1870.] Translations from the Turihh i Firtiz Shdhi. 27 



jurisdiction of the magistrate would extend over them and their wives 

 and children, and the caravans would be completely subject to him, he 

 should not remove the chains from their necks. By the establishment 

 of this regulation, so much grain began to pour into the market, that 

 there was no need for the royal stores, and the price never rose a 

 dang above the fixed rate. 



The fifth regulation for the above purpose was, the prohibition 

 against the hoarding up of grain and selling it at enhanced prices. 

 This check was so rigorously enforced during the 'Alai reign, that it 

 was not possible for any one of the various classes of merchants, traders, 

 grain-dealers, &c, to hoard up a single man of grain, or sell it 

 secretly at their own houses for one dang or diram above the fixed 

 price ; and if any hoarded grain was discovered, it became confis- 

 cated to the crown, and the proprietor was fined. Written agreements 

 were also taken from the superintendents and agents of the territory 

 lying within the Duab, binding them not to permit any one within 

 their jurisdiction to hoard up grain, and engaging that if anybody 

 was detected at this practice, the officials themselves should be 

 considered at fault, and have to answer for it before the throne. 



Owing to the enforcement of this prohibition therefore, the price 

 current in the market never rose a single dang or diram either during 

 the greatest superabundance or scarcity of rain. 



The sixth regulation for securing the cheapness of grain, was the 

 taking of written agreements from the superintendents and agents of 

 districts to this effect, that they would cause the grain to be delivered 

 to the caravans by the cultivators at their own fields. Sultan 'Alaud- 

 din accordingly gave orders, that at the chief office of revenue, writ- 

 ten engagements should be taken from the magistrates and • collectors 

 of the country lying within the Duab, which is nearest to the city? 

 binding them to exact the revenue due from the cultivators with the 

 utmost rigour, so that it might be impossible for them to carry off any 

 large quantities of grain from the fields to their own houses, and hoard 

 it there, and that they might thus be induced to sell it to the caravans 

 at the fields at a cheap rate. 



By the establishment of the above regulation, no excuse was left to 

 the caravans for not bringing grain into the market, and constant 

 supplies consequently were continually arriving, while the agricul- 

 turists also found it to their own advantage to convey as much of their 



