Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c6.s3.t1.32

c6.s3.t1.32

Let us now give some idea of the individual wealth of certain nobles. Among the nobles of Firuz Tughluq, Malik Shahin bequeathed a fortune of 50,000 Tankas, exclusive of valuables, jewels, and other property³; Bashir, another noble of Firuz, accumulated the vast sum of 160 millions.⁴ At a later date, an Afghan noble named Miyan Muhammad Kalapahar is reported to have possessed 300 maunds of gold.⁵ The Hindu nobles of the Sultans of Bengal were not very far behind. Hiranya and Govardhan Das owned seven villages and more than a million Tankas in cash.⁶ We have already referred to a minister of Malwa and to Hemu, the Hindu General of the last Afghan monarch. The emoluments of other high officials and nobles of the kingdom can be imagined accordingly.⁷ For the lesser nobility and for retired officials, a general rule was laid down that they were to be paid sufficient funds by the State to maintain them in dignity and honour.⁸ Among other employees of the State the more important were minor military officers, the soldiers, and the revenue agents or *Muqaddims*.