Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s3.7

c5.s3.7

2. *The Court Etiquette.*—All these court celebrations and other official ceremonies were observed with special regard for forms and rules of behaviour. The rank and position of everyone, their dress and appearance, the various rules of behaviour and the ceremonies of presentation to the monarch were duly observed in all their elaborate details. As a rule, the nobles and the grandees attended in person; but if anyone absented himself for some unavoidable reason, his place was taken by a *vakil* or representative.² Special rows were assigned to the nobles according to their rank, and seats were provided even for their retainers in court. A special court dress was prescribed for all those who attended the *darbar*. The Sultan wore his royal robes and the nobles the *khil'at* or the dress of honour, which comprised a tunic of brocade, a tartar cap, a white belt and a waistband of gold. Those of the nobles who were not favoured with a robe of honour put on a fur coat and a fur cap; the tunic and cloak of everyday wear were to be avoided in any case, and their use was looked upon as a grave impropriety.³ The court officials who will be described shortly functioned in their official costumes with other emblems of office. The Wazir or some other responsible official pesronally supervised the observance of all these regulations. A special steward (called the *Shahna-i-bar*) was appointed to see that the provisions as to behaviour and forms of presentation were scrupulously observed. As a result, the spectacle of the open court looked like ‘the assemblage of the luminaries on a clear moon-lit night’.⁴