The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c22.33

v3.c22.33

Sikandar remained for some time in Bihār and his army suffered from famine, perhaps the result of climatic conditions, but more probably caused and certainly aggravated by the devastating campaign in which it had been engaged. Grain became so dear that one of the taxes levied under the Islamic law was remitted, and Sikandar marched to Sāran, asserted his authority by removing some of the landholders from their fiefs and appointing nobles of his own clan in their place, and returned to Jaunpur, where he reorganised the administration of the distracted province and, having accomplished this task, demanded a daughter in marriage from Sālibāhan of Phāphāmau. He met with a refusal and attacked Sālibāhan’s stronghold, but failed to capture it and returned to Jaunpur, where he demanded from Mubārak Khān Lodī, to whom the collection of the revenue had been entrusted since the imprisonment of Bārbak, an account of his stewardship. Mubārak Khān, who had been guilty of wholesale peculation, was much alarmed and sought the intercession of several influential courtiers with a view to avoiding an inquiry, but his anxiety betrayed his guilt, and he was ordered to pay into the treasury the large sums which he had embezzled.