Mughal Administration c5.s3.4

c5.s3.4

This foreign element in the Mughal administration can be easily illustrated from the provincial administration. As Professor C. H. Becker of Hamburg writes: "In the early centuries of Arab rule two political functions were sharply distinguished [in Egypt, viz.,] the governorship and the treasury. The governor, [called] *āmir*, had control over the military and police only...Alongside of him was the head of the treasury, [called] the *‘āmil*...These two officers had to keep a strict watch on one another. As head of the military and executive, the *amir* was the first [in authority], but they were equal in rank and the administrator of the treasury even had the greater influence [over the sovereign.]" (*Encyclopædia of Islam*, ii. 13.)