A History of Agriculture in India v2.c85.s5.5

v2.c85.s5.5

The *omrahs* also enjoyed no security of property. There was a system of escheat, the Emperor constituting himself as the sole heir of the property of those who died in his service. The most astonishing thing was that the avarice of the nobles had no solid basis, though they devoted themselves entirely to gathering their treasures, without a thought of the cruelty or injustice involved, observed Pelsaert. 'Immediately on the death of a lord who has enjoyed the king's *jagir*, be he great or small, without any exception—even before the breath is out of his body—the king's officers are ready on the spot, and make an inventory of the entire estate, recording everything down to the value of a single pice, even to the dresses and jewels of the ladies, provided they have not concealed them. The king takes back the whole estate absolutely for himself, except in a case where the deceased has done good service in his lifetime, when the women and children are given enough to live on, but no more.'²