تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 12.4.5

12.4.5

On the back of each elephant is something like a great box which holds twenty fighting men, more or fewer, according to the bulk of the elephant and the size of its body, and at the corners of that box four banners are planted. These elephants are trained to make obeisance to the sultan and lower their heads, and when they make obeisance the chamberlains say in loud voices: "In the name of God." Half of them too are stationed on the right and half on the left, behind the men standing there. Everyone who comes of the people appointed to stand on the right and left wings makes obeisance at the chamberlains' station, and the chamberlains say, "In the name of God," raising their voices in proportion to the rank of the one making obeisance. When he has made obeisance he goes off to his place on the right or the left and never goes beyond it. If it is one of the Hindu infidels who makes obeisance, the chamberlains and the naqībs say to him: "May God guide you." The sultan's slaves stand behind all the people with shields and swords in their hands, so that no one can pass between them except in front of the chamberlains who stand before the sultan.