Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c36.s7.4

v3.c36.s7.4

Outside their own possessions, the Sikhs used to go forth for exacting blackmail exactly in imitation of the Maratha mulkgiri or chauth-collecting expeditions. “As regularly as the crops were cut, the border Sikh chieftains crossed over [into the imperial territory in the Upper Doab] and levied blackmail from almost every village, in the most systematic manner. Their requisitions were termed rākhi [i.e., price of protection.]* Each of them had a certain well-known beat or circle, well recognised and clearly defined . . . The collections varied with the ability of the people to pay, averaging from two to five Rupees a head. Two or three horsemen generally sufficed to collect them, for 2,000 or 3,000 more were never very far off . . . Refusal was fatal."