11. Volume 6 — part 11

names, entitled Tdlif-i Kalbi-l A'lif-ha-Tcitdhati Filiristi-t Taivdlif, lias been already written, I shall copy them in the same fashion.

These boohs and treatises, moreover, being in different languages, some in Arabic, and a few in Persian, the descriptions of the former have also been given in Arabic, and those of the latter in Persian.

(He then commences a descriptive catalogue of his writings.)

Tdnhli-i Saldtin-i Hind (History of the Sovereigns of India).

The original copy consisted of 3000 verses ; but after adding the annals of the princes who ruled in all the various quarters of this country, which had been omitted in the former collection, it amounted to somewhat more than 4000, and became known by the title of Chronicle of Kings [Zilcr-i Muluh), which is his principal historical work.

Bisdiah Nuriijah Sultdniyah (The Glorious Imperial Volume), which treats of the regulations of government, its statutes and institutions, the ways and means of its just administration, and the conduct and management of its important affairs, is embellished with the august name ^ of the Emperor of the Time and Monarch of the Age (may ^ the Lord ever keep his kingdom and sovereignty in prosperity, and augment his power and glory!), and consists of nearly 1000 verses.

The sixty-second work, Talahu-n Nur (Search after Light), describ- ing the incidents of the Lahore journey.

1 The monarch alluded to is the Emperor Ndru-d din Jah&ngir, son of the Em- peror Akhar.

These Institutes have been highly lauded by the Emperor’s admirers. Let us see how far he is entitled to praise, either for their original promulgation or personal observance.

I forbad the levy of any duties under the name of tamghd and mir bahri, together with the taxes of all descriptions which the jdgirddrs of every suba and every sarlcdr had been in the habit of exacting on their own account.

This casts an ungenerous reflection on the administration of his father, who had been equally stringent in his prohibitions, both with respect to tamghd^ and mir baJirU Babar had been equally im- perative with regard to tamghd from Musulmans — “Orders have been given that in no city, or town, or road, or street, or passage, or port, should the tamghd be levied.” ^

“ His Majesty Akbar, from the excess of his beneficence, has remitted duties in this department that equalled the revenues of a kingdom. Nothing is now exacted upon exports and imports, except a trifle taken at the ports, which never exceeds two and a half per

1 [This is the work of Sir H. M. Elliot. The translations of the Institutes, supra p. 284r, were made independently of those here given.]

3 Gladwin’s Ain-i Ahhari, vol. i. pp. 288, 309.

< See the enactment at length in Erskine’s Memoirs of Bdhar, pp. 355-7. These perpetual repetitions of the same edicts show either the very weak authority of the original promulgators, or the vain-glory of their descendants, in assuming to themselves credit to which they were not entitled.

cent. Merchants account this reduction a pefect remission.” ^ It will be seen from one of the extracts given above that Jahangir’s total reduction also implied a levy of two and a half per cent.^

“ Mukrab Khan (Viceroy of Cambaya, who had no command in Surat except what regarded the King’s customs), to get possession of my goods, took what he chose, and left what he pleased, giving me such price as his own barbarous conscience dictated ; when thirty-five was agreed, giving me only eighteen.” ^

“All caravans must remain at Multan ten or twelve days, before leave can be procured from the governor to proceed, on purpose that the city may benefit by their stay. We remained five days, and were then glad to get leave to depart, by means of a present.” ^

“ I found that the English who were settled at Ahmadabad were injured and oppressed by the governor in their persons and goods, being fined, subjected to arbitrary exactions, and kept as prisoners ; while at every town new customs were demanded for their goods on their passage to the port.” ®

I enjoined that on the line of those roads which were infested by highway robbers, a sardi and a masjid should be built on the most deserted spots, and that a well should be sunk in order that the country might be reclaimed, and a few people be induced to reside there. Where these occurred onjdgir lands, the jdgirddrs were to complete the arrangements at their own exjDense ; but on klidlsa land, the Government undertook the work.

This was considerate towards the Jdgirddrs, and must have con- siderably diminished the value of the tenures which in the tenth Insti- tute he says he confirmed to the holders of his father’s time. At a later

1 Gladwin’s A'in-i Ahhari, vol. i. p. 233.

2 Capt. Hawkins’s narrative in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 208.

^ Journey of E. Steel and J. Crowtlier, ib. p. 521.

® Sir T. Eoe, in Kerr’s Collection, vol. ix. p. 264.

period, even on the more populous routes, the Government relieved itself of this burden on the hJidlsa lands, and placed it on- the shoulders of the unfortunate landholders.^ This erection of sardis must have been proceeded with very generally before his time, for Sher Shah and Salim Shah are represented to have done the same at shorter distances than those contemplated by Jahangir.^

Sir K. Shirley remained at Thatta till a fit opportunity offered of proceeding to Agra, where he went at last, finding the way long and tedious, and much infested by thieves.” ^

His father also had directed the same. His orders to the sipali-sdidr are : “ He must give attention to the digging of reservoirs, wells, and watercourses ; to the planting of gardens ; to the erecting sardis and other pious and useful foundations ; and see that such as have fallen into decay be repaired.” ^

