A History of Agriculture in India v2.c85.s5.1

v2.c85.s5.1

The method of leasing land and tax-gathering is thus described by Niccolao Manucci: ‘At the beginning of their year, which is in June, the officials come from the court to the villages and compel the peasants to take up the land at a certain rate. This bargain made, they must give notice at harvest-time to the king’s officers, for without their permission the peasants may not harvest the grain. As soon as notice is received the officials proceed to the spot, and before allowing the crop to be cut, they ask the cultivators whether they are willing to give a half or a third more than they have contracted for at the beginning of the year. Should the cultivators agree to this, writings are drawn up and security taken; but after having made the bargain, they usually find that what they gather in does not suffice to meet the king’s rent. It thus happens, more often than not, that they find themselves ruined by this revenue payment.