This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
RAJAH ROGHUDEB RAI MAHASAI.
25

Report referred to above. The portion of it which has direct bearing on the subject now under consideration, is so very important that we deem it necessary to quote it in extenso. The said Report, speaking of the Zamindary Kismut Mahomedameenpore says:—"This district, comprehending about 700 square miles, with all the European settlements in Bengal, on the western margin of the river Hooghly, from the Foujedarry capital of that name, or port custom-house called Bukhshbunder, down to the opposite shore of Calcutta, was dismembered from the Painam permanent holding of Arsha, then the Eathiman entire of Ramisser, a Koyt, father of Ragoodeess (i. e. Roghudeb), and grandfather of Govindes (i. e. Govindadeb), who succeeded to one-third of the whole trust, first erected into a separate zamindary, between the years 1135 and 1147 A. B. It was at the same time, partitioned among the former's two younger sons and two nephews, with a Brahmin dependent of the family, each of whom gave his own name, (still retained on the Khalsa records,) to the subdivision or portion so acquired; but all were assessed for revenue to Government under the single head of Mahomedameenpore, and in like manner paid alone, through the channel of the most considerable or responsible of the participants." Lower down the "subdivision or portion", spoken of above, is given as follows:—"Mokund, 2nd son of Ramisser, 9/16 of Mahomedameenpore, and Ramkissen, 3rd son of Ramissser, 7/16 of the same: Menoker (i. e. Monohar), his nephew, eldest son of Basdeo (i. e. Basudeb), 10/16 of Boroo, and Gungadher, 2nd son of Basdeo, 6/16 of the same. The Brahman dependant, referred to, is Suntose (i. e. Suntosh) of Answeerpore.

From what is recorded in the Fifth Report it is evident that the Zamindari of Mahomedameenpore, formed as it was principally out of Pargana Arsha, the sole absolute property of Rameswar, extended from Bukshbunder alias Hooghly on the one side to Ramkrishnapore, now in Zillah Howrah, on the other; that it was created between the years 1728 and 1740 A. D., that is, some years after the rule of Nawab Murshid Kuli Khan who died in 1725; that, though the estate, so formed, was subdivided into well-defined shares, it was one and entire, so far as Government revenue was concerned, which was payable by and through the principal shareholder, under the single head of Mahomedameenpore. Thus,