1 Te possessed an in-
2 ventive genius.
3 His system of horse
4 posts.
5 His knowledge of
6 physiognomy.
7 His measures of re-
8 form.
9 His Hindu proclivi-
10 ties.
11 Restriction as to
12 early marriage.
13 Sri Satguru J agjit
14 144 _ TUISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
15 leopard belonging to him was known by the name of Samand Marak, and was
16 carried with much pomp in a Chandol, with drums beating in front, and
17 attendants fully equipped running at his sides. He kept his elephants
18 obedient to his command, and mounted them by putting his foot on the
19 tusks even when they were in the rutting season. He was fond of the
20 Siuhgosh, or Felis caracul, for hunting purposes, and imported dogs of
21 excellent brecds and quality from all countries. He hunted with hawks
22 and falcons, and amused himself by watching the conflicts between spiders
23 and flies, and particularly the attempts of the latter to escape. In fulfil-
24 ment of a vow made by him before the birth of his eldest son, Akber never
25 hunted on Fridays.
26 Akber was possessed of an inquisitive mind. He sent an expedition to
27 explore the source of the Ganges, and tried to discover what was the first
28 spoken language. He had twelve infants brought up by dumb nuwises,
29 and when they grew up, caused them to be brought into his presence. They
30 were unable to speak a word, and could express themselves only by signs.
31 The experiment was a failure. He was skilled in various mechanical arts.
32 He invented extraordinary carriages for travelling and carrying loads,
33 designed water-wheels and carts, and a machine for drawing water from a
34 well which at the same time moved a mill stone. He invented a wheel
35 whith cleaned sixtcen barrels in a very short time. He had workshops
36 for making guns and casting ordnance within the precincts of the palace.
37 He invented elephant gear and introduced the brand system known as the
38 Dagh-o-mahalli Jaw.
39 Akber delighted in Indian fables. He had the fables of Mir Hamza, con-
40 sisting of 360 stories, copied in beautiful handwriting and illustrated by
41 appropriate pictures. Throughout his dominions he established the system
42 of posts and had two horses and a set of footmen stationed at every stage of
43 five kos distance.
44 Akber took great care in entering into details (asrat) with the object
45 of understanding the whole (Wahdat), and this, according to Sheikh Abul
46 Fazl, was the secret of his success.) The Sheikh praises Akber as a good
47 physiognomist. According to Baddoni, Akber learnt the art from the Jogis.
48 He saw through men at the first glance.
49 He abolished the tax called Karmé, or contributions from pilgrims who
50 visited the holy shrines, and remitted the Juzfa or poll-tax upon thie
51 Hindus. In the 25th year of his reign, he took a census of all the inhabi-
52 tants throughout his empire, and imperial mandates were issued to jagir-
53 dars, shikddrs and daroghas, directing them to draw up lists of the people
54 of all sexes, village by village. He appointed inspectors to stop widow
55 burning among the Hindus, and he restricted polygamy amongst the Musal-
56 mans. He imposed stringent restrictions on prostitution* and inflicted
57 severe punishment on seducers. He interdicted beef, and to touch beef was
58 considered a sin. Influenced by the Hindu princesses of the harem, he
59 foreswore beef, garlic, onions ‘and the wearing of the beard. The shaving of
60 the beard was considered as the highest sign of friendship and affection for
61 his majesty, who scarcely admitted a bearded person into his presence.
62 The use of wine was allowed if required for strengthening the body, and if
63 prescribed by doctors, but intoxication was severely punished. Marriages
64 * His Majesty himself summoned some of the principal prostitutes and asked them who had
65 deprived them of their virginity. On receiving exact information, he punished, censured or put
66 in long confinement in fortresses, the men concerned, some of whom were men of renown and
67 Hepiccwa ore A separate quarter was assigned to prostitutes outside the town, and
68 tba oat ie: called Shaitanpura (Devil’s Villa). A Darogha and a clerk were appointed to
69 es 7 names of those who resorted to them. No one could take a dancing girl to his
70 ouse wit <7 Pp ii: Orga htt Badaons.
71 ingh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com