The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c12.276.2

c12.276.2

A large number of inspectors were employed to enforce the new level of prices. Both the sultan and the *ra’īs* employed spies to discover any breach of the rules. Innocent children, slaves and professional spies were all used as agents to expose offenders; and once an offender was discovered, the punishment was highly deterrent.⁴ But no amount of espionage or inspection could have succeeded if steps of a more scientific nature had not been taken. First, measures were taken to maintain the supplies of essential foodstuffs at the new prices. The state raised its demand to a half of the produce and realized it in kind. This grain was stored in granaries, and thus the state became the greatest dealer. Then, just as much grain was left with the cultivator as he was likely to require in the course of the year; he had to sell the rest to authorized dealers at the rates fixed by the state. Thirdly, it was made a penal offence for any trader to store grain beyond the quantity he was likely to sell within a specified time; nor was the consumer allowed to buy in excess of his recognized need. All carriers and dealers were registered; their families were kept as hostages at Dehlī or its vicinity. They were held collectively responsible for the offences of any member of their fraternity. The cultivator was encouraged to bring his own produce to market; the fact that he did so shows that the dealer was left a fair margin of profit.