The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c19.3

c19.3

A good account of the mode of pitching an imperial camp is to be found in Bernier, 360, 361. First of all the Mīr Manzil selected a fit spot for the emperor’s tents. This was a square enclosure 300 paces each way. The whole of this was surrounded by screens (*qanāt*), seven or eight feet high, secured by cords to pegs and stayed by poles fixed at an angle, one inside and one outside, at every ten paces. The entrance was in the centre of one of the sides. On each side of the gate (Bernier, 363) were two handsome tents, where were kept a number of horses ready saddled and caparisoned ¹. In front of the entrance was a clear space, at the end of which stood the *naqār-khānah*, or station for the drums, trumpets and cymbals. Close to it was the *chaukī-khānah*, or tent of the officer on guard for the day.