266
AL WAR STATE
palttdari (held by shares, ancestral or customary), or bhaiydchara (held
by possession without reference to shares), or a combination of two or
more of the above. The status of the zamnnddr has long been recog-
nized in Alwar, where the Darbar, though asserting its own sovereign
right, has always admitted a subordinate proprietary or biswdddri right
in the village community and its component members, whereby each
member or unit is entitled to occupy, and be protected in the occupa-
tion of, the land in his possession, so long as he cultivates it and pays
the State demand. This right passes to his children or heirs by the
ordinary rules of inheritance, and can be alienated by sale, gift, or
mortgage within certain limits and subject to the sanction of the Darbar.
The land revenue system is practically the same as in the Southern
Punjab, the village communities being as a rule strong and cohesive
bodies, generally cultivating most of the land themselves, and bound
together by ties of common descent or community of tribe, clan, or
caste. Prior to 1838 the land revenue was levied in kind, the State
claiming generally one-half of the gross produce, plus one-thirteenth of
the remainder on account of the expenses of collection. Cash assess-
ments were introduced more or less generally by the Muhammadan
ministers about I838. The first settlement was a summary one, intro-
duced for three years from 1859-60, and the demand was 14-7 lakhs.
Since then there have been four settlements, the current one having
been made for twenty years between I898 and 900o. The demand as
announced at this settlement was 22-7 lakhs, and the average assessment
per acre on 'wet' land varies from Rs. 6-3-0 to Rs. 7-4-6, while that
on 'dry' land is Rs. 2-12-0. In reassessing the rates the Punjab
system of estimates was followed, but the State claimed one-fourth of
the total crop or two-thirds of the net 'assets.'
The State maintains an Imperial Service regiment of cavalry, 600
strong; another of infantry, I,ooo strong; and an irregular local force
of 68 cavalry, I 13 artillerymen, and 521 infantry. There are 272 pieces of
ordnance, all of which are said to be serviceable. The late Maharaja
Mangal Singh was the first chief in Rajputana to offer aid in the defence
of the empire. The offer was made in February, I888, and the two
regiments of Imperial Service troops were organized in November of
the same year. Attached to each regiment is a transport train of carts,
ponies, and mules. The infantry regiment served with credit in China
in 900o-I.
The police force consists of 942 of all ranks, and costs about ri-
lakhs a year; it is distributed over 20 police stations. In addition,
about 200 municipal police chaukiddrs cost Rs. 20.000. Besides the
Central jail at the capital, there are lock-ups at the head-quarters of
tahsils in which persons sentenced to short terms of imprisonment
are confined.
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