Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 9.2.5

9.2.5

The description I have given of the great square is, in many particulars, applicable to the quarters of the Omrahs and Rajas. In general they also have two peiche-kanis, with a square of kanates enclosing their principal tents and those of their wives. Outside this square are likewise pitched the tents of their officers and troopers, and there is a bazar in the form of a street, consisting of small tents belonging to the followers of the army, who supply it with forage, rice, butter, and other necessary articles of life. The Omrahs need not, therefore, always have recourse to the royal bazars, where indeed everything may be procured, almost the same as in the capital. A long pole is planted at both ends of each bazar, and distinguished by a particular standard, floating in the air, as high as those of the royal bazars, in order that the different quarters may be readily discerned from a distance. The chief Omrahs and great Rajas pride themselves on the loftiness of their tents, which must not, however, be too conspicuous, lest the King perceive it and command that the tents be thrown down, as he did on our late march. For the same reason, the outside must not be entirely red, there being none but the royal tents that can be of that colour; and as a mark of proper respect every tent has also to front the Am-kas, or quarters of the King.