Major Ternan, that system would have been introduced in all its strictness. Even with some of its most stringent provisions softened down, it worked in a manner to cause great discontent among the chiefs, without satisfying the people.
The mode in which this system worked may be illustrated by the story of the Rája of Dilhérí, the feudal lord of all the Gónd clans. This chief had ever been a loyal supporter of the British connection. For his fidelity in the trying times of 1843 the Government had presented him with a gold medal. Like many of his tribe, he had been rather extravagant in his expenditure, and had incurred debts. These, however, by exercising a strict economy, he had paid off a very short time after the transfer of the Ságar and Narbadá territories to the North-west Government. Now, it was one of the principles of that Government to discourage large landowners. Accordingly, in 1855, just after the Rájá had paid off his debts, Captain Ternan, then in charge of the district in which his estates were situated, received instructions to inform the Rájá that, inasmuch as he had shown himself unfit to hold the title he had inherited, and to manage the estates which had descended to him, he would be deprived of both; that his title would be abolished, and his property distributed among his tenants, he receiving a percentage from the rents. When Ternan, most reluctantly, announced this order to the Rájá, the old man drew from his belt the medal bestowed upon him for his conduct in 1843, and requested him to return it to those who had granted it, as they were now about to disgrace him before his clan and the entire district. With great difficulty Ternan pacified him, but his heart was deeply wounded. Many thought that he would rebel. But, despite the treatment he had received, he was loyal to his British
