The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c11.110.2

v1.c11.110.2

They were probably mainly concentrated in the important cities and were possibly assisted by levies of Sindian troops, but details about this organisation are wanting.² The internal administration of the country was necessarily left largely in the hands of the Hindu landlords paying the land tax (*Kharāj*) and the capitation tax (*Jizya*).³ It is difficult to estimate the annual revenue of the whole of Sind during this period, but in the days of the Caliphs Sind paid to the Imperial exchequer a sum of 11,500,000 dirhams and 150 pounds of aloe wood.⁴ There is evidence that commerce flourished. ‘ Caravans were often passing and repassing between that country (Sind) and Khurāsān, most commonly by the route of Kabul and Bāmiān.’⁵ I have already referred to the statement of Muqaddasī about the city of al-Lahūm, in Bāmiān, ‘as the trade port of Khurāsān and the treasure-house of Sind.’ Mas‘ūdī tells us that the caravans of Khurāsān used to assemble at Multan.⁶ ‘ The Arab merchants at this period formed the commercial communication between Sind and the neighbouring countries of India. They brought the produce of China and Ceylon to the seaports of Sind and from there conveyed them by way of Multan to Turkistan and Khurasan.'¹ As to religion, it appears that the tenets of Islam continued to spread.