مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.115

2.115

السلاح داريه [1] والجمداريه [2] ، ومن حكمه بين أرباب الأشغال الخاصة حكمهم، وأرباب الوظائف على منازلهم ولا يجلس إلا على الخانات وصدر جهان والدبيران [3] يعني كتاب السر، بين يديه، والحجاب وقوف، وينادى مناداة عامة أنه من كان له شكوى يحضر، فيحضر كل من له شكوى أو حاجة يسأل السلطان فيها، فإذا حضر أو وقف بين يديه، لا يضرب، ولا يمنع حتى ينهى إليه شكواه، ويأمر السلطان فيه بأمره.

The Sultan never ceases to show the greatest zeal in making war upon the infidels, both by sea and land. ***** Every day thousands of slaves are sold at a very low price, so great is the number of prisoners. According to the unanimous statements of the travellers I have cited, the value, at Dehli, of a young slave girl, for domestic service, does not exceed eight tankas. Those who are deemed fit to fill the parts of domestic and concubine sell for about fifteen tankas. In other cities the prices are still lower. Abu-s Safa 'Umar bin Is'hak Shabali assured me that he bought a young slave in the flower of his youth for four dirhams. The rest may be understood from this. But still, in spite of the low price of slaves, 20,000 tankas, and even more, are paid for young Indian girls. I inquired the reason, and was told that these young girls are remarkable for their beauty, and the grace of their manners. According to what I heard from Shabali, the smallest quantity of wine is not to be found either in shops or in private houses : so great is the Sultan's aversion to it and so severe the punishments with which he visits its votaries. Besides, the inhabitants of India have little taste for wine and intoxicating drinks, but content themselves with betel, an agreeable drug, the use of which is permitted without the slightest objection.