A History of the Mahrattas v1.c19.140

v1.c19.140

The Mokassa was distributed amongst a great number of chiefs as military Jagheer, burdened, according to circumstances, with dues to the head of the state, both of money and of troops. The districts of old Mahratta Jagheerdars were exempted from the Chouth; but they generally were liable to the payment of Surdeshmookhee, besides furnishing their quota of horse. Such Jagheers, in a grant of Mokassa for a large tract, were always stated as deductions, and long before districts were conquered formal grants and assignments of their revenue were distributed. Numberless personal Jagheers and Enams, of lands and of whole villages, were alienated by Shao: the former commonly required the performance of some service, but the latter were entirely freehold. The Raja's authority was considered necessary to collect the revenues thus conceded; but authority, for which they were constantly petitioning, was a mere mockery. The Bramins soon proved, at least to their own satisfaction, that the Raja's Sunnud was sufficient for levying tribute in districts not specified in the imperial deeds. A district once overrun was said to be under tribute from usage, whilst the others were plundered by virtue of letters patent.