Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c21.s5.41

v2.c21.s5.41

salary carried forward from Ahmad Shah’s reign was due to every officer from the mansabdars to the menials. In the present reign, which was now six months old, they had not received a dām. The [starving] troopers had sold their horses, the infantry had no clothing on their backs...The animals [of the imperial equipage] could not be given fodder and hence they grew lean or died. The soldiers remained in their own houses, none attended in the Emperor’s retinue when he rode out. Sometimes even the royal band and standard did not accompany him.” [TALS. 15b, 23b, 52a, 28b, 41b.] Shakir Khan, the diwan of Prince Ali Gauhar, narrates how when he took a mug of broth from the pauper-charity-kitchen to the prince for official inspection, the prince asked him to give it to the palace ladies, as no fire had been kindled in the harem kitchens for three days! We read, in the Court chronicle of this reign, how one day the princesses could bear starvation no longer, and in frantic disregard of parda rushed out of the palace for the city; but the fort gates being closed they sat down in the men’s quarters for a day and a night, after which they were persuaded to go back to their rooms. [TALS. 190.]