Some of these were or still are much addicted to crime.

The name _kotwar_ appears to be a corruption of _kotwal_, the keeper or guardian of a _kot_ or castle.

Under native rule the kotwal was the chief of police in important towns, and the central police office in some towns is still called the kotwali after him.

In some villages there are still to be found both a kotwal and a kotwar; in this case the former performs the duties of watch and ward of the village, and the latter has the menial work of carrying messages, collecting supplies and so on.

Both are paid by fixed annual contributions of grain from the cultivators.