“ In this kingdom there are no inns or houses of entertainment for travellers and strangers. But in the cities and large toimis there are handsome buildings for their reception called sardis.’^ ^ These also appear to be the work of private individuals. “ Many Hindus devote their fortunes to works of charity, as in building sardis, digging wells, or constructing tanks near highways.” ®

The arrangement must have fallen heavily upon the Exchequer if we are to judge of the state of the police as drawn by our travellers. “ The country is now so full of thieves and outlaws, that one can hardly stir out of doors in any part of his dominions without a guard, as almost the whole people are in rebellion.”’ ‘H waited during the remainder of that month for the arrival of a caravan, going from Agra to Srat, by which I might transmit my papers in safety.” ® Of one of the most frequented roads it is said, “ Cambaya is thirty- eight hos from Ahmadabad, by a road through sands and woods much infested by thieves.” ® ‘‘ I was plundered on the way of my

2 See Extract from the Tdrikh-i Badduni, sup. YoL Y.

3 Capt. Walter Peyton, in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. ii. p. 530.

^ Gladwin’s Ain-i Akbari, vol. i. p. 297.

® The Rev. E. Terry, in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. ii. p. 1470.

Narrative of William Hawkins, in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 230.

® Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Gol. of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 320.

^ Observations of William Finch, Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 230.

clothes, and eveiything else about me. One maj^ travel as soon from Agra to Scinde as to Surat, but there is more thieving on the Scinde road.” ^ Even on the famous high road from Agra to Lahore, which was planted on both sides with mulberry trees, Eichard Steel and John Crowther observe : ‘‘In the night this road is dangerously infested with thieves, but is quite secure in the day.”^ In such days as those, therefore, sardis must have been built, or there could have been no travelling or trade.

No person shall open any package of merchandize on the road, without express permission of the proprietor. Throughout the empire no officer of Government shall claim the property of any deceased Infidel or Musulman ; his whole estate, real and personal, descending to his heirs solely. If there be no heirs, then officers specially appointed for the purpose shall take charge of the effects, and the produce thereof shall be applied to the building of sardis, repairing bridges, and digging tanks and wells.

. The descent to heirs is a mere repetition of Timur’s Institute ; ® but how little it was acted upon may be seen by reference to the histor^^ of Jahangir’s grandson, Aurangzeb, who again abolishes the same custom of confiscating the estates of deceased subjects, which he says was constantly practised by his predecessors.^

“ Daulat Khan was the chief of the eunuchs of my father’s seraglio, and obtained in this employment the title of Naziru-d daula. Of this man I will venture to say, that in the receipt of bribes, and his disregard of every principle of duty, there was not his second in the empire. In specie alone he left at his death no less a sum than ten Icrors of ashrejies of five methkals, exclusive of

^ Nicholas Whittington, in Kerr's Collection, vol. ix. p. 131.

^ Journey from Ajmir to Ispahan, in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 520.

3 Davy and White, Institutes of Timur, p. 373.

jewels, etc., to the value of three Ter or s more (120 millions sterling !), the whole of which became an accession to my father’s treasury.” ^

His father’s order was still more liberal. Let him look after the effects of deceased persons, and give them up to the relations or heirs of such ; but if there be none to claim the property let him place it in security, sending at the same time an account of such to Court, so that, when the true heir appears, he may obtain the same. In fine, let him act conscientiously and virtuously in this matter, lest it should be the same here as in the kingdom of Constantinople.” ^

In the towns there appears to have been less scruple about open- ing packages of merchandize. The inhabitants of Lahore were directed to afford every assistance towards rendering the reception of the Prince as magnificent as possible, by decorating the streets and bazars with gold-v/oven carpets, figured draperies or tapestry, both European and Chinese, and canopies also of cloth-of-gold, both within and without the city, to the distance of nearly four hos. All this the Iwtwdl was to keep in readiness for the space of four or five days.®

“ The custom of the Mogul is to take possession of all the treasure belonging to his nobles when they die, giving among the children what he pleases, but he usually treats them kindly. In my time, Eaja Gaginat, a great lord or prince among the idolaters, died, when, his effects being seized to the King’s use, besides jewels, silver, and other valuables, his treasure in gold only amounted to sixty maws, every man being twenty-five pounds weight.” ^

“The preceding night, at the Guzalcan, the jewels of Shaikh Farid, governor of Lahore, who was lately deceased, were presented to him.” ®

“ This I supposed to allude to his servant Hergonen, lately dead, whose goods had been seized to the Kiug’s use.” ®

^ Price’s Memoirs, p. 34. As Daulat Khan died in the seventh year of Jahangir’s reign, this enormous property of a deceased Musulman must have fallen into the son’s instead of the father’s treasury. See Kewal Rhm’s Tazkiratu-l Umard (MS. fol. 85 v.).

2 Bird’s History of Gujarat, p. 403, and Gladwin’s Ain-i Akbari, vol. i. p. 302.

4 Narrative by William Hawkins in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 220.

® Sir T. Hoe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 283.

6 Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection, vol. ix. p. 346.

