The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c20.7

c20.7

*Standards.* The flag of the noble or sovereign was carried on an elephant during the march (De la Flotte, i, 258 Fitzclarence, 138). These was a special officer entrusted with the insignia and standards. Of these some account has been given under the head of *Manṣabdārs*. Collectively they were called the *qūr*, an Indian usage of the Turkish word which is not given among the definitions in P. de Courteille, "Dict." 425. The officer's title was *Qūrbegī*, lord of the *Qūr*; and the men under him carried a supply of weapons for the emperor's use. The details, as they stood under Akbar, will be seen in the *Āīn*, i, 109, 110. Bernier, 371, speaks of the *qūr* (or as he spells it, *cours*) preceding the emperor on the march: these standards and emblems were surrounded by a large number of players on cymbals and trumpets.