The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c6.28

c6.28

But the most interesting document is the treaty of 1635. The word *chauth* really signifies ‘a quarter’, but the first Article of this treaty definitely laid down that the Chauthia should in no case receive a quarter of the total revenue collected.³ In some *parganas* his share amounted to 17 per cent. while in others he was entitled to no more than 14 and 12½ per cent., of the revenue. To avoid misunderstanding, these *parganas* were clearly mentioned in the text of the treaty, and Article 2 debarred him from making any further demands from the peasants and landholders of these *parganas*, all his claims having been included in the above mentioned 17, 14 and 12½ per cent. of the revenue.⁴ It was settled by Article 3 that *chauth* should be collected annually in the month of October in the city of Daman and its sub-divisions, and not in the villages. According to Article 4 the Raja Chauthia was expected to send his *Pradhan* and receiver at the appointed time of collection to collect and receive *chauth*, and two persons of noble birth and acknowledged honesty were to be elected by the officers and people of Daman to act as assessors of *chauth*. In return for the *chauth* which he received the Raja and his people were expected to refrain from doing any injury to the chauth-paying districts; and if any robbery or theft was committed in the district of Daman by any of the Raja’s subjects, he was to hand over the culprits to receive condign punishment, failing which he would be obliged to pay compensation for the losses caused by his people. He was not to allow the Kolis and other predatory tribes to pass through his lands. The Raja of Sarceta was also required to serve His Majesty the King of Portugal with his army, whenever he was called upon to do so by the Governor and captains of the fortress of Daman. He was to be a true and honest friend of the city and province of Daman, as his grandfather and father before him had undertaken to be. This treaty was with certain modifications renewed and reconfirmed in 1670; but the first five articles which regulated the payment and collection of *chauth* remained unaltered, and from a letter of the Viceroy in 1719 it appears that the annual *chauth* (which no longer fulfilled the conditions implied in the term) amounted to 18,000 Xerafins.¹