Muntakhab al-tawarikh 43.2.5

43.2.5

Tyranny supplanted equity, and infidelity flourished in place of Islam. There were many reasons for this, which by their co-operation led to ruin and dissension, and the decline of the kingdom. These causes are given in detail in the original history the Firozshahi, and also in the Mahdiashahi. The results are here given in brief arranged under seven heads. Firstly:—The greater part of the people and inhabitants of the towns and districts were ruined by the rapine of Tarmashirin, and never again recovered their prosperity. Secondly.—The tribute to be paid by the inhabitants of the Doab, which district comprises some of the chief towns of Hindustan, was increased from ten per cent. to twenty per cent., besides which there was the numbering of the cattle, and the house-census, and other taxes over and above these, and in this way the more needy portion of the people left their property and cattle and attached themselves to the richer folk, while the wealthier subjects plotted rebellion and sedition and took to highway robbery, and pillaged the country in all directions so that from all these causes the revenue of the country began to dwindle. Thirdly.—An universal famine, and (consequent) dearness of grain, for it so happened that for seven whole years not a single drop of rain fell from heaven.