Muntakhab al-tawarikh 42.4

42.4

the Sultān pursued him as far as the frontier of Kalānor and defeated him, and leaving the destruction of that fort in the hands of Majīru-d-Dīn Abū-rajā returned in the direction of Dihlī. At this time the Sultān formed the opinion that in consequence of the refractory conduct of his subjects in the Doāb it was advisable to double the taxes levied on that country; he also instituted numbering their cattle and a house census, and other vexatious and oppressive measures, which were the cause of the complete ruin and desolation of the country; the weak were utterly destroyed and the strong laid the foundations of rebellion. The Sultān gave orders for the remainder of the inhabitants of Dihlī and the adjoining towns to start for Daulatābād, caravan by caravan; the houses were to be purchased from their owners, and the price of them to be paid in cash out of the public treasury, in addition to which large rewards were to be offered. By these means Daulatābād was populated, and Dihlī became so deserted that there was not left even a dog or a cat in the city. The following verse describes its condition;—