The agrarian system of Moslem India

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1804119261

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-188010

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Moreland, William Harrison http://d-nb.info/gnd/172263670

Title:: The agrarian system of Moslem India

Edition:: 2. ed. Reissue (d. Ausg. Cambridge) 1929; [Reprint]

Place of publication:: Delhi

Publisher:: Oriental Books, Munshiram Manoharlal

Year of publication:: 1968

Scope:: XVII, 296 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter II. The 13th and 14th centuries

Collection:: Economics Books

64 THE AGRARIAN SYSTEM OF MOSLEM INDIA exist, but as indicating that at this period they did not present any serious administrative problem. The Moslem administration was concerned mainly with the problems presented by the Chiefs, who, within the area of their authority, stood between the peasants and the Government. The extent of country allowed to remain in their hands cannot be calculated, but it was certainly important. The policy adopted after the lapse of Alauddin’s regulations may be regarded as on the whole favourable to the Chiefs, and would make for stability so long as revenue was paid, and friendly relations were maintained with the local authorities; but obviously the individual Chief had no securitv as against a King sufficiently strong to oust him. Whether the peasants enjoyed in practice the security of tenure which is nowadays regarded as a primary condition of successful agriculture, is a question on which the records of the period throw no direct light. The episode of the River Country shows that they could be driven to abscond, put it stands by itself, and there is no hint of anything which could justly be described as ejectment. It is clear, however, that there was fertile land to spare, waiting for men with the resources needed to bring it under the plough; and, in such circumstances, the question of ejectment is of little practical interest, because the essence of good management is to keep the peasants at work, and help them to extend their holdings. Nor could the connected question of limitation of rent arise in such circumstances, since, on the assumption! that rent-paying tenants existed, they would be certain of a welcome elsewhere, and consequently would be in a position to resist unreasonable demands. The facts on record are too scanty for a precise description of the position of the peasantry as a whole, but what facts there are, are consistent with the existence of a fairly stable condition in normal times, the peasants of a village culti- vating more or less land according to their needs and re- sources, and treating their tenants, if there were any, well enough to keep them at work. Given reasonably good ! The question of tenants living in the village but not included in the Brotherhood is discussed in Chapter VI. I have found no evidence to show whether such tenants existed in the fourteenth century

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