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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 27.

ADMINISTRATION 27 At the time of the introduction of British rule (1803), there was in many villages an association of members of the proprietary body, by which the amount of the state demand was distributed according to a fixed proportion among the members. The peculiarities of this joint tenure (bhdgdJH) have, to some extent, disappeared before the system of collecting the revenue direct from the different shareholders. At first the land revenue demand was fixed after an inspection of the crops by revenue superintendents or desais. This system led to numerous abuses. In 1811 the territory forming the original Broach District--namely, the tdlukas of Broach, Anklesvar, and Hânsot-was surveyed. Later, the survey was extended to the remaining tdlukas received under the Treaty of Poona in 1818. The first settlement in simple Government villages was made with the village headmen, and aimed at ascertaining the value of the crop in each holding. But in 1837 a new settlement was attempted, regulated by the character of the soil and the range of local prices. The year x848 saw the settlement revised owing to the fall in prices, and in 1870-1 a fresh settlement on the lines adopted elsewhere in the Presidency was introduced. Under this settlement the realizations were about 19-Iff lakhs. The revision survey, completed since 1901, shows a decrease in cultivation of over 4,ooo acres, and, in assessment, of 4 per cent. The average rates of assessment are: ` dry' land, Rs. 4-0 (maximum Rs. 6-8, minimum Rs. 3-0) ; rice land, Rs. 5-14 (maximum Rs. 5-4, minimum Rs. 3-0) ; and garden land, Rs.8-11 (maximum Rs. 1o-o, minimum Rs. 7-0). Collections of revenue, in thousands of rupees, have been as follows :--- Land revenue Total revenue 1880-1. 28,58 34,42 18go-1. 1 1900-1 1 1903-4- 28,88 36,87 12,99 19,76 30705 37,78 A small aristocracy of Rdjput pedigree still occupies a position of some importance in the District ; but being heavily burdened with debt, their estates would have been attached and sold if Government had not interfered and assumed the administration of their property under Act XV of 1871. The District contains five municipalities: BROACH, ANKLESVAR, JAM- BUSAR, HANSOT, and AMOD. The District board and five tdluka boards, which are in charge of local affairs elsewhere, have an average revenue of more than 2-1ff lakhs, chiefly derived from the land cess, and spent Rs. 61,ooo on roads and buildings in 1903-4. The police of the District are controlled by a Superintendent, assisted by two inspectors. The total strength of the force is 454 persons, including 7 chief constables, 89 head constables, and 358 men. A body of 6 mounted police under one daffadar is also maintained.