1 POPULATION, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS. 79
2 they originally sprung, migrating thence and
3 extending their conquests through the Punjaub
4 and into the Sirhind province, where, being of a
5 military and predatory character, they soon con-
6 quered for themselves a permanent possession.
7 The practice of succession to property, both real
8 and personal, amongst the Manjhee Singhs, is
9 by bhaeebund and choondabund. The first
10 being an equal distribution of all lands, forts,
11 tenements, and moveables, among sons, with, in
12 some instances, an extra or double share to the
13 eldest, termed " khurch sirdaree," assimilating
14 to the double share in the law of Moses. Choon-
15 dabund is an equal division among mothers for
16 their respective male issue.*
17 " This practice accords with the Hindoo and
18 Mosaic laws, and acts as a counteractive to the
19 many evils attendant on female rule. If the free
20 will of the widow were consulted, it is scarcely to
21 be doubted she would prefer the possession of
22 power and the charms of liberty, to the alter-
23 * '' This practice of choondabund is agreeable to the Hindoo
24 law. Yyara says, if there be many sons of one man, by different
25 mothers, but in equal number and alike by class, a distribution
26 amongst the mothers is approved to Brihaspati. If there be
27 many springs from one, alike in number and in class, but born
28 of rival mothers, partition must be made by them, according to
29 law, by the allotment of shares to the mothers.
30 " When a Manjhee Singh dies, leaving no male offspriug, his
31 brothers, or his nephews, of the full blood, assume the right of