defined by the ordinance to be an allotment "held by one or more tenanta-at-will."