Mughal Administration c14.s5.t2: C. Factories and Stores:—

Mughal Administration c14.s5.t2

Language: English

C. Factories and Stores:—

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21. Carpets (*farash-khanah*), *Ain.* 53 and Marathi.

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22. Wardrobe or mattresses (*toshak-khanah*), *Ain.* 87. *Jamdar-khanah* in Firuz’s history and Marathi.

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23. Harness, saddles and bridles (*zin-khanah*).

24. *Kir-kirāqi-khanah*. At first explained by Blochmann (*Ain.* i. 87*n*) as evidently meaning a wardrobe; but in his addenda (616) he derived it from the Turki words *Kurk* and *Yaraq*, meaning "the fur of the supplex". Beveridge (*Tuzuk*, i. 45*n*) accepts this meaning. In Shaikh Suleiman Efendi’s *Chagatai-Osmanli Worterbuch* (ed. by Kunos), *Kirqu* is translated as sparrow-hawk. Forbes (*Hindustani Dic.*, 544) explains *qirqirā* as the damoiselle crane, *Ardea virgo*. But the author of *Mirat-i-Ahmadi* with his lifelong experience as a Mughal provincial diwan clearly explains *Kirkirāq* as "whatever is ordered by the Emperor for his dress &c., such as *chikan-dozi*, *naqqashi* &c." (ii. 184.) We must therefore accept this last meaning.

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In *Zawabit* (14*a*), *Kirkiraqi* is mentioned as a branch of the department of plate and saucers. In the Jaipur palace records it is included in the jewelled ware department.

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25. Bedding and advance-tents for the Emperor’s journeys (*bistar-khanah* and *pesh-khanah*).

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26. Apparel of children (*rakhwat*, wrong plural of *rakht*).

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27. The same of *khawases*. But elsewhere the *Zawabit* (14*a*) speaks of *rakhwat* or trappings for (*a*) leopards (*b*) elephants, (*c*) the *haveli*, and (*d*) the *barish-khanah* or monsoon-house.

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28. Goldsmiths’ department (*zargar-khanah*), *Ain.* 18.

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29. Blacksmithy (*ahangar-khanah*).

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30. Jewellery store (*jawahir-khanah*), *Ain.* and Marathi.

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31. Goldware (*tela-alat*).

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32. Silverware (*nuqra-alat*).

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33. Inlaid-ware (*murassa-alat*).
34. [?] Copperware and cauldrons.
35. Gold embroidery (*zardoz-khanah*).
36. Ivory work (*dandan-i-fil*).
37. Setting shells (*khatambandi-khanah*).
38. Perfumery (*khush-buh- khanah*), *Ain.* 73.
39. Rose-water department (*gulāb-khanah*). [If rose-water was included in the general perfumery department, then I am inclined to read the expression as *kalāwant-khanah* or State musicians’ department. Aurangzib however broke up this establishment some years before the *Zawabit* was written in its final form.]
40. Oil or ghee (*raughan*).
41. Mint (*dar-ul-zarb*), *Ain.* 16 ; Marathi.
42. Paintings (*naqqash-khanah* or *taswir-khanah*), *Ain.* 107.
43. Dispensary (*dawai-khanah* or *shafa-khanah*), Marathi.
44. Shawls, *Ain.* 91.
45. Scarf-weaving (*chirabafi-khanah*).
46. *Ilaqabandi-khanah*, factory of silk cords and tapes.
47. Cloth store (*kotha* or *kuthi-i-parcha*) ; Marathi.

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This was quite different from the *mahal* of *Kathra-i-parcha* mentioned in the *Mirat-i-Ahmadi* (ii. 179) as one of the sources of State income in Gujrat. It meant the custom duty on cloth, and this meaning comes out clearly from its popular title, *mahal-i-sad-panj*, or the branch of five per cent, because in Aurangzib’s reign the rate of duty on goods sold was 5 per cent for the Hindus, 3½ per cent for the Christians and at first 2½ per cent, then nothing for the Muslim traders.

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D. OFFICES OR DEPARTMENTS of administration and Court-life :—

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48. Band-room (*naqqar-khanah*), *Ain.* 47, and Marathi.

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49. Artillery (*top-khanah*), including all classes of fire-arms and munitions. The Marathas had a separate store for gun-powder, called *daru-khanah*.

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50. Buildings department (*imarat-khanah*); *Ain.* 222 ; Marathi.

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51. Records (*daftar-khanah*), Marathi.

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52. Emperor's chapel (*ja-namaz-khanah* or *tasbih-khanah*).

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53. Store-room for heirless property (*kotha-i-bait-ul-mal*).

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54. Purchase department (*ibtia-khanah*).

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The Marathas had a *saudagari kosh*, to designate this.

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55. Free food kitchens (*bulghur-khanah*, or more usually *langar-khanah*).

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56. School (*talim-khanah*). In Firuz Shah's time called *ilm-khanah*. A Marathi historian translates *talim-khanah* as the wrestling school.

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57. Department of hire and wages, (*kiraya wa ajura*).

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58. Games (*chaughan, chaupar*, &c.) *Ain.* 297—307.

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59. In the 17th and 18th centuries there was a department called *Bewa-khanah* for the maintenance of the widows of the Emperors, who lived in the Sohagpura suburb of Delhi.*