पान:आंग्ल प्रभा.djvu/17

, The village autonomy was not interfered with. The Patil and the Kulkarni were responsible for the Collections, and received their dues independent y of the Government. Security of the sowkars had to be given for the payment of the year’s revenue, and the village rayat had a joint responsibility. The Country, on the whole, was prosperous. Village autonomy. The rates of wages were from Rs. 3 to 7 for menials and SepОyS, and for higher artisans, very much what they low are outside the great towns, from 6 to 10 annas pel' day. The Karkoon's wages were generally Rs. 7 to 10 per month. The prices of food stuffs were generally more unsteady than they are ll OW, but it may be roughly stated that staple grains, Jwari and Bajri, were about three to four times as cheap as they now are. The rates of VEl O'GS 5 being, on an average, half of What they have been for thany years past, while the prices were 3 to 4 times as cheap, the people had ample resources during good seasons, and no great famine is recorded durinor this period, though partial famines are frequently mentioned. There was no dearth of remunerative employment throughout this period, by " reason of the large Wealth acquired from the successes of the Marathas in foriegn conquest, and there was thus no pressure felt of the land tax and other cesses, except in the Border provinces devastated by Wal'S Oppression seems to have been rare, as the people had the remedy in their own hands, of either putting down the OP)l'essO', Wages and Prices. Oro migrating to * ... " other territories for a time. Besides granting remissions, for seeds or improvements the Peish wa’s Government encouraged the Kamavisdar to make Tagai grants to the cultivators, as also for rebuilding houses, when destroyed by fire, and Tagai advances. supplying cattle. The Government 種 Public Works. pplying, Government also undertook public works such as Constructing dams, building roads in the ghats, and landing places on river-banks, digging tanks, and securing Water supplies to towns, and several such large 5 items are found in these accounts. The advances to the cultivators WEPe made for short periods, one or two years, but the Kamavisdars WΘΙΟ lenient, and they were generally not removed till these advances had been repaid. In cases where such removal took place, the successor WaS required to pay of the previous holder. Owing to the necessities Of the State, the Government frequently borrowed of the Kamavisdar the instalments in advance of the time fixed. On such advances, the State agreed to pay 12 per cent, interest to the Kamavisdar, till the debt WaS