throughout his illustrious reign it was ever one of the greatest objects of his sound policy and unprejudiced humanity to give to Hindû, equally with Mussulman, a close and common interest in upholding the throne.

In 1573 Akbar was called in to put an end to the dissensions which, for more than forty years, had torn the kingdom of Gujarât in pieces, and by the annexation of its territory gained an important addition to his empire. From 1575 to 1592 the reduction of the rich and fertile provinces of Bahâr, Bengal, and Orissa occupied his attention. But in the midst of these considerable and brilliant conquests he still found time for study, and for the consolidation of the fresh power he continually obtained. He showed himself eminently skilled and methodical in the despatch of business, encouraged every kind of literature, and personally superintended many important literary undertakings, of which the far-famed Ayin Akbarî, or