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APRIL, 1921]
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF SHIVAJI
127
Masur.
fought to the bitter end. In his blind fury and rage the Maratha Watandar felt no pity for the widow and the orphans of his rivals. But even the apparent destruction of the family would not bring the feud to an end. The loyalty of the old adherents would often conceal a pregnant lady or an infant heir in some village or mountain fortress far away from their native hamlet. The child would never be allowed to forget the wrongs of his family. When arrived to manhood, he was sure to return to his village and to avenge his dead relations, and plundered houses. 11 The anarchy of the time has left its bloody marks on the family papers of the old Desh
mukhs, and nowhere do we get a more faithful account of these Jagdale of
feuds in all their horrors and bloodshed than in the papers of the Jag
dales of Masur and the Jedhis of Rohid Khore. The Jagdales could not even count on the fidelity of their own servants. Their family history runs as follows: The Desai of Karhad was Jagderau Rajgardal Deshmukh. He had two wives. They had four sons. Babasi Rau was the son of the first wife. The sons of the second were threethe eldest Ramaji Rau, the second Vithoji Rau and the youngest Dayaji Rau. Such were the four (sons). Then the father became old, and they began to quarrel. The father said: “You should not quarrel. I shall divide among you what is yours." So he said. Then he gave to the eldest Babaji Rau the Patilship and the Deshmukhi of Masur and the villages under its jurisdiction. To Ramaji Rau (and others) he gave four villages, Karhad, Aud, and two other villages under the jurisdiction of Karhad. Then Ramaji Rau stationed two barbers of Aud as his agents at Karhad and two clerks, Raghunath Pant and another, for the work of management..... At that time the barber, the clerk and the Mokasi had united. Then these three decided to murder the three brothers Ramaji Rau, Vithoji Rau and Dayaji Rau. They shut the two brothers Ramaji and Dayaji Rau in a room and murdered (them). Then the remaining brother Vithoji Rau fled and came to Masur..At that time the Patilship of Targay also was ours. Then & Brahman was stationed as Agent there. The Brahman engaged two servants, Kali gade and Khochre, and he and his son proceeded to Benares. On the way they were murdered by Koligada and Khochre. Then these two began to quarrel about the Patilship. .. And Babaji Rau became very old. He had two sons, the elder Vithoji and the younger Kumaji. A máli (gardener) was in his service. Every day five maunds of flowers were strewn on his, bedstead, for Babaji Rau's enjoyment. Then he became very old and the Mujavar (sweepers of the mosque) waxed strong in the village. The sons of his old age (being very young) were 4 and 11 years of age. So he engaged the Mali for the management of his household, and for the management of the fields was engaged a Dhangar, who tended (his) sheep. Mangi Dhangrin was his mother. The Mujavar, the Mali and the Dhangarin made common cause and decided to murder Babaji Rau and his children..... And then the murderers came. (They) wrapped the younger son in a rug and threw him below the cot, and murdered Babaji Rau in his bed. Then the eldest son said: "I have recognised you. You are sweepers of the village
11 He would ofton sook the assistance of a powerful neighbour. (groterar generally at the price of a portion of the disputed Waton, and this man would take up the quarrel as if it was his won. See Rajwade M.I.S., vol. XV, PP 17-118
