تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 12.11.2

12.11.2

Their custom is that whoever hears the speech of the chief of the naqībs at that moment stops if he is walking, and keeps his place if he is standing, and no one moves or stirs from his position until that speech is finished. Then his deputy also speaks words of the same kind and makes obeisance, and the naqībs and all the people make obeisance a second time, and then they sit down. The secretaries of the gate write a note informing [the Sultan] that the food has arrived, even though the Sultan already knows of its arrival, and the note is given to a boy from among the sons of the maliks who is charged with this, and he brings it to the Sultan. When he has read it, he appoints whomever he wishes of the great amīrs to arrange the people and serve them their food.