Muslim Slave System in Medieval India c13.12

c13.12

It would be pertinent here to add the observation of Major Raverty. For the information of the general reader uninitiated in Oriental lore, I would mention that the words Mamluk and Ghulam, signifying slave, must not be understood in the sense slave conveys in our language. These slaves were sometimes captives, but more often boys of Turkish origin were purchased by kings and their great nobles from traders - slave-dealers - and trained for the highest offices. They were sometimes adopted by their master, and were frequently made governors of provinces and leaders of armies¹⁴