The higher Mançabdárs were mostly governors of Çúbahs. The governors were at first called sipahsálárs; towards the end of Akbar's reign we find them called Hákims, and afterwards, Çáhib Çúbah or Çúbahdárs, and still later merely Çúbahs. The other Mançabdárs held Jágírs, which after the times of Akbar were frequently changed. The Mançabdárs are also called ta'ínátiyán (appointed), whilst the troops of their contingents are called tábínát (followers);* hence tábínbáshí, the Mançabdár himself, or his Bakhshí (pay-master, colonel).

The contingents of the Mançabdárs, which formed the greater part of the army, were mustered at stated times, and paid from the general, or the local treasuries; vide A´íns 6, 7, 8. Akbar had much trouble with these musters, as fraudulent practices were quite common. The reform of the army dates from the time when Shahbáz Khán (vide pp. 140, 188) was appointed Mír Bakhshí. The following passage from Badáoní (II, p. 190) is interesting:

“The whole country, with the exception of the Kháliçah lands (domains), was held by the Amírs as jágír; and as they were wicked and rebellious, and spent large sums on their stores and workshops, and amassed wealth, they had no leisure to look after the troops or take an interest in the people. In cases of emergency, they came themselves with some of their slaves and Moghul attendants to the scene of the war; but really useful soldiers there were none. Shahbáz Khán,* the Mír Bakhshí, introduced the custom and rule of the dágh o mahallí, which had been the rule of A'láuddín Khiljí,* and afterwards the law under Sher Sháh. It was settled that every Amír should commence as a commander of twenty (bístí), and be ready with his followers to mount guard and….,* as had been ordered; and when, according to the rule, he had brought the horses of his twenty troopers to be branded, he was then to be made a Çadí, or Commander of 100 or more. They were likewise to keep elephants, horses, and camels, in proportion to their Mançabs, according to the same rule. When they had brought to the musters their new contingent complete, they were to be promoted according to their merits and circumstances to the post of Hazárí, Duhazárí, and even Panjhazárí, which is the highest Mançab; but if they did not do well at the musters, they were to be put down. But notwithstanding this new regulation, the condition of the soldiers got worse, because the Amírs did what they liked; for they put most of their own servants and mounted attendants into soldiers' clothes (libás i sipáhí), brought them to the musters, and performed everything according to their duties. But when they got their jágírs, they gave leave to their mounted attendants, and when a new emergency arose, they mustered as many ‘borrowed’ soldiers as were required, and sent them again away, when they had served their purpose. Hence while the income and expenditure of the Mançabdár remained in statu quo, ‘dust fell into the platter of the helpless soldier,’ so much so, that he was no longer fit for anything. But from all sides there came a lot of low tradespeople, weavers, and cotton-cleaners (naddáf), carpenters, and green­grocers, Hindu and Musalmán, and brought borrowed horses, got them branded, and were appointed to a Mançab, or were made Krorís (vide p. 13, l. 5 from below), or Ahadís, or Dákhilís to some one (vide p. 231); and when a few days afterwards no trace was to be found of the imaginary horse and the visionary saddle, they had to perform their duties on foot. Many times it happened at the musters, before the emperor himself in the Díwán-khánah i kháç, that they were weighed in their clothes, with their hands and feet tied, when they were found to weigh from 2½ to 3 man, more or less (?) and after inquiry, it was found that all were hired, and that their very clothes and saddles were borrowed articles. His Majesty then used to say, “With my eyes thus open, I must give these men pay, that they may have something to live on.” After some time had passed away, His Majesty divided the Ahadís into duaspah, yakaspah (having one horse), and nímaspah (having half a share in a horse), in which latter case two troopers kept one horse together, and shared the stipulated salary, which amounted to six rupees.*

These were things of daily occurrence,……..;* but notwithstanding all this, His Majesty's good luck overcame all enemies, so that large numbers of soldiers were not so very necessary, and the Amírs had no longer to suffer from the inconvenient reluctance of their servants.”

Hence the repeated musters which Akbar held, both of men, and of animals, carts, &c.; the minuteness of some of the regulations recorded in the Aín; and the heavy fines imposed on neglectful servants (p. 217, note). The carefulness with which Akbar entered into details (kasrat), in order to understand the whole (wahdat)—an unusual thing for rulers of former times—is the secret of his success.*

We have not sufficient data to form an exact estimate of the strength of Akbar's army. We may, however, quote a statement in the Pádisháhnámah regarding the strength of Sháhjahán's army; vide Pádisháhn. II, p. 715.

“The paid army of the present reign consists of 200,000 cavalry, according to the rule of branding the fourth part, as has been mentioned above. This is exclusive of the soldiers that are allowed to the Faujdárs, Krorís, and tax-collectors, for the administration of the Parganahs. These 200,000 cavalry are made up as follows—

“Besides these 200,000 cavalry, there are 40,000 foot, musketeers, artillery, and rocket-bearers. Of these 40,000, 10,000 accompany the emperor, and the remaining 30,000* are in the Çúbahs and the forts.”

The ‘Rule of branding the fourth part’ is described among the events of the year 1056, as follows (II, p. 506):—

“The following law was made during the present reign (Sháhjahán). If a Mançabdár holds a jágír in the same çúbah, in which he holds his mançab, he has to muster one-third of the force indicated by his rank.* Accordingly a Sih Hazárí i zát sihhazár suwár (a Commander of 3000, personal rank; contingent, 3000 cavalry) has to muster (bring to the brand) 1000 cavalry. But if he holds an appointment in another çúbah, he has only to muster a fourth part. Accordingly, a Chahárhazárí chahárhazár suwár (a Commander of 4000; contingent, 4000) has only to muster 1000 cavalry.