Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 80

66
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1874.
nowadays if he cannot read and write, the larger ship is over, the drawing of the lots takes holder is passed over in favour of the smaller place. After the lottery, the slips of kadjan are who can. He is appointed by the common deposited with the karei kârans; and the consent of the sharers who are allotted to the agreement executed by the shareholders, and the karei of which he is to be the head, and retains measurement account, are entrusted to the vilhis position until the next division takes place. lage priest, or schoolmaster, or astrologer, who If he die before that time, or sell his property, is supposed to be a common friend to all parties. his office does not pass by inheritance nor to the To make matters more secure, each tirasdar purchaser. No new appointment is made; and (shareholder) can have a copy of these docuthe name of the original karei kåran is ments for himself. attached to the karei throughout the time 1 Within a week or so of this ceremony, which during which the distribution of the land is to is properly the kareiyid, each karei remain in force. When he has been chosen, and karan divides the lands of the block which when certain shareholders have been allotted to has fallen to him among the miras da rs who each karei, an agreement is executed by them have agreed to abide by him. This division is to abide by the karei kâran and the allot- made either by the same process of casting lots, ment, and binding themselves to execute the or by common consent. It need not be connecessary repairs and improvements, and to ducted in any particular place, nor is it attendcarry out certain other usual arrangements. ed with any ceremony. Each mirâs dar Then the lands of the village are divided, receives, and keeps by him, a slip of kadjan on without reference to previous enjoyment, into which his lands are entered. so many shares, 15 in the case we have taken; In order to place more clearly before readers, these again are embodied in 4 kareis. who care to examine the subject closely, the Then & slip of kadjan (palm-leaf), called details of the working of this kareigid ten"kareyolei," is prepared for each of the four | ure, I shall here introduce a translation of a kareis, and on it are written the names and kareigid agreement. This document is one extent of the fields composing the karei. of those above mentioned, which are executed Four other smaller slips are inscribed with the by the mirâs dars before the lots are drawn. names of the ka rei kârans, each bearing "This is the agreement which we Dê vayyan one name; and then all the eight slips are "and others the undersigned, mirdsdars thrown down together on the ground. A child " of the village of Nannilam, have made of four or five years old, who cannot read, is "with one consent on the 22nd of Ani in the sent to pick out a large and a small slip, and "year R a kt å kshi [4th July 1864). this decides the karei and the karei "All the mirasdars of the pangus kâran.
(shares), nine in number, of the above village, The lots are drawn in some public place, bave enjoyed the nanjei (wet) lands, etc., in either before the temple, or at the math, the village by dividing them according to or at the village choultry. An auspicious day, kareiyid, without a chandrårkam. + chosen according to the position of the star of They have agreed with Government some years the village, (which is determined by the first ago for 'amani' management, some years on letter of its name) is appointed for the allot- the estimate system, and some years for grain ment; and the proceedings are to some extent or money rents. From the Prabhava (year) of a religious character. If the drawing takes before last to fshvara (11 years) a kareigid place at a temple, it is done in the presence of of nine kareis (was in force). From Vik. the deity; or if elsewhere, a new figure of the rama to Saundari (8 years) there was a favourite village god Pilleiyâr is made with kareigid of six ka reis; and from Vi. saffron powder; as many cocoanuts are broken rô dhi to Vila mbi (9 years) a kareiyid before it as there are aniràsdars in the vil- of nine kareis. But whereas during this lage, and after betel has been presented, and wor- space of making kareiyids for short periods
This word, so well known here, may require explanation + When redistributory is abandoned for permanent tenure, elsewhere. It means a possessor of "mirls,or holder of the village is called "Achandrårkam," or "as long as sun land in the village with all the rights attached to owner. and moon endure," perpetual. The compound is d-chandraship.
arka.