Page 72 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

which, in the peculiar circumstances of some circles, had not benefitted them
much. While he was submitting his proposals, the rate of assessment in all
future settlements was reduced from one half of the calculated full net assets
to 1/3rd; and although the settlement of Muzaffargarh had begun some
months before the resolution of the Council was accepted by the Punjab
Government as a matter of grade, Muzaffargarh, as being probably the
poorest and most backward district in the Province, was given the
concession, of an assessment based on 1/3rd net assets, though the only
tehsil for which he worked out the calculation by this standard was
Muzaffargarh. He had calculated the half net assets of the other three tehsils
and the 1/3rd net assets of Muzaffargarh to be a little over 11 lac in
comparison with an existing assessment of Rs. 7,67,000. The change in the
standard of assessment wiped out practically all the increase which he had
estimated from the rise in prices, with the result that the new assessment
was estimated at a little under Rs. 8,27,000. Since the whole district, with
the exception of two circles in the Tehsil Muzaffargarh, was then under some
form of fluctuating assessment, the annual fluctuations in revenue were to
be considerable.
Assessment of Mangoes
The existing assessment on mangoes had been continued and extended to
new trees. The rates imposed were in general from 4 annas (25 paisa) to Re.
1 a tree; the amount imposed varying with the situation of the orchard, its
distance from a market and the quality of the trees. There were a few very
famous trees, mostly in the village of Bhuttapur near Muzaffargarh town of
which the fruit was sold for seed; those trees had been paying assessments
of more than Rs. 50 each, which had been maintained. Newly planted
orchards in the circles under crop-rates were required to pay as first-class
crops.
Assessment of Palms
The assessment on date-palms was continued. At last settlement 900,000
female palms and nearly 3,500,000 males and neuters were counted. At the
new settlement 1,300,000 female trees were counted and 700,000 others.
The trees were classified on the basis that whether they grew among houses,
where they were carefully tended, or on uninhabited wells, where they got
less attention; or among fields, where they got little care, but were benefitted
from the cultivation of the land; or in the waste, where their fruit was seldom
picked. Rates, which varied usually from (3 annas to six pies), were placed
on the trees of the different classes, though in a few estates where the dates
were of unusual values, heavier assessments were imposed. Generally
speaking, the dates grown on the Chenab side were by far the best, both in
quality and on account of the nearness of good markets.
Assessment on Grazing
The assessment on grazing was maintained. Outside the Thal the owners had
been forbidden to cut trees growing in the waste without permission from the

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