ملخص الجهاز:
An efficient government of the country was impossible without the help of the most talented and experienced men; and Muhammad Qasim, who was free from the sterile fanaticism of the later Ghaznavide and Ghbrian Turks, freely appointed Hindus to the highest offices.
They must have been Hindus or Buddhists, There was no reason why Muhammad Qasim should go out of his way to · bestow 'ornaments for hands and feet according to the custom of the kings of Hind' on his own Arabs.
But Muhammad Qasim was free from the fatuity of later-day fanatics, who have adhered to the monetary stand• ards adopted by the Prophet in Arabia without any regard to the con• stantly changing value of silver, and have tried to enforce them in all countries without paying any attention to the wealth or the poverty of the people.
The duty of assessing the individual tax payer was left to the Brahmans ; so long as they collected the required amount and the tax-payers did not seriously complain, Muhammad Qasim saw no reason to interfere ; his direction to tax people ' according to ability to pay ' meant that the Brahmans were to make up for the retrogressive effect of the [azia when apportioning the other taxes.
They as• certained the amount from Muhammad Qasim1 and to the Brahmans, whom he had appointed revenue managers over them, he said, 'Deal honestly between the people and the Sultan, and if distribution is required, make it with equity, and fia: the revenue according to the ability to pay.