Korea (Koriya)
Korea, 1908
Tributary State in the Central Provinces, lying between 22 degree 56' and 23 degree 48' N. and 81° 56' and 82 degree 47' E., with an area of 1,631' square miles. Till 1905 it was included in the Chota Nagpur States of Bengal. It is bounded on the north by Rewah State ; on the east by Surguja ; on the south by Bilaspur District ; and on the west by the States of Chang Bhakar and Rewah. It consists of an elevated table-land of coarse sandstone, from which spring several abruptly scarped plateaux, varying in height and irregularly distributed over the surface. The general level of the lower table-land is about 1,800 feet above the sea. On the east this rises abruptly into the Sonhat plateau, with an elevation of 2,477 f eet - The north of the State is occupied by a still higher table-land, with a maximum elevation of 3,367 feet. In the west a group of hills culminates in the Deogarh Peak (3,370 feet), the highest point in Korea. The lofty Sonhat plateau forms the water- shed of streams which flow in three different directions : on the west to the river Gopath, which has its source in one of the ridges of the Deogarh peak and divides Korea, from Chang Bhakar ; on the north-
1 This figure, which differs from the area shown in the Census Report of 1901, was supplied by the Surveyor-General. east to the Son ; while the streams of the southern slopes feed the Heshto or Hasdo, the largest river of Korea, which runs nearly north and south throughout the State into Bilaspur District and eventually falls into the Mahanadl. Its course is rocky throughout, and there is a fine waterfall near Kirwahi. In the past tigers and wild elephants used to commit serious depredations and caused the desertion of many small villages, but their numbers have been considerably reduced. Bison, wild buffaloes, sambar (Cervus unicolor), nilgai (Boselaphus fragocawe/its), 'ravine deer' (Gazella bennettt), hog deer, mouse deer, and bears are common.
The State was ceded to the British Government in 1818. In early times there had been some indefinite feudal relations with the State of Surguja, but these were ignored by the British Government. The chief's family call themselves Chauhan Rajputs, and profess to trace back their descent to a chief of the Chauhan clan who conquered Korea several centuries ago. The direct line became extinct in 1S97, and the present chief, Raja Seo Mangal Singh Deo, belongs to a collateral branch of the family. The country is very wild and barren, and is inhabited mainly by migratory aborigines ; the population decreased from 36,240 in 1891 to 35,113 in 1901, the density being only 22 persons per square mile. The State contains 250 villages, one of which, Sonhat, lying at the foot of the Sonhat plateau and on its northern edge, is the residence of the chief. On the highest table- land, which stretches for nearly 40 miles to the borders of Chang Bhakar, there are only 37 hamlets inhabited by Cheros, who practise jhuming and also carry on a little plough cultivation on their home- stead lands. Hindus number 24,430 and Animists 10,395. There are 10,000 Gonds ; and Goalas, Kaurs, and Raj wars number 3,000 each. The people are almost entirely dependent on agriculture for a livelihood, but the aboriginal tribes are accustomed to supplement the meagre produce of their fields with various edible fruits and roots from the jungles.
Korea contains extensive forests consisting chiefly of sal (Shorea robusta), and bamboos are also abundant. Some forests in the western part, which lie near the Bengal-Nagpur Railway, have been leased to timber merchants ; but in the remainder of the State the forests contain no trees of any commercial value. The minor jungle products include lac and khair {Acacia Catechu), besides several drugs and edible roots. In the forests there is good pasturage, which is used extensively by cattle-breeders from the Rewah State and elsewhere, on payment of certain fixed rates. Iron is found everywhere, but mineral rights belong to the British Government. Traders from Mirzapur, Bilaspur, and Benares import sugar, tobacco, molasses, spices, salt, and cloths, and export slick lac, resin, rice, and other food-grains. The State contains footpaths but no regular roads, and trade is carried on by means of pack-bullocks.
The relations of the chief with the British Government are regulated by a sanad granted in 1899, and reissued in 1905 with a few verbal changes due to the transfer of the State to the Central Provinces. Under this sanad the chief was formally recognized and permitted to administer his territory subject to prescribed conditions, and the tribute was fixed for a further period of twenty years, at the end of which it is liable to revision. The chief is under the general control of the Commissioner of Chhattlsgarh as regards all important matters of administration, including the settlement and collection of land revenue, the imposition of taxes, the administration of justice, arrangements connected with excise, salt, and opium, and disputes in which other States are concerned. He cannot levy import and export duties or transit dues, unless they are specially authorized by the Chief Com- missioner ; and he has no right to the produce of gold, silver, diamond, or coal mines in the State or to any minerals underground, which are the property of the British Government. He is permitted to levy rents and certain other customary dues from his subjects, and is empowered to pass sentences of imprisonment up to five years and of fine to the extent of Rs. 200 ; but sentences of imprisonment for more than two years and of fine exceeding Rs. 50 require the con- firmation of the Commissioner. Heinous offences calling for heavier punishment are dealt with by the Political Agent, Chhattlsgarh Feuda- tories, who exercises the powers of a District Magistrate and Assistant Sessions Judge ; the Commissioner occupies the position of a Sessions Court in respect of such cases, while the functions of a High Court are performed by the Chief Commissioner.
The total revenue of the State from all sources in 1904-5 was Rs. 18,500, of which Rs. 6,600 was derived from land and Rs. 5,000 from forests. The total expenditure in the same year was Rs. 17,350, including Rs. 3,300 spent on administration and Rs. 8,660 on domestic charges. The tribute to the British Government is Rs. 500 per annum. The zamlnddrs hold immediately under the chief and pay annual rents, which in most cases are fixed permanently, besides cer- tain cesses. The cultivators have no permanent rights in their land, but are allowed to hold it as long as they pay their rents and cesses and render customary service {begar) to the State. Besides the village chaukidars and goraits, who are remunerated in kind or hold grants of land, there is a salaried police force of 3 officers and 10 men. The State maintains a small jail with accommodation for 7 prisoners, in which prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for two years or less are confined. There is no school in the whole State, and in 1901 only 84 persons of the total population could read and write. Up to the present no dispensary has been established ; 2,260 persons were successfully vaccinated in 1904-5.
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
