ADMINISTRATION z8.'t
recollected. The next came in 1897, when for the first time systematic
relief was afforded to the people, i8 , lakhs being spent. In 1899 the
southern districts were again attacked by famine, though not severely.
Up to the nineteenth century the administration of the State;
though it lay nominally with the chief, was almost entirely in the
hands of the Kayasth community, then practically
the only educated persons connected with the Administration.
government. A diwdn or minister had nominal superior control, but
all reports, accounts, and administrative work passed through the
hands of the Kayasth khdskalams or writers. The districts 'were in
charge of kdrindas (managers), who, however, were again dependent
on their district khdskalam for all information. The district khdskalam
prepared abstracts of the reports he received from the village officials,
which were again abstracted by the chief khdskalam at head-quarters
and submitted to the diwdn. The system naturally gave immense
opening for peculation to the permanent Kayasth staff.
For administrative purposes the State is now divided, into seven
tahsils, four lying north of the Kaimur range-the Huzur, Raghtaraj-
nagar (Satna), - Teonthar, and Mauganj ; and three 'south-Bardi,
Ramnagar, and Sohagpur. Each tahsll is in charge of a tahsalddr;
who is the revenue collector and magistrate of his charge, and' is
assisted by a staff consisting of ,a thanaddr (police inspector), a forest
officer, a hospital assistant, and a district schoolmaster. Villages are
as a rule let to farmers who are responsible for the revenue, receiving
a commission of 5 to ro per cent. on the gross rental.
The chief of Rewah has first-class powers, including that of life and
death over his subjects, and . is the final authority of appeal in all
matters. He is assisted by two commissioners,. one for revenue
matters and one for judicial. The departments of administration are
the revenue and general executive, judicial, customs and excise, police,
public works, medical (which is supervised by the Agency Surgeon at
Satna), education, and forests. The courts of the State are modelled
on those in British India; the British codes being followed. in the
criminal and civil courts with necessary adaptations to suit local
usage.
Land falls into two classes: kothdr, or land directly owned,by the
State; and pawaiya, or land alienated in jdgtrs and other grants.. The
latter class comprises qa per cent. of, the total area. The principal
forms of grant are mudmla, a maintenance grant made to members
.of the chief's family and sarddrs, under which the land is not trans-
ferable, but full revenue rights lie with the holder; paipakhar(`washing
of feet'), a form of religious grant made to Brahmans, in which a
certain. percentage of the revenue is at times: taken from the holders
jdgbrs, or service grants, under which the holder, maintains, a - certain
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