So Translations from the T'drihh i Firuz Shdhi. [No. 1, 



leaves] to betel nuts, roses, and greens, was put thoroughly in order. 



Sultan 'Alauddin effected this and reduced everything to cheapness 

 by instituting of his own accord the following measures : the ap- 

 pointment of a superintendent of ability and judgment, with a stern, 

 relentless disposition and parsimonious* character ; the strict super- 

 vision and control over the traffic of every person in the market ; 

 the appointment of a magistrate in every market on the part of 

 the finance department ; and the severe coercion, intimidation, and 

 castigation of the market people, even to the cutting of the flesh 

 of both cheeks. 



For the establishment of regulations for the public mai'kets too, the 

 advantages of which extend to the whole population at large, Sultan 

 'Alauddin made strenuous efforts, and was constantly employed in ap- 

 praising every article, however slight it might be, such as needles, 

 combs, slippers, shoes, cups, pitchers, and goblets ; and the prices of 

 all these he determined according to the estimated cost of the articles, 

 with a fair profit to the seller ; and schedules of the prices fixed before 

 the throne were given into the office of finance. 



The first measure for establishing the cheapness of articles, apper- 

 taining to public markets, was the appointment of an able superinten- 

 dent, and a stern harsh-tempered magistrate ; [for the people of the 

 markets are shameless, bold, cunning, and debauched, they ' burn' 



fools and lie, and (?) ; they arbitrarily fix the prices of articles 



themselves. Kings have been unable to reduce them to obedience 

 by laying down price lists, and ministers have failed to devise laws and 

 regulate the transactions of this forward set of people. After much 

 reflection, 'Alauddin appointed Ya'qub, the superintendent fndzirj, to 

 the new office of Diivdn i riydsat ; for he knew the whole town, and the 

 transactions and the sales and purchases of every class, and was not only 

 a trustworthy and upright man, but also ill-tempered, hard and close, 

 cruel and coarse. But on account of the respect in which he was held, 

 and the obedience which people shewed to his orders, the Sultan gave 

 him the riydsat, in addition to his duties as ndzir, and the Muhtasih- 

 ship of the Empire. Such a rah conferred indeed every honor on the 

 office. From the numerous corporeal punishments which he inflicted 

 and had inflicted, from the imprisoning and fettering, and the 

 * Eotahdast. — Barani means a man who will not take a bribe. 



