THE 13tH AND 141 CENTURIES 59 
their payments, came to make their submission (Barni, 587), 
and offered valuable presents. At the same time they paid 
into the Camp treasury ‘‘ several lakhs” of tankas on account 
of the arrears of former years, and agreed to the sums to be 
paid in future, for which they gave formal engagements. 
They accompanied the King for some marches through their 
country; and, in recognition of their submission, orders 
were issued that not a single village of theirs was to be 
plundered, and that any animals which had been seized 
were to be restored. I think we may reasonably take this 
incident as typical of the period. The Chiefs had “re- 
belled’”” when the disorganisation of Muhammad Tughlaq’s 
administration give them an opportunity; but when the 
royal army reached their country and resistance was im- 
possible, they submitted with a good grace, and renewed 
their engagements. We may assume that, if they had not 
done so, their villages would have been ravaged in the 
ordinary course. It will be noticed that formal engage- 
ments were taken for the revenue fixed to be paid in future 
years. This makes it plain that at this period the revenue 
due from such Chiefs was not assessed on the produce of 
each season, as was done in the case of peasants, but was 
more like a tribute, the amount of which was settled by 
negotiation for some time ahead. 
Lastly, we have to consider the attitude adopted by 
Firtiz towards the peasantry. According to the eulogies of 
the chroniclers, it was substantially the same as that of 
Ghiyasuddin. The administration was to aim at extension 
of cultivation and improvement in cropping; and, with these 
objects in view, it was to treat the people equitably. After 
discounting the language used, we are justified in concluding 
that this policy was on the whole carried out, to the extent 
that cultivation extended, and rural prosperity increased; 
but Firiiz also made a specific contribution to the tradition 
of agricultural development by undertaking the construction 
of irrigation-works. Some of these, it is true, were intended 
in part to bring water to the new cities which he built; but 
that they served the country also is apparent from the state- 
ment (Afif, 130) that during the rains officers were specially