The Institutes of Akbar 171: The Shamsherbáz, or gladiators.

171

There are several kinds of them, each performing astonishing feats. In fighting they shew much swiftness and agility, and join courage to skill in stooping down and rising up again. Some of them use shields in fighting, others use cudgels. The latter are called Lakrat. Others again use no means of defence, and fight with one hand only; these are called yak-hát’h. The former class come chiefly from the Eastern districts, and use a somewhat smaller shield, which they call chirwah. Those who come from the southern districts, make their shields large enough to conceal a horseman. This kind of shield they call tálwah.
Another class goes by the name of P’hardits. They use a shield not quite so large as to conceal a man, but a gaz broad.
Some again are called Bandits. They use a long sword, the handle of which is more than a gaz long, and seizing it with both hands, they perform extraordinary feats of skill.
The class which goes by the name of Bankúlis are likewise famous. They use a peculiar sword which, though bent towards the point, is straight near the handle. But they do not make use of a shield. The skill which they exhibit passes all description. Others make various kinds of daggers and knives, and perform with them the most extraordinary feats. Each class of these men has a different name; they also differ in their performances. But it is really impossible to give a mere description of them; nor would mere listening to my descriptions be sufficient.
There are more than a hundred thousand of them. At Court one thousand of them are always in readiness. Their Çadé (commander of one hundred) holds the rank of an Ahadi, and even a higher one. Their salaries vary from 80 to 600 d.