The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c22.17

c22.17

*Nasaqchī.* From the time of Nādir Shāh’s invasion, we hear a good deal of the *nasaqchī*. This word, which seems to have passed then into Indian usage, is from *nasaq*, order, arrangement. The *nasaqchī* was an armed man employed to enforce orders; and there were several thousand of them in Nādir Shāh’s camp. Military punishments were inflicted through them, and one of their duties was to stand in the rear of the army and to cut down every one who dared to flee. Their arms were a battle-axe, a sabre, and a dagger (*khanjar*), Seir, i, 340, note 286. Their signs of office, Ashob says, fol. 263*a*, were a staff or baton carried in the hand, and on the head a *tabal*, تبل, of moulded brass, three sided, in shape like the deeply ribbed or winged fruit of the *kamrakh* (Averrhoa carambola).