“No subject of this empire holds any lands by inheritance, neither have they any titles but such as depend on the will of the King. Owing to this, many of the grandees live up fully to the extent of their means. Merchants also, and others, are very careful to conceal their wealth, lest they be made spunges. Some small means of living are allowed by the King to the sons of his great men, which they can never make better, unless they succeed to the favour enjoyed by their fathers.” ^

“The seaports and the customs were full of gross abuses, the governor seizing on goods at arbitrary prices. Even Koe, though otherwise treated with hospitality and respect, had his baggage searched and some articles taken by the governor.” ^ His own words are: “We continued there to the 30th October, suffering much vexation from the governor, who forcibly caused search many of our chests and trunks, taking away what he thought fit.” ^

“The Prince had intercepted the presents and goods on their way up, to satisfy his own base and greedy inclinations. It is the custom in this country, for the great men to see all merchant goods before even the King, that they may choose first.” ^

“ During this interval the King had caused the chests to be privately brought to him, and had opened them.” ® “ He opened the cabinet, and sent for the padre to read the letter, and to see every- thing contained in the boxes ; but finding nothing to his liking, he returned all.” ®

“ I said, that if our goods continued to be taken from us by force, so that we could neither get back our goods, nor yet their value in money, it would be impossible for ns to subsist. This was delivered with some heat, and the King, catching at the word force, repeated it to his son, whom he sharply reprehended. The Prince promised to see me paid for all that had been taken. He said likewise that he had taken nothing, having only caused the presents to be sealed ;

^ Sir T. Eoe, in Kerr’s Collection, vol. ix. p. 414.

2 Elphinstone’s History of India, vol. ii. p. 323.

^ Sir T. Eoe, in Kerr’s Collection, vol. ix. p. 255.

and, as his officers had received no customs on these, he desired to have them opened in his presence.” ^

This humiliating personal search was a system favoured by the local authorities, along with an unscrupulous examination into luggage, by means of which they obtained valuable articles at in- different prices : and their subordinates did not allow such oppor- tunities to escape without the appearance of gold, or what was deemed by them equally substantial. Choice, and taste, and cupidity, were at work on these occasions, and all the older travellers com- plain of this unhappy means of extortion.” ^

“In one case he seized on a convoy coming to the ambassador from Surat, and consisting of presents intended for himself and his court, together with the property of some merchants who took advantage of the escort : he rummaged the packages himself with childish curiosity ; and had recourse to the meanest apologies to appease and cajole Eoe, who was much provoked at this disregard of common honesty.” ^

“The collection of jehat, which brought in an annual revenue of several hrors of dams, had before been remitted throughout the empire in confirmation of a regulation made by the late Emperor. Jahangir now abolished the sayerjehat in Kabul, which produced annually one hrore and twenty-three lacs of dams. When the jehat was collected, it fell very heavy in Kabul and Kandahar, and the abolition of that tax with the annual remission of the sayerjehat were great encouragements for the merchants of Iran and Turan to carry on a trade in those parts that was very advantageous to Hindustan.” ^

No person is permitted to make or sell wine or any other prohibited liquor which occasions inebriety; though I myself am addicted to wine-bibbing, and from my eighteenth year until now,

1 Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Voyages, vol. ix. p. 361.

2 Brigo[s’s Cities of Gujarashtra, p. 63.

3 Elphinstone’s History of India, vol. ii. p. 326.

which is my thirty- eighth, have always taken it. In the beginning, when I was devoted to the practice, I used to take from fifteen to twenty cups of double-distilled spirit. By degrees, when this began to have a visible effect upon my constitution, I determined to reduce the quantity till I attained a mean of only six or seven. The times at which I used to indulge in my cups also differed : sometimes it was in the afternoon, sometimes at night, sometimes in the daytime, till I reached my thirtieth year. From that time I have taken wine only at night, and at this present period I drink it solely to promote digestion.^

“ The religion of the Christians was agreeable to him, chiefly on account of the license which it affords for the use of wine, and the flesh of all kinds of animals. This was the only view which he took of it. That spirit of patience, humility, charity, and tem- perance, which is the soul of Christianity, was never a subject on which he reflected. With prepossessions founded on such impure motives, did he declare himself openly in favour of the Christians, and violate, without scruple, the law of Mahomet. He drank wine in the face of his whole Court.” ^

‘‘Four or five cases of red wine should be sent as presents to the King and Prince, as never were men more enamoured of that drink as these two, and which they would more highly esteem than all the jewels in Chepeside.”^

“At the time Hemayun went upon an expedition against Eanna Sanka, he made a vow, that if he gained a victory over the infidels, he would ever after abstain entirely from the use of wine. Shah- jehan was determined to excel his grandfather, by making an offering previous to the victory. He accordingly ordered that all the wine in the camp should immediately be started into the river.” ^

“ The party was free from all restraint, scarcely one of them

1 [See Jah&ngir’s additional statement, suprd, p. 341.]

