1 vd
2 MUHY-UD-DIN AURANGZEB, 175
3 and lived there for the long time of forty-eight years. | His memoirs contain a
4 full description of the family and court of Shah Jahan as an eye-witness.
5 John Albert de Mandelslo, who had served as a page to the Duke of Holstein,
6 came to India in 1688, the tenth year of the reign of Shah Jahan, and he
7 speaks highly of the flourishing condition of the empire, and the riches and
8 attractions of its great cities. He has given a vivid description of the
9 imperial palaces and mode of life. Francis Bernier, who, with more political
10 insight, travelled in India during the year 1655-1667, gives an_ interesting
11 account in his travels of the state of India during the reign of Shah Jahan.
12 Rai Bahara Mall Dards, accountant, and Khafi Khan, the historian of the
13 time of Aurangzeb, both extol Shah Jahdn for his justice and care of the
14 people.
15 CHAPTER XVI.
16 MUHY-UD-DIN AURANGZEB.
17 - 4 URANGZEB was in his fortieth year when he deposed his father. He
18 A ascended the throne of Delhi, in 1658, but did not assume the title of
19 emperor until October 1660, or two years after, when the hutba was read
20 and money coimed in his name. The title of sovereignty which he adopted
21 was Alamgir, “ Conqueror of the World,” the same that had been engraved
22 by Shah Jahdn on a sabre which he had sent him as a present at Agra,
23 together with an autograph letter, in the preceding year.
24 The superscription on one side of the coins, consisting of the creed and
25 the names of the first four Khalifs, was omitted, on the ground that the
26 coins were liable to pass into the hands of infidels and be placed in impure
27 spots. The inscription was changed into the following couplet bearing the
28 emperor’s name.
29 phelle we) me <5) sls ed? ge Bi4s)d b5 Las
30 “The Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir has struck coin in the world like the brilliant moon.”
31 The above inscription appeared on silver coin. For the gold coin the
32 =) -
33 words ys ys? (brilliant moon) were changed into jive yy (brilliant sun).
34 He abolished the New Year festival of March, as an imitation of the fire
35 worshippers, and restored the Arabic lunar months, in conformity with
36 Mahomedan usage. He issued an edict prohibiting the use of wine, and
37 punished all Mahomedans convicted of drinking spirituous liquors with
38 the deprivation of a hand or a foot.
39 He suppressed all gambling-houses and issued an edict abolishing sing-
40 ing, dancing and buffoonery. The singers and musicians attached to the
41 palace were all discharged. Special officers were appointed to enter any
42 house where music was heard and to burn the musical instruments. These
43 were collected in heaps and destroyed. Hundreds of musicians were thus
44 reduced to starvation.* All dancing girls were to be either lawfully married
45 or banished from the king’s dominions.
46 * One Fiiday afternoon, as the emperor was preceeding to the grand mosque to offer
47 prayers, attended by his body guard, he saw a large concourse of people following a bier and
48 filling the air with loud lamentations and screams. On enquiry as to the cause, he was told
49 that the remains of “ Music,” the mother of the mourners, were being taken to her last resting-
50 Aurangzeb ascends
51 the throne, 1658.
52 He assumes the title
53 of “ Alamgfr.”
54 His coin,
55 His first measures,
56 Gambling houses
57 suppressed.
58 Musicians suppressed. °
59 On the auth bie pa guia Coun gielAiek MnlOdy ian, “RE Simidtartettherye tail. com