Note 7 — Chapter IX · The Weighing of the Emperor.

Raja Todar Mal, the celebrated financier and administrator, was a Khatri and native of Lahore. His father died when he was a child, leaving him no provision, and he entered life as a writer. He was employed by the talented Afghan ruler Shir Shah, who drove out Humayun, Akbar’s father, and afterwards under Akbar himself. His revenue settlement of Gujrat was highly approved by the Emperor; and he was similarly employed in other provinces of India. Abú-l Fazl says of him, in the “Akbar-nama,”—“For honesty, rectitude, manliness, knowledge of business, and administrative ability, he was without a rival in Hindustan.” Todar Mal died at Lahore on November 10th, 1589.