Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s25.40

c18.s25.40

We may now turn to the Peshwas' income from customs duties and other taxes levied on traders. These duties fell under two classes, Mohatarfa or duties on traders, and Zakat which included duties on sales and purchases as well as octroi duties. A chart of the rates of Mohatarfa during the administration of Balaji Baji Rao Peshwa can be framed from four documents, a letter to the Kamavisdar of Mamla Revdanda written in 1742-43,¹⁷ a letter to Nathuram Chaudhari dated the same year,¹⁸ a Sanad to the officer in charge of Janjira Revdanda (1750-51)¹⁹ and a Sanad to Shridhar Jivaji issued in 1752-53.²⁰ The Kamavisdar of Mamla Revdanda was asked to levy Mohatarfa at the following rate: