Note 17 — INTRODUCTION.

Hereditary Hindu Landholders.The larger landholders, who had succeeded in avoiding complete subjection, were, as noticed above, liable only for the payment of a certain fixed sum, the collection of which by the central power in later times usually required the presence of a military force. With regard to the settlement of the claims of the smaller landholders of the superior class, whose estates fell within the limits of the directly administered districts, no steps seem to have been taken till the reign of Áhmed Sháh I. (a.d. 1411–1443). About the year a.d. 1420 the peace of his kingdom was so broken by agrarian disturbances, that Áhmed Sháh agreed, on condition of their paying tribute and performing military service, to re-grant to the landholders of the zamíndár class as hereditary possessions a one-fourth share of their former village lands. The portion so set apart was called vánta or share, and the remainder, retained as state land, was called talpat. This agreement continued till, in the year a.d. 1545, during the reign of Mahmúd Sháh II. (a.d. 1536–1553), an attempt was made to annex these private shares to the crown. This measure caused much discontent and disorder. It was reversed by the emperor Akbar who, as part of the settlement of the province in a.d. 1583, restored their one-fourth share to the landholders, and, except that the Maráthás Introduction. Under the Mughals, a.d. 1573–1760. Hereditary Hindu Landholders. afterwards levied an additional quit-rent from these lands, the arrangements then introduced have since continued in force.17