The King's Day: the Palace, the Royal Meal and the Night

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

"Say: travel through the earth, then see." [TN: Qur'an, from a verse that recurs in several suras (e.g. 6:11, 27:69), urging the reader to look on the fate of those who went before.]

God is Most Great.

The day King Rose held state upon the garden's throne,
a host of thousands of nightingales raised clamour and din;
when I looked in the days of autumn, there was nothing in the garden but thorns,
and the gardener, weeping, showed me: here was a bud, and here a rose.

The Life of the King's Palace

Night

See, the King is taking his rest in the palace. The women who press his limbs are pressing them. Outside, the storyteller sits telling a *dastan* (romance). The gateways are manned; inside, Abyssinian, Turkish and Qalmaq women keep watch, and outside, the Abyssinians, the *qullar*, the doorkeepers, the *mirdhas*, the footmen and the soldiers are alert at their posts and watches. Now, four *gharis* (a ghari is about twenty-four minutes) of the night remain, and there goes the royal morning gun: boom!

Morning

The women in charge of the basin and ewer spread a mat and set out the basin and ewer. The women of the napkin office stand holding napkins, foot-towels and handkerchiefs. The King awakes; everyone makes the *mujra* (salutation) and wishes him good morning. He goes to the close-stool; then he makes his ablutions, says his prayers and recites his litany. Meanwhile the women of the wardrobe come in with a bundle of brocade; he changes his dress. And see how respectfully the *jasolni* (female usher) stands with folded hands and makes her petition:

"Refuge of the World! The Hakim-ji is in attendance." The order comes: "Hm!", that is, call him in. There now! The curtain is drawn; in front comes the *jasolni*, and behind her the Hakim-ji, a kerchief over his face. He makes his salutation, feels the pulse and takes his leave. From the dispensary comes the cooling draught, tied up in a brocade bag with a seal on top; the dispensary man breaks the seal in the King's presence and gives the draught to the King to drink. The women of the hookah office freshen the *bhanda* (hookah), spread an embroidered mat, set it on a silver tray, prepare the bowl and place it on the hookah. The King smokes, then gives the order for the palace ride.

The Ride Within the Palace

The women bearers bring the *hawadar* (open litter), and the King takes his seat. Look! The *urdabegnis* (armed women guards), dressed in men's clothes, turbans on their heads and scarves tied round their waists, staves in their hands, and the Abyssinian, Turkish and Qalmaq women holding staves, walk alongside the litter. The eunuchs wave the peacock-feather fans as they go. The *jasolnis* go in front, staves in hand, calling out: "Make way, make way!" The procession comes to the shrine; he offers his greeting and recites the *fatiha* (opening prayer of the Qur'an). Now the procession turns back and enters the sitting-room.

The King sits on his *tapak* (low royal seat), the Queen of the Age on her quilted spread, and all the wives and ladies of the harem to the right, each according to her rank. The princes, princesses and begums sit to the left. The *jasolnis* and the eunuchs lay before the King the petitions from outside; orders are being issued and petitions signed. Now! A *pahar* and a half of the day (a *pahar* is a watch of about three hours) has passed, and the superintendent of the royal table submits: "Your Grace! What are the orders for the meal?" The order comes: "Very well." The *jasolni* calls to the women of the kitchen: "Ladies! Bring the meal, and set up the *nimat-khana* [Author's note: a wooden frame set up against flies, with a fine curtain thrown over it.]!"

The Royal Meal

The women bearers and the Kashmiri women come running. Look! They come carrying on their heads the trays of the *handkulya*, the small meal and the great meal; there is a long line of trays. There now! The kitchen women first spread a leather sheet seven yards long and three yards wide, and over it a white cloth. In the very middle they set a low table two yards long, a yard and a half wide and six yards high [TN: so in the source; a low table is meant, so perhaps six *girah* (finger-breadths, about a foot) is intended], spread it too first with leather and then with a cloth, and place on it the sealed trays of the King's own food; the superintendent of the table sits facing it. At this the King will eat; on the rest of the cloth the begums, princes and princesses will eat. Now the food is being laid out.

The Names of the Dishes

Chapatis, *phulkas*, *parathas*, butter bread, *biri* bread, gram-flour bread, leavened bread, *nan*, *shirmal*, *gao-dida*, *gao-zaban*, *kulcha*, *baqarkhani*, *ghausi* bread, almond bread, pistachio bread, rice bread, carrot bread, sugar-candy bread, *nan-e-pamba*, *nan-e-gulzar*, *nan-e-qimash*, *nan-e-tunuk*, almond *nankhatai*, pistachio *nankhatai*, date *nankhatai*; *yakhni* pulao, pearl pulao, Nur-Mahali pulao, *nukti* pulao, raisin pulao, narcissus pulao, emerald pulao, red pulao, saffron pulao, *falsa*-coloured pulao, *abi* pulao, golden pulao, silver pulao, chicken pulao, egg pulao, pineapple pulao, meatball pulao, biryani pulao, *chulao*, pulao of a whole goat, green-chickpea pulao; *shola*, *khichri*, *qabuli*, *tahiri*, *mutanjan*, saffron *zarda*, vermicelli, *man-o-salwa*, *firni*, *kheer*, almond *kheer*, gourd *kheer*, carrot *kheer*, millet *kheer*, *yaquti*, *namish*, milk *dulma*, almond *dulma*; savoury and sweet samosas, *shakhen*, *khajle*, *qatlame*; *qorma*, *qaliya*, *do-piyaza*, venison *qorma*, chicken *qorma*, fish, *borani*, *raita*, cucumber *dogh*, *kakri* *dogh*, cheese chutney, *samni*, *ash*, *dahi bare*; aubergine *bharta*, potato *bharta*, split-gram *bharta*; stuffed potatoes, stuffed aubergines, stuffed bitter gourds, the King's-favourite bitter gourds, the King's-favourite lentils; skewer kebabs, *shami* kebabs, ball kebabs, partridge kebabs, quail kebabs, *nukti* kebabs, *lauzat* kebabs, *khatai* kebabs, *husaini* kebabs; bread halwa, carrot halwa, gourd halwa, cream halwa, almond halwa, pistachio halwa, orange halwa; preserves of mango, apple, quince, citron, bitter gourd, orange, lemon, pineapple, hibiscus, almond, *karaunda* and bamboo, and pickles of all these kinds, and even "cloth pickle". Sugared almonds, sugared pistachios, sugared poppy seed, sugared fennel; sweetmeat oranges, custard-apples, guavas, *jamuns*, pomegranates and so on, each in its season. And ears of wheat made of sugar; *sohan* halwa of nut-kernels, of *papri* and of gum; Abyssinian laddus, laddus of *motichur*, of green gram, of almond, of pistachio and of cream; *lauzat* of green gram, of milk, of pistachio, of almond, of *jamun*, of orange and of *falsa*; candied gourd, pistachio *maghzi*, *imarti*, *jalebi*, *barfi*, *pheni*, *qalaqand*, *moti-pak*, *dar-e-bihisht*, *balushahi*, *andarse* balls, *andarse* and the rest.

