1921.] Numismatic Supplement No. XXXV. 69 
and was, perhaps, deliberately coined for the purpose of pro- 
claiming the victory of not only the arms of Islam, but also of 
the language of Islam over that of the Hindus. 
Orientals do not think so meanly of verbal ingenuities and 
conceits of this sort as Europeans of the 20th century, an 
there was a time when they were not uncommon in the litera- 
ture of the most cultured Western nations. Persian and Arabic 
in the literary circles of the East. In the past, they have 
secured for their authors the companionship of great princes 
and sometimes honours, titles and great offices. 
consisted in the non-receipt of stipend, or wages, he struck 
twice. If his goods and chattels (mal-u-jihat) had been seized 
by oppression, or had been stolen, he complained by beating 
the drum thrice. If he had a claim of blood against any one, 
he beat the drum loudly four times.” Beveridge, Akbarnamah, 
Trans. I, 651 (Text, I, 361). 
The thing is mentioned also by the contemporary author, 
Khwandmir, who was in Humayin’s court at the time, and has 
left behind a work entitled Qanin-i-Humayini. (Ibid., 651 
note and 645-50 notes.) Erskine, too, has referred to the 
matter, and it may be permissible to quote his remarks as 
they are not devoid of interest. 
“The drum of justice was another of his institutions, 
borrowed from ancient tradition. A huge drum being placed 
near the imperial tent or pavilion, any one who suffered from 
injustice might claim redress by striking it according to certain 
rules, and the Emperor himself attended to the appeal. In 
early times, when law was very imperfectly and arbitrarily ad- 
ministered, and where complaints did not easily reach the ear 
