History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c12.263

c12.263

Each province was entrusted to a governor who was called the Nāib Sultan and who was invested with the chief civil and military authority. It was a replica of the empire, and the Sultan's deputy, as long as he remained in office, exercised authority like a despot. His functions were multifarious. He was the chief executive, judicial and military head of the province. He occupied a position analogous to that of a feudal baron, whose remuneration was a charge upon the public revenues of his fief. After defraying the cost of his establishment he remitted the surplus to the imperial capital. As the empire consisted of half-subdued races, ever ready to assert their independence, it was not possible to exercise a vigilant control over the local administration from the capital or to suppress popular risings which easily assumed formidable dimensions. The inevitable result of this was that governors were appointed for short periods and were liable to be called back at any moment. Muhammad tried to maintain a vigilant control over the local administrations. He was so much feared and respected that when the customary Khil'ats, (robes of honour) were sent to governors of cities and officers of the army twice a year, they came out of their cities a long way to receive them. When they approached the person who brought the Khil'at, they alighted from their conveyances. Each took his Khil'at and placed it upon his shoulders and turning his face towards the Sultan made obeisance.¹¹¹