History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c8.96

c8.96

transactions were effected through the new circulating media, and the emperor devised a curious method to compel his subjects to accept the new currency. Great care was taken to prevent forgery by private individuals.⁴⁹ Foreign merchants from India and other countries, who brought their gold and silver, or gems and pearls, were prohibited from selling to any one except the emperor, who offered a more liberal price and made prompt payments. They readily accepted the Chāo, partly through the wear of the Khan, and partly for the sake of convenience, for they could purchase with them anything they liked all over his empire. Marco Polo writes that the Khan bought an unlimited quantity of precious goods, while the money that he paid cost him nothing at all. Proclamations were issued from time to time that any one who may have gold or silver or other precious articles will get a handsome price at the royal mint. In the last decade of the 13th century A.D. in the year 1294 A.D. a similar experiment was tried by Gai Khātū, the ruler of Persia, who was a man of profligate habits. So lavish