The History of Fīrūz Shāh (ʿAfīf) 78: Second Mukaddama. — Suppression of unlawful practices.
Táríkh-i Fíroz Sháhí of Shams-i Siráj 'Afíf (extracts) 78
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Second Mukaddama. — Suppression of unlawful practices.
78.1
Abuses which had pressed upon the people in revenue matters, mal-practices in the administration of public business, and breaches of the Holy Law were all forbidden. One of these (last) was the painting of portraits in the private apartments of kings. It was held right among monarchs to have painted chambers to gratify their eyes in retirement, but Firoz Sháh, in his fear of God, prohibited the painting of portraits as contrary to the Law, and directed that garden scenes should be painted instead. Former kings used to have ornaments of brass and copper, silver and gold, in opposition to the Law; these he interdicted. They had also used plates and drinking vessels of metal; these also were forbidden, and he used only stone and earthenware table furniture. Pictures on banners and ensigns were also forbidden. Learned and holy men were also present in the Court of the Sultan, and whatever they objected to as being unlawful in the collection of taxes he forbad, even though it diminished the revenue. They brought to the notice of His Majesty several abuses which had sprung up in former reigns, and among them was that of dángána. Merchandize that had paid the regular zakát, after being passed, was carried off to the zariba, again weighed, and an impost of one dang per tanka levied. A large sum was thus raised.
78.2
Merchants, both natives and strangers, were sorely vexed with the proceedings at the dángána office, for they were subjected to annoyances and delays by the officials, and were quite helpless. In the city of Dehli there was an unlawful impost called mustaghail—a ground rent levied from houses and shops, which produced annually 150,000 tankas. It was also called kirá-zamín, or ground rent. There was another unlawful tax called jazzárí, levied from butchers, at the rate of twelve jítals for every ox they killed, and this brought a considerable sum to the treasury. The Rozi was an impost upon traders. When traders, native or foreign, brought grain, salt, sugar, or other goods into Dehli, laden upon bullocks, the customs officers used to seize these animals for a day and send them to old Dehli. In this old city there were seven fortifications (hisdr), built by famous sovereigns; but these buildings were old and falling to decay, and they furnished an inexhaustible supply of bricks. The trader's animals were sent to this place for a day (roz) by the government officials, and had to convey one load of bricks from thence to Firozabad. No merchant who came to Dehli was allowed to depart until his animals had rendered this service. This made traders reluctant to come to the city, and, consequently, grain and salt began to grow dear.
78.3
The facts of these various imposts were brought to the knowledge of his Majesty and were fully explained. The case of a trader was reported who had brought in three mans of cotton, which was carried to the dāngāna zariba and detained. The officials would not take three dāngs proffered in payment, nor would they let it pass. While it was thus detained it caught fire and was burnt. Such was the hardship on traders. The rozi also was so oppressive that traders kept away from the city, and commodities rose in price. The mustaghall, or ground rent, was levied from all classes; — from widows and the very poorest people, so that it bore very hardly upon them.
78.4
The Sultān, in his benevolence, * * * called to his presence the elders and learned men, the magistrates and revenue officers, and examined them upon these subjects. The doctors and elders all gave their opinion, which they supported by quotations from books of authority, that these imposts were opposed to the Law. So the Sultan ordered the abolition of them all. Kází Nasru-llah, who was the Kází of the army, was mounted on an elephant, and was sent out to read publicly the royal proclamation of abolition. * * * The author of this work, who was then under Múr Khán, was present and heard this proclamation read. The numbers of people who crowded to hear it exceeded all computation. * * * The author has been informed that the loss incurred by the abolition of these imposts amounted to thirty lacs of tankas per annum. This abolition was proclaimed in 777 H. (1375 A.D.).