The order of the Household, the efficiency of the Army, and the welfare of the country, are intimately connected with the state of this department; hence His Majesty gives it every attention, and looks scrutinizingly into its working order. He introduces all sorts of new methods, and studies their applicability to practical purposes. Thus a plated armour was brought before His Majesty, and set up as a target; but no bullet was so powerful as to make an impression on it. A sufficient number of such armours has been made so as to supply whole armies. His Majesty also looks into the prices of such as are sold in the bázárs.
All weapons for the use of His Majesty have names, and a proper rank is assigned to them. Thus there are thirty swords, (kháçah swords) one of which is daily sent to His Majesty's sleeping apartments. The old one is returned, and handed over to the servants outside the Harem, who keep it till its turn comes again. Forty other swords are kept in readiness: they are called kotal swords. When the number of kháçah swords (in consequence of presents, &c.) has decreased to twelve, they supply new ones from the kotal swords. There are also twelve Yakbandí (?)*, the turn of every one of which recurs after one week. Of Jámdhars and K'hapwahs, there are forty of each. Their turn recurs every week; and each has thirty kotals, from which deficiencies are supplied as before. Besides, eight knives, twenty spears and barchhas are required monthly. Of eighty-six Mashhadí bows, Bhadáyan bows, and twenty-four others, are returned monthly….* In the same manner a rank is assigned to each.
Whenever His Majesty rides out, or at the time of the Bár i 'A´m, or Levee, the sons of the Amírs, and other Mansabdárs and Ahadís, carry the Qur in their hands and on their shoulders, i. e., every four of them carry four quivers, four bows, four swords, four shields; and besides, they take up lances, spears, axes, pointed axes, piyázi war-clubs, sticks, bullet bows, pestles, and a footstool, all properly arranged. Several qiṭárs* of camels and mules are loaded with weapons and kept in readiness; and on travels, they use Bactrian camels, &c., for that purpose. At Court receptions the Amírs and other people stand opposite the Qur, ready for any service; and on the march, they follow behind it, with the exception of a few who are near His Majesty. Elephants in full trappings, camels, carriages, naqqárahs, flags, the kaukabahs, and other Imperial insignia, accompany the Qur, while eager macebearers superintend the march, assisted by the Mírbakhshís. In hunting expeditions several swift runners are in attendance, and a few others are in charge of harnesses.
In order to shorten the trouble of making references, I shall enumerate the weapons now in use in form of a table, and give pictures of some of them.
| 1. | Swords (slightly bent), | ½ R. to 15 Muhurs. |
