Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, with Some Early Nineteenth Century Documents c6.s3.41

c6.s3.41

10. The Moothurfa (or professional licence) one of the sayer collections which were abolished by Earl Cornwallis’ Government we conceive can never have been mistaken for a house tax and in regard to the tax termed Khanashumaree (i.e. enumeration of houses) to which both the Committee of Finance and yourselves refer to show that the natives in that part of India have been accustomed to a tax upon houses, we do not know any trace upon our records. Nor have our enquiries been attended with any distinct information on the subject. There may have existed some trifling or partial tax of this nature for some particular purpose but that there was a general one which might be considered as a precedent for the house tax you levied we cannot admit without more particular information.