All these things are set out in good order in dishes, saucers, plates, bowls and cups; spittoons are placed in between, and the *nimat-khana* is set up over all so that flies may not settle on the cloth. The whole room is fragrant with musk, saffron and *kewra*. The cloth glitters with silver leaf. The basin, the ewer, the box of gram-flour, the jasmine oilcake and the boxes of sandalwood cakes are set out on a mat on one side. On the other side the women of the napkin office stand holding napkins, lap-cloths, hand-towels and handkerchiefs. The *jasolni* submits: "Your Majesty! The meal is ready." The King comes and sits on his *tapak* before the low table. On the right sit the Queen of the Age and the other begums; on the left the princes and princesses. The napkin women lay the lap-cloths over their knees and set the hand-towels before them. The superintendent of the table breaks the seal on the King's own food and begins to serve. See! The King sits cross-legged, eating; and the begums, princes and princesses, how respectfully they sit eating with lowered eyes! Whoever receives from the King's own hand a portion from his plate rises to full height and makes obeisance as he takes it.

There now! The King has finished his meal and said grace. He washes his hands, first with gram-flour, then with the oilcake and the sandalwood cakes, and the cloth is cleared away. The women of the bedchamber quickly dust the bed and lay the under-quilt, the mattress and the sheet, tighten it, set the pillows and round cheek-pillows, put on the pillow-covers, and lay the light quilt, the coverlet and the heavy quilt at the foot; the bed is made ready. The King comes into the bedchamber, sits on the bed and smokes the hookah; an hour later he asks for "the water of life". The superintendent of the water office takes out at once a flask of Ganges water from among the flasks kept cooling in ice, seals it, wraps it in a wet cloth and hands it to the eunuch. He breaks the seal before the King, pours it into a silver vessel and gives it to the King to drink. See, while he drinks everyone stands up; when he has finished, all say "Long life!" and make their salutation.

There now! Noon has struck, and the King stretches out on his bed. The curtains of the bedchamber are let down, and the women who press his limbs sit down to their work. And see how quiet it has become now; who would dare so much as say "hm"!

Now a *pahar* and a half of the day is left. The King awakes, makes his ablutions, says the noon prayer and his litany, and hears people's petitions. He talks a little. Meanwhile the time for the afternoon prayer comes. He says the afternoon prayer and his litany. Two *gharis* of the day remain. The *jasolni* submits: "Refuge of the World! The staff and the escort of the stirrup are in attendance." The order comes: "Dismissed!" He comes and sits in the *jharokas* (balcony windows). The *jasolni* calls out, "Attention!" The soldiers present arms; the nobles come and stand below the *jharokas*. The call to the sunset prayer sounds, and the King rises. He says the sunset prayer and his litany. Below the *jharokas*, and wherever soldiers stand guard, the bugles begin to sound. In the drum-house the *naubat* (ceremonial drums) begins to play.

Night Falls

The torch-bearers prepare the lights. Chandeliers, glass lamps, wick-lamps, one-branched, two-branched, three-branched and five-branched candle-stands, *panjiyan*, torches and lanterns are lit. Four *gharis* of the night pass; there goes the round of the lighted watch, drum and pipe playing, torches alongside, through the Diwan-e-Am and the Diwan-e-Khas, and it comes below the *jharokas*. The time for the night prayer comes; he finishes his prayer and litany, and preparations are made for dancing and singing. The troupes of Tan Ras Khan's watch present themselves, and the dancing begins. There now! The musicians stand behind the screen playing the tabla, the *sarangi* and the pair of cymbals. The dancing-girl stands before the King, dancing. There goes the gun for a *pahar* and a half of the night: boom! Then the meal is prepared again in the same way. He eats, smokes the hookah, and an hour later, as before, asks for the water of life. The midnight *naubat* begins to play; he retires to rest, and the pressing of limbs, the kneading and the storytelling begin. The Abyssinian, Turkish and Qalmaq women take up their watch by the bed. The gateways are manned. The Abyssinians, the *qullar*, the doorkeepers, the *mirdhas*, the footmen and the soldiers take their stand at their own posts at the gateways. The physicians and the personal attendants present themselves at their watch. Morning comes; he finishes his prayer and litany and gives the order to ride out.