For the purpose of securing low prices for piece goods, garments, sugar, vegetables, fruits, animal oil, and lamp oil, five Regulations were issued. * * *
For securing a cheap rate for the purchase of horses, slaves, and cattle, four Regulations were issued. * * *
REGULATION IV.—* * * The price of a serving girl was fixed
from 5 to 12 tankas, of a concubine at 20, 30, or 40 tankas.
The price for a male slave was 100 or 200 tankas, or less. If
such a slave as could not in these days be bought for 1000 or
2000 tankas came into the market, he was sold for what he would
fetch, in order to escape the reports of the informers. Handsome
lads fetched from 20 to 30 tankas; the price of slave-
Great pains were taken to secure low prices for all things sold at the stalls in the markets, from caps to shoes, from combs to needles, etc., etc. Although the articles were of the most trifling value, yet the Sultán took the greatest trouble to fix the prices and settle the profit of the vendors. Four Regulations were issued. * * *
The fourth Regulation for securing cheapness provided severe punishments; blows, and cutting off flesh from the haunches of those who gave short weight. * * * The market people, however, could not refrain from giving short weight. They sold their goods according to the established rate, but they cheated the purchasers in the weight, especially ignorant people and children. When the Sultán turned his attention to the subject, he discovered that the market people, as usual, were acting dishonestly * * * He therefore used to send for some of the poor ignorant boys, who attended to his pigeon-houses, and to give them ten or twenty dirams to go into the market and buy bread and various other articles for him. * * * When the boys had purchased the articles, and brought them to the Sultán, the inspector of the market was sent for, and he had to weigh the things in the presence of the Sultán. If the weight was less than required by the Sultán's scale of prices, the inspector took the lad and went to the shop of the dealer who had given short weight, and placed the purchased article before him. The inspector then took from his shop whatever was deficient, and afterwards cut from his haunches an equal weight of flesh, which was thrown down before his eyes. The certainty of this punishment kept the traders honest, and restrained them from giving short weight, and other knavish tricks. Nay, they gave such good weight that purchasers often got somewhat in excess.*
The various Regulations * * * of 'Aláu-d dín came to an end at his death, for his son, Kutbu-d dín, was not able to maintain a thousandth part of them.
After the prices of goods and provisions were brought down, the pay of the soldier was fixed at the rate of 234 tankas, and the man of two horses at seventy-eight tankas more. All the men were inspected by the 'áriz-i mamálik (Muster-master); those who were skilled in archery and the use of arms passed, and they received the price for their horse, and the horse was branded according to rule.
When the tariffs had been settled and the army had been increased and newly organized, the Sultán was ready for the Mughals. Whenever they made an attack upon Dehlí and its vicinity, they were defeated, driven back, and put to the sword. The arms of Islám were everywhere triumphant over them. Many thousands were taken prisoners, and were brought into Dehlí with ropes round their necks, where they were cast under the feet of elephants. Their heads were piled up in pyramids, or built into towers. So many thousands were slain in battle and in the city that horrid stenches arose. Such was the superiority of the men of Islám over the Mughals, that one or two horsemen would tie by the neck and bring in ten Mughal prisoners, and one Musulmán horseman would drive a hundred Mughals before him.
On one occasion 'Alí Beg and Tarták* were the leaders of the Mughal forces, men who had acquired some repute. 'Alí Beg was said to be a descendant of Changíz Khán, the accursed. With thirty or forty thousand horse they skirted the mountains and advanced into the territory of Amroha. The Sultán sent against them Malik Náyak Akhur-beg. The opposing forces met in the territory of Amroha, and God gave the victory to the army of Islám. 'Alí Beg and Tarták were both taken alive, and many thousand Mughals were put to the sword. The force was entirely routed, and the battle-field was covered with heaps of slain like shocks of corn. Ropes were fastened round the necks of 'Alí Beg and Tarták, and they were conducted to the Sultán with many other Mughal prisoners. Twenty thousand horses belonging to the slain Mughals were taken into the royal stables. A grand court was held by the Sultán in the Chautara Subhání. From the court at this place a double row of soldiers was formed as far as Indarpat. Such numbers of men were assembled on that day that a pitcher of water fetched twenty jítals to half a tanka. 'Alí Beg, Tarták, and other Mughal prisoners, were brought forward with their accoutrements. The prisoners were cast under the feet of elephants in the presence of the court, and streams of blood flowed.
In another year a battle was fought in Khíkar between the army of Islám and the Mughals, under the accursed Kank. The Mughals were defeated, and Kank was brought prisoner to 'Aláu-d dín, and thrown under the feet of elephants. On another occasion great numbers of Mughals were slain, partly in battle, partly afterwards in the city. A tower was built of their heads in front of the gate of Badáún, and remains to this day a memento of 'Aláu-d dín. At another time three or four Mughal amírs, commanders of tumáns, with thirty or forty thousand horse, broke into the Siwálik, and engaged in slaughter and plunder. An army was sent against them with orders to seize upon the road by which the Mughals must return to the river, and there to encamp, so that when the thirsty Mughals attempted to approach the river they would receive their punishment. These orders were carried out. The Mughals having wasted the Siwálik, had moved some distance off. When they and their horses returned weary and thirsty to the river, the army of Islám, which had been waiting for them some days, caught them as they expected. They begged for water, and they and all their wives and children were made prisoners. Islám gained a great victory, and brought several thousand prisoners with ropes on their necks to the fort of Nárániya. The women and children were taken to Dehlí, and were sold as slaves in the market. Malik Kháss-hájíb was sent to Nárániya, and there put every Mughal prisoner to the sword. Streams ran with their foul blood.
In another year Ikbálmanda came with a Mughal army, and the Sultán sent an army against him from Dehlí. The army of Islám was again victorious, and Ikbálmanda was slain with many thousands of his followers. The Mughal commanders of thousands and hundreds, who were taken prisoners, were brought to Dehlí, and thrown under the feet of elephants. On the occasion when Ikbálmanda was slain no man returned alive, and the Mughals conceived such a fear and dread of the army of Islám, that all fancy for coming to Hindustán was washed clean out of their breasts. Till the end of the reign of Kutbu-d dín the name of Hindustán was never mentioned among them, nor did they venture to approach it. Fear of the army of Islám prevented them from attaining their heart's desire, even in their dreams; for in their sleep they still saw the sword of Islám hanging over them. All fear of the Mughals entirely departed from Dehlí and the neighbouring provinces. Perfect security was everywhere felt, and the raiyats of those territories, which had been exposed to the inroads of the Mughals, carried on their agriculture in peace.
Ghází Malik, who afterwards became Sultán Tughlik Sháh, had obtained great renown in Hindustán and Khurásán. He held the territories of Debálpúr and Láhor, and, until the end of the reign of Kutbu-d dín, he proved a barrier to the inroads of the Mughals, occupying, in fact, the position formerly held by Shír Khán. Every winter he led out a chosen force from Debálpúr, and marching to the frontiers of the Mughals he challenged them to come forth. The Mughals were so dispirited that they dared not even make any military display upon their frontiers. No one now cared about them, or gave them the slightest thought. * * *