Administrative System of the Marathas c11.s2.7

c11.s2.7

We know, from many published documents, how much the peasant had to pay for each bigha he cultivated, during the Peshwa period. No such document of Shivaji's time has come down to us. Major Jervis has quoted exact figures in his work on the Konkan, but from what sources we do not know. It will not, however, be improper to quote these figures here, and the reader may accept them for what they are worth. Says Jervis, — "It is commonly believed indeed, that he (Shivaji) measured and classified all the lands, and then ascertained the amount of their produce from one or two villages in each Muhal of the Ouchitgurh, Rajpooree, Rygurh, Soowurndroog, Unjunvel, Rutnagiri and Veejydroog districts, for three successive years, from which data he established the rates, half in kind, half at a fixed commutation rate differing in each Talooka, to be paid by the beegah of each sort of land. The classification of the rice lands mule or dhemp, under 12 heads; the four first still retaining their former well known distinctions. *Uvul*, first and best sort; *Doom* or *Dooyoom* second sort; *Seem* third sort; *Charoom* or *Charseem* fourth sort. The first was assessed at 12½ muns; the second at 10, the third at 8, the fourth at 6¼ muns......... The remaining eight descriptions of land went by the following names, discriminating their respective qualities, and were assessed at the annexed rates. Ist, Raupal, on which small stunted brush wood grows; 2nd, Kharwut, lands in the neighbourhood of the sea or rivers, sometimes called salt bhatty lands; 3rd Bawul, rocky soil; 4th Khuree, stony soil; 5th Kuriyet or Toorwut, lands cultivated with pulse hemp, etc. 13 (sic) Manut, lands with the roots of large trees still uncleared, as near Indapur and Goregaon.