Administrative System of the Marathas c12: Appendix C
Administrative System of the Marathas c12
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Appendix C
c12.1
"A Kaulnama from Rajashri Annaji Datto to the Deshmukh, and Deshkulkarni and Mokdam, Patil and the peasantry of Tarf Rohidkhore in the Subha of Mawal, dated Surasan Tisa Sabain Alaf (1678),—You came to the presence at camp Lakhevadi and (represented) that in the watani districts of His Majesty, the rayats should be encouraged by the confirmation of their kaul and fixing the rent of the lands. Having confidence . . . . . and taking into consideration the remissions made, we grant the following terms for the land. From the year San Saman (it is the practice to realise) half the produce, from the last year the lands were remeasured according to the *bighaoni* system and the rent was fixed from a calculation of the produce and it was settled that of the lands . . . . . the inspection (*pahani*) of what places had one year been made, and the produce was found to have decreased and a plot though originally a first class land had (now) deteriorated then . . . . . Such a settlement was not made after an understanding with the rayats. Therefore you petitioned that a settlement should be made (about the rent). Thereupon the following agreement is made that in the present year . . . . . is almost over and the last one month only remains......... The agreement about the rent of San Sabaina .........the (produce) should be estimated, such was the agreement made. If some Brahman or Prabhu Karkuns are appointed for this work, then what will those lethargic people do? Into how many blocks are village lands divided, what are the crops grown in the village, what rent should be realised, what (do those) poor men (know about that).........Therefore, as you are the people responsible for the revenue of your district (this work has been) thrown upon you. Therefore you should from to-day . . . . . make an estimate of the revenue of your district. For this work, the Deshmukh and the Deshkulkarni and the Mokdam and officers...accompanied by a few rayats, should with one accord go from village to village and ascertain that the produce of such a village is so much, the land (in it)...is so much, of the (arable) land, the first, second, and third class (plots)...are so many. After carefully ascertaining (these things) and making an estimate of the crops grown,.........you should after a proper enquiry find out what may be the probable produce if (more) labour is applied, and put that amount (under that class of) lands...You should make your estimate after examining (proper) evidence, in the following manner—that at a certain place Malik Ambar's (estimated) produce was so much, of that autumnal or the first harvest of the first, second, third and the fourth class lands is so much, of the second or the vernal crop is so much. After determining the (produce of) the two harvests, you should state that in so many bighas is such and such crop (cultivated). After making these entries (under the heading) of each particular village, if there are few peasants...then according to the above order, you should make an estimate of produce of the whole Tape, and to do this work, time of a year from to-day, has been given to you. You must in the meantime, inspect the whole Tape, village by village, field by field, and carefully ascertain their yield and write to me. I shall thereafter come and inspect three villages of these (different) sorts in your Tape one... hilly, one marshy and one with black soil...and the villages near their boundary having been inspected according to the practice of the Karkuns,...having connected (and) (comparing that ?)...Your total and what may be the produce of one village...and making it ready according to that...if the total under each item become 1¼, 1½ or double as much, then in that way...
c12.2
1½, 1¼ and double...having been proved correct...and you are to (realise accordingly)...should do if...do so then...it will be all right if it tallies...settlement...settlement...to be made...agree...to this effect has been made...we are agreeable...the cultivation of the district...Give such an assurance...from the Huzur.¹
c12.3
¹ Rajwade, H. I. S., Vol. XV, pp. 268-270.