Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.t4.3

c5.s4.t4.3

The most important section of these domestics was comprised of male and female slaves. Slaves were imported into India from many countries; those of Turkistan and India had acquired a classical reputation all over the East.¹ Among the slaves of Indian origin, those of Asam were especially valued because of their strong physique and their powers of endurance, their price being many times that of slaves of other nationalities.² Other Indian slaves were not dear; their skill in many things was great; their only defect, if any, was their strong attachment to their ancient faith and culture.³ A special class of slaves was employed for the care of the female inmates of the haram. They were usually bought in childhood and castrated. Trade in eunuchs was carried on in Bengal in the thirteenth century. They were sometimes imported also from the farthest Malay islands.⁴