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JUNE, 1921)
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF SHIVAJT
201
letter has come down to us, and has been deciphered and published by Mr. V. K. Rajwade. As this is the only documentary evidence of the manner in which the Bigbloni survey of Konkan was conducted by Anniji, I think it will not be out of place to quote the document here in full.
A kaulnāmā from Rājshri Annāji Datto to the Deshmukh, and Deshkulkarni and Mokdam, Patil and Rayas of Tarf Rohidkhore in the Subha of Maval, dated Surusan Tisa Sabain Alaf (1678). You came to the presence at camp Lakhevadi and (represented) that in the Vatani districts of His Majesty, the Rayats should be encouraged by the confirmation of their Kaul and fixing the rent of the lands. Having confidence * * * and taking into consideration the remissions made we grant to the following terms for the land. From the year San Saman (it is the practice to realise) half the produce from the last year the lands were remeasured according to the Bighioni system and the rent was revised and it was settled that of the lands
* the inspection (Pahani) of what places had one year been made, and the revision completed, and a plot originally a first class land had (now) deteriorated, then * * * such a settlement was not made after an understanding with the Rayats. Therefore you petitioned that a settlement should be made about the rent). Thereupon the following agreement is made that in the present year * * * * was almost over, and the last one month only remained * * * The agreement about the rent of San Saboina * * * * the (produce) should be estimated, such was the agreement made. If some Brahman or Praabhu Karkuns are appointed this work, then what will those lethargatic people do ? Into how many blocks are village lands divided, what are the crops grown in the village, what rent should be realised, what (do those) poor men (know about that)* * * Therefore, as you are the responsible officers of your district (this work has been) * * * thrown upon you. Therefore you should from to-day * * * perform the survey work of your district. For this work, the Deshmukh and the Deshkulkarni and the Mokdam and officers * * accompanied by a few Rayats, should with one accord go from village to village and ascertain that the produce of such a village is so much, the land in it) * * *is so much of the (arable) land the first, second and third class (plots) * * *aro so many. After carefully ascertaining (these things) and making an estimate of the crop grown, you should after a proper enquiry find out what may be the probable produce if (more) labour is applied, and put that amount (under) that class of lands. * * * you should make your estimate after examining (proper) evidence, in the following manner that at a certain place Malik Ambar's (estimated) produce was so much, and that the autumn or the first harvest of the first, second, third and the fourth class lands is so much, and the second or the vernal crop is so much. After determining the (produce of) the two harvests, you should state that in so many Bighas is such and such crop (cultivated). After making these entries (under the heading) of each particular village, if there are a few peasants * * * then according to the above order, you should make an estimate of produce of the whole Taper whether inland revenue or village dues and to do this work, time of a year from to-day, has been given to you. You must in the meantime, inspect the whole Tape, village by village, field to field and carefully ascertain their yield and write to me. I shall (thereafter come and inspect three villages of three different) sorta in your Tape one * * hilly, one marshy and one with black soil * * * and the villages near their boundary having been inspected according to the practice of the Karkuns. *** having corrected (and) (oomparing that 1) * * * your total and what may be the produce of one village * * . and making it ready according to that * * * if the total under each item becomes 14.17 or double as much then in that way * * * 11, 17 and double * * * having been proved correct and you are to (realise accordingly) * * * * should do if * . . do so then
it will be all right if it tallies * * settlement
