Uluq
Also called: Horse-post · Topic: Medieval India through Travellers' Eyes · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Through the Eyes of Travellers"
Meaning
The uluq was the horse-post of the Delhi Sultanate. Ibn Battuta described it in the 14th century. Royal horses were kept at stations every four miles. Riders changed horses at each station and carried letters and reports onward. Together with the foot-post, it helped the Sultan get news quickly and helped merchants send messages and credit.
Example
Under Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Ibn Battuta saw the horse-post at work on routes such as Sind to Delhi. Spies' reports took only about five days on this route, while ordinary travel took about fifty.
Don't confuse with
- Dawa: the foot-post, with three stations per mile and runners carrying rods with copper bells. Ibn Battuta says the dawa was faster than the uluq.