The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
THE TOMEy or AkBARS COURT
A Glimpse OF One OF tho Most Beautiful
md Extensive of Harems.

NnU EhtthtiNs ot
The very last place where one would expect
to find domestic peace and equity would be in
u harem. that dim and dreadful prison
house OF Eastern womanhood. Icnana life has
been harrowingly described from every pulpit
in Christen dom. yet the mystery shrouding its
existence stimulates. in the average listener.
| n desire to know still more concerning II.
glimpse OF Akbars harem may be interesting
1t was the most extensive. rs well as the best
appointed in Asia. and. indeed. some author
tiles place II foremost at all times. 1t con-
tanned 5000 inmates and the premises were 30
extensive as TO afford separate room for each
individual. exclusive Oft general apartments
terraces. Ii was remarkably beautiful In con-
soonest piles in Taicpur; sikri, that dream Of
Oriental magniilcence which Akbar solidfed
Abul-iazl. the Persian scholar and counsellor
OF Ak bar, states that proper employment was
and as ARbar '" caused S part OF his priceless
library to be placed at their command and these
books were obviously designed for the eI-
mates were familiar with several languages.
for the books were written In Persian. Sanscrit
The harem. writes Abul.fazl. was divided
into sections called each
turn, was subservient to superior
always woman ns,, Of great moral or, o sT;
ruling head OF the harcm. but a conhdant Of
| the Emperor and his ''dewans" or ministers.
The harem regulations Mere carried out With II
order order no open auarrels or discord., Each in.
mate had the prIyIege Of oringing her GREY y,
punish the wrong doer Each OF the 1900
O rasR 'ofrSs and dsaSht.!s
mobiles received from l.O2S TO 1910 rupees:
n"d and ss'sf
| Of advancement conditional on good be-
hyCr f Sc Ths s.y ,s1 @ aTsS
known their wants. TO The Inferior treasurer,
usua lily a eunuch. who made a MEMORANDUM OF
trsasursr Who led the b and sent back
the desired amount, always struck for the sole
therefore not valid i1r other uses; lite value
tailed exactly with the currency OF the state.
usually extended in Jewels and embroidered
| stuffs, woman could. II she chose set aside
in ' addtion to % the regular stipend. L wa:
Akbar's custom to make quarterly presents Of
entire costumes 70 all tho members Of his no no:
OF the finest material aud Workmanship pro:
durable, for Akbar was extravaeantly fond OF
both h from from" without itSt and within 81 sGaimIS
Of theiroyai apartments then BY eunnchs I'm:
mediately outside were Ralppt soldiery. aud
Win eSs or
| When the begun, or wife OF prince. or any
bs 9 s " hs pay s ss
Ssrm ,hs Sa';S e. q ns o, H
WITH whrR allowed ID her ' tho ireedom oi '' the
FaTsm for sirnlaicd, length Of time
cinlly in the case 81 princess, or
s "vR'S %SE sS%e the sSSssss
of Asia from tho time OF Manu- IN 1.-THE pres
ent h TN the
com narrative seclusion; They we're privileged to
hnrcm inmates or, not. as they chose. and they
were also allowed TO rido out. always under
All women were admitted to tho prayer house
atoertnin hourSand to the palace Laiy. shortly
tend musical cntertainments in tho PALACE.
Special days were set apart for their
we're soso pTh ThSn
Ilni shed musician: he COMPOSED no less than
two hundred modes all Of which tho women
ratcy., They kent thcmscly ives correctly In
formed Of state affairs and many Princess
~ her new capacity n the VIII" ot a Rama. so
that though ienln4sy guarded from sight an 500
tremendous power Tor good orcsp Xkbar owed
his eRrly training 70 soEncious and most nd
I" wm h. T" hs horc %ven ns
received in turn the counsel OF wisdom. tom :
nered with ripe experience
between women Of Mogul families and Rajput
princes OF outlying provinces. hv which he sue.
cseded I'm strcnCthcnihg the ruling power nj
the state. The Rnjnnt men were model soldiers
fearless. upright. honorable: the princpssrs
courr beauties. proud, indcpcndent. high-srr.
tied women, who made exemplary wives foi
MS mobiles. His Mnjesty's ideas of marriage
were centuries In advance of the times; he dis.
approved Of marriage before puberty
considered the consent OF both bride
nhd groom Of equal Importance with the
parents; forbade eXtortionate marriage
| 1ortlons, and strenuorsly opposed poyGamy
/ and marrying Of near of kun. Neither would
lac permit tho pairing. OF youth with old age
esnccihlly ~ the case Of Il Young man and old
woman. Widows were allowed To remarry
and Sati-widnw burning was abolished
Although the outward forms OF alliance,
were arranged 10y court oniclals, the actna
the harem. for II Is declared that Akbar never
forced an unwilling marriage. but respected
the reasonable wishes OF all his subjects alike
both men and women,