History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c17.s1.4

c17.s1.4

Next to food, the other important item of price control was cloth. In fact the sultan established separate markets for all the commodities needed by the soldier. There was a horse market, a slave market, markets for cattle and for sweets, spices, fruits, weapons, shoes etc. Ziyāuddīn Baranī describes in detail the condition of the Cloth Market, the administration of which was regulated on the lines of the Grain Market. Just as Malik Qabūl was appointed *shahnah* of the Grain Market one Yāqūb was appointed as Dīvān-i-Riyāsat to control the Cloth Market, but his jurisdiction extended to other markets also. The Sultan had given him the post of Dīvān-i-Riyāsat in addition to his duties as *Nāzir* (Superintendent *Dārogha*) and *Muhtasib* (Censor of Public Morals) of the empire.²¹