Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 4.3.3

4.3.3

some, of Deh Hazary, lord of ten thousand horse; and sometimes an Omrah has the title of Douazdeh Hazary, lord of twelve thousand horse; as was the case with the King's eldest son. Their pay is proportionate, not to the number of men, but to the number of horses, and two horses are generally allowed to one trooper, in order that the service may be better performed; for in those hot countries it is usual to say that a soldier with a single horse has one foot on the ground. But let it not be supposed that an Omrah is expected to keep, or indeed that the King would pay for, such a body of horse as is implied by the titles of Douazdeh or Hecht Hazary; high-sounding names intended to impose on the credulous, and deceive Foreigners. The King himself regulates as well the effective number that each Omrah is to maintain, as the nominal number which he need not keep, but which is also paid for, and usually forms the principal part of his salary.