The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c12.23

c12.23

The *dīwān-i-‘arḍ* kept a descriptive roll of every soldier which was called *ḥuliyah*. *Ḥuliyah* and *dāgh*. ‘Alā-u’d-dīn Khaljī is credited with the introduction of a systematic branding of the horses brought by the troopers so that an animal might not be presented twice or replaced by a worse one.⁶ This system, called *dāgh*, really dates back to the Umayyads.⁷ Fīrūz Shāh seems to have discontinued both *dāgh* and *ḥuliyah*, for he allowed soldiers to send substitutes to the musters.⁸ Sikandar Lodī insisted on the registration of *ḥuliyah*, which was now known as *chehrah*.⁹ *Dāgh* was revived by Sher Shāh, to whom the danger of a Mughul restoration was ever present.¹⁰ Both *dāgh* and ḥuliyah were intended to prevent fraud, not only on the part of the troopers themselves, but also by chiefs and nobles who drew the salaries of troops assigned to them and passed off hirelings on the day of muster.¹ The enrolment and inspection of the troops were considered so important that some sultans personally discharged these duties.²