History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c2.s1.46

c2.s1.46

The death of Sidi Maula was too much for an orthodox Maulana like Ziyāuddīn Baranī to stand. He had visited the Shaikh a number of times and had had the privilege of dining at his mansion.⁴⁵ Therefore he associates some unpleasant happenings to such an unjust execution. According to him on the day of the Shaikh's death a black wind-storm covered the sky and from that day the Jalālī government lost its stability. Shortly after, the rains stopped. Delhi witnessed one of the most terrible famines. The price of grains rose to a *ser a tankah* and the people forgot the taste of bread.⁴⁶ Peasants⁴⁷ of Sivalik flocked into Delhi and in batches of twenty or thirty flung themselves into the Jumna. The sultan and his nobles tried their utmost to ameliorate the distress but could do little.⁴⁸ Next year so havy were the rains that people hardly remembered ever to have witnessed the like of them. It was only after constant prayers that conditions became normal in about two years' time.⁴⁹