The Institutes of Akbar 191.6

191.6

In 983, His Majesty gave the order that the Aimahs of the whole empire should not be let off by the krorís of each Parganah, unless they brought the farmáns in which their grants, subsistence allowances, and pensions were described, to the Çadr for inspection and verification. For this reason, a large number of worthy people, from the eastern districts up to Bhakkar on the Indus, came to Court. If any of them had a powerful protector in one of the grandees or near friends of His Majesty, he could manage to have his affair settled ; but those who were destitute of such recommendations, had to bribe Sayyid ’Abdurrasúl, the Shaikh’s head man, or make presents to his farráshes, darwáns (porters), syces (grooms), and mehters (sweepers), ‘in order to get their blanket out of the mire.’ Unless, however, they had either strong recommendations, or had recourse to bribery, they were utterly ruined. Many of the A’imahs, without obtaining their object, died from the heat caused by the crowding of the multitudes. Though a report of this came to the ears of His Majesty, no one dared to take these unfortunate people before the emperor.