The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c9.116

c9.116

The royal sport of hunting gave employment to several kārkhānahs. It was not only a favourite means of recreation, but also a good method of keeping the army in a state of readiness and efficiency, corresponding to the modern device of manœuvres on field days; for on occasions of grand hunts the sultan and his followers marched in battle array.⁹ When Hulāgū heard of Balban’s great interest in hunting, he praised the sultan for his insight and understanding in giving regular exercise to his army.¹⁰ A large number of hunting leopards, dogs and hawks were kept in the various kārkhānahs which specialized in training these animals and birds, breeding them in captivity or obtaining their young from the jungle.¹¹ The number of falconers alone, who accompanied the sultan on horseback, is estimated at a thousand to twelve hundred.¹ Each leopard had two or three men to look after it.² When the sultan rode out for a hunt, he was sometimes accompanied by five to six hundred courtiers, a thousand cavalry and a thousand infantry and archers.³ On these great occasions three thousand beaters were engaged to drive the quarry into the ring.⁴ Most of the game was distributed to the soldiers and the servants taking part in the hunt; the poor were not forgotten.⁵ Large forests were preserved near the capital itself besides the areas in the provinces noted for special game.⁶ An important officer, called *amīr-i-shikār*, was the ‘grand huntsman’; another noble, styled *nā’ib amīr-i-shikār*, assisted him.⁷