THE 13tH AND 14tH CENTURIES 41
be enforced, because, when the charge was relatively heavy,
as was the case throughout the Moslem period, the peasant
would be unable to pay. Almost wherever we read of the
system then, we find reference to allowances in case of crop-
failure. Under Akbar, the rule was, as we shall see, that
the area of failure was deducted, and the charge made only
on the area which matured; and I take the word ““apportion-
ments” to indicate that something of the same sort was
done under Alauddin, the area sown being apportioned
between ‘‘success’ and ‘failure’; while the other word,
“innovations,” can be explained by the fact that he had
introduced Measurement in places where it was not already
customary. It is matter of common knowledge that such
allowances for crop-failure require an administration both
honest and efficient. They have to be made hurriedly,
often at the very end of the season; there is little time for
adequate verification of the facts; and the local staft are
under strong temptations to negotiate with the peasants,
and to overstate, or understate, the extent of loss according
to the amount of the gratification they receive. In the
conditions which prevailed in the fourteenth century, it
seems to me to be quite certain that Measurement must have
involved a large amount of extortion and corruption of this
kind, and it is possible that the alternative method of
Sharing was open to less objection in practice; but, however
that may be, Measurement as the standard method of assess-
ment now disappeared, to be restored two centuries later
by Sher Shah.
In regard to the Chiefs and headmen, Ghiyasuddin re-
jected Alauddin’s view that they should be reduced to the
economic position of peasants. They had, he considered,
large responsibilities, and were entitled to remuneration
accordingly; their perquisites were to be left to them
without assessment, and their income from grazing was not
to be taxed; but the Governors were to take measures to
prevent them from levying any additional revenue from the
peasants. In this way it was hoped to enable the Chiefs
to live in comfort, but not in such affluence as might lead
to rebellion. So far as this policy was carried out in
practice, it may be inferred that the Chiefs recained in
