upon the terrace. Just as he began to descend, the muezzin gave the summons to prayer. He seated himself on the second step from the top of the marble flight and repeated the creed. Then he tried to rise, his staff slipped along the smooth stone and he, being somewhat stiff and heavy with years, fell downwards from a height of some twenty feet. He lost con

sciousness but recovered it later. He had sustained internal injuries too severe to allow him to survive and he died within a few days. He was almost fifty years old and had lived a stirring life, not over long indeed but fruitful in variety and in experience.

Wide as Humáyún's opportunities had been, he had acquired relatively little of the knowledge which profits a sovereign. His character was pre-eminently lacking in the seriousness necessary to his position and his temper was too careless and too volatile to allow him to draw, from the stores of his bitter experience, the fructifying lessons which would have brought happiness to himself and to others. In the face of repeated proofs of their baseness, he gave constant opportunity to the most unworthy persons to abuse his favour and confidence. When his empire was falling in pieces, he continued an unruffled carouse in Agrah, troubleing himself much about witty speeches and repartees, but not at all about the preservation of the throne; and although, by his credulous negligence, he had suffered the reverse of Chausá, he let himself, at

Humáyún "beckoned to the people who assembled in the great mosque adjoining," presumably on a Friday. (Abul Fazl, Price, IV, 945.) Possibly the date of the fall might be determined by astronomical calculation, since Humáyún had gone up to the terrace to "observe the rising of Venus, which planet was expected to make its appearance that evening." (Abul Fazl, Price, IV, 945) Trs.

Kanauj, within a year's space and under identical circumstances, be defeated a second time by Sher Sháh. To his incorrigible brothers, above all, he was too confiding and too assuasive; he could and should much earlier, have made them as powerless for ill as his amirs forced him later to do. That in spite of his careless levity, he was unskilful diplomatist is shown by the feigned inclination to Shi'ah doctrine which first gained him the aid of Persia, as well as by the adroitness with which he subsequently freed himself from the inconvenience of the alliance. Blended with the faults and deficiencies which Humáyún displayed both as a ruler and as a general, he possessed good and elevated qualities. In battle, his courage was dauntless and, as a victor, he never stained his glory by needless barbarity, although he lived in an age when men were blunted to the sufferings of others and habituated to regard human life with cold indifference. He has been reproached with perversion to Shí'ah doctrine during his sojourn in Persia, but he was really an ardent and pious Sunní of the Hanafi sect, although his amiable and accommodating nature forbade his religious zeal to rise to the impassioned heights of fanaticism. Noteworthy in Humáyún's character was the persistent elasticity with which after each defeat he rose to renewed effort and, undeterred by obstacles, pursued the great object of his life-the preservation and confirmation of his inheritance in the Chagátáï sovereignty over India. Looking to this one predominant characteristic, one feels disposed to pass by indulgently much which was less lofty, many faults and many weaknesses, for it is undeniable that in such persistency inheres a certain grandeur.

CHAPTER II.

BAIRÁM KHÁN.

PRINCE AKBAR, a boy of a little more than 13 years of age, was, at the time of his father's death, engaged in an expedition in the Panjáb, against Sikandar Khán Súr. The mournful news reached him at Kalánúr and created no small perturbation in his camp but the pressing duty of giving a new ruler to Hindústán left little leisure for lamentation. There could be no doubt about the succession for Humáyún had designated Akbar his heir.* On 14th or 15th February, 1556, after the lapse of a few days consecrated to the rites of mourning, the ceremonies of the accession were observed. In Dihlí, Tardí Beg who had distinguished himself during the re-conquest of India and who had received Mewát in fief, caused the khutbah to be read in the name of Akbar and despatched to him the royal insignia by the hands of Mírzá Abul Qásim, the son of Prince Kámrán.

2nd or 3rd Rabí' II.

As from time immemorial, such usages have not changed materially in the East, it may be permitted to sketch the details of the ceremony of the royal investiture. Surrounded by his grandees, the new ruler takes his stand upon a daïs at the upper end of the red audience tent and in front of a pile of five cushions which, in Mongol fashion, are covered with a goat-skin and which, with this, form the royal seat. Over his head are held the chaunrís and the túghs or yak

* Ante 66.

tails and also the royal umbrella. Then he is girt with the sword of the kingdom; the kingly agrafe, fitted with a crane's feather, is fastened into his turban and he mounts the throne where, sitting, he receives the homage of his nobles and other subjects. One offers him the hilt of his sword as a sign that body and life are at his service; another, in token of fealty, brings gold coins on a silken or brocaded cloth; while a third presents choice fruits to testify that he considers his lands and possessions as belonging to his new lord. During these proceedings within the tent, a great silver kettledrum, the royal naqára, assuredly sounded outside and assuredly too rose from many voices the old Moslim cry of battle and victory, " Alláhu-Akbar," although it had not then acquired the special signification attributed to it in Akbar's later years.* Simultaneously with these ceremonies, was issued the command that coins should be stamped and the khutbah read in Akbar's name.

Akbar was now Emperor of Hindústán but still too young to be competent to handle the reins of government. To Bairám Khán, the first counsellor of the prince, it fell naturally to become the guardian of the emperor. As befitted his rank and position, he must have been the first to take the oath of fidelity, swearing by the head of the dead Humáyún and by that of his own son; he became Khán-khánán, † and

* "God is great," and, in reference to Akbar, "Akbar is God."

† Khán-khánán—in full, Khán-i-khánán (lord of lords)—was the earliest and after the royal, the highest title in the Mughul kingdom and, as it would appear, was bestowed without being associated with any special official duties. It was conferred upon one person only, usually the first minister, occasionally however upon the commander-in-chief or a distinguished governor, and appears therefore to have connoted rank rather than power and office. Blochmann in his trs. of the Aín-i-Akbarí mentions the title and its insignia

moreover received the title of Khán-bábá (i. e., LordFather), in public recognition of his regency. In this last office he obtained a renewed opportunity of manifesting his capacity; while, under his guidance, Akbar was enabled to gain experience and knowledge. Both ward and guardian were soon to be put to the proof.

Shortly after the accession, 'Adalí Sháh's all-powerful favourite and general, Hemú, had routed Tardí Beg, the governor of Dihlí, possessed himself of the ancient capital and entered it as king, under the capricious title of Rájah Vikramájít.* Hemú was a man of no ordinary character, although his origin was obscure and his demeanour that of a veritable parvenu. Muhammadan writers, regarding him as a low-born Hindú, have uniformly represented him in an unfavourable light. His adroit and ingratiating manner won for him not only the favour but also the confidence of his Afghán masters; from his miserable rag-shop he rapidly raised himself to the influential position of bázár-overseer; he was employed with equal success in military affairs and in politics, until at length, in spite of differences of birth and creed, he became 'Adalí Shah's right-hand and trusted confidant. For him, Hemú won battles, conquered provinces and provided the necessary men and money for every new undertaking. When he had repeatedly defeated, had expelled or killed the great Afghán chiefs of Bengal who seized these days of disturbance to attain indepen

but without further details. Probably these resembled the insignia of the Turkish general Vizier. In the assemblage of amirs, i.e., the dignitaries of the imperial court, the Khán-khánán as such and whatever his office took precedence of all other nobles, immediately after the royal princes.

* Elliot V, 252.