The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.65

v4.c20.65

Wherever these raiders arrived they engaged in collecting the revenue of the place and passed months and years there with their wives and children in composure of mind. They divided the *parganas* among themselves, and in imitation of the imperial government they appointed their own *sūbahdārs* (governors), *kamāvish-dārs* (*chauth*-collectors) and *rāhdārs* (road-patrol). When a *kamāvishdār* was opposed by a strong *zamīndār* or imperial *faujdār*, the Marāthā *sūbahdār* came to his aid (with his troops).... In each *sūbah* the Marāthās built one or two small forts, from which they issued to raid the country around (Khāfī Khān).
When the Marāthās invade a province, they take from every *pargana* as much money as they desire and make their horses eat the standing crops or tread them down. The imperial army that comes in pursuit can subsist there only after the fields have been cultivated (anew). All administration has disappeared.... The peasants have given up cultivation; the *jāgīrdārs* do not get a penny from their fiefs.... The servants of the Marāthā state support themselves by plundering on all sides, and pay a small part of their booty to their king, getting no salary from him. The coming of rent from the Mughul officers’ *jāgīrs* ceased.... The condition of the imperial army grew worse from the high price of grain and the devastation of the *jāgīrs*, while the resources of the Marāthās increased through robbery. Thus, a vicious circle was formed which aggravated the evil. The *mansabdārs*, on account of the scanty forces under them, cannot gain control over their *jāgīrs*. The local *zamīndārs*, growing stronger, have joined the Marāthās, raised troops and stretched the hand of oppression over the realm. As the imperial dominions have been given out in fief to the *jāgīrdārs*, so too the Marāthās have made a distribution of the whole empire among their generals, and thus one kingdom has to support two sets of *jāgīrdārs*!... The peasants, subjected to this double exaction, have collected arms and horses and joined the Marāthās (Bhīmsen).