1870.] Translations from the TariJch i Firu% STidhi. 29 



ddng, and it is certainly a matter of astonishment that no other Mug 

 besides 'Alauddin ever did effect such results. If even once or twice 

 the Shihnah i Mandi petitioned the Sultan to raise the price of grain 

 by half a jetal on account of a season of draught, he got twenty 

 lashes]. 



[In seasons of draught, the merchants of each quarter of the town 

 received daily a supply of grain according to the number of the in- 

 habitants in each quarter, and they issued grain to the common people 

 at a rate not exceeding half a man per individual ; but rich people 

 also and notables, who were not in possession of villages and lands, got 

 grain from the Bazar. If during a season of drought poor and helpless 

 people crowded to the Bazars and got crushed to death, and the officers 

 neglected to pay attention to the influx, the matter was immediately 

 reported to the Sultan, and the Shihnah had to suffer for it]. 



[Five regulations were also given to keep all articles at low prices, 

 as cloth, common sugar, refined sugar (nabdt), fruits., grease, oil ; and 

 on account of the continuance of these five regulations, the cheapness 

 of the articles continued. The prices fixed by the king did not rise, and 

 the people got what they wanted. These five regulations referred to 



1. The establishment of the Sardi 'Adl. 



2. The fixing of prices. 



3. The registration of all merchants in the Empire. 



4. Advances made from the Treasury to rich and respectable Mul- 

 tani traders, who were put in charge of the Sardi 'Adl. 



5. Passes to be given by the chief of the town (rais)* to great and 

 rich people when they wanted to purchase costly articles]. 



[The first regulation for keeping the prices of articles low, consisted 

 in the establishment of the Sardi 'Adl. The open space inside 

 the Badaon Gate, in the direction of the KoshaJc i sahz, which 

 for years had not been used, was called Sardi 'Adl, and 'Alaud- 

 din gave the order that no article belonging to the Sultan or to 

 merchants of the town and the country, should be stored up in 

 any other place but the Sardi Adl. Every article should there be sold 

 at the price fixed by the Sultan, and if any one should store up wares 

 in his own house, or sell them, or sell them a jetal clearer than was 



* Peihaps the Diwan, as below, in the third regulation, Barani uses Bats 

 as equivalent to Diwdn i Riydsat, 



