The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c12.276.3

c12.276.3

No trade in grain was allowed except in the recognized and supervised markets. Thus, by the control of supply, transport and demand, the state succeeded in fixing and establishing a lower price for grain. Similar steps were taken to fix the prices of other commodities. Just as there was the mandwī for the trade in corn, the sultan erected a big market called sarāi 'adl where cloth and various other commodities were sold. Here the main difficulty was that the state was not in the same privileged position as in the corn trade; it neither could hold the main supply in its hands, nor could it fix the prices at the source, for some of these commodities were imported. These factors must certainly have been taken into consideration in fixing prices. The supply was ensured by registering the merchants and giving them money to keep the market well stocked. The next step was to cut down the demand by rationing the goods, so that no one could buy without a licence from the rai's which was granted in accordance with a fixed scale. This drastic reduction in demand must have affected the limited medieval market considerably and brought down prices.¹ Indeed economy was the watchword in ‘Alā-u’d-dīn’s reign; the sultan is accused of niggardliness in dealing with men of learning and talent. The same measures of economy were forced on his people, not just for caprice, but in the highest interest of the people.² The sultan took similar steps to ensure a cheap supply of horses for his troops;