Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 37.6.6

37.6.6

As the value of horses had risen greatly by combination amongst the dealers, who bought them all up from the Persian and northern merchants to enhance the price, the King published an edict, by which merchants were obliged to register the prices paid for horses, and to sell them at a certain profit within a limited time, if that price was offered them, otherwise the King took them upon his own account. The third regulation fixed the prices of horses: 1st class of horses from 100 to 120 tunkas. 2d class of horses from 80 to 90 ditto. 3d class of horses from 65 to 70 ditto. Ponies, from 12 to 20 ditto. Care was taken that the merchants who brought those animals should not sell them to dealers wholesale, but reserve them for persons who wanted them for use. As many frauds were practised in spite of this regulation, a number of dealers were whipt out of the city, and others put to death. The fourth regulation regarded the sale of slaves of both sexes: — 1st class, from 100 to 200 tunkas. 2d class, from 20 to 40 ditto. 3d class, from 5 to 10 ditto. The fifth regulation regarded the sale of cattle, oxen, sheep, goats, camels, and asses: in short, every useful animal, and all commodities, were sold at a stated price in the markets.