A History of Agriculture in India v2.c61.s10: Weights
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c61.s10
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Weights
v2.c61.s10.1
‘The dealers of precious metals, the corn merchants, the dealers of scent, had their own standards of weight, which differed from one locality to another. The official weights under the Sultans of Delhi were fixed at an average of 28.78 lb avoirdupois (13.05 kg) to a maund.
v2.c61.s10.2
‘Under Jalal-ud-din Khalji, when there was a famine, corn was sold at one *jital* per seer. Under Muhammad Tughlak, in exceptionally severe conditions, the price of corn rose to 16 and 17 *jitals* per seer. As a result, people began to die of starvation. When Firoz Tughlak attacked Sind and scarcity followed as a result, the price of corn rose to 2 and 3 *tankas* per maund (or 3.2 and 4.8 *jitals* respectively per seer). On his subsequent attack on the same province the corn rose to 8 and 10 *jitals* per 5 seers and the pulses to 4 and 5 *tankas* per maund (or 6.4 and 8 *jitals* per seer respectively).
v2.c61.s10.3
‘A comparison of prices of foodgrains etc. between the reigns of Ala-ud-din, Muhammad Tughlak and Firoz Tughlak’, states Ashraf, ‘show that as a whole the prices of most of these articles went up under Muhammad Tughlak but again dropped to the previous level of Ala-ud-din under Firoz Tughlak. Sugar, for some reasons, does not follow this pattern.
v2.c61.s10.4
| Commodities | Ala-ud-din | Muhammad Tughlak | Firoz Tughlak |
| | (Prices in *jitals* per maund) | | |
| 1 Wheat | 7 | 12 | 8 |
| 2 Barley | 4 | 8 | 4 |
| 3 Paddy | 5 | 14 | .. |
| 4 Pulses | 5 | .. | 4 |
| 5 Lentils | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 6 Sugar (white) | 100 | 80 | .. |
| 7 Sugar (soft) | 60 | 64 | 120,140 |
| 8 Sheep (mutton) | 10 | 64 | .. |
| 9 Ghi (clarified butter) | 16 | .. | 100 |
v2.c61.s10.5
‘Muslins of Delhi cost 17 *tankas* a piece, of Koil (Aligarh) 6 *tankas*. The finest quality muslin cost 2 *tankas* a yard. Another variety called *Mushru* costs 3 *tankas* per piece.
v2.c61.s10.6
‘Blankets of coarse quality (usually with red borders) cost 6 *jitals* and those of finer quality 36 *jitals* each.’⁶
v2.c61.s10.7
⁶ Ashraf, K.M. *Life and Conditions of People in Hindustan*, pp. 161, 288, 290
v2.c61.s10.8
Ashraf, K. M. *Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan*, New Delhi, 1970
v2.c61.s10.9
Gibb, H.A.R. *Rehla of Ibn Battuta : Travels in Asia and Africa, 1324-1354*, London, 1929
v2.c61.s10.10
Gibb, H.A.R. *The Travels of Ibn Battuta, A.D. 1325-1354*, Vol. III, Cambridge, 1971
v2.c61.s10.11
Gode, P.K. *Studies in Indian Cultural History*, Vol. III, Poona, 1969
v2.c61.s10.12
Herman, P. *Conquest by Man*, New York, 1954