The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01


ten, the future collection being made on
the basis Of this decennial average. The
number OF minor officia IL employed in col.
lecting the dues was diminished by one-halt
and improper e1actions were severely
The Emperors determination to pu, tho
subdued Hindoos absolutely on level with
the conquering Moslems was naturally
repugnant to Akbars more bigotei fol-
lowers. Behind the reformer they dis
cerne1 a hereto. Nor was IL merely in
his Just and equable treatment Of the Hin.
docs that Akbar showed his broad and opan
mind. There were other influences a.
work upon him beside those OF his Hndoo
wives and friends, and they all made Tor
what the orthodox Moslems would de-
dounce a. lstitudinarian views A King
who was oonstitutionally unable to ses
why a Hindoo should pay more taxes than
q Moslem was also liable TO ike liberalit'.'
In matters of faith. and it is known that
Akbar had been deeply moved by tho
mystical doctrines OF the Persian Sufs re-
vealed to him by the brothers Faizi. Event
ually, Akbar's mind became unsettled a,
regards religion. In the later years of his
life he was essentially eclectic, and Jaw
good In almost every form Of worship
No one creed, he thought could hold the
master key OF the infinite. In Abul-Fazl's
words quoted In the book before us:
20 God. In every temple see those who Sc, thee.
and in every tongue that is spoken thou arr
polytheism and Islam srope after thee
Be il mosque, men murmar holy prayer or church.
the bells ring. for love OF thee.
Awhile frequent the Christian clois'er. anon tho
Pu, thee only seek from fame to fame
whereof neither stands behind the screen OF
But he dust OF the rose petal belongs TO the hear
Of the perfume seller"
While Akbar was busy In enlar ging ths
boundaries OF faith, his material empire
had not stood still The conquest of Gu
jarat and Bengal had brought the empire
to the normal lin is OF Hindostan, Cabll
was pacified and Kashmere annexed in
1887, and In 1894 Kandahar was included
In the empire. Our author thinks that
nature never intended the same ruler to
govern both sides OF the Vindhya Noun
tains, 30 dissimilar are the peoples and the
conquer the Deccan had been the anbi-
ton OF every great King 10 Delhi, and in
1899 Akbar undertook the task. Within
six months the stronghold OF Ahmad-
magyar had fallen and Asirgarh. the strong
est fortress In Khandesh, opened Its gate
in 1900. Five years latee died the mobiles
King that ever ruled in India.
Akbar's only surviving son and success
sor, Salim, entitled Jahangir, or World
Grasper,' had in youth been dissoluts
and violent, but under, the influence OF
his beautiful and talented wife, Nur-Jahan,
the .Lieht OF the World, his character had
been elevated and mellowed. BY day he
became the picture OF temperance; nay, ne
carried his daylight sobriety 50 far a. 70
publish an edict against intemperanoe, and
he emulated hie contemporary, James J. OF
England, by writing Persian counterblast
against tobacco. In spite OF the vices
which bis fine constitution supported with
little apparent injury almost TO his six-
tieth year. he was no fool. He showed
his good sense by adhering to the policy
Of tolsrauon inauguratsd by his fatheI.
He professed himself Moslem, indeed.
and put back on the coinage the Moham-
medan formulas OF faith. but he permitted
no persecution for heresy. welcomed the
Jesuit Father Corsi TO his Court, encour-
aged artists to sdorn the imperial palaces
saints, and had two OF his nephews bap-
tized. He even had q chain and bell at
taohsd to his room at the palace, 80 that
all who would appeal to him could ring
him UP without running the gsntlet OF
the ofhcials. 1t is not recorded. howevsIi
n, that 81: :ny one was hardy enough to pull
We hsve an account Of the famous En-
press Nur -,Jahan from Pietro della Vale,
who visited parts Of ne Mogul Empire IN
ie7a. she was Dor, N India. he write.
wife In India to q Persian Captain who
served the Mosul but. after her husbands
death, . fair opportunity being offered.
a. IL falls out many times TO some handsome
young widows, know not how. Shah
benm IJahangirl had notice OF her and
became in love with her. Al length he
determined to receive her for his lawful
wife above all the rest. And a. such she
commands and governs at this day IN the
Kings harem with supreme authority,
having cunningly removed out OF tae
some ways. all the other women who might
give her any Jealousy. and having also IN
the Court made many alterations BY de.
posing and displaoing almost all the Old
Captains and officers, and by advancing 70
lures, and, particularly. those Of her blood
and alliance. This Queen e called At III,
DAY MUIR Mahal, which signifies Light OF The
Palace It 10 admitted by the continuer
Of Jahangir's memoirs that -Nur-Jahsn
won golden opinion. ms, from IN pssops ..s 81;
her support She was an Asylum for al
su1srers, and helpless girls were married
at the sxpenss Of hc private pure. nns
must have portionsd above i've hundred
Eiris In her lifetime, and thOpsands vus
sr;:ssSl aGr n ass :.sose.Ssa .s ss.
interval by. his second son, KhuIyyn. wns
asoonded the throne - ShAhJahan N
January. ia3s. The son Of . hajput pm.
c0oo, be had more Indian than 0ogl pkCo
In hts veins. He Was the most populAf
Of al the GREAT Aoguls among tbs MosiamAs
though not specially the idol Of the Hindcos.
A perfectly orthodox Moslem he was, but
the lest man 10 dream OF letting rsugioa
override statosmanAhip. His reign which
lasted thirty years. vas one OF sxtIAordinaIy
prosperity. 1t might be inferred from his
expensive tastss that the taxpayen were
subjected 10 severe pressure. and u OCT.
tain that tbs land tar was made 70 yssla
4 Rood DIAL mons In his reign than 10 ~
falhsr's- Nevertheless, y Hlndoo contem
porary almost outdoss the Aosiem aho
Chrsfian suIogist In sxtoliing the equiv
Of ths Government. tbs wise and gsisfous
t~AtInsut Of the culuvators, the proply
81 the Law courts and the honesty 81 De
oxohsQuer. the accounts OF which "~s
audited By the sovereign himse1
il Vas 10 Shah -JahAn's essr-brlo'@
wife, ArJupAnd bAnu. known ~ Nun.
tAs-l- hAkall. .ths sleot u the Pc.
he mothsg u his fourtssn children' ,hs'
ti1s ssquisits moauinsat, the IL, 81 Afs'
sae ersc4eA The Arotiitsct of dis sdihos'
winch les bssn called = dream 10 m.iS
sas 0sSonlmo Hsrronso, Nens,IAh
fs1a shyoh sopunss for i,s diaensnor fiou
otlaar hoeul verAs. whatsys To k.oi.s'
Of tbs ia end Pearl hosavs' o. $50
tAsy ssss ssAlpssd 10y the sp.shda W
~. ..is .hlsa the f.Islnosl 81 hnfus