Shri Shiv Chatrapati Caritr 1.6.4

1.6.4

They used to make the collection and to pay an unspecified sum (tribute). For a village, where the Mirasdars took one to two thousand {Hons or Rupees ?), (they) used to render two hundred to three hundred to the government as quit-rent. Therefore the Mirasdar grew wealthy and strengthened (himself) by building bastions, castles and strongholds in the village, and enlisting footmen and musketeers. (They) did not care to wait on the revenue officers. If the revenue officer said that they could pay more revenue the (Mirasdars) stood up to quarrel with him. In this way (they grew) unruly and forcibly misappropriated (the lands in the Des). On this account did the Raje demolish the bastions, the castles and the strongholds, after conquering the Des. Where there were important forts, he posted his (own) garrison. And nothing was left in the hands of the Mirasdars. This done, (he) prohibited all that the Mirasdars used to take at their sweet will, by Inam (right) or revenue farming and fixed the rates of the dues in cash and grains, for the Zamindars, as well as of the rights and the perquisites of the Desmukh, the Deshulkarni and the Patil (and) the Kulkarni according to the yield of the village. The Zamindars were prohibited to build bastioned castles. (They were to) build houses (and) live (therein). Such were the regulations for the provinces.