The Emperor Akbur, having received advice of the death of Abdoolla Khan Oozbuk, who had long threatened an invasion from the north, now returned from Lahore to Agra, where hearing of Khan Khanan's success, he sent him an honorary dress and a fine horse, as marks of his favour. The private animosity that had long subsisted be­tween the Prince Moorad and Khan Khanan, and which was much inflamed by Sadik Mahomed Khan, at this time rose to a dangerous height. The King, therefore, conceiving it imprudent to leave them any longer together, despatched Syud Yoosoof Khan Mushedy and Sheikh Abool Fuzl,

A. H. 1006.
A. D. 1597.

in the year 1006, to remain with the Prince. Khan Khanan was recalled to the presence; and though the whole misunderstanding originated in the Prince's froward and jealous disposition, yet the King's resentment fell upon Khan Khanan, and that great man remained for some time in disgrace.

Syud Yoosoof Mushedy and Abool Fuzl shortly after reduced the forts of Narnala, Gavul, * Kehrla, and other forts in the province of Berar. At this time the Prince Moorad Mirza, falling dangerously

Shuval,
A. H. 1007.
May,
A. D. 1599.

ill, died in the month of Shuval, 1007, and was buried at Shapoor. The corpse was afterwards removed to Agra, and laid by the side of Hoomayoon, the Prince's grandfather. The King's grief for the death of his son increased his desire of con­quering the Deccan, as a means of diverting his mind. In the mean time, the nobles of the Nizam Shahy dominions gained some slight advantages over the Moguls. They defeated Sheer Khwaja, who occupied Beer, and besieged him in the fort; while Syud Yoosoof Khan and Sheikh Abool Fuzl considered their force so inferior in numbers, that they durst not venture to attack the Deccanies.

Akbur relenting in his severity towards Khan Khanan, restored him to favour, and asked his daughter, Jany Begum, in marriage for his son, Daniel Mirza. Khan Khanan was now despatched to the Deccan with that Prince, accompanied by a well-appointed army, with orders to occupy all the

A. H. 1008.
A. D. 1599.

Nizam Shahy territory. Akbur also, in the year 1008, marched in person to the south, leaving his dominions in the north under charge of the Prince Royal, Mahomed Sulim Mirza. Meanwhile, Daniel Mirza and Khan Khanan entered the Deccan. Meeran Bahadur Khan, the son of Raja Ally Khan, ruler of Kan-deish, unlike his father, assumed a hostile position in Aseer, after the Mogul army had gone to the south. The Prince Daniel deemed it prudent, therefore, to halt on the banks of the Godavery, near Peitun, in order to conciliate him. But Akbur having reached Mando directed Daniel Mirza to proceed to Ahmudnuggur, as he himself intended to besiege Aseer.

Daniel Mirza and Khan Khanan accordingly marched with about thirty thousand horse towards Ahmudnuggur. Nehung Khan Hubshy and other officers of the Deccan flying before them, left the Moguls at liberty to advance without mo­lestation. Akbur failed in inducing Meeran Ba­hadur Khan to submit to his authority. He ac­cordingly proceeded to Boorhanpoor, and directed one of his generals to besiege Aseer, which lay only six coss from that place. After the siege had continued a considerable time, the air, on account of the number of troops cooped up in the fort, became very unhealthy. This occasioned a pestilence, which swept off several of the garrison; and although Meeran Bahadur Khan had still sufficient men for the defence of Aseer, as well as a large magazine of warlike stores and pro­visions, he began to despair. At this time, also, Ahmudnuggur fell, through the exertions of Khwaja Abool Hussun Toormoozy, as we shall soon have occasion to relate. In the beginning of the year

