Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 226.1

226.1

Ascends the throne of his father — declares his son, Abdool Kadur, heir-apparent, and places in his hands the entire control of the government, and abandons himself to the pleasures of the haram. — Internal arrangements for the seraglio, containing fifteen thousand females. — His peaceable reign for thirty-three years. — The King’s death. Sooltan Gheias-ood-Deen, the elder son of Sooltan Mahmood, ascended the throne of Malwa on the death of his father. Having conferred on his younger brother, Fidwy Khan, the government of Runtunbhore to be held in perpetuity, he nominated his own son, Abdool Kadur, prime minister, and proclaimed him heir-apparent, with the title of Sooltan Nasir-ood-Deen; conferring on him, also, at the same time, a chutr and palky, an estate for his support, and the command of a body of twelve thousand cavalry. Shortly after his accession the King gave a grand entertainment; on which occasion, addressing his officers, he stated, that as he had during the last thirty-four years been employed constantly in the field, fighting under the banners of his illustrious father, he now yielded up the sword to his son, in order that he might himself enjoy ease the rest of his days. He accordingly established within his seraglio all the separate offices of a court, and had at one time fifteen thousand women within his palace. Among these were school-mistresses, musicians, dancers, embroiderers, women to read prayers, and persons of all professions and trades.