Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s2.t1.36

c7.s2.t1.36

The palace of the Sultan had numerous apartments, namely a *Jamkhana* or drawing room, dressing rooms, bathrooms, retiring rooms opening into enclosed courtyards, the female apartments. The palace walls were decorated with silk hangings and velvet tapestries fringed with brocade and worked with precious stones.² The usual articles of decoration were arms and weapons with gold, ebony and damascened work, candle-sticks, candelabras, carpets, ewers, scent boxes, writing cases, chess boards, book-cases and covers, etc. Candles were used to light the chambers by night. Torches and portable wick-lamps were also used on occasions.³ A number of additions were made to the usual features of the old palaces by Babur, of which a summer house (*chau-kandi*), flower beds, marble baths and the *Baoli* and fountains at Agra are the more important.⁴