A History of Agriculture in India v2.c85.7

v2.c85.7

'Murshid Quli Khan introduced Todarmal's revenue system in the Deccan. Amins and Amils were appointed to measure the land, to ascertain the area under cultivation, and to mark out the arable from waste lands. Muqaddams were appointed in the villages who helped in the collection of revenue, and looked after the interests of the peasantry. Loans were advanced to poor cultivators to purchase seed and cattle, and they were permitted to repay them by instalments. So anxious was the Diwan for justice that he did not grudge the meanest labour and often dragged the measuring chain with his own hands. The chaotic revenue system that was in vogue rested on no principle and put the state to a heavy loss. The whole thing was reorganized with the necessary modifications which were suggested by local conditions. Altogether there were three systems which were adopted by Murshid Quli. The old practice of fixing the share of the state per plough was retained in certain backward areas with due allowance for difference in soil and the yield thereof. It was a rough-and-ready system involving risks both to the state and the peasant. The other system was the batai, which was determined in the following manner: