A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s5.t4: Camel Fights

v2.c79.s5.t4.1

Apart from wrestling, elephant and camel fights were popular pastimes. Abu-l-Fazl states, 'From a regard to the dignity of his court, and the diversion of others, His Majesty orders camel-fights, for which purpose several choice animals are always kept in readiness. The best of these *khasa* camels, which is named Shahpasand,is a country-bred, twelve years old; it overcomes all its antagonists, and exhibits in the manner in which it stoops down or gets up every finesse of the art of wrestling.' In a Mughal painting relating to the reign of Akbar, elephants, camels and men are shown wrestling. While elephants and men are trying holds on each other, the camels are viciously biting each other. To keep up their spirits drums are being lustily beaten, cymbals are clanged and a trumpet blown (Fig. 41).