[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Humāyūn and the Sūrs (1530–1556)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun) › [Qānūn-i Humāyūnī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni) › [Humayun-nama of Khondamir (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot) › 8 # The Institutes of Humāyūn 8: Government Departments. Humáyún-náma of Khondamír (extracts) 8 - **Language:** English ### [8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.8) Another of the arrangements of this King was, that he divided all the affairs of government into four departments, after the number of the four elements, viz., the Atashi, Hawdi, A'bi, and Khaki; and for conducting the business of these departments he appointed four ministers. The department to which belonged the artillery and the making of arms, weapons of war, and various sorts of engines and other such things in which assistance was taken from fire, was called A'tashi; and the superintendence of this department was placed under Khwaja 'Amidu-l Mulk, and the fire of his care inflamed the ovens of the hearts of those who were employed on these works. The duties connected with the wardrobe, kitchen, stable, and other great and important offices belonged to the Hawái department, and the care of them was entrusted to Khwája Lutf-ulla. The Sharbat-khána, Sújí-khána, the digging of canals, and all the works which related to water and rivers, were comprised in the Abi department, and its superintendent was Khwája Hasan. Agriculture, erection of buildings, resumption of Khálisa lands, and some household affairs formed a department which was called Kháki, and this was placed under the management of Khwája Jalálu-d dín Mírzá Beg. Formerly one of the nobles was ordered to look after each department. For instance, Amír Násir Kuli supervised the fire department, and he always used to put on red clothes. After his death, the cypress of the garden of dignity and grandeur, Mír Nihál, was appointed to the same duty. But in the days when the compiler wrote these pages, the supervision of all the four departments was entrusted to the care of the best of nobles, the most learned man, Amír Wais Muhammad. - [Previous: 7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.7) - [Next: 9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.8) · Pramāṇa