Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.2

c5.s4.2

¹ Compare A., 68 for the Sultan as leader of people; J.H., 2 for his function of restoring peace and order. For the position of the masses compare the Persian parallel from Mas'udi quoted by Sykes I, 465:—'There were three great divisions at court. The knights and princes stood thirty feet from the curtain on the right of the throne. A similar distance farther back were marshalled the Governors and tributary kings who resided at court; and finally, the buffoons, singers and musicians formed a third division......When the king gave permission for a subject to approach he tied a handkerchief over his mouth to prevent his breath polluting the 'Sacred Presence', and passing behind the curtain fell prostrate until bidden to rise.