Muslim Slave System in Medieval India c12.29

c12.29

According to Shahabuddin Al Umri every year the Sultan (Muhammad Tughlaq) distributes 200,000 complete dresses: 100,000 in spring and 100,000 in autumn (among nobles) Dresses are also distributed to the monasteries and hermitages (*khanqahs* and *dargahs*). The Sultan keeps in his service 500 manufacturers of golden tissues, who weave the gold brocades worn by the wives of the Sultan, and given away as presents to the amirs and their wives.⁵⁶ Ibn Battutahs list of the presents he carried from Muhammad bin Tughlaq to the Mongol emperor of Cathay also helps us appraise the development of textile industry in India manned by slaves. These presents comprised 100 pieces of cotton fabric called *bairami*, of matchless beauty priced at 100 *dinars* per piece; 100 pieces of silk called *juz* of variegated tints; 104 pieces of *Salahiya*, 100 pieces of *Shirinbaf*, 100 pieces of *Shanbaf*, 500 pieces of *muraz*, a kind of woollen fabric of various colours, 100 pieces of *Katan-i-Rumi*, 100 gowns without sleeves, a tent with six pavilions, four golden candlesticks and four embroidered with silver, four gold basins and six of silver, and ten dresses of honour embroidered. Also sent were ten quivers one of which was studded with pearls, and 10 swords the scabbard of one of which was inlaid with pearls and jewels.⁵⁷ Ziyauddin Baranis list of such items of textiles also indicates their prices under Alauddin Khalji, that of Abul Fazl under the Mughals.⁵⁸