Memoir on Thar and

the Ameer’s authority, and who consequently looked at our advent, for a realization of
their hopes of being again restored to the position of independent landed proprietors;
while the chief’s of the west, from having been a longer period under the more immediate
control of the Ameer’s officers, and long felt the withering influence of their sway, found
relief in the change of masters afforded by the conquest.
“Having, in the preceding paragraphs, given a short outline of the general state of affairs
in the different districts at the conquest, I will now shortly detail the settlement made for
such of the chiefs of districts and tribes as had enjoyed immunities under the Ameers, or
appeared deserving of consideration under our rule. To commence with the Bullyaree
district, or Raomaki, i. e. the land occupied by Raomas, or acknowledging the supremacy
of the Raoma Chief or Urbab, such being his title. This person had formerly received a
trifling share of the land revenue of his district, the average annual value of which was
shown to be 175 Rupees, in which amount * he was consequently compensated. Next
comes the Deepla district, comprising the Noreki and Sodeki, or land occupied by the
Norays and Sodas. The Chief or Urbab of the Norays satisfactorily proved that he had
formerly received a share of the land revenue, as also of the customs duties of Deepla.
His accounts proved annual average revenue of 500 Rupees from these sources, which
amount was accordingly allotted to † him as compensation. The Soda chiefs of Deepla,
who formerly received allowances of money and grain from the Ameers, were
compensated in the sum of 515 Rupees ‡ annually: thus the alienated rights as well as
allowances enjoyed by the Chiefs of the Deepla district were bought up or compensated
on the conquest, by payments aggregating annually 1190 Rupees. The above chiefs of the
Deepla district were subsequently, in 1849, granted permission to cultivate § 10 santees of
land, rent free.”
95. The Soda chiefs of Mittee and Islamkote were found to be in the enjoyment of neither
pay nor territorial rights; they would appear to have realized precarious and trifling
revenue by accompanying the Kardars in the assessment season, and receiving a coree **
per field from such of the cultivators as felt disposed to give it. The latter chief also
received trifling amounts of money or presents from the shepherds grazing in the
districts, as a grazing tax; for some years previous to the conquest, however, the Kardars
also levied a grazing tax, more as a perquisite than a source of revenue. It is probable,
therefore, that the chiefs receipts on this account were but trifling, for the Kardars are
reported to have collected all that came within their grasp with an unsparing hand.
96. Subsequent to the conquest, two of the Soda chiefs of Mittee, on 15 Rupees a month
each, with twenty-four foot sepoys at five Rupees a month each, were entertained to
* Vide Appendix E, being translation of the Sunnud presented to the Urbab.
† Vide Appendix F, being translation of the Sunnud granted to the Urhab.
‡ Vide Appendix G, being translation of Sunnud granted to Soda Chief.
§ Letter No. 470, of 6th March 1849, from the Commissioner in Sind, to the Political Agent in Kutch.
** The current coin in Kutch, valued 379 per 100 Co.'s Rupees.
<strong>Memoir</strong> on the Thurr and Parkur Districts of Sind. Copyright © www.panhwar.com
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