Mughal Administration c15.s1.t1.59

c15.s1.t1.59

of the past year and the year preceding it, the area capable of cultivation, the condition and capability of the ryots, and other points. And if the ryots of any village do not agree to this procedure, they fix the revenue at the time of harvesting by [actual] survey or estimated valuation of crop.* And in some of the villages, where the cultivators are known to be distressed and deficient in capital, they follow the practice of division of crops [ghalla-bakhshi] at the rate of one-half, one-third, two-fifths, or more or less. And at the end of the year they send to the imperial record office the account-books (tumār)† of the cash collection of revenue, according to rule and custom, with their own verification (tasdiq) and the kroris' acceptance, [267b] and the signatures of the chaudhuris and qānungoes. But they do not send there the records of the lands of every pargana with description of the cultivation and details of the articles forming the autumn and spring harvests,—in such a way as to show what proportion of the crop of last year was actually realised and what proportion fell short, what difference, either increase or decrease, has occurred between the last year and the present, and the number of ryots of every mauza, distinguishing the lessees, cultivators, and others. [Such papers] would truly exhibit the circumstances of every mahal, and the work of the officers there—who, on the occurrence of a decrease in the collection of the mahal, after the assessment of the revenue had taken place, reduce a large amount from the total [standard] revenue on the plea of deficient rainfall, the calamity of chillnip, dearth of grain, or something else.