I
lingered behind, and quietly put my silver into the jug, as if from
the Governor-General.[20]
The man who administers the government over these seven villages in
all its branches, civil, criminal, and fiscal, receives a salary of
only two hundred rupees a year. He collects the revenues on the part
of Government; and, with the assistance of the heads and the elders
of the villages, adjusts all petty matters of dispute among the
people, both civil and criminal. Disputes of a more serious character
are sent to be adjusted at the capital by the Raja and his ministers.
The person who reigns over the seven villages of the lake is about
thirty years of age, of the Rajput caste, and, I think, one of the
finest young men I have ever seen. His ancestors have served the
Orchha State in the same station for seven generations; and he tells
me that he hopes his posterity will serve them [_sic_] for as many
more, provided they do not forfeit their claims to do so by their
infidelity or incapacity. This young man seemed to have the respect
and affection of every member of the little communities of the
villages through which we passed, and it was evident that he deserved
their attachment.
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