The death of the sister of Rájá Mán Singh, who was the chief favourite in the harem of the Prince Sultán Salím, occurred at this time. This lady was ever ambitious of an ascendency over the other inmates of the harem, and grew violent at the slightest opposition to her will. Having one day had a quarrel with one of her rivals, she took the opportunity of the Prince's absence at a hunting party, to swallow a large quantity of opium; preferring, in her fury, the draught of deadly poison to the sweet waters of life. She expired before the Prince, who was recalled from his excursion by the news of her illness, could arrive, and he remained for some days absorbed in grief for her loss.
It now became necessary to despatch to the Court of Sultán Dániyál Shaikh Abú-l Khair, brother of Abú-l Fazl, and equally devoted with that chief to the service of the Emperor, to endeavour by any means to bring the young Prince to Court, with the view there to force him to abstain from the ruinous course of inebriety which had now reduced him to the most debilitated condition.
Reports arrived that the practice of indulgence in wine drinking, and of the excessive use of opium, had affected the health of the Prince Royal, Sultán Salím, and had made his temper so irritable and tyrannical, that the slightest offences were visited with the severest punishments, that pardon was never thought of, and that his adherents were struck dumb with terror. His Majesty, aware that a word of counsel spoken in season, would avail more than a thousand at a distance, * * determined to proceed to Allahábád, to attempt the reformation of the Prince.
[The progress of the Emperor to Allahábád] was arrested by the accounts which he received of the dangerous illness of his august mother, and his affectionate heart was overwhelmed with grief at her distressing state. * * On the 20th Shahryúr she departed, leaving the world in grief. Akbar clad himself in the deepest mourning, shaved his head and beard, and avoided all ornament in his apparel. Her body was conveyed to Dehlí. His Majesty himself placed his shoulder under the bier, and helped to bear it for several paces, and the same office was performed by the chief amírs of the State. Her remains were interred near to those of her illustrious husband.
The abode of Bar Singh Deo, the murderer of Abú-l Fazl, had been several times attacked and plundered, but the culprit himself had still escaped the vengeful pursuit of Shaikh 'Abdu-r Rahmán. Orders were now given for the reinforcement of that officer with as many of the Imperial troops as he might select as worthy, from their valour and conduct, to be partners in the work of retribution. Rájá Bikramájít was also associated with him.