The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-05-02
MOOR MAHAL.
Romantic Career of Former Empress
of India.

of India.
Review In London Times.
The gem of the book is certainly that part
of II which describes Moor Malal and her romantic,
dauser OF AsSsrs or a Tns a ,s
his wife wete usbegs. whose early life had been
passed amid the hardshlps and pers Of Central Asia.
esque description with visit In the winter Of 1890
of the Lord Treasurcr's wife, and daughter tn
s AsS az Pe,nrral we ,,s M Siss
born in the wilderness during her parent journey to
India, was At that ti,,n In the full bloom of giish
toned visit:
a,nsns Ss sSss II ss,ssg So aha
the songs of Bakli rut tile amusement OF the Queen
Noot Aiahal's beauty was not the mere
face beauty of form and color of which tire In
week; 1t was more ethereal attraction. You hardly
knew IN her whether you admired body or spirit. She
had tall figure, cypress waist, walk more free
ana independent than most women-a walk acquired
from her mother and rare among the shuiing steps of
women reared in the harem. Her head was small
with pleasing curves She had small oval face.
with regular features. Her every movement I'm
snr her every look thought She had
finely pencled eyebrows. They were hazel eyes.
large and soft those Of sazelle-eyes that showed
every movement of the soul within, that lighted up
brightly when she was pleased, that had PARKWAY
misty look when she thought, and that flashed and
ki n when when she was angry, which was rare
Moor Maha! was engaged to young Persian, Shere
Afghan, the richest, most accomplished, and most
powerful noble at the Court of Akbar. The prospect
thought, the most ambitious girl; but It did mt
satisfy Moor Niaha She coveted royal iaik and she
so ss he
engagement, bit the Emperor too just to accede
to tho request The girls father was also opposed to
giving his daughter to Prince seim, drunken. de-
bauced. cruel ierocious and given to violent bursts
OF rage. AS to Slere Afghan, little rocked he of the
n nrnl Tn mr.
pose to him that he should break OFF the match. The
marriage accordingly took place when shere Afghan
younger. When on the wedding day Moor Malal was
first seen unveiled by her husband, her
Persian cap. The sooner thou art attired in more
courty and manly attire the better.'' ''Fe upon
thee, child. cried her mother, scandaliaed, what
of her love is sweeter than rasins, answered the
bridegroom CALAMITY. Years passed away and selim
assembled the throne under the title Of Jelangre.
cruel prosecutor I've proved to his successful rival
one occasion he contrived n combat between Shere
Afghan ularined and tiger. The heroic Persian,
though desperately wounded III the struggle, slew the
tiger. On another OCCASION at the instigaon Of the
Emperor, an elephant was driven to crush him as he
sword the destined victim cut of the elephant trunk.
once again forty assassins sent to murder him
In his bedroom: Half of his assailants he disabled,
the remainder fled. To avoid further attempts III,
life, he returned to his vast estates in Bengal Jean-
gire appointed new Governor with express orders t.
Stay Shere Afghan, and this time valor availed not
''shere Afghan was paying friendly visit to the
new Governor and he had but two servants with him.
when he was suddenly attacked. lie killed six mer
with his own hand, the treacherous Governor being
the first man who fell to his ayengng sword. Seeing
| that he must be borne down by numbers he invited
his assaiants severay to single combat but he begged
In vain. Then he turned his face toward the sun, and
taking some dust In his hands for want of water
threw 1t; by way OF aolutisn over his head and stoS.
In different parts before he fell. His enemies hai
scarcely the courage to come near him until they saw
him In the agOnies of death. "
With indecent haste Jehangire Immediately marie,
the widow of his VICTIM still beautiful and attractive
in every respect. With curious Inconsistency, he
| however, refused to see, when she arrived n
| Agra, the woman whom he had ardenty loved an,
| to win whom he had stained his soul with SO foul
| meanly lodged, and never visited by the En-
peror who was even wont to turn away with n shudde
the mere re-. mention Of her This
| caprice. The redeeming feature In his character
cruel and drunken as he was, was an occult love Of
truth and JUSTICE. Tho deserted beauty bore her III
fortune with apparent equanimity. She occupied he
time In designing and causing her slaves to execnt
her artistic and inventive genius '"I mot onl
lswsisy and i painting SIX No a" o"e in H q
Of adjoining herself except In the work OF Moor Naha
and her slaves She also displayed the most perfec
| tact and powers of Cancellation. The consequence
was that she became extremely popular, and tho palnc
rang with ''reports OF her witty sayings. he
sweetness, her amiabty, her extraordinary beauty
her taste, moreover. met the eye Of JehaIgre where
ever he turned. one day, therefore, he resolved
see her. lie disclosed his Intentions to no one and
coming suddenly Into her apartments. was so struc
with her exquisite ovellness, so charmed with he
grace and tact, that second love, like an India
"When he rose to depart, with tears In his eyes, Ii
begged her forgiveness for his long unkisdness an
threw round her neck necklace lie wore, containin
forty pearls, each being valued ut "a, 900. From III
wretched quarters which had been allotted to lei
Moor Msha was removed ENJOY" next day to those Of q
years she ruled the King and the Kingdom. No I'm
portant Offices OF State were given away without b,
without her knowledge. She was given the very M
usual honor of being called shahi, Empress. None
gained new value since u bore the name OF Mo-
Moor Malal' abilities soon rendered her absolute
government In which on all hands women are consid
cred Incapable OF bearing part. Jehangre mol
than gave himself to drink and pleasure fol
he said his wife had wit enough In her little fling,
to rule the whole kingdom without troubling Ii
head about IT,. This was the secret of her power ov,
this sensualist; she was Invaluable to him. Noe
Mahal great builder. by her orders mOsqu,
and serials. gardens and fountains, In many cilie
many Of which still stand
over both Jehanglre and the Empire, She even maj
aged to free herself from the restraints of custom an
e @re IN ns Of
rage. Evil days were, however. In store for heI
Her high-handed government excited dscontent al
at LENGTH trying TO crush M0habit Khan, a gre
| general, OF whose growing influence she was jealou
she nearly lost her husband his crown In despera
oattle between Tue Imperial army ana MOhaDlt KIM
she placed herself In the van and, though wounde,
, empted four quiyers full Of arrows Jobangire wa
however, defeated and Aiolabit extorted from Jehal
gire the condemnation to death Of Moor Mahal. 81
succeeded In obtaining an interview with the Emp
ror who burst Into tears on seeing her, and int
coded for her life with Mohabit. He chivarousiy n
piled, 1.-THE Emperor Of the Moguls should never a,
In vain, ~ and Moor Mahal escaped. Mohabit IN
reason before long to regret his generosity. No
Mahal soon reVstabllshed her power, and the first
she made Of 1t was TO beseech the Emperor to ord
MOhabits execution. ON his refusal She attempt,
private assassination but unsuccessful and so,
after JehangiTe died. Owing to the fact OF h
: daughter being his successors favorite wife, No
l Malal passed the rest of her life unmolested, b
D without influence. She died and buried
Lahore. Thus ended peacefully the stormy and a.
venturous life of Of the most remarkable woln