36 REVENUE SYSTEM. 



tioiij for in Lis revenue report No. 35, dated 

 24tli January, 1854, he observes : — 



3. '' Vested with such authority, the Kardars 

 under the Meer's rule succeeded in developing 

 the resources of their districts, and not only 

 levied greatly higher rates than we now do, 

 but realized larger revenues, without, as far as 

 we ascertain, any undue pressure on the culti- 

 vator." 



I believe this to be perfectly correct, having 

 conversed on the subject with many cultivators 

 in the Government districts, and they one and 

 all declared that they preferred the Buttai 

 system to that of cash payments, as established 

 by the Commissioner, as it bears much less se- 

 verely on the cultivator, albeit the cash j^ay- 

 ment may be of less amount than the value of 

 the grain contributed under the Buttai system. 



The Meer's Kardars receive his share of the 

 produce. This varies from one-fourth to one- 

 fifth of the gross produce, according to the 

 quality of the land. The Morkathadars, or Con- 

 tractors, receive their own. These middle men 

 are supposed to j^l^^i^cler the poor cultivators 

 most cruelly, and to bring ruin ujoon many. 



The assessment on the following crops is 



