1885.] 
103 
the Sultans of Kashmir. 
with the aid of Jasrat, coining under his rule. Making his younger 
brother Muhammad Khan his wazir he gave himself to the administra¬ 
tion of justice. He filled his court with the wise of the Musalmans and 
Hindus. He himself knew music well. He spent his time in superin¬ 
tending the agricultural improvements of the country and in increasing 
the means of irrigation. He published a common order that if any theft 
occurred the headman of the village or town where the theft occurred 
should be held responsible. Thus theft was banished the country and 
the bad actions of Syah But were rendered harmless. He abolished also 
the food rates which Syah But had established. He wrote all his com¬ 
mands on copper tablets and sent them to every town and village. Sri 
Biliut was made physician and on his application the Brahmans whom 
Syah But’s persecution had driven out of the country were re-called and 
had lands given to them. The poll tax on Hindus was abolished and 
the worship of idols was tolerated. The killing of cows was done away 
with. He made a covenant with the Hindus that he would rule them 
justly and according to their own law. Everything that Sikandar had 
abolished he restored, such as the thiJca on the forehead and even sati. 
He forbad the acceptance of gifts by tahsildars. He forbad merchants 
to hide merchandize in their own houses, and compelled them to expose it 
for sale at a reasonable profit. He released all the prisoners of former 
kings. Whatever countries he conquered he divided the treasure 
obtained amongst his troops. He punished the rebellious and raised up 
those of low degree. He fed the poor in a moderate fashion, so that 
they might not “ wax fat and kick.” He himself kept to one woman,— 
his wife, and looked on none other with a desire to possess himself of her. 
He increased the length of the yard and chain. For his own private 
use he expended the proceeds of his copper mines only. As Sikandar 
had melted down gold and silver idols, for purposes of coinage, the 
king gave order that coin should be made of copper from his copper 
mines. (ISTo gold coins of Sikandar have been found. But Zain-ul- 
* Abidin coined extensively in silver and brass. General Cunningham has 
I believe gold coins of Harsha Ttajah, and the Lahore museum has a gold 
coin of Yusaf Sultan.) 
Every man w r as allowed to follow his own religion. Ho one could 
act with intolerance to another. All the Brahmans who had forcibly 
become Musalmans in Sikandar’s time returned to their old religion. 
The king brought a canal from the mountains and built a city five koss 
in circumference. He also made other canals and bridges. The cities 
he built he peopled with learned men and also with the homeless in 
order that travellers might be fed and the needy relieved. The whole 
of Kashmir became well-irrigated. In Yer Hag he made a large build- 
N 
