The Institutes of Akbar 217.4

217.4

Four sers of grain will be sufficient for one hundred of such pigeons as are made to fly; but for other pigeons, five sers are required; or seven and a half, if they pair. But flying pigeons get millet, not mixed with other grain; the others get a mixture of the seven kinds of grain, viz., rice, dál i nukhúd (gram), mung dál, millet, karar, lahdarah, jowár, (vide p. 63). Though most servants of His Majesty keep pigeons and shew much skill in training them, there are a few that have risen to eminence, as Qul ’Alí of Bukhárá, Mastí of Samarqand, Mullázádah, Púr i Mullá Ahmad Chánd, Muqbil Khán Chelah, Khwájah Qandil Chelah, Múmin of Harát, ’Abdullatíf of Bukhárá, Hájí Qásim of Balkh, Habíb of Shahrsabz, Sikandar Chelah, Maltú, Maqsúd of Samarqand, Khwájah P’húl, Chelah Híránand. The servants attached to the pigeon houses draw their pay on the list of the army. The pay of a foot soldier varies from 2 R. to 48 R. per mensem.