The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c16.s5.9

c16.s5.9

This makes it probable that the original reading in the Futūḥāt is خراج اراضی و عشور. Besides the Inshā-i-Māhrū, Letter XXX, says that the emperor's orders were to charge "the traditional kharāj." Unless we believe that the traditional proportion was a tenth of the produce, it is difficult to accept the translation in Elliot and Dowson. D. A., (p. 65) in explaining the meaning of kharāj-i-muqāsimah says that "it should be less than half, that is, a third, a fourth, a fifth, etc." I do not take this, in view of other evidence, to mean that these figures refer to Firūz Shāh's demand in general. 'A fifth' was the prevailing proportion and the other two figures are reminiscent of the level reached in the previous reign when the demand was increased in the Doāb. An addition of 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. to the normal 20 per cent. would give a fourth and very nearly a third.' It is significant that D. A. does not mention a tenth in connection with kharāj.