History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c38.49

v2.c38.49

The Muraqāt throws a good deal of light on the condition of Orissa in the middle of the 17th century. Immediately after its pacification Khān-i-Daurān remitted to Delhi the accumulated revenue of 15 lakhs of rupees, kept at Katak and in the parganas, together with seven pieces of cloth (parchah), one piece of scarlet cloth, and two caskets of Chhani decorated in the Dutch style." (Muraqāt, p. 50). The Ṣūbāhdār then managed to extort the Mughal shares of the revenue of the Quṭb-shāhī district of Chikakol from the Faujdār, Haidar Khān, who asserted that he had paid fixed sums of rupees thirteen thousand every year during the Vice-royalty of prince Shuja.’ But papers sent from Delhi showed that the rate was rupees twenty thousand per annum. Khān-i-Daurān succeeded in extorting rupees 80,000 as arrears. The records of the province of Shuja’s time had been lost or destroyed by disloyal and dishonest officers and therefore Mughal officers now found it extremely difficult to ascertain the correct assessment. The Zamindar of Sarangadh used to pay Rs. 10,000 as succession fee but no regular tribute, but the officers of the treasury at Delhi found that his tribute was Rs. 8,000 per annum.