Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s16.2

c27.s16.2

According to Abul Fazl also, "He (*Kotwal*) should keep a register of houses, and frequented roads, and engage the citizens in a pledge of reciprocal assistance and bind them to a common participation of weal and woe." "Of every guild of artificers, he should name one as guild master and another as broker, by whose intelligence the business of purchase and sale should be conducted." "He shall discover thieves and goods they have stolen or be responsible for the loss." "He should use his discretion in the reduction of prices and not allow purchases to be made outside the city." And "he shall examine the weights."¹ According to a Farman addressed by Akbar to all his officers, the *Kotwal* was required to supervise the purchase and sale of goods.² The *Kotwal* should according to Dastur-ul Aml, "summoning the watchmen and sweepers, take bonds from them that they should daily report to him the occurrences of every *mahalla* (ward of the city) without suppression or exaggeration." "Do justice," the *Kotwal* is advised, "that people may liken you to a quazi in the power of arriving at the truth of a case. On the public streets of the cities post careful men to act as watchmen from sunset to 9 P.M. and 9 P.M. to dawn, to scrutinise the wayfarers and arrest those whom they consider to be thieves and evil-doers, and bring them to you."³ Manucci says that "it was the kotwal's business to stop the distillation of arrack (spirits) the *eau-de-vie* used in the Indies. * * * He obtains information about all that goes on so as to be able to send in his report. * * * He also has the duty of arresting thieves and criminals. * * * It is also his business to collect the income from the town.⁴