Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s18.1

c18.s18.1

Now to turn to the method of assessment, its merits and demerits. Agriculture was then, as it is now, the principal industry of the country. Consistently with their policy of increasing the total wealth of the country, the Maratha revenue officer had to pay full attention to the improvement of agriculture. The Peshwas never forgot to remind their officers that their principal duty was to encourage agriculture, and to keep the rayats contented. They were also asked to base their assessment on actual inspection of the condition of cultivation and careful survey of the cultivated area. To illustrate this we may here quote several documents containing instructions to Kamavisdars and the Mamlatdars at the time of their appointment.