A History of Agriculture in India v2.c54.s2.3

v2.c54.s2.3

'These taxes were according to the original institutes of 'Umar, when he assessed the Sawad, or cultivated lands of 'Irak; but, in course of time, they were everywhere greatly enhanced, even to one-half of the produce of the land, or rather according to the ability of the people to pay. In short, the rates above mentioned were merely a nominal value put upon the land; for the collection of the revenues was, in many instances, left to rapacious farmers, who covered their contracts and benefited themselves besides, at the expense of the cultivators.