مسالك الابصار في ممالك الامصار 2.69

2.69

As for this Sultan's riding out, it varies: sometimes it is for war, sometimes for moving within Delhi from place to place, and sometimes within his palaces. When he rides out to war, mountains move, sands flow, seas surge, […] and lightnings flash—things the eye would believe false and the tongue is bound from describing. On the elephants the towers are like a city or a strong fortress; the eye sees nothing but the raised dust and the darkness of a night stretched over the day. No one carries black in his banners except him alone: on the right wing he has black banners, and on the left wing […] banners, with golden dragons on them; the Sultan has black banners with a great golden dragon in their midst. As for the rest of the amirs, each carries what suits him. As for the drums beaten for the Sultan in residence and on campaign, they are beaten for him as for Alexander Dhū al-Qarnayn: two hundred camels with kettledrums, forty camels with great drums (kūsāt), twenty trumpets and ten cymbals; the five nawbas are also beaten for him. Countless treasures are carried with him, besides led horses beyond counting.