THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 125
chapter that seasonal Measurement was costly and cum-
brous. We must regard it as an effective expedient under
a strong administration, but probably unworkable, and
almost certainly oppressive, when the Ministry was weak,
or was unsuppoited by the energy of the Emperor; while
the cheaper and simpler alternative of Group-assessment
lay ready to hand, prohibited indeed by Akbar in the Re-
served areas, but quite familiar to the Revenue Ministry,
and actually in operation in important sections of the
Empire. Remove Akbar’s personal influence, and the
gradual extension of Group-assessment would be the line
of least resistance, as the administrative difficulties of
Measurement recurred. For a time, at least, such a change
would not necessarily be evil; in fact, I am inclined to
think that, in the circumstances which prevailed, the best
arrangement for Northern India would have been an alter-
nation, Measurement being practised for a period long
enough to furnish adequate data of productive capacity,
and being then replaced by Group-assessment based on
those data, and continued until such time as economic
changes should render them obsolete. It is even con-
ceivable that some such idea may have operated to
produce the change in question, but in practice there is no
sign of alternation. However, and whenever, the change
was introduced, we have to accept it as a fact; but before
examining Aurangzeb’s orders in detail, 1t will be well to
bring together the few items of definite information which
we possess regarding the first half of the century.
The distinction between Assigned and Reserved tracts
stands out clearly in the chronicles relating to this period;
a relatively small portion of the Empire was administered,
so far as the land-revenue was concerned, by the provincial
Diwins under the direct orders of the Ministry, while the
bulk was assigned on the lines described in the last chapter.
In the year 1647, the annual income from the Reserved
area was taken as 3 krors of rupees, while the aggregate for
the Empire was 22 krors,! so that the great majority of
the peasants were under assignees; and, while the proportion
1 Badshahnama, II. 713. This chronicle was drawn up under the
Emperors orders. and the figures in it may reasonauly be taken as
