The lands were divided into four classes, with different revenue to be paid by each, namely:—

1. Land cultivated every harvest, and never fallow.

2. Land lying fallow at intervals.

3. Land lying fallow for four years together.

4. Land not cultivated for five years and upwards.

The principle of wazifa was only applied to the two first of these classes of land, and to the second only when actually under cultivation. The lands of these two classes were divided into good, middling, and bad. The produce of a bigah (5/8 of an acre) of each sort was added together, and a third of that was considered to be the average produce. One-third was the share of the State, as settled by Akbar’s assessment. Large remissions were allowed on the two inferior classes of land. The settlements were for ten years. In about 1596 the land revenue derived from the fifteen subahs or provinces of Akbar’s empire was as follows:—

Rupees.[17]
1.Allahabad53.10.677
2.Agra1.36.56.257
3.Oudh50.43.954
4.Ajmír71.53.449
5.Gujrat1.09.20.057
6.Bihar55.47.985
7.Bengal1.49.61.482
8.Delhi1.50.40.388
9.Kabul80.71.024
10.Lahor1.39.86.460
11.Multán96.00.764
12.Malwah60.17.376
13.Berar1.73.76.117
14.Khandeish75.63.237
15.Tattah16.56.284
14.19.05.511

A later return, referred to by Mr. Thomas, gives Akbar’s land revenue at £16,582,440. Under his grandson, Shah Jahan, it increased to £22,000,000, and Aurangzib’s land revenue, in 1707, was upwards of £30,000,000.[18]

On an average about a twentieth is deducted for jaghírs, or rent-free lands, and sayurghals or assignments for charitable purposes.

The “Ain-i Akbari” of Abú-l Fazl is rendered valuable not only by the varied information it contains, but also by the trustworthiness of the author. Mr. Blochmann says that Abú-l Fazl has been too often accused by European writers of flattery, and of wilful concealment of facts damaging to the reputation of his master. He bears witness that a study of the “Akbar-namah” has convinced him that the charge is absolutely unfounded. Abú-l Fazl’s love of truth, and his correctness of information are apparent on every page of his great work.