Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/35

Rh IN all the countries absolutely subjected, the Great Mogul stiles himself proprietor of all the lands, and gives portions of them at will as revenues for life to his feudatories; but still these grants take not away from the cultivator the right of sale and bequest. The policy of all the Indian governments of Indostan, as well as that of the Great Mogul, seems to consist more in a perpetual attention to prevent any one family from obtaining great possessions, than in the intention of multiplying oppressions upon the body of the people; for such a slavery would soon leave the monarch little grandeur to boast of, and few subjects to command. As all acquisitions of land are subject to the inspection of the government, the man who should attempt to make himself proprietor of a large estate in land, would be refused the certificates necessary to put him in possession, and would be marked as a victim necessary to be sacrificed to the policy of the state. From what we see in the histories of this and other eastern countries, the violences committed among the great, lead us to think that the man of more humble condition is subject to still greater violences; when, on the contrary, this humility is the best of protections. THE Feudatory, by the acceptance of a certain title and the pension which accompanies it, acknowledges the Great Mogul his heir. No man, from the Vizir downwards, has any trust of importance reposed in him but on these terms, and on his decease the whole of his property that can be found is seized for the use of the emperor, who gives back to the family what portion he pleases. The estates of all who are not feudatories descend to the natural heirs. THESE barriers raised against the aggrandizement of particular families became absolutely necessary in a state, necessitated to repose very great trusts in certain individuals.

THE whole extent of Indostan is not divided into more than twentyfour provinces: each of these include several Indian principalities. A very large army ready to move at the first warning was found necessary