His Majesty is very fond of these remarkable animals, and often uses them for hunting purposes. Though he trains the báz, sháhín, shunqár, and burkat falcons, and makes them perform wonderful deeds, His Majesty prefers the báshah, to which class of hawks he gives various names.

As I am compelled to hurry on, and must restrict myself to summary accounts, it is impossible to say much about this matter, or about the skill of the several birds, especially as I know little about it, being by nature averse to destroying life. I shall, however, give a few details, and lead enquirers to the retired spot of knowledge.

In the middle of spring the birds are inspected; after this they are allowed to moult, and are sent into the country. As soon as the time of moulting is over, they are again inspected. The commencement is made with the kháçah falcons (báz), which are inspected in the order in which they have been bought. The precedence of jurrahs is determined by the number of game killed by them. Then come the báshahs, the sháhíns, the k'helahs, the chappak báshahs, the bahrís, the young bahrís, the shikarahs, the chappak shikarahs, the turmatís, the rekís, the besrahs, the dhotís, the charghs, the chargílahs, the lagars, and the jhagars (which His Majesty calls the chappak kind of the lagar). The Molchíns also are inspected—the molchín is an animal resembling the sparrow, of yellowish plumage, like the sháhín; it will kill a kulang crane. People say that, whilst flying, it will break the wing of the kulang, and others maintain that it pierces its eyes; but this cannot be proved. Odhpapars* also are brought from Kashmír. This bird has a bluish (sabz) colour and is smaller than a parrot; its beak is red, straight, and long; its tail is rather elongated. It brings down small birds, and returns to the hand of the keeper.

Many other birds can be trained for the chase, though I cannot specify all. Thus the crow, the sparrow, the bodnah, and the sárú will learn to attack.

His Majesty, from motives of generosity and from a wish to add splendour to his Court, is fond of hunting with falcons, though superficial observers think that merely hunting is his object.

In this department many Mançabdárs, Ahadís, and other soldiers are employed. The footmen are mostly Kashmírís or Hindústánís. Their pay is as follows. First class of the former, first grade, 7½ R.; second, 7 R.; third, 6¾ R. Second class, first grade, 6½ R; second, 6¼ R.; third, 5¾ R. Third class, first grade, 5½ R.; second, 5 R.; third, 4½ R. First class of the latter (Hindústání), first grade, 5 R; second 4¾ R.; third, 4½ R. Second class, first grade, 4¼ R.; second, 4 R.; third 3¾ R. Third class, first grade, 3½ R.; second, 3¼ R.; third, 3 R.