[Text, vol. ii. p. 239.] It was an old standing custom for the rulers of Hindústán to exact contributions, according to their respective means, from the pilgrims who visited the holy shrines. This tax was called karmí. His Majesty's judgment and equity condemned this exaction, and he remitted it, although it amounted to krors of rupees. An order was accordingly issued abolishing it throughout his dominions. ^{* * *} He was pleased to say that although this was a tax on the vain superstitions of the multitude, and the devotees did not pay it except when they travelled abroad, still the course they adopted was their mode of worshipping the Almighty, and the throwing of a stumbling-block and obstacle in their way could never be acceptable in the sight of God.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 257.] One of the munificent acts of the Emperor at the beginning of this the ninth year of his reign was the remission of the jizya (poll-tax upon infidels), which, in a country so extensive as Hindústán, amounted to an immense sum.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 263.] Khwája 'Abdu-l Majíd Ásaf Khán, although he was a Tájik and a civilian, yet by the help of the good fortune of the Emperor, he had performed such deeds as would have humbled even Turks in his presence. He now resolved upon attempting the conquest of Garha-katanka. In the vast territories of Hindústán there is a country called Gondwána, that is, the land inhabited by the tribe of Gonds, —a numerous race of people, who dwell in the wilds, and pass most of their time in eating and drinking and the pro­creation of children. They are a very low race, and are held in contempt by the people of Hindústán, who look upon them as outcasts from their religion and laws. To the east of this country lies Ratanpúr, a dependency of the country of Jhárkand; and on the west it borders on Ráísín, belonging to the province of Málwa. The length of this district is 150 kos. On the north lies Panna,* and on the south the Dakhin, and the breadth is eighty kos. This country is called Garha-katanka, and it contains many strongholds and lofty forts. It has numerous towns and villages, and veracious writers have recorded that it contains seventy thou­sand villages. Garha is the name of the chief city, and Katanka is the name of a place* (near it), and these two places have given their names to the whole country. The seat of government was the fort of Chaurágarh.

In former times there was no one supreme ruler, but the country was ruled by several rájás and ráís, and at the present time, when, by the will of fortune, it no longer belongs to this race, there are several rájás, such as Rájá Garha, Rájá ^{* * *}. The fighting men of this country are chiefly infantry, the horsemen being few. From the earliest establishment of the Muhammadan power in India no monarch had been able to reduce the fortresses of this country or to annex the territory.

At the time when Ásaf Khán received the jágír of Karra, and accomplished the conquest of Panna, the government of this country was in the hands of Rání Durgávatí, commonly known as “the Rání.” She was highly renowned for her courage, ability, and liberality, and by the exercise of these qualities she had brought the whole country under her rule. The author has heard from intelligent men who have been there that she had twenty-three thousand inhabited villages under her sway. Twelve thousand of these were managed by her own shikkdárs, and the remainder were in the possession of tributary chiefs. The heads of the various clans paid their homage to her. She was the daughter of a Rájá of the tribe of Chandel, who was named Sálibáhan, who was Rájá of Ratah and Mahoba.* He married her to Dalpat, a son of Aman Dás. He did not belong to a high tribe, but he was wealthy, and as evil times had fallen upon Rájá Sálibáhan, he had consented to this alliance.