The Events of Mushtāqī 9.1

9.1

[During the reign of Sher Shah many regulations were made, and many forts built. He resumed the rent-free tenures, and made new grants on his own part. No person of high or low degree who went into his presence departed empty and without receiving something. He fixed a daily payment of 500 tolchas of gold upon the poor-house (langar-i fukard), and night and day he was considerate and liberal to the needy. He settled allowances upon the blind and helpless of every place and village and city. Two institutions were kept up during his reign without any interruption : one, the religious establishments ('imárat khánah), and the other the houses for the poor; for these two institutions confer a general benefit. His private kitchen was very extensive, for several thousand people fed there every day. Whoever wanted food went to his kitchen and ate under an order which he had issued. He himself used to take his meals with learned men and shaikhs. There was such security in the country during his reign that thefts and highway robbery were unknown. When such a thing occurred, the mukaddams of all the surrounding villages were seized, and restitution for the robbery was exacted from them. Examinations were held in the villages, and precautions taken that the like should not occur again. From Gaur to the confines of his dominions, in every direction, he had built sarais and halting places at every kos;