Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c5.t3.126

c5.t3.126

Rents were, usually, paid in kind.⁴ At the time of the reaping of crops, or sometime after, the representative of the king, the tax-collector (*Balisādhaka, Niggāhaka, etc.*) used to be present in the fields, and a division of the produce was made between the king (*raññobhāga*) and the peasant-proprietor, who represented his family. This system seems to have been somewhat advantageous, inasmuch as if and when crops failed, the peasant could secure remission, or at least postponement of the rent.⁵