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 THE MEANING OF THE COYENANI On the 20th April, Mr. Gandhi in company of Mrs, Gandhi, Messrs. Manu Subedar, V. J. Patel and others visited three villages, viz., Kasar, Ajarpura and Samarkha in Anand TaluJca.

At Ajarpura which was visited by the Mamlatdar of the TaluJca only two days back and where he had taken great pains to explain to the people why they should now pay up the revenue without any further delay, but where all efforts had proved fruitless, a meeting of about a thou- sand men and three hundred ladies was held- Here Mr, Gandhi delivered a long address. He said:

First of all I want bo talk bo you a 'little about the Mamlatdar's visit?, The Mamlatdar told you that the covenant] must ba observed. But he misinterpreted the meaning of the covenant). He told you that your forefathers had entered into a covenant with the Govern- ment to pay a carbarn assessment for the lands in their possession, Now let us see as to what kind of covenant our forefathers had entered into. Oar ancient law covenant ia that we should give to our king one-fourth of the grains that grow in our fialds. Ib meant that whenever our crops failed we had to pay nothing. The present Government) have changed this law and forces up to pay in money. I do not know whether it has gained thereby. Perhaps they may have. But remember well that this is our ancient law, and you have taken the vow in accordance with it). And again it is the Government law that if tha crops are undar four annas, the collection of revenue must be suspended till the next year. Tais year you siooerely believe that your crops are under four annaa and there-

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