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CHAPTER V.

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE; I.

Section 1: Rise of the Mughal Empire.-Section 2: Equilibrium of the Mughal Empire.-Section 3: Early European settlers and travellers in India.

SECTION 1. The weak points of Mughal administration were noted by a very able contemporary. This was a Pathán, or native Muslim, named Farid Khán, descended from the noble Afghán tribe of "Sur." He had entered the suite of Bábar, and was in his camp before Chandairi, but soon left the service dissatisfied with the levity of the adventurers, and impressed with their incompetence for the due administration of a vast and varied Empire :

"If fortune favour me," he said, "I can drive these Mughals back out of Hindustan ; they are not our superiors in war, but we have let slip the power that we had by reason of our dissensions. Since I have been among the Mughals I have observed their conduct and found them lacking in order and discipline; while those who profess to lead them, in the pride of birth and rank, neglect the duty of supervision, and leave everything to officials in whom they blindly trust. These subordinates act corruptly in every case they are led by lust of gain, and make no distinction between soldier and civilian, foe or friend."

For the present, indeed, Humaiun succeeded in peace; but the peace was of short duration. During the first few years of his reign he was engaged in campaigns against the minor Sultan of Malwa and Gujarát, which he conducted without