2 Catron’s History of the Mogul Bynasty, p. 138.

remaining sober, except Sir Thomas and a few other grave per- sonages, who were cautious in their indulgence. Jahangir himself never left off till he dropped asleep, when the lights were extin- guished, and the company withdrew. On these occasions he was overflowing with kindness, which increased with the effects of the wine ; and once, after talking with great liberality of all religions, he fell to weeping, and to various passions, which kept them to midnight.” ^

“ It was more particularly during the night that the King gave himself up to intoxication, in the society of his friends. All the Franks in Agra, that is, all Europeans of whatsoever nation, were allowed free access to the palace. He continued drinking in their company till the return of day ; and he abandoned himself, espe- cially, to these midnight debaucheries, at the season which the Mahometans observe as a fast with the most scrupulous exactness. When some of his nation of rather rigid principles happened to be present at these meetings, he compelled them to violate their fast, threatening them, in case of disobedience, with being abandoned to the rage of two lions, who were kept always chained under the windows of his apartments.” ^

“Mocurrab Khan now joining them, was permitted also to mount the elephant, but not till after he had received a wound from one of the Kajpoots. Kidmit Pirest, Jehangir’s cup-bearer, scrambled up too, with a bottle and glass, and was crowded into the howdah with the Emperor.” ^

“ He then goes into a private room, where for two years I was one of his attendants ; and there he drinks five other cups of strong liquor. This done, he chews opium, and, being intoxicated, he goes to sleep.^

“ So, drinking heartily himself, and commanding others to drink, he and his nobles became as jovial as could be, and of a thousand humours.” ^

^ Elphinstone’s History of India, vol. ii. p. 325.

2 Catrou’s History of the Mogul Dynasty, p. 139.

^ Narrative by W. Hawkins, in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i.

5 Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Coll, of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 290.

“The King returned to the city on the evening of the 25th, having been far gone in wine the night before.” ^

“ One day, that Jahangir happened to be recreating himself, attended by the musicians and female dancers of his palace, he exceeded the nine goblets to which he had been restricted by Nur Jahan. The Queen remonstrated, but the Emperor turned a deaf ear to her complaint, and carried his indulgence to the extent of intoxication.” ®

“ The very day which he had appointed for dismissing the Queen, Mahabat inquired what he could do to afford him pleasure. ‘ Give me the Sultaness, and wine,’ replied the Emperor. The generous minister refused him both. Wine, on account of his attachment to the law of Mahomet ; and the Sultaness, lest she should succeed in destroying that returning reason, with which he had begun to inspire the Mogul.” 3

“ He often disappeared in the evening from the palace, and dived into obscure punch-houses, to pass some hours in drinking and talking with the lower sort. Being in the hall of audience acces- sible to all ranks of men, after the performance of the usual cere- monies, he was often known in his nocturnal excursions. He often desired his companions at the bowl to ask no favours of him, lest Salim, in his cups, might promise what Jahangir, in his sober senses, would not choose to perform. When the liquor began to inflame him, he was rather mad than intoxicated.” *

“ He now took a decided aversion to opium, which had been his constant companion for forty years, and took nothing but the juice of the grape.” ®

“ On the 8th I found the King so nearly drunk, that he became entirely so in half an hour, so that I could not have any business

with him All business being conducted at night, in the

guzalcan, and then the opportunity is often missed. His Majesty being so frequently overcome by drowsiness proceeding from drunkenness.”®

^ Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection, vol. ix. p. 307 ; see also p. 321.

2 Catron’s History of the Mogul Dynasty, p. 146.

^ Dow’s History of Hindostan, vol. iii. p. 108.

3 Muhammad Hadi, Continuation of Memoirs, Julds 22nd.

3 Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 321.

“Wine-houses, since the days of Akhar, had been tolerated in the capital. The Emperor took a seat near an artisan, who was drinking with great gaiety, and, inspired with the wine, was dis- posed to indulge his vocal talents. Jahangir was delighted to find himself in such pleasant society. A familiarity was soon estab- lished between them, and the artisan was particularly charmed with the liberality of the new guest, who paid the entire score, and made him drink deep.” ^

I declared that no one had a right to take up his abode in the dwelling of any other man. I prohibited magistrates from cutting off the noses and ears of culprits, whatever might have been their offence ; and I myself made a vow to heaven that I would not inflict that punishment on any one.

“ I then gave orders that the palace of Mohabat Khan should be cleared for the reception of Parwez ; the Khan being absent at the time, employed in quelling some disturbances on the frontiers of Kabul, and his family being, by my directions, removed to another place of residence.” ^

This was no new prohibition. It had been issued by his father : “ Have a care that no soldiers or others enter in any one’s house without his permission.” Mutilation was prohibited in the 6th clause of the same edict ; ^ and this prohibition does not appear to have had much effect, for he again has to repeat it in the sixth year of his reign.

He did not care so much for the poor man’s dwelling, when he chose to burn whole cities. Sir T. Eoe says : “ Necessity enforced me to remove, as the King had set fire to the whole leshkar at Agimere. The town was burnt, and utterly desolate ; and I was in

^ Catrou’s History of the Mogul Dynasty, p. 158. * Price’s Memoirs, p. 122.

