Muslim Slave System in Medieval India c14.16

c14.16

The contemporary chronicler Barani boasts that the cheapness of prices in Alauddins time was not witnessed after his reign.³¹ But the trend towards low prices was universal and spread over a long period. Writing about the days of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325-51), Shihabuddin Al-Umari writes: The Sultan never ceases to show the greatest zeal in making war upon the infidels Every day thousands of slaves are sold at a very low price, so great is the number of prisoners (that) the value at Delhi of a young slave girl, for domestic service, does not exceed eight *tankahs*. Those who are deemed fit to fill the parts of domestic and concubine sell for about fifteen *tankahs*. In other cities prices are still lower Probably it was so because Ibn Battuta while in Bengal says that a pretty *Kaniz* (slave girl) could be had there for one gold *dinar* (or 10 silver *tankahs*). I purchased at this price a very beautiful slave girl whose name was Ashura. A friend of mine also bought a young slave named Lulu for two gold coins.³² It is very difficult to establish a relationship between the prices of Delhi market and those of the provinces. Umari continues, but still, in spite of low price of slaves, 20000 *tankahs*, and even more, are paid for young Indian girls. I inquired the reason and was told that these young girls are remarkable for their beauty, and the grace of their manners.³³