Mughal Administration c8.s5.12

c8.s5.12

Manucci (ii. 420—421) gives a more valuable account of the kotwāl’s work from actual observation. “It is his business to stop the distillation of spirits. He has to see that there were no public women in the town, nor anything else forbidden by the king [Aurangzib.] He obtains information about all that goes in, so as to be able to send in his report [to the ruler.] For this purpose there are throughout the Mughal Empire certain persons, known as halāl-khor (i.e., house scavengers.) These men are under obligation to go twice a day to clean out every house, and they tell the kotwāl all that goes on……..He also has the duty of arresting thieves and criminals. He is subordinate to the qazi, and receives orders from him...Under his orders there is a considerable body of cavalry and a great number of foot-soldiers ; for in every ward there is a horseman and 20 to 30 foot-soldiers, who, in a sort of way, go the rounds.”