| 2. | K'háṉdah (straight swords), | 1 to 10 R. |
| 3. | Guptí 'Açá (a sword in a walking stick), | 2 to 20 R. |
| 4. | Jamd'har (a broad dagger), | ¼ R. to 2½ M. |
| 5. | Khanjar, | ½ to 5 R. |
| 6. | K'hapwah, | ½ R. to 1½ M. |
| 7. | Jam K'hák, | ½ R. to 1½ M. |
| 8. | Báṉk, | ½ R. to 1 M. |
| 9. | Jhanbwah, | ½ R. to 1 M. |
| 10. | Katárah, | ½ R. to 1 M. |
| 11. | Narsink Mot'h, | ½ R. to 2 M. |
| 12. | Kamán (bows) | ¼ R. to 3 M. |
| 13. | Takhsh Kamán, | 1 to 4 R. |
| 14. | Náwak, | ½ R. to 1 M. |
| 15. | Arrows, per bundle, | ½ to 30 R. |
| 16. | Quivers, | ¼ R. to 2 M. |
| 17. | Ḍaḍí, | ¼ to 5 R. |
| 18. | Tírbardár (Arrow drawers),* | ½ to 2½ d. |
| 19. | Paikánkash (Do.), | ¼ to 3 R. |
| 20. | Naizah (a lance), | 1¾ R. to 6 M. |
| 21. | Barchhah, | ¾ R. to 2 M. |
| 22. | Sáṉk, | ¼ to 1½ R. |
| 23. | Saiṉt'hí, | ¼ to 1 R. |
| 24. | Sélarah, | 10 d. to ¾ R. |
| 25. | Gurz (a war club,) | ¼ to 5 R. |
| 26. | Shashpar (do.), | ½ R. to 3 M. |
| 27. | Késtan (?)* | 1 to 3 R. |
| 28. | Tabar (a war axe), | ¼ R. to 2 M. |
| 29. | Piyází (a club), | ½ to 5 R. |
| 30. | Zághnól (a pointed axe) | ½ R. to 1 M. |
| 31. | Chakar-Basólah, | 1 to 6 R. |
| 32. | Tabar zághnól, | 1 to 4 R. |
| 33. | Tarangálah, | ¼ to 2 R. |
| 34. | Kárd (a knife) | 2 d. to 1 M. |
| 35. | Guptí kárd, | 3 R. to 1½ M. |
| 36. | Qamchí kárd, | 1 to 3½ R. |
| 37. | Cháqú (a clasp knife) | 2 d. to ¼ R. |
| 38. | Kamán i Guróhah (bullet bow) | 2 d. to 1 R. |
| 39. | Kamt'hah, | 5 d. to 3 R. |
| 40. | Tufak i dahán (a tube; Germ. Blaserohr) | 10 d. to ½ R. |
| 41. | Pushtkhár,* | 2 d. to 2 R. |
| 42. | Shaçtáwéz,* | 2 d. to 1 R. |
| 43. | Girihkushá, | 1 d. to ¼ R. |
| 44. | Khár i Máhí, | 1 to 5 R. |
| 45. | Góbhan (a sling) | 1½ d. to ¼ R. |
| 46. | Gajbág, | 1 to 5 R. |
| 47. | Sipar (a shield), | 1 to 50 R. |
| 48. | Dhál, | ½ R. to 4 M. |
| 49. | K'hérah, | 1 R. to 4 M. |
| 50. | Pahrí, | 1 R. to 1 M. |
| 51. | Uḍánah, | ½ to 5 R. |
| 52. | Dubulghah, | ½ R. to 3½ M. |
| 53. | K'hóg'hí, | 1 to 4 R. |
| 54. | Zirih Kuláh, | 1 to 5 R. |
| 55. | G'húg'huwah, | 1 R. to 2 M. |
| 56. | Jaibah,* | 20 R. 30 M. |
| 57. | Zirih, | 1¾ R. to 100 M. |
| 58. | Bagtar, | 4 R. to 12 M. |
| 59. | Jóshan, | 4 R. to 9 M. |
| 50. | Chár A´ínah, | 2 R. to 7 M. |
| 61. | Koṭ'hí, | 5 R to 8 M. |
| 62. | Çádiqí, | 3 R. to 8 M. |
| 63. | Angirk'hah, | 1½ R. to 5 M. |
| 64. | Bhanjú, | 3 R. to 2 M. |
| 65. | Chihrahzirih i A´haní, | 1½ R. to 1 M. |
| 66. | Salhqabá, | 5 R. to 8 M. |
| 67. | Chihilqad, | 5 to 25 R. |
| 68. | Dastwánah, | 1½ R. to 2 M. |
| 69. | Rák,* | 1 R. to 10 M. |
| 70. | Kaṉt'hah sobhá,* | 1 to 10 R. |
| 71. | Mózah i A´haní. | ½ to 10 R. |
| 72. | Kajém, | 50 to 300 R. |
| 73. | Artak (the quilt) i Kajém, | 4 R. to 7 M. |
| 74. | Qashqah, | 1 R. to 2½ M. |
| 75. | Gardaní,* | 1 R. to 1 M. |
| 76. | Matchlocks, | ½ R. to 1 M. |
| 77. | Bán (rockets), | 2½ to 4 R. |