3 Bird’s History of Gujerat, pp. 391, 394.

great danger from thieves.” Again : ‘‘ The King caused the town near which he was encamped to he set on fire, appointing a new governor.” ^ “ The poor forsook the city of Mandu ; many more

With respect to mutilations. Though noses and ears might not have been cut off, other more barbarous torments were commonly practised ; and we are reminded of the Circumcellions, who used to beat their victims to death with huge clubs, because Christ had forbidden the use of the sword to St. Peter ; ^ and Daulat Kao Sindia, who, on the plea of abstaining from taking the blood of Brahmans, used to blow them up with rockets.^

“ I accomplished about this period the suppression of a tribe of robbers, who had long infested the roads about Agra ; and whom, getting into my power, I caused to be trampled to death by elephants.” ®

“The sons of Bhagwandas received the rewards of their per- fidious deeds, having their heads crushed under the feet of my elephants, and being thus despatched to the hell prepared for them.”® He ordered a thief to be trampled to death by an elephant ; and, at the culprit’s request, allowed him instead to fight with the elephant. Upon being successful, he was rewarded ; but for subse- quently making his escape, he was hanged.'^

“ The King commanded one of his brother’s sons to touch a lion on the head. But he refused it, being afraid ; on which the King desired his youngest son to touch the lion, which he did, without receiving any harm. On this the King commanded his nephew to be taken to prison, whence he is never likely again to be released.” ® “ In the most inaccessible parts of Gujarat lived a race of men, known by the name of Koolies, who exercised perpetual depreda- tions and cruelties upon the inhabitants of the open and cultivated

^ Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels^ vol. ix. pp. 317, 325.

’ See Extracts from Memoirs of the eleventh year of the reign _Siiprd, p. 346.]

® Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 275.

districts. The enormities of these people had lately risen to an extraordinary height, when Jahangir issued a sanguinary order for the utter extirpation of the race. Many were slaughtered ; the rest hunted to their mountains and deserts.” ^

“ Since that time he has caused all the adherents of his son to he put to cruel deaths. While I was at his Court I have seen him do many cruel deeds. Five times a week he orders some of his bravest elephants to fight in his presence, during which men are often killed or grievously wounded by the elephants. If any one be sore hurt, though he might very well chance to recover, he causes him to be thrown into the river, saying, ‘ Despatch him, for as long as he lives he v/ill continually curse me ; wherefore it is better that he die presently.’ He delights to see men executed and torn in pieces by elephants.” *

“ This day a gentlewoman was taken in the King’s house in some improper act with an eunuch, when another animal of the same kind, who loved her, slew her paramour. The poor woman was set up to the armpits in the ground, with the earth hard rammed round her ; being condemned to remain there three days and two nights in that situation, without sustenance, her head and arms being exposed to the violence of the sun. If she survived, she was then to be pardoned. The eunuch was condemned to the elephants.” ®

“ Whether owing to ill advice, wine, or some fault of his nature, he often issued very cruel orders. Happening to catch an eunuch kissing one of his women whom he had relinquished, he sentenced the lady to be put into the earth, with only her head left above ground, exposed to the burning rays of the sun, and the eunuch to be cut in pieces before her face.” ^

“ The King, however, insisted upon it, and the poor fellow was torn in pieces. Not yet satisfied, but desirous to see more sport, the King sent for ten of his horsemen, who were that night on guard, whom he commanded, one after the other, to buffet with the lion. They were all grievously wounded, and three of them lost their

' Mill's History of British India, vol. ii. p. 359.

2 Narrative by William Hawkins, in Purcbas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 220.

3 Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 278.

• Modern Universal History, vol. v. p. 399.

lives. The King continued three months in this cruel humour ; in which time, merely for his pleasure, many men lost their lives, and many were grievously wounded.” ^

“ The 9th of August a band of one hundred robbers were brought in chains before the Great Mogul. Without any ceremony of trial, he ordered them to be carried away for execution, their chief being ordered to be torn in pieces by dogs. The prisoners were sent for execution to several quarters of the city, and executed in the streets. Close by my house the chief was torn in pieces by twelve dogs ; and thirteen of his fellows, having their hands and feet tied together, had their necks cut by a sword, yet not quite through, and their naked and bloody bodies were left to corrupt in the streets.” ^

“ About four thousand were made prisoners, all of whom, as an example to other wretches who might be disposed to follow in their steps, were, by my command, trampled to death by elephants.” ^

“ Seffy sent him forty-four persons who had been active in the late commotions in Gujarat, two of whom were trampled to death by elephants, and the rest committed to prison.” ^

“ He sometimes sees, with too much delight in blood, executions performed on offenders by his elephants. IIU meruere, sed quid tu ut adesses ? ” ®

“ I determined that the perpetrator of this horrible villany should be immediately led to the great plain, where, as an awful example, he was torn piece-meal with red-hot pincers.” ®

“ One of his greatest pleasures was, putting to the test the con- stancy of the Persians newly arrived at his Court. He commonly carried in his girdle a stile, the point of which was particularly acute, with which he pierced the ear of the new comer, at a moment when he was quite unprepared for such a salutation. By his outcries, or by his silence, that is to say, by the impatience or the tranquil resolution which he manifested under the infliction of pain,

