[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Les six voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier) › [Travels in India (Ball)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball) › 57.3 # Travels in India (Tavernier) 57.3 Travels in India (Ball) 57.3 - **Language:** English ### [57.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.57.3) The four other elephants carry a seat or species of throne on their backs, one of which is square, another round, one covered and another closed with glass of many kinds. When the King goes out he has generally 500 or 600 men for his bodyguard, each man being armed with a kind of hand pike. They attach fireworks to the iron blade; these consist of two rockets crossed, each of the thickness of the arm, and a foot in length; when ignited these will carry the hand pike 500 yards. The King is also followed by 300 or 400 matchlock men, who are timid and unskilful in firing, and a number of cavalry of no greater merit. One hundred of our European soldiers would scarcely have any difficulty in vanquishing 1000 of these Indian soldiers ; but it is true, on the other hand, that they would have much difficulty in accustoming themselves to so abstemious a life as theirs. For the horseman as well as the infantry soldier supports himself with a little flour kneaded with water and black sugar, of which they make small balls ; and in the evening, whenever they have the necessaries, they make khichri, which consists of rice cooked with a grain of the above name in water with a little salt. When eating it they first dip the ends of their fingers in melted butter, and such is the ordinary food of both soldiers and the poor people. To which it should be added that the heat would kill our soldiers, who would be unable to remain in the heat of the sun throughout the day as these Indians do. - [Previous: 57.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.57.2) - [Next: 57.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.57.4) - [Up: 57](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.57) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.57.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.tavernier~en-ball.57.3) · Pramāṇa