THE REIGN OF AKBAR (1556-1605) 123 
the general attitude of the Administration was hostile, and 
that Abul Fazl represented it correctly when he wrote in 
‘he Akbarnama (ii. 60) that ‘the general custom of Indian 
.aminddrs is to leave the path of single-mindedness, and to 
have an eye to every side, and to join anyone who is vic- 
torious or is making increasing stir”; and we may perhaps 
assume that in ordinary cases the presumption was against 
the Chief: but, at the same time, we must recognise that 
Akbar was not the sort of man to carry a general principle 
too far in the practical work of administration. 
The country now known as Oudh is of particular interest 
in this connection, because local traditions declare that 
many of the Rajput Chiefs maintained their authority 
practically intact throughout the Mogul period. Nothing 
of the kind is suggested in the description of the province 
contained in the “Account,” while the statistics do not 
indicate that a single subdivision was in any respect excep- 
tional; and, taking the official record as it stands, we might 
infer that the Regulation system was in force throughout 
every district of the province. It may be conceded that 
local traditions are likely to exaggerate the authority 
enjoyed by the Chiefs, but it is not easy to disregard them 
altogether. I suspect that the truth lies somewhere between 
the two versions; and that, while the administration 
functioned effectively on the normal lines, in practice it 
worked largely through the Chiefs, who were permitted to 
retain a portion of what their peasants paid; but I have 
failed to find anything that can be called evidence in support 
of this view, and the question must remain unanswered 
until new facts come to light.