Description
Book SynopsisAkbar the Great (1542â1605) is often regarded as the Mughal Empire's most accomplished ruler. This document on the workings of his empire was produced by Akbar's vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (1551â1602). Between 1783 and 1786, the scholar Francis Gladwin (1744/5â1812) produced an English translation from the original Persian. Reissued here is the two-volume edition that appeared in 1800. As the work's dedicatee and Governor-General of Bengal, Warren Hastings had seen the translation as illuminating the Mughal Empire's 'original constitution' and believed it would educate and inform Britain's colonial administrators. Gladwin's text would not be superseded for many decades, and it testifies to the quality of his scholarship and the contemporary concerns of the East India Company. Volume 1 explains the workings of the royal household and military offices, including details of the mint, treasury and harem, as well as building regulations.
Table of ContentsTranslator's preface; Part I. Regulations for the Different Offices: The household; Royal treasuries; Jewel office; The mint; Some account of the immortal coins; Of dirhems and dinars; An account of the profit which merchants make; Of the production of metals; Of the specific gravity of metals; Haram, or seraglio; Of the equipage for journeys; Regulations for the encampment of the army; Regulations for the illuminations; Ensigns of royalty; Of the royal seals; Of the camp equipage; Abdar Khaneh; Kitchen; Sufyaneh; Current prices of provisions; Fruitery; Perfume office; Flowers; Wardrobe; Shawls; Current prices of manufactures; Tusweer Khaneh; Painting gallery; Kowr Khaneh; A table of warlike weapons; Artillery; Rules observed in making fire-arms; Barghu; Ranks of the royal Bundooks; Pay of the Bundookchyan; Feel Khaneh, or elephants' stables; Khaseh elephants; Horse stables; Suter Khaneh, or camel stables; Gaw Khaneh, or ox stables; Of mules; Manner in which his majesty spends his time; Bar, or times of admission to the royal presence; Koornish and Tusleem; Of spiritual guidance; Of musters; Pow Gosht; Regulations for the public fights of animals; Regulations for buildings; Part II. Regulations for the Military Department: Army; Regulations for the cattle; Munsubdars; Ahdy; Other cavalry; Infantry; Cheelah; Kahars, or bearers; Pyadeh Dakhely; Dagh, or mark; Kushek, or military commands; Office of Wakyahnavees; Of sunnuds, or grants; Ranks of seals; Manner of receiving pay; Musa-adet, or aids granted to military officers; Donations; Alms; Ceremony of weighing the royal person; Seyurghal; Of machines; Of the ten seers of grain exacted from every beegah of land; Of festivals; Khushroz, or days of diversion; Of marriages; Regulations for teaching in the public schools; Office of Meer Behry; Of hunting; Of hawking; Of games; Part III. Regulations for the Revenue Department: Of aeras; A table of months; Of tribute and taxes; Ilahee Guz; Tenab; Beegah, or Jereeb; Of the division of the lands; Of the nineteen years collections; Of the ten years settlement; Instructions for the officers.
