new
set of conditions, and for the first time a civilised European state
had to provide for the government of Hindus. Albuquerque boldly faced
{156} the difficulty. He declared that the expenses of government
must be met out of revenue, and that the ownership of Goa should not
cause any drain on the king's finances. He did not at first design to
administer the island by Portuguese officials, but resolved to farm
out its revenues to native chiefs.

After the first capture of Goa, Albuquerque selected Timoja; after
the second conquest, Malhar Rao; and when the latter became Raja of
Honawar, he received an offer for the situation from the Raja of the
neighbouring Hindu state of Vengapur. He was informed after the first
conquest that the King of Bijapur had doubled the amount of the taxes
levied by the Hindu Raja of Vijayanagar. A petition was made that the
latter amount should be exacted in future, and Albuquerque consented.
Various sums are given as the value of these taxes, but perhaps the
best and most trustworthy sum is 150,000 xerafins, a sum equivalent
to about 9375 pounds. But at the same time, Albuquerque stated that
if ever the payment of the taxes should fall into arrears the amount
should be raised to that paid to Yusaf Adil Shah.

The particular form of administration adopted by the first European
rulers of an Indian District is of peculiar interest to Englishmen,
who now administer nearly the whole of India. Unfortunately, the
_Commentaries_ give but a very few lines to this subject, and the
contemporary Portuguese historians are practically silent. It will be
as well therefore to give in full the description of the
_Commentaries_.

{157} 'Timoja and the others received, in the name of the people,
the lands, with these conditions that Affonso de Albuquerque laid
down [_this refers to the reduction in the amount of the taxes_];
but it had also to be stipulated that he should appoint over them a
Tanadar, and Hindus to govern them. Affonso de Albuquerque told
them that he would promise not to appoint any Muhammadan to the
office of Tanadar, and that he would give orders that the taxes
should be collected by Portuguese in combination with certain
Hindus of the land to be appointed by Timoja, in order that
everything should be done with the least oppression of the people.
And after having thus arranged the matter for them, Affonso de
Albuquerque commanded that an oath should be administ