38 THE AGRARIAN SYSTEM OF MOSLEM INDIA 
regulations together, they lend no support to the view which 
has been occasionally put forward, that Northern India was, 
at this period and even later, a country of Arcadian sim- 
plicity; the cash-nexus was well-established throughout 
the country, there were grain-dealers in the villages as well 
as in the cities, and we may safely infer that prices were a 
matter of interest to the peasant at least as far back as the 
thirteenth century. 
The result of the changes in the agrarian system introduced 
by Alauddin, and maintained throughout the rest of his 
reign, may be summarised as follows 
f. Delhi and the River Country, together with part of 
North Rohilkhand, were Reserved (khalisa), and were 
managed by the Revenue Ministry, through its officials, in 
direct relations with the peasants. The Demand was fixed 
at one-half of the produce, assessed by Measurement, and 
collected, wholly or partly, in grain. There were doubtless 
some Assignments or Grants in this region, but apparently 
they were not important. The peasants were restricted in 
the sale of their surplus produce, the prices of which were 
fixed by authority. 
2. Round this nucleus lay an inner ring of provinces, 
administered by Governors in direct relations with the 
peasants, claiming half the produce, assessing by Measure- 
ment, and—apparently—collecting in cash. There is no 
record of restrictions in regard to marketing in these 
regions.! 
3. In the outlying provinces, the Governors had not been 
placed in direct relations with the peasants, and we may 
assume that they continued to deal largely with the Chiefs: 
we are not told what was the Demand, how it was assessed, 
or in what form it was collected; and we can only guess 
that no change was made in the arrangements previously 
in force. 
A glimpse of the position occupied by the Chiefs in this 
reign is furnished by the story of the birth of King Firiiz, 
as related by the chronicler Shams Afif (pp. 37 ff.) The 
! Grain was ordered to be stored in Milwa, as well as in Delhi, but 
Barni Soe not say that any restrictions were enforced on the Milwa 
peasants,