The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c6.16

c6.16

On 12 March 1635, a treaty on the subject of the payment of *chauth* was concluded between the King of Asarceta and the Captain of Daman. This treaty was ratified in 1670 and 1719 and it mentions in the preamble another treaty concluded as early as 1579,¹ dealing with the same subject and the relation between the Portuguese Government and the Raja of Sarceta or Asarceta in the dominion of Ramnagar. In 1617, Jaeda Rana, King of Sarceta, sent two envoys for the conclusion of a defensive alliance as well as for the regular payment and correct assessment of *chauth*,² and in 1604 a royal *alvara* was issued on the subject.³ This *chauth*, therefore, came into existence as early as 1579, if not earlier, and continued to be paid by the villagers of Daman and collected by the Raja of Ramnagar until 1719.⁴ Let us now determine what was exactly the relation between this Raja and his Portuguese neighbours, in what form this contribution was paid, and by whose agents it was collected.