The Colas c29.31

c29.31

Figures bearing on the value of land reveal equally disparate conditions. The prices stated differ so widely from place to place and among different transactions that it is impossible to attempt a detailed explanation of such differences without an accurate knowledge of the quality of the land concerned, or to institute comparisons with present conditions in respect of land-values. A rough idea may be gathered from a few examples chosen at random which will show not merely the difference in values, but wide divergences in the rates at which future dues on land were capitalised for the advance payment of the *iṟai-kāval*, the 'tax-fund' as it may be called. At Tiruvaiyāṟu (Tanjore Dt.), in A.D. 1006, one *vēli* of land was sold for 100 *kalañjus* of gold.⁷³ At Kuttālam in Tinnevelly, 8 *mās* of land including the tax-dues on it were valued at 43 *kāśus* in the fourth year of Rājēndra I.⁷⁴ Two years later, in the Tanjore district, 2 *vēlis* and 8 *mās* of wet land including a tank together with dry land of the same extent were sold for the low amount of 10 *kāśus*, though the *iṟai-kāval* on it was 190 *kāśus*.⁷⁵ The low sale price in this instance was perhaps due to the sale being that of common land (*sabhāp-podu*) and to the temple. In the same year and place, another sale records the price of 40 *kāśus* and *iṟai-kāval* of 90 for just one *veli* of land, which looks more normal.⁷⁶ One Madhurāntakanmāḍai fetched two hundred and fifty *kulis* of land or one-eighth of a a *vēli* at Tiruvoṟṟiyūr in the thirtieth year of Rājēndra I.⁷⁷ Land of the extent of three and a half *vēlis* and two *mās* was sold for 50 *kāśus* and an equal amount provided for bringing it under the plough at Tiruvārūr in the eighth year of Rājēndra II.⁷⁸ One *vēli* of land was sold at 20 *kāśus* at Kāñcīpuram in 1073, and for a little less at Tiruvoṟṟiyūr.⁷⁹ In 1126, dry land of the extent of 4250 *kulis* was sold for twenty *kāśus* at Tiruvōttūr, North Arcot.⁸⁰ In 1133, four *vēlis* of land fetched a price of 90 *kāśus* at Ūṭṭattūr, Trichinopoly district, each *kāśu* being equal to three-fourths of a *kalañju* of gold.⁸¹ Land yielding a *mēlvāram* of 120 *kalams* per *vēli* was valued at 40 *kāśus* and 45 *kāśus* at Tiruvārūr, Tanjore district, in the tenth regnal year of Kulōttunga II, A.D. 1143.81a