Twilight of the Sultanate c17.s9.1

c17.s9.1

Bābur was not impressed with the life in the Indian cities. "Hindustan is a country," writes he, "that has few pleasures to recommend it. The people are not handsome. They have no idea of the charms of friendly society, of frankly mixing together, or of familiar intercourse. They have no genius, no comprehension of mind, no politeness of manner, no kindness or fellow-feeling, no ingenuity or mechanical invention in planning or executing their handicraft works, no skill or knowledge in design or architecture; they have no good horses, no good flesh, no grapes or musk-melons, no good fruits, no ice or cold water, no good food or bread in their bazārs, no baths or colleges, no candles, no torches, not a candle-stick".¹⁷⁶