Mughal Administration c9.s3.3

c9.s3.3

It is only fair to add that in respect of the ābwābs, there was a clear conflict of policy between the Emperors on the one hand and the revenue collectors on the other. The Emperors are for ever issuing orders to their officers to show leniency and consideration to the peasants in collecting the revenue, to give up all ābwābs, and to relieve local distress ; and the revenue officers are as often squeezing everything out of the peasants except the barest subsistence. A solemn proclamation is issued by one Emperor abolishing all ābwābs and urging all his officials, "at present and in future" to obey these instructions. But these very ābwābs crop up again and have to be abolished by his successor with another proclamation, which has exactly the same efficacy as the first. This was the experience of other Islamic countries, such as Egypt, also. (See *Encyclo. Islam*, iii. 176-177, under *Maks.*)