The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c15.13

c15.13

Dhalait. This Hindī word (Platts, 572), meaning literally "shield bearer", I have met with in three writers. Ashob applies it to one of the three foot soldiers who followed Sa‘ud-dīn Khān, the Mīr Ātash, when forced in 1151 H. (1738), much against his will, to accompany Nādir Shāh's general of artillery into the streets of Dihli, to put the inhabitants to the sword. This Dhalait was sent as a messenger to carry a note to the Wazir, Qamr-ud-dīn Khān, (Ashob, fol. 256*b*). The word is also found in *Tārīkh-i-ʿĀlamgīr Sānī*, fol. 136*a*, referring to the year 1170 H. (1756-7); and in the *Tahmās-nāmah* of Miskīn, fol. 49*a*.