The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c22.49

v4.c22.49

Precise information is wanting regarding the fiscal relations subsisting between Akbar and those chiefs who retained jurisdiction over their domains. It is possible that revenue was claimed, at least from some of them, in the form of a stipulated annual tribute, as had been the practice at earlier periods; but the obscure records which alone are available for the territories of the more important chiefs can also be interpreted on the theory that the emperor claimed nothing beyond loyal service, including of course the periodical presents which etiquette required, and that the Revenue Ministry recorded a chief’s territory as his assignment, valued at some arbitrary figure for the formal completion of its records.