The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c22.24

v4.c22.24

The practice of farming the revenue of a village, or larger area, is of old standing in India; the farmer engaged to pay a lump sum, hoping to collect more from the peasants, and so make a profit for himself. Almost up to the end of the Muslim period the duration of such farms was very short, one year being an ordinary term; but in the eighteenth century the duration tended to become indefinite, and in practice the position might even become hereditary.