Administrative System of the Marathas c11.s2.1

c11.s2.1

Annaji Datto had fixed the rent at 33% p. c. of the gross produce, but Shivaji afterwards demanded a consolidated rent of 40% p. c.¹⁹ when all the taxes and extra cesses had been abolished.²⁰ Neither *tagai* nor the *istawa* principle was unknown in his time. "Cattle should be given to the new rayats that may come. Grain and money for (buying) seeds should be given. Grain and money should be given for their maintenance and the sum should be realised in two or four years according to the means of the debtor."²¹ In this way, says Sabhasad, new settlers were encouraged to come and settle in Shivaji's dominions. Rent-free land was granted for founding a market town by Shivaji's minister Moro Pingle.²² It is also certain that though extra cesses had been abolished, the customs duties were retained. No one could travel without a passport from a competent authority and Fryer mentions a customs officer stationed at Kalyan.²³