26 Translations from the Tdrikh % Firm Shahi. [No. 1 , 



The second regulation for effecting a cheapness in the price of grain 

 was, that Malik Qabul [a servant of Ulugh Khan], who was a wise, 

 discreet, and trustworthy noble, was appointed magistrate (shihnah) over 

 the market. The official in question was granted a large estate, and a 

 large body of cavalry and infantry to support his power and consequence. 

 A deputy, shrewd and experienced, was also appointed from the throne, 

 out of the circle of his friends, and a distinguished travelling agent 

 [iarid] with a due sense of respect for royalty was also installed in the 

 market. 



The third regulation for the same purpose was, the accumulation of 

 vast hoards of grain in store-houses. Sultan Alauddin gave orders that 

 throughout the crown lands in the Duab, they should take the grain 

 itself in place of money payments for revenue, and send it into the 

 royal granaries at the capital, while in [Shahr i nau] and its adjoin- 

 ing territory, they should take a moiety of the royal share in kind, and 

 that in Jhayin and its several districts also, they should form depots 

 for grain, and forward it by the caravans to the capital. In short, 

 so much of the royal grain reached Dihli, that there was scarcely a 

 street, which did not contain two or three of the royal store-houses 

 filled with it ; and when there was a scarcity of rain, or the caravans, 

 from some cause or other, failed to convey sufficient grain into the 

 market, they used to bring it into market from the royal stores, selling 

 it at the regulated price, and supplying the people according to their 

 wants, while in Shahr i nau they used to consign the grain out of the 

 royal depots to the caravans. By these two arrangements, there was 

 never a dearth of grain in the market, nor did it ever rise one dang 

 above the regulated price. 



The fourth regulation for the same purpose was, the consignment 

 of the caravans to (the charge of) Malik Qabul, magistrate of the 

 market. Sultan 'Alauddin gave orders, that the whole of the cara- 

 vans from all parts of the kingdom should be subject to the magis- 

 trate of the market, and their leaders should be [fettered and chained]. 

 The magistrate also was directed to keep the leaders of the caravans 

 [fettered and chained] ever present before him, until they became of the 

 same mind, and agreed to sign a deed on mutual security, and that until 

 they brought their wives, children, cattle, and property with them, and 

 set up their abodes in the villages bordering on the Jamnah, Avhere the 



