1864.] Same Persian Inscriptions found in Srinagar. 289 



were the cause of the ruin of the subjects and inhabitants of these 

 regions. 



Mrmem. 

 Since all our exalted desire is turned and bent on the contentedness 

 of the people, hence we gave the order for the repeal of some acts 

 which in the beautiful country of Kashmir became a cause of distress 

 to the inhabitants of the land. Of the number of those matters one 

 is this that,., at the time of collecting the saffron, men used to be im- 

 pressed for this work without any wages except a little salt, and 

 hence the people are suffering much distress. We ordered that no 

 man should by any means be molested as to gathering the saffron ; 

 and as to saffron grown on crown-lands, the labourers must be satis- 

 fied and receive proper wages ; and whatever grows on lands granted 

 in jagir, let the whole saffron in kind be delivered to the jagirdar that 

 he may gather, it as he pleases. Another grievance is this that in the 

 time of some of the Subadars of Kashmir they used to levy two dam 

 for wood on each Kharwar (about 180 pounds) of rice, and during 

 the government of I'tiqad Khan four dam for the same purpose were 

 levied on each Kharwar. Since on this account also the people were 

 much distressed, hence we ruled that the people should be entirely 

 relieved of this tax, and nothing should be taken on account of wood. 

 Another grievance is this, that a village whose rental was more than 

 400 Kharwar of rice, was obliged to furnish to the rulers of the place 

 two sheep annually. I'tiqad Khan, during his rule, took 66 dam in 

 the place of each sheep. Since on this account also the people were 

 much annoyed, we gave a strict order that it should cease; neither 

 should the sheep be taken nor money in their place ; the people shall 

 be held excused from paying this impost. Moreover, I'tiqad Khan, 

 during his incumbency, levied a summary poll-tax of 75 dam on each 

 boatman, whether a young, or an old man, or a boy, whilst it was the 

 established custom formerly to levy 60 dam on a young man, 12 on 

 an old man, and 36 on a boy. We ordered that the former custom 

 should be re-established, that the oppression of I'tiqad Khan be 

 stopped, and that people should not act in accordance with it. Ano- 

 ther grievance is this that the Subadars, in the fruit season, placed 

 their own men in each garden, large and small, which appeared to 

 contain good fruit, to watch the fruit for themselves and did not allow 

 the owners of those gardens to use the fruit ; hence much annoyance 



2 p 2 



