The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c10.6

c10.6

The above cited statement of Bernier has been lifted out of context by many scholars, prompting some to deny the existence of a middle class in the pre-British period.³ Therefore, Bernier has to be quoted at some length to understand why he said so. He gives a detailed description of Delhi and Agra and some other cities of Hindustan in a letter to Monsieur de la Mothe le Vayer dated 1st July, 1663.⁴ In his description of Delhi, he writes about its citizens, its houses, bazars, food, fruit etc., and constantly compares them with those of Paris. In the *bazars* of the capital city of Delhi, writes he, there are shops where meat is sold roasted and dressed in a variety of ways. But there is no trusting to their dishes, composed, for aught I know, of the flesh of camels, horses, or perhaps oxen which have died of disease. Indeed no food can be considered wholesome which is not dressed at home But it would be unreasonable for me to complain I send my servant to the kings purveyors in the Fort, who are glad to sell wholesome food, which costs them very little, at a high price I am willing to pay.⁵ Pigeons were exposed for sale, capons were not, these being wanted for their seraglios good fish may sometimes be bought, particularly two sorts, called *sing-ala* and *rau* (Singi and Rohu). The former resembles our pike; the latter our carp The *Omrahs* alone contrive to force the fishermen out at all times (to sell) by means of the *korrah*, the long whip always suspended at their door Unquestionably the great are in the enjoyment of everything; but it is by dint of numbers in their service, by dint of the *Korrah*, and by dint of money. In Delhi there is no middle state. A man must either be of the highest rank or live miserably. My pay is considerable, nor am I sparing of money; yet does it often happen that I have not wherewithal to satisfy the cravings of hunger, the *bazars* being so ill-supplied, and frequently containing nothing but the refuse of the grandees. Wine, that essential part of every entertainment, can be obtained in none of the shops at Delhi, although it might be made from the native grape, were not the use of that liquor prohibited equally by the *Gentile* and *Mahometan* law To say the truth, few persons in these hot climates feel a strong desire for wine⁶