Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.30.8

78.30.8

Hence while the income and expenditure of the mançabdár remained in statu quo, ‘dust fell into the platter of the helpless soldier, so much so, that he was no longer fit for anything. But from all sides there came a lot of low tradespeople, weavers and cotton-cleaners, carpenters, and green-grocers, both Hindu and Musalman and brought borrowed horses, got them branded, and were appointed to a command, or were made Kroris, or Ahadis, or Dakhilis to some one; and when a few days afterwards no trace was to be found of the imaginary horse and the visionary saddle, they had to perform their duties on foot. Many times it happened at the musters, before the Emperor himself in his special audience hall that they were weighed in their clothes with their hands and feet tied, when they were found to weigh from 2½ to 3 man more or less; and after inquiry it was found that they were all hired, and that their very clothes and saddles were borrowed articles. His Majesty then used to say, “With my eyes thus open I must give these men pay, that they may have something to live on.” After some time had passed away His Majesty divided the Ahadis into duaspah, yakaspah, and nimaspah, in which latter case two troopers kept one horse together, and shared the stipulated salary, which amounted to six rupees:—