[During the reign of Sher Sháh many regulations were made, and many forts built. He resumed the rent-free tenures, and made new grants on his own part. No person of high or low degree who went into his presence departed empty and without receiving something. He fixed a daily payment of 500 tolchas of gold upon the poor-house (langar-i fukará), and night and day he was considerate and liberal to the needy. He settled allowances upon the blind and helpless of every place and village and city. Two institutions were kept up during his reign without any interruption: one, the religious estab­lishments ('imárat khánah), and the other the houses for the poor; for these two institutions confer a general benefit. His private kitchen was very extensive, for several thousand people fed there every day. Whoever wanted food went to his kitchen and ate under an order which he had issued. He himself used to take his meals with learned men and shaikhs. There was such security in the country during his reign that thefts and highway robbery were unknown. When such a thing occurred, the mukaddams of all the surrounding villages were seized, and restitution for the robbery was exacted from them. Examinations were held in the villages, and precautions taken that the like should not occur again. From Gaur to the confines of his dominions, in every direction, he had built saráís and halting places at every kos; and pots of water were placed at the doors of the saráís for the use of Musulmáns and Hindus. At every saráí a masjid, a royal chamber (khánah-i bádsháhi), and a well were constructed; and to every mosque a mu'azzin (crier), an imám (priest), and shikkdár (manager) were ap­pointed, and lands were allotted at the place for their support. From Gaur to the confines of Oudh,* a road was made having saráís, gardens, and shady and fruit-bearing trees. Another road with gardens and saráís from Benares to the country of Mándú near to Burhánpúr. Another road with gardens and saráís from A'gra to Júdhpúr. Another from Bayána to Jaunpúr and to Ajmír. There were 1700 saráís, and at every saráí there were pairs of horses ready, so that news travelled 300 kos in one day. [Here follows the story quoted in the note on page 418.]

Sher Sháh was occupied night and day with the business of his kingdom, and never allowed himself to be idle. At the end of night he arose, performed his ablutions, and said his prayers. Afterwards he called in his officers and managers to report all the occurrences of the day. For four hours he listened to the reading of reports on the affairs of the country or on the business of the Government establishments. The orders which he gave were reduced to writing, and were issued and acted upon; there was no need of further discussion. Thus he remained engaged till morning (fajar) arrived. When it was time for prayers, he performed his devotions in a large congregation, and went through all the forms of prayer. Afterwards he received his nobles and soldiers, and made inquiries as to the horses brought to receive their brands. Then he went out and made a personal inspection of his forces, and settled the allowances of each individual by word of mouth until all was arranged. He then attended to many other affairs and audited accounts. He summoned to his presence the officers of every country from which he received revenue and tribute, and received their accounts. Petitions were received from every quarter, and replies were sent; he himself dictated them in Persian, and the scribes committed them to writing. Every person who came to wait upon him was received in the palace. He kept money (khazána) and revenue (kharáj) in all parts of his territories, so that, if necessity required, soldiers and money were ready. The chief treasury was in Rohtás, under the charge of Ikhtiyár Khán. In the country of the Gakhars he had a fort upon the top of a hill, and he maintained a large force there, to the command of which the three great chiefs Masnad-i 'Ali Khawás Khán, Haibat Khán Niyází, and 'Ísá Khán Niyází and other amírs were (at different times) appointed. He had 3000 elephants in his stables, and the number was daily increasing. The whole of the territories in his possession contained 13,000 parganas, for which shikkdárs were appointed. His forces were numerous, and of every kind of horse and foot. Every man who came was entertained. 25,000 infantry and lafgandárs were attached to his person; 7000 lafgandárs were in the fort of Handu (Mandú?); 3000 lafgandárs were at Chítor; 1800 at the fort of Rantambhor; 500 at the fort of Bayána; 1000 lafgandárs at Gwaliyar (Gwálior); and 1000 infantry at the fort of Rohtás. It was known that a suitable garrison was maintained in every fort in the country. The force of horse under the royal com­mand consisted of 150,000, some of whom were appointed on service, and others were sent to their own homes. In every pargana there was a shikkdár, a munsif, a treasurer, a Persian writer, and a Hinduwí writer, and in every sarkár there was a chief shikkdár and a chief munsif. At the branding time every man came forward and showed his horse* and rendered his account. Munsifs were ap­pointed for examining the brands in the armies on the frontiers, and the King himself occasionally made visits to different parts for this purpose. He kept one army in the upper country, as has been already mentioned, one army in Bengal, one at Rohtás, one in Málwá, one at the fort of Chítor, one in Khajwára, one in the country of Dhandhera, one in Nágor and Júdhpur, and in the fort of Rantambhor and Bajwára. No fort in the country was without a garrison or a commandant.]

Sultán Mahmúd of Mandú.*

[The beginning of this passage is defective.] One day a merchant arrived with a large company. Amín Sháh, according to his custom, demanded a present. The merchant replied that he was a trader under Sultán Fíroz, who had strengthened the fort of Karnál, and that he was taking grain thither. Amín Sháh said, no matter who he was, he must pay the regular due, and go on his way. The merchant told Amín Sháh he was going to the King, and that if he would forego the duty, he (the merchant) would induce the King to grant him the country of Mandú, and to send him a horse and a robe. Did he prefer this or the custom duty? Amín Sháh said, that if this were done, he also would become one of the servants of the King, and would serve him to the best of his power. So he allowed the merchant to pass. When the merchant came into the presence of the King, he represented that there was a man by name Amín Sháh, who was zamíndár of Mandú, and had all the roads in his power. If the King were to send a farmán conferring on him the territory of Mandú, which was entirely desolate, he would secure tranquillity. The King sent a robe and a horse by that same merchant, who pro­ceeded to Amín Sháh, and presented them to him, and expressed his devotion. From this day forth Amín Sháh gave up walking on foot, and took to riding. He also made his friends ride, enlisted horse­men, and promoted the cultivation of the country.

After his death, his son named Hoshang succeeded him. He became King, and assumed the style of royalty. The country of Mandú became prosperous, forts were built at different places, and armies were raised.