A History of Agriculture in India v2.c62.s3.5

v2.c62.s3.5

'When the Sultan went out in State the slaves accompanied him in distinct corps—first the archers, fully armed, next the swordmen, thousands in number (hazār hazār), the fighting men (bandagan-i award), the bandagan-i mahili riding on male buffaloes, and slaves from the Hazara, mounted on Arab and Turki horses, bearing standards and axes. These all, thousands upon thousands, accompanied the royal retinue. The slaves increased to such a degree that they were employed in all sorts of domestic duties, as water coolers, butlers (etc., etc.). In fact there was no occupation in which the slaves of Firoz Shah were not employed.'¹