The Chingleput, Late Madras, District, a Manual - Charles Stewart Crole

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...as the more valuable privileges of "the higher orders. First, the Paracheri, the site of their huts "wherever placed, and the backyards attached to them, are held, "like the bouses and homesteads of the mirassidars, rent free, and "they are exempted universally, from all tax and impost whatever. "Secondly, they are entitled to a share in the produce of every "crop, which they receive at various rates, and in various modes, "under the denomination of Kalvasam, Sudantram, 8fc. Thirdly, "they hold the inferior offices of the village as Taleiydri, Vettiyan, "Cambucatu, Alavucaren, Tuti, &c, for which they are allowed "man iyams and sotantrams distinct from those above-mentioned.' "The Villeins work for the mirassidars in rotation (mureij, and "for a time proportioned to the share held by each, what is requir"ed for their subsistence in addition to the produce of the privi"leges above-mentioned, is supplied jointly by the village, and they "receive presents of cloths and money at stated period, at festivals, "marriages, &c, sometimes their subsistence is secured to them "by assignments of land which they cultivate like Payucaries; "but rendering a large share to their masters, in return for seed, "cattle and implements of husbandry. "A custom prevails among the slave castes in Tondeimandalam, "especially in the neighbourhood of Madras, which may be considered "as a periodical assertion of independence, at the close of the Tamil "month Aunt, with which the revenue year ends, and the cultivation "of the ensuing year ought to commence, the whole of the slaves "strike work, collect in bodies outside of the villages, and so remain "...