Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s26.34

c18.s26.34

In the above document mention has been made of kauls to traders. This will naturally remind us of the Kauls granted to cultivators for improvement of cultivation and other measures adopted for the same purpose. As land revenue was remitted from time to time in consideration of poverty of the Rayats, failure of rain, and above all, for the general and all-embracing reason of the improvement of agriculture, so these Zakat and Mohatarfa taxes were also, from time to time remitted. The Peshwa's government never meant to make their assessment and collection rigid; flexibility was preferred as it suited the circumstances well. In the year 1763-64, a greater supply of ghi, oil, joggery and turmeric being considered necessary the Kamavisdars in charge of Zakat, in Prants Poona and Junnar, were ordered to levy Zakat at half the usual rate.²⁵