Muslim Slave System in Medieval India c14.18

c14.18

From the fifteenth century onwards, we have some more information about the sale of slaves and their prices at home and abroad. Babur writes in his Memoirs that there are two trade-marts on the land-route between Hindustan and Khurasan; one is Kabul, the other, Qandhar. (Route to Kabul was from Lahore, to Qandhar from Multan) Down to Kabul every year from Hindustan, come every year caravans bringing slaves (*barda*) and other commodities, and sell them at great profit. In Kabul can be had the products of Khurasan, Rum, Iraq and Chin (China); *while it is Hindustans own market* (emphasis added). There was also barter prevailing with regard to the disposal of slaves. For example, William Finch writing at Agra in about 1610 says that in hunting the men of the jungle were on the same footing as the beasts and whatever was taken in the game was the kings *shikar*, whether men or beasts. Men remain the Kings slaves which he sends yearly to Kabul to barter for horses and dogs. Many other writers tell it besides Finch.³⁷ Barter was in vogue not only in the days of Jahangir but it was practised throughout the medieval period.