Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c6.s3.t2.7

c6.s3.t2.7

Let us now consider some records of exceptionally low prices. The reign of Ibrahim Lodi is an extreme but typical case in this respect. One *Bahloli* bought 10 maunds of corn, 5 seers of oil and 10 yards of coarse cloth. The same coin (which was 1.6 Jital in value) was sufficient to convey a person together with a horse and an attendant and to feed them on the way between Delhi and Agra. According to the chronicler 5 Tankas in those days were sufficient for the maintenance of a whole family and its retainers (who were quite a few then) for a whole month. Even then, the pay of the soldier ranged from 20 to 30 Tankas. The fall in food prices reacted unfavourably on gold and silver, which could be procured only with the greatest difficulty.² Gupta similarly gives instances of exceptionally low prices from Bengal, without, however, appreciating the necessary inference that they either indicate over-production or a decrease of outside demand and are certainly not normal. For instance, the whole marriage ceremony of Chaitanya was performed for a few cowries and the event was ‘referred to as a magnificent instance of costly marriage by the poets who described it’.³