Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.14.9

25.14.9

And, of course, Mubarrec-ed-dowlah himself could not fail to adopt so wise, so useful an institution, although he is not possessed of the thousandth part of Seradj-ed-dowlah's wealth; and his servants and officers, as well as men of the highest rank, suffer and go to wreck for want of their salaries, and sometimes for want of the very necessaries of life. Nevertheless, money, and plenty too, is found and squandered away for such idle, senseless expenses; and so addicted is he to that childish shew, that he oversees it himself, and makes nothing of spending upon it ten or fifteen thousand rupees a year. In this, as in every other matter, his ignorance and neglect are so notoriously known, that one-half of that sum is embezzled by the infidelity of his people, and only the other half spent in that and the like childish pastimes; and although religion invites to other expenses, and every one of his dependants suffer real distresses for want of being paid their salaries, yet he sets apart another sum of five or six thousand rupees for performing the rites of the Divaaly, which is a festival of Gentoo institution; the principal rite of which is this, that people send to each other for their children, a number of simulachres, made of clay or sugar, or of a composition of sugar and meal, which is cast in imitation of men and beasts, so as to represent a variety of actions and postures. They are to be found ready made in the shops.