ABSTRACT
For students of medieval Indian history a study of the working and material condition of the different classes of low-paid groups serving the imperial households and outside, is crucial and needs investigation. While going out or travelling, eunuchs on horseback, and a troop of female servants, of usually Tatar and Kashmiri origin, followed the royal ladies. Among the low-paid servants mention can be made of herdsmen and farrash. Servants in the cow stables were divided into certain categories. Servants followed their masters in huge numbers according to the status of their employer. Out of the whole crowd of servants, some would ‘chafe the masters hands and feet’ or provided other recreation. Among the personal servants some were there just to fan their master and keep off flies in the day time and insects in the night. English factors were repeatedly commanded by the directors of their Company to restrict the number of servants under them.
