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MARCH, 1874.]
THE CUSTOM OF KAREIYID.
65
THE CUSTOM OF “KAREIYID" OR PERIODICAL REDISTRIBUTION OF
LAND IN TANJORE.
BY H. STOKES, C.S., NEGAPATAM. TN 1807 a Committee appointed to report on But, as under this system there is little en1 the project of making a permanent settle couragement to individual industry, and as ment in Tanjore found that there were three therefore the cultivation is slovenly and the classes of villages in the district, which were 1 yield poor, there inevitably arises the necessity named according to the tenure on which they for the next step in agricultural improvement, were held. These were :
namely, that of allotting to each shareholder in 1. Samudayam, of which there were 1,774 the village a certain portion of land to cultivate. 2. Palabhôgam, of which there were 2,202 A village in which this arrangement has taken 3. Ekab hôgam, of which there were 1,807 place is called in Tamil a "Pasun - Karei,"
or “Kareigia" village. The word pasun
Total villages 5,783 is an old Tamil word cognate with the Kanarese We are not now concerned with the two latter, verb pasu, 'to divide ;' and both names mean which are villages the lands of which are | “Field-division." At first the allotment was possessed by several or by one holder ; but need probably made anew each year; at least such only speak of the Samud â ya m holdings. would be the natural commencement of the This class, which I conceive to be the most pri- change, and we find that such was actually the mitive, must be subdivided into two, namely, case in some of the richest villages in what those villages in which the produce of the land used to be called the Jaghir, and is now the was divided, and those in which the land itself Chingalpat district around Madras ; but in was temporarily apportioned. The word Samu- Tanjore I am unaware of any instances being dayam is Sanskrit, and means "common." known where the changes were so frequent. The The villages, to which this term specially periods usual in this district vary from eight to applies, are those in which the members of the thirty years, according to the pleasure of the community, or Miras dars as they are now Mirâs dars. styled, cultivate the lands in common, and The manner in which the redistribution of divide the produce, according to each man's lands takes place will best be described by an panga or share. That is, there are no example. In a village, say, of twenty vélis (1 separate allotments of land to individuals, and véli=66 acres), a certain unit is fixed on, which the property was a right to a certain share or is called a pangu or share,' and is in some & number of shares in the produce. In such villages 1 véli, and in others varies from it to vil.ages each holder possessed his proportion of 3 vélis. The village is divided, according to its the common stock, and contributed his share extent, into from four to ten “Kareis" or of the labour. The only separate land he could blocks, to each of which so many shares are hold was the garden or back-yard attached to allotted. Thus in a village of 20 vélis, there his house, and situated within the limits might be 15 shares apportioned to 4 blocks of of the village-site. There are hardly any vil- land among 12 shareholders, each block containlages now remaining in which this tenure still ing the land of three shareholders. exists, and it will doubtless soon die ont. In the month of June, July, or August, before There are, however, lands in many villages, the seed is sown, the operation of division, or generally waste or inferior fields, of which the “Kareiyid," commences. First of all, the whole cultivation is precarious, which are called “Sa- area of the village is measured, and a measuremudâyam," and held and tilled in common ment account prepared. Then for each karei by the landholders: they are such lands as it (block) a head-man is chosen from among the was expedient to hold in common, or such as landholders, who is known as the Karei were not worth dividing, and in them the Kâran,t or Kareis vá mi, the manager or Ancient tenure, which was probably at one time. master of the karei. He is generally one of universal, is found to survive.
the largest shareholders in the village; though • Papers on Mirasi right, edited by W. Hudieston, p. 67. latter name being obviously from the Hindu "Shet," Sars. + Also called Kareisván or Shétti karan; the