A. H. 1009.
A. D. 1600.

1009, Meeran Bahadur Khan, losing all courage, resigned the strong for­tress of Aseer into the hands of Ak-bur, and yielded up treasures and stores which had been accumulating therein for many ages. The wealth of Ahmudnuggur was also brought to Boorhanpoor. Ibrahim Adil Shah of Beejapoor sent an ambassador to conciliate Akbur, and con­sented to give his daughter in marriage to his son, the Prince Daniel Mirza. A Mogul noble, named Meer Jumal-ood-Deen Hoossein Anjoo, was ac­cordingly despatched with suitable offerings, to escort the bride from Beejapoor. Aseer, Boorhan-poor, Ahmudnuggur, and Berar, were now con­solidated into one province, the government of which was conferred on Daniel Mirza, under the manage­ment of Khan Khanan. The King, after these transactions, having returned in triumph to the

A. H. 1011.
A. D. 1602.

city of Agra, in the year 1011, assumed by proclamation the title of Emperor of the Deccan, in addition to his other royal titles. In the course of the same year, Sheikh Abool Fuzl was recalled from the Deccan; and that learned man was unfortunately attacked and cut off in the district of Nurwur, by banditti near Orcha.

Suffur,
A. H. 1013.
June,
A. D. 1604. In the month of Suffur, 1013 of the Hijra, Meer Jumal-ood-Deen Hoossein, who had been deputed to Beejapoor, re­turned with the royal bride and the stipulated dowry. He delivered the young Sooltana to Daniel upon the banks of the Godavery, near Peitun, * where the nuptials were celebrated with great magnificence; after which, Meer Jumal-ood-Deen Hoossein proceeded to join the King at Agra.

Zehuj 1.
A. H. 1013.
April 8.
A. D. 1605. On the 1st of Zehuj, of the year 1013, the Prince Daniel died, in the city of Boorhanpoor, owing to excess of drinking. His death, and the circum-cumstances connected with it, so much affected the King, who was in a declining state of health,

Jumad-oos-
Sany 13.
A. H. 1014.
Oct. 13.
A. D. 1605.

that he every day became worse, till, on the 13th of Jumad-oos-Sany, in the year 1014, he died, after a reign of fifty-one years and some months. Eter­nity belongeth only to that King to whom our worship is due. The words

“The death of King Akbur,”

contain the numeral letters which comprise the date of his death.

Although Akbur was by no means an accom­plished scholar, he sometimes wrote poetry, and was well read in history. He also delighted in Indian fables. He caused the fables of Meer Humza, consisting of three hundred and sixty stories, to be written in a beautiful hand, and appropriate pictures were affixed to each story. He established posts throughout his dominions, having two horses and a set of footmen stationed at every five coss. The Indians call this establish­ment “Dak Chowky.” They are employed to convey letters on ordinary business, or expresses to and from court. The footmen will travel fifty coss within the twenty-four hours; so that a letter comes from Agra to Ahmudabad in five days; * and when especial messengers are required to go quickly, they avail themselves of the post-horses to proceed in the same way. Four thousand run­ners were in permanent pay, some of whom, on ex­traordinary occasions (where there were no posts), have performed a journey of seven hundred coss in ten days.† * Akbur had never more than six thousand elephants at one time, nor had he ever less than five thousand during his whole reign. It seems likely that no King of Dehly ever had so many elephants. His other property has been thus estimated:—

Of allayees (a golden coin), a sum equal to ten crore of rupees, besides one crore's worth of allayees, which he set aside for his private treasury.

Ten maunds, full weight, (800 lb.) of uncoined gold.

Seventy maunds (5600 lb.) of uncoined silver.

Sixty maunds (4800 lb.) of uncoined copper; besides one crore coined into tunkas.

Twelve thousand stable horses.

One thousand camels.

He had, also, nearly one thousand yooz (hunt­ing leopards). It is stated, that although he wished to complete this establishment to one thou­sand he was never able to do so, in consequence of some disease which affected these animals when they exceeded nine hundred.

The author procured this list of property from one furnished to him; but it remains with others to decide on its authenticity.