Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 4.4.1

4.4.1

The common horsemen serve under the Omrahs: they are of two classes; the first consists of those who keep a pair of horses which the Omrah is bound to maintain for the King's service, and which bear the Omrah's mark on the thigh, and the second of those who keep only one horse. The former are the more esteemed, and receive the greater pay. The pay of the troopers depends, in a great measure, on the generosity of the Omrah, who may favour whom he pleases; although it is understood by the Mogol that he that keeps only one horse shall not receive less than five-and-twenty roupies a month; and on that footing he calculates his accounts with the Omrahs.