History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c17.s2.9

c17.s2.9

A schedule of the prices of different commodities was prepared and a reasonable profit was allowed to the seller.³⁸ Since this margin was determined according to the wishes of the king without any consultation with the merchants, it may safely be surmised that it was not very high. The schedule was forwarded to the Divān-i-Riyāsat, whose duty it was to enforce it in the market. Malik Yāqūb; the Divān-i-Riyāsat, or the Inspector General of all the markets in Delhi, appointed *shahnahs* or magistrates for various markets dealing with various commodities. The *shahnahs* had full jurisdiction over their markets and were directly responsible to the king. The status of a *shahnah* was high as can well be imagined from the instance of Malik Qabūl. Each *shahnah* received a copy of the schedule of rates for his market. The superintendents were instructed to enquire from the purchasers what they had paid for a particular ware, and were to note down their statements to verify if the prices charged were not in contravention of the scheduled ones. If the market people were found to be selling things at higher prices they were at once taken to task. The appointment of a *shahnah* for each market was extremely conducive to keeping prices low.