Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s3.t2.31

c7.s3.t2.31

Mention may be made in this connection of the game of *Nard* or the Persian backgammon, which was introduced into Hindustan very early in the Muslim period. All kinds of four persons with two dice, each piece moving according to the number of the throw. A board of 64 squares was used for this game, with 32 figures forming four groups of eight, each group consisting of a king, elephant, horse, and chariot in the first row and four foot soldiers in front of them in the second. It was so arranged that the chariot always occupied the left-hand corner of the side facing the player. Thus there were four kings, each attended by figures representing the four members of the army, while the minister was absent. It is difficult to account for the origin and development of this game, but Bland supports the Persian claim. This ‘quadruple chess’ was played by Timur and is supposed to be the parent of the ordinary chess, which, according to this theory, is its abridged form. See Bland, 5-6.