The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c9.70

c9.70

The minor officers of the household can be described in a few words. There was the usual host of domestic and personal servants organized according to their duties. The library was under a kutābdār; the chāshnigīr supervised the kitchen, tasted the food and carved the meat for the sultan.⁹ The sharābdār was responsible for drink which was served by the sāqī-i-khāṣ.¹ The chief farrāsh looked after the furniture and the tents, the ṭashtdār was the ewer-bearer, who helped the sultan in his ablutions, and the mashʿalahdār was responsible for the lights.² The royal writing case was kept by the dawātdār, the intimate personal attendant was the āghāchī, and the registrar of the palace was dabīr-i-sarā.³ The bahlahdār, also known as khazīnahdār, was the keeper of the privy purse.⁴ The sar-chatrdār was the chief of the umbrella bearers; the amīr-i-tuzuk looked after the royal insignia; the qūrbeg was responsible for the sultan's arms.⁵ The monarch's personal arms and armour were in charge of the khaṣahdār.⁶ The royal physician was generally styled malik-u'l-ḥukamā.⁷