Every village has to pay a tithe of its annual value to the State, and previous to collection the place is visited by one of the provincial officials, and the fullest details of the circumstances of each family are ascertained.

The limit of the official robbery which follows is the ability to pay, as measured by the patience of the sufferers.

The peasantry are peaceful, frugal, and easily governed, but there is a point beyond which they cannot be pressed without risk of making them turn on the oppressor.

They have now learnt the strength of the defence they possess in the power of making their grievances known.
No doubt the provincial levy of taxation charges doubles the State tithe, one-half of the whole amount being taken by the Governor and the officials; but all this does not mean more than one-fifth of the village income, for the general assessment was made before the existing improvement in the circumstances of the cultivators had taken place more or less all over the country.

There was then little demand for products which are now exported and paid for in gold, thus giving a high price in the silver currency of the country.