The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c5.s8.7

c5.s8.7

Cities in medieval India were few, but they were large and impressive. Foreign visitors like Athnasius Nikitin and Barbosa give a favourable comparison of Indian cities with those of Europe. Cities and towns generally were built on the pattern of the metropolis of Delhi. Shihabuddin Ahmad, the author of *Masalik-ul-Absar* (fourteenth century), writes: The houses of Delhi are built of stone and brick The houses are not built more than two storeys high, and often are made of only one.¹¹³ Besides, there must have been hut-like houses of the poor huddled together in congested localities. In the Delhi of the medieval period there was the fort and palace of the Sultan, cantonment area of the troops, quarters for the ministers, the secretaries, the Qazis, Shaikhs and *faqirs*. In every quarter there were to be found public baths, flour mills, ovens and workmen of all professions.¹¹⁴ In the villages, the peasants lived in penury. But if there was little to spare, there was enough to live by.¹¹⁵ There were indoor and outdoor games for all to play-chess,¹¹⁶ backgammon, *pachisi*, *chausar*, dice, cards, kite-flying, pigeon-flying, polo, athletics; cock, quail and partridge fighting; and childrens games.¹¹⁷ Public entertainments, as on the occasion of marriage in the royal family, comprised triumphal arches, dancing, singing, music, illuminations, rope-dancing and jugglery. The juggler swallowed a sword like water, drinking it as a thirsty man would *sherbet*. He also thrust a knife up his nostril. He mounted little wooden horses and rode upon the air Those who changed their own appearance practised all kinds of deceit. Sometimes they transformed themselves into angels, sometimes into demons.¹¹⁸