[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Wāqiʿāt-i Mushtāqī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi) › [Waki'at-i Mushtaki (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot) › 9 # The Events of Mushtāqī 9: Sher Shah. Wáki'át-i Mushtákí (extracts) 9 - **Language:** English ### Sher Shah. ### [9.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot.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; ### [9.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot.9.2) and pots of water were placed at the doors of the sarais for the use of Musulmans and Hindus. At every sarai a masjid, a royal chamber (khanah-i badshahi), and a well were constructed; and to every mosque a mu'azzin (crier), an imam (priest), and shikdar (manager) were appointed, and lands were allotted at the place for their support. From Gaur to the confines of Oudh, a road was made having sarais, gardens, and shady and fruit-bearing trees. Another road with gardens and sarais from Benares to the country of Mandu near to Burhanpur. Another road with gardens and sarais from Agra to Jodhpur. Another from Bayana to Jaunpur and to Ajmir. There were 1700 sarais, and at every sarai there were pairs of horses ready, so that news travelled 300 kos in one day. \[Here follows the story quoted in the note on page 418.\] Sher Shah was occupied night and day with the business of his kingdom, and never allowed himself to be idle. At the end of night he arose, performed his ablutions, and said his prayers. Afterwards he called in his officers and managers to report all the occurrences of the day. For four hours he listened to the reading of reports on the affairs of the country or on the business of the Government establishments. The orders which he gave were reduced to writing, and were issued and acted upon; there was no need of further discussion. Thus he remained engaged till morning (fajar) arrived. ### [9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot.9.3) When it was time for prayers, he performed his devotions in a large congregation, and went through all the forms of prayer. Afterwards he received his nobles and soldiers, and made inquiries as to the horses brought to receive their brands. Then he went out and made a personal inspection of his forces, and settled the allowances of each individual by word of mouth until all was arranged. He then attended to many other affairs and audited accounts. He summoned to his presence the officers of every country from which he received revenue and tribute, and received their accounts. Petitions were received from every quarter, and replies were sent; he himself dictated them in Persian, and the scribes committed them to writing. Every person who came to wait upon him was received in the palace. He kept money (khazdna) and revenue (khardj) in all parts of his territories, so that, if necessity required, soldiers and money were ready. The chief treasury was in Rohtas, under the charge of Ikhtiyar Khan. In the country of the Gakhars he had a fort upon the top of a hill, and he maintained a large force there, to the command of which the three great chiefs Masnad-i 'Ali Khawas Khan, Haibat Khan Niyazi, and 'Isa Khan Niyazi and other amirs were (at different times) appointed. He had 3000 elephants in his stables, and the number was daily increasing. The whole of the territories in his possession contained 13,000 parganas, for which shikhdárs were appointed. ### [9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot.9.4) His forces were numerous, and of every kind of horse and foot. Every man who came was entertained. 25,000 infantry and tufangdárs were attached to his person; 7000 tufangdárs were in the fort of Mandu (Mandú ?); 3000 tufangdárs were at Chitor; 1800 at the fort of Rantambhor; 500 at the fort of Bayana; 1000 tufangdárs at Gwaliyar (Gwalior); and 1000 infantry at the fort of Rohtas. It was known that a suitable garrison was maintained in every fort in the country. The force of horse under the royal command consisted of 150,000, some of whom were appointed on service, and others were sent to their own homes. In every pargana there was a shikhdár, a munsif, a treasurer, a Persian writer, and a Hinduwi writer, and in every sarkár there was a chief shikhdár and a chief munsif. At the branding time every man came forward and showed his horse and rendered his account. Munsifs were appointed for examining the brands in the armies on the frontiers, and the King himself occasionally made visits to different parts for this purpose. He kept one army in the upper country, as has been already mentioned, one army in Bengal, one at Rohtas, one in Malwa, one at the fort of Chitor, one in Khajwara, one in the country of Dhandhera, one in Nagor and Judhpur, and in the fort of Rantambhor and Bajwara. No fort in the country was without a garrison or a commandant.\] --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.waqiat-i-mushtaqi~en-elliot.9) · Pramāṇa