1 Narrative by "W". Hawkins, in Pnrchas’s Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 220.

2 Sir T. Eoe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 281.

® Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection, vol. ix. p. 261.

he formed his opinion of the courage of the Persian ; and he measured his favours by the result of his experiment.” ^

“ On the banks of the Chenab the Emperor received from Zuffer Khan the head of the rebel Ahdad, which was ordered to be placed over the principal gate of Lahoor.” *

“ One of the King’s sons, Sultan Shariar, a boy of seven years old, was called by him one day when I was there. Because he had not said that he would go with all his heart along with his Majesty, he was sore beaten by the King, yet did not cry. . . On this his

.father struck him again, and taking a bodkin, thrust it through his cheek ; yet he would not cry, though he bled much.” ^

“ Some nobles that were near his person he caused to be whipped in his presence, receiving 130 stripes with a most terrible instrument of torture, having, at the ends of four cords, irons like spur-rowels, so that every stroke made four wounds. When they lay for dead, he commanded the standers-by to spurn them with their feet, and the door-keepers to break their staves upon them. Thus, cruelly mangled and bruised, they were carried away, one of them dying on the spot.” ^

“ The next morning Khusro was brought before his father, with a chain fastened from his left hand to his left foot, according to the laws of Chinghez Khan. On the right hand of the Prince stood Hassan Beg, and on his left Abdulraheem. Khusro trembled and wept. He was ordered into confinement ; but the companions of his rebellion were put to death with cruel torments. Hassan Beg was sewed up in a raw hide of an ox, and Abdulraheem in that of an ass, and both were led about the town on asses, with their faces towards the tail. The ox’s hide became so dry and contracted, that before the evening Hassan Beg was suffocated; but the ass’s hide being continually moistened with water by the friends of Abdulra- heem, he survived the punishment, and afterwards obtained the Emperor’s pardon. From the garden of Kamran to the city of Lahoor, two rows of stakes were fixed in the ground, upon which

1 Catrou’s History of the Mogul Dynasty y p. 140.

3 Narrative by W. Hawkins, in Purchas’s PilgrimSy vol. ix. p. 307.

^ Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and TravelSy vol. ix. p. 307.

the other rebels were impaled alive; and the unhappy Khusro, mounted on an elephant, was conducted between the ranks of these miserable sufferers.” ^

“ The story of Seif Alla remains as a monument of his savage justice. The sister of the favourite Sultana had a son by her husband Ibrahim, the Suba of Bengal, who, from his tender years, had been brought up at Court by the Empress, who, having no sons by Jahangir, adopted Seif Alla for her own. The Emperor was fond of the boy ; he even often seated him upon his throne. At twelve years of age Alla returned' to his father in Bengal. Jahangir gave him a letter to the Suba, with orders to appoint him governor of Burdwan. Alla, after having resided in his government some years, had the misfortune, when he was one day riding on an elephant through the street, to tread by accident a child to death. ^ Alla obeyed the Imperial command ; but he knew not the inten- tions of Jahangir, which that prince had locked up in his own breast. The youth encamped with his retinue, the night of his arrival, on the opposite bank of the river ; and sent a messenger to announce his coming to the Emperor. Jahangir gave orders for one of his elephants of state to be ready by the dawn of day ; and he at the same time directed the parents of the child to attend. He himself was up before it was light, and, having crossed the river, he came to the camp of Alla, and commanded him to be bound. The parents were mounted upon the elephant, and the Emperor ordered the driver to tread the unfortunate young man to death. But the driver, afraid of the resentment of the Sultana, passed over him several times, without giving the elephant the necessary direc- tions. The Emperor, however, by his threats, obliged him at last to execute his orders.” ^

“ The cap, or tiara, of the chief, containing jewels to the value of twenty laks of rupees, and ten thousand of the heads of the rebels, fixed on spears, with all the commanders who were taken alive, were conveyed to my presence ; Abdullah Khaun remaining in full possession of the subjugated districts. To deter others from the

^ Gladwin’s History of Jahangir, p. 9. [^Suprd, p. 300.]

2 Dow’s History of Hindostan, vol. iii. pp. 110-12.

commission of similar acts of rebellion towards their sovereign, and of ungrateful perfidy towards their benefactor, I directed the bodies of the slain who fell in the defence of Kanouje, to the number of ten thousand, to be suspended from trees with their heads down- wards, on the different high roads in the vicinity. And here I am compelled to observe, with whatever regret, that, notwithstanding the frequent and sanguinary executions which have been dealt among the people of Hindustaun, the number of the turbulent and disaffected never seems to diminish ; for what with the examples made during the reign of my father, and subsequently of my own, there is scarcely a province in the empire in which, either in battle or by the sword of the executioner, five and six hundred thousand human beings have not, at various periods, fallen victims to this fatal disposition to discontent and turbulence. Ever and anon, in one quarter or another, will some accursed miscreant spring up to unfurl the standard of rebellion ; so that in Hindustaun never has there existed a period of complete repose.” ^

The Kotwal brought a culprit before me, who had been several times mutilated for thieving. On the first occasion his right hand was cut off, then the thumb of his left, then the left ear, then his heels, and at last his nose. On the present occasion I gave him over to be executed by the family of the man whom he had robbed.^ ‘‘About this time Alidad and his rebellious Afghans were deserted at Cabul, by Motamad Khan, who made a pyramid of six hundred of their heads. He was rewarded with the title of Lushker Khan.” ’ “ On the 1st December I went six cosses to Eamsor, where the King had left the naked bodies of an hundred men, put to death for robbery.” “ On the 4th I overtook a camel laden with 300 heads, sent from Candahar to the King, the people to whom these heads had belonged having been in rebellion.” ^

“ I ordered that his tongue should be cut out, that he should be imprisoned for life, and that he should mess with dog-keepers and sweepers.” ^

2 Authentic Memoirs, twelfth year of the reign.

^ Sir T. Roe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 320.

® Authentic Memoirs, second year of the reign. ^Suprd, p. 314.]

“ In these circumstances I ordered a camel to be brought to my presence, and sending for Xour-ud-dein Kuly, I told him that the dress of the Hindu, \dth the valuable chaplet of pearls which encircled his neck, was all his own. But he was to conduct the un- happy man to the outside of the town, where he was to cause his bowels to be cut open, after which he was to be fastened to the side of the camel, and so carried round the camp.” ^

This tendency to cruelty, notwithstanding his asseveration to the contrary, was early exemplified in the career of the Emperor.

“ A wakianavess, or intelligencer, and two other servants belong- ing to Sileem, had formed a conspiracy against his life; in which, being detected, they attempted to make their escape to Sultan Daniel, in the Dekhan ; but their flight was soon discovered, and some horsemen being sent in pursuit of them, quickly brought them back. Sileem was so exasperated against them, that, in the fury of his passion, he ordered the wakianavess to be flead, one of the accom- plices to be castrated, and the other severely beaten. These cruel punishments, which were executed in his presence, put an end to the conspiracy ; neither were there any more desertions. This transac- tion, in itself sufiiciently culpable, was reported to the Emperor Avith all the exaggeration that malice could invent. The criminals were represented as innocent sufferers ; and it was asserted that the Prince commonly practised such barbaiities in the paroxysms of in- ebriation, a vice to which, in common wdth his two brothers, he was unfortunately very much addicted. Akbar, who possessed a mind fraught with every principle of philanthropy and humanity, was shocked at these accounts of his son’s barbarity. He wrote him a letter, in which he severely reprobated his conduct, and said, that not being able himself to see a sheep stripped of its skin without sensations of horror, he was at a loss to conceive how it was possible for his son so far to stifle the common feelings of nature as to suffer a fellow-creature to be flead in his presence.” *

“The trials are conducted quickly, and the sentences speedily executed ; culprits being hanged, beheaded, impaled, torn by dogs,

1 Price’s Memoirs of Jahangiieir, p. 134.

2 Gladwin’s Beign of Jahangir, p. ix. See also Eamg^ Eli&.ii’s Ma-dsir-i Jahdn- giri (MS. fol. 21r.).

destroyed by elephants, bitten by serpents, or other devices, accord- ing to the nature of the crimes ; the executions being generally in the public market-place. The governors of provinces and cities administer justice in a similar manner.” ^

“ The disrespectful language in which the son of Khan-i Douraun presumed to express himself, could not be overlooked. I therefore commanded that one side of his 'head and face should be flayed of the skin, and in that state he was led round the encampment, proclama- tion being made at the same time, that such was the punishment which awaited those who dared to apply disrespectful language to him who was at once their sovereign and benefactor.” ^

I ordered that the officers of government jdgirddrs should not forcibly seize possession of the lands of my subjects, and cultivate them for their own benefit.

“ The administration of the country had rapidly declined since Akbar’s time. The governments were farmed, and the governors exacting and tyrannical.” ^

“The edict of his father, enjoining the observance of kindness and conciliation towards the cultivators, goes much further than this.” ^

“ Bengal, Gujarat, and the Deccan, are likewise full of rebels, so that no one can travel in safety for outlaws : all occasioned by the barbarity of the government, and the cruel exactions made upon the husbandmen, which drive them to rebellion.” ®

“ But this observation may serve universally for the whole of this country, that ruin and devastation operates everywhere ; for since the property of all has become vested in the King, no person takes

1 The Rev. E. Terry, in Purchas’s Pilgrims, vol. ii. p, 1476.

3 Elphinstone’s History of India, vol. ii. p. 325.

^ Narrative by William Hawkins, in Purcbas's Pilgrims, vol. i. p. 230.

care of anything ; so that in every place the spoil and devastations of war appear, and nowhere is anything repaired.” ^

“For all the great men live by farming the several governments, in which they all practise every kind of tyranny against the natives under their jurisdiction, oppressing them with continual exactions.” ^

I prohibited the Government ’dmils and jdgirddrs from contract- ing marriage, without my leave, with any inhabitant of the districts under their control.

This prohibition extended to other cases.

“ Khojah Birkadar having married the daughter of Mehabut Khan, unknown to His Majesty, upon the discovery thereof, was ordered to the presence, where he was beaten, and then committed to prison.” ^

“ Before his arrival, he betrothed his daughter to a young noble- man named Berkhadar, without first asking the Emperor’s leave, as was usual with persons of his high rank. Jahangir was enraged at this apparent defiance : he sent for Berkhadar, and, in one of those fits of brutality which still broke out, he ordered him to be stripped naked, and beaten with thorns in his own presence ; and then seized on the dowry he had received from Mahabat, and sequestrated all his other property.” ^

I established hospitals within the chief cities, and appointed physicians to attend upon the sick, and directed that the expense should be defrayed out of the royal treasury.

1 Sir T. Eoe, in Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. ix. p. 321.

^ Gladwin’s Reign of Jahangir, p. 79. _Suprd, p. 396.]

^ ElpMnstone’s History of India, vol. ii. p. 339. See also Dow’s History of H in- dostan, vol. iii. p.. 89.

This is one of the Institutes of his lying ancestor Timur, and was, no doubt, as much observed in one instance as the other. ^

In imitation of my father, I directed that on the 18th of every Eabi’u-1 awwal,“ my birthday, no animal should be killed. There were also two other days of prohibition ; viz. Thursday, the day of my accession, and Sunday, on which my father was born, who used to pay that day extraordinary respect, not only because it was dedicated to the Sun, but because the Creation commenced on that day. On which account he also prohibited the killing of animals on Sundays.

Pope Pius V. allowed the inhabitants of Aberdeen the privilege of fishing on Sundays and Fast-days, provided the first fish caught were presented to the Church.

The fast, which the Mahometans observe so scrupulously, for an entire month, was the subject of his derision. He invited to his table the most conscientious observers of the laws of their religion, and inveigled them into a companionship in his excesses in wine, and in eating prohibited meats. The Casi, and the Imams, who are the doctors of Mahometan law, in vain admonished him, that the use of certain meats was forbidaen by the Alcoran. Fatigued with their importunities, he inquired in what religion the use of drinks and food of every species, without distinction, was permitted. The reply was, in that of the Christian religion alone. ‘ We must then,’ he rejoined, ‘ all turn Christians. Let there be tailors brought to us, to convert our robes into close coats, and our turbans into hats.’ At

1 Davy and White’s Institutes of Timour, p. 371.

2 Gladwin translates this differently: “By as many days as he should be years old, commencing with his birth-day.” The literal meaning will bear this construction ; hut it seems an improbable one. [The literal meaning certainly favours Gladwin’s rendering. See supra, p. 286.]

these words the doctors trembled for their sect. Fear and interest made them hold a less severe language. They all declared that the sovereign was not bound by the precepts of the Alcoran, and that the monarch might, without scruple, use whatever meats and drinks were most agreeable to him.” ^

I gave a general order that the mansahs and jdgirs bestowed by my father should be confirmed to their respective holders, and a short time afterwards I increased the mansah of each according to his deserts ; thus, the holder of ten was raised to twelve, and so forth. The ahadis were raised from ten to fifteen, and the salaries of all the servants of my father were raised from ten to twelve ; and the provisions supplied to the ladies of the royal household were raised in the proportion of ten to twelve, and ten to twenty.

“ Many Subas were removed from their respective governments into other provinces ; some were dismissed to make room for the Emperor’s abettors and friends. The deprived governors repaired to Court to restore themselves, by money and intrigue, to their former dignities. Some succeeded in their views ; others were re- duced to despair, through want of success. The latter began to form treasonable designs to recover the consequence and power which they had lost.”

Sir T. Eoe would lead us to question this proclaimed liberality. “ Having venison of various kinds before him, he gave me half a stag, and said I should see the rest bestowed on his ladies. This was presently cut into four pound pieces, and was sent into the interior apartments, by his young son and two women, in their bare hands, just as if he had been doling out such small fragments to the poor by way of charity.” ^

‘‘ Hussein Beg Chan Buduchshe, who had been governor of the

^ Catrou’s History of the Mogul Dynasty^ p. 138.

2 Dow’s History of Hindostan^ vol. iii. p. 6.

3 Kerr’s Collection of Voyages and Travels^ vol. ix. p. 333.

province of Cabnl during a considerable part of the former reign, being turned out of his ofiSce by the Emperor, was on his way to court.” ^

The holders of ayima and madad'ma’dsh, who form an army of persons invoking blessings, I at once confirmed in their holdings, according to the tenor of the farmdns held by each; and Miran Sadr Jahan, one of the saiyids of pure descent in Hindustan, who held the high office of Sadr for some time under my father, was directed to look daily after the poor and needy.

Miran Sadr Jehan had received the same order from Akbar. “ His Majesty bestows upon the poor and needy money and neces- saries of every kind. Many are allowed daily, monthly, or annual pensions, which they receive regularly, without any delay or deduc- tion.” 2

“ The affair required an agreement clear and explicit in all points, and a more formal and authentic confirmation than it now had, by ordinary firmans, which were merely temporary commands, and re- spected accordingly.” ^

The prince gave us one day a phirmaund for our good usage, with a grant of privileges, and countermanded all the next by con- tradictory orders, in which proceedings there was neither honour nor good faith.” ^