The History of Fīrūz Shāh (Baranī) 9.9

9.9

Thousands of men from various quarters, who possessed thousands of these copper coins, and caring nothing for them, had flung them into corners along with their copper pots, now brought them to the treasury, and received in exchange gold tankas and silver tankas, shash-ganis and du-gánis, which they carried to their homes. So many of these copper tankas were brought to the treasury, that heaps of them rose up in Tughlikábád like mountains. Great sums went out of the treasury in exchange for the copper, and a great deficiency was caused. When the Sultán found that his project had failed, and that great loss had been entailed upon the treasury through his copper coins, he more than ever turned against his subjects. The fourth project which diminished his treasure, and so brought distress upon the country, was his design of conquering Khurásán and 'Irák. In pursuance of this object, vast sums were lavished upon the officials and leading men of those countries. These great men came to him with insinuating proposals and deceitful representations, and as far as they knew how, or were able, they robbed the throne of its wealth. The coveted countries were not acquired, but those which he possessed were lost; and his treasure, which is the true source of political power, was expended.