Tents were also coloured red with this dye.

The tents of the Mughal Emperors and royal princes were of red cloth dyed with the roots of the _al_ plant.

[408] Similarly Nadir Shah, the victor of Panipat, had his field headquarters and lived in one small red tent.

In these cases the original reason for colouring the tents red may probably have been that it was a lucky colour for battles, and the same belief may have led to the adoption of red as a royal and imperial colour.
_Alkari_ .-- Synonym for Alia.
_Alua_ .-- A subcaste of Uriya Brahmans, so named because their forefathers grew the _alu_ or potato.
_Amal_ .-- A section of Komti.

The members of this section do not eat the plantain.
_Ambadar_ .-- (Mango-branch.) A section of Rawat (Ahir).
_Ambashta_ .-- A subcaste of Kayasth.
_Amethia_ .-- (From Amethi, a pargana in Lucknow District.) A sept of Rajputs, who are Chauhans according to Sir H.M.Elliott, but others say they are a branch of the Chamar Gaur.
_Amisht_ .-- A subcaste of Kayasth.
_Amnait_ .-- Subcaste of Bhatra.
_Amrite_ .-- (From Amrit nectar.) A section of Kirar.
_Anapa_ .-- (Leather-dealers.) Subcaste of Madgi.
_Anavala_ .-- A subdivision of Gujarati or Khedawal Brahmans.