Mughal Administration c7.s2: § 2. Records that had to reach the Diwan's office.

Mughal Administration c7.s2

Language: English

§ 2. Records that had to reach the Diwan's office.

c7.s2.1

Cash balances (*tahvils*) the records of which must go to the office of the diwan :

c7.s2.2

I. Those whose *siāha* and *āwārija** alike are sent to the diwan's office:

c7.s2.4

1. *Itbā’*, meaning, followers, retinue or staff.

c7.s2.7

4. Cash inside the *mahal* (female apartments)

∗ *Siāha*—The daily ledger or account book of the receipts and disbursements......specifying all sums received, whether regular or miscellaneous, and all items of disbursement, whether customary or incidental.

c7.s2.10

*Āwārija*—An abstract account of receipts and disbursements; a rough note-book (Wilson's *Glossary*, 481 and 40).

c7.s2.11

6. Recovery of aids or advances to officers (bāz-yāft-i-musā‘idat)
7. Arrears (baqāyā)
8. Barq-andāzes (door-keepers, or guards armed with sword and shield)

c7.s2.12

9. Fines
10. General expenditure (kharch-i-kul)
11. Cattle food (khurāk-i-dawāb)
12. Menial servants (shāgird-pesha)
13. Bahlah. “By order of His Majesty, a person of known integrity keeps in the public audience hall some gold and silver for the needy, who have their wants relieved without delay...His Majesty entrusts to one of the nobility a large sum, a part of which is carried in a purse (called in Hindi, bahlah). This is the reason why such disbursements are called in the language of the country kharch-i-bahlah.” (Ain. i. 15.) [I do not prefer the other reading, Bahlia or foot-musketteers.]

c7.s2.13

14. Cash in exchange of jagir (‘iyuz-i-jāgir)
15. The Lady Begams
16. Hire of porters and transport animals (kirāyā)

c7.s2.14

17. Nim-gosht and pāo-gosht [Ain. i. 217.]
18. Ready-money (mablaghi)?
19. Advances (musā‘idat)
20. Nazar to the Emperor
21. Minting (zarābat.)

c7.s2.15

22. Damage to crops (*pāimāli-i-zarā‘at*) .
23. The servants (*khādimān*) of the mahal (i.e., harem) ...... II. Those funds of which the *siāha* is not sent, but only the *āwarija*, to the Diwān’s office :
1. The butler’s department (*ābdār-khānah*)
2. Articles in the Octagonal tower (of Agra fort)
3. *Asbab-i-mablaghi*.
4. *Ajnās* (various wares.)
5. Ewer-holder’s department (*āftābchi-khānah*)
6. Smithy.
7. Kitchen with four branches
8. Records (*basta-khānah*)
9. Betel-leaf department,—(a) betel-leaf and (b) vessels for the same
10. *Bhanda-khānah* (large earthen pots)
11. *Top-khānah*, here meaning not the general Artillery department, but the musketeers and artillerymen guarding Delhi palace and forming the Emperor’s escort. I reject the alternative reading, *naubat-khānah* or band room.
12. Litter (*chaudol-khānah*)
13. Chinaware store.
14. Store of small shells or *kauri* (*khar-muhra*)
15. Leather goods store.
16. Prayer carpet store (*jā-namāz khānah*).
17. Slaughter house.
18. *Charkhi-khānah* (fire-works)?
19. Scents
20. Palace buildings 21. Fodder of oxen
22. Fodder of camels [text reads *tigers*]
23. Department for setting oyster shells (*khatam bandi khānah*)
24. Covers of the trays of food
25. Balance room (*dandi-khānah*)
26. Cauldron store, copper vessels
27. Tray store
28. Gold embroidery store.
29. Saddle store.
30. The reins of carriages (*sutla khānah*)
31. *Sukh-sajyā*,* or cosy bed.
32. Trappings (*rakhwat*) department with four branches—(*a*) trappings for [hunting] leopards, (*b*) for elephants, (*c*) for haveli and (*d*) for *bārish-khānah* (monsoon house)
33. Lamps and candle store.
34. *Sharbat khānah* (drink.)
35. Sandalwood-ware store.
36. Plate and saucers, consisting of (*a*) goldware, (*b*) copperware, (*c*) damascened-ware, and (*d*) *Kirkirā qi* (See X § 15.)
37. Food of animals.
38. Standard and arms department,—the cash servants of the branches of (*a*) standards, (*b*) swords, (*c*) maces and (*d*) spears.

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∗ *Sukh-sajyā* is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘cosy bed’. Aurangzib carried it with him in the Deccan as we find from the Court-bulletins of 1701-2. The *Ain-i-Akbari* (ii. 122) describes a *sukh-āsan* (or cosy litter) used by the rich men of Bengal in travelling.

c7.s2.17

39. Library
40. Gongs (*ghariāli*)
41. Torches
42. Earthen pots
43. Fruits
44. Sadānand [*ganjā* or any other special intoxicant]
45. Pictures
46. Silverware
47. Food of the *shir* (hunting leopards) [Z. 13*b*—14*b*].