Later Mughals v2.c17.s3.12

v2.c17.s3.12

The frequent civil contests, whether among the Princes and nobles, or between the Government and rebellious subjects, spread a sense of insecurity among the taxpayers. The peasants withheld the land revenue, which was the mainstay of the Government, and the lower officials evaded delivering their collections. The victor in the contest might crush the defaulting ryots and peculating tahsildars and turn them out of house and hold; but by doing so he ruined himself all the same, as his only source of income was gone; he had only swelled the number of desperate homeless roving brigands and reduced the area under tillage.