Administrative System of the Marathas c23.s13.55

c23.s13.55

We need not further pursue this question. The instances we have already furnished will suffice to establish that most of these taxes, cesses, and imposts of the Maratha times had long been in existence before the foundation of the Maratha empire. It is not a discredit to them that they continued to levy some or most of these, but it is really very creditable in those days of autocracy and irresponsible government that from time to time these Maratha rulers (characterised as mere plunderers, robbers and scoundrels by the late Dr. Vincent Smith in his Oxford History of India) rose to the occasion and abolished many harassing duties and obnoxious imposts as did the Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar⁴⁴ and the Muhammadan emperors of Delhi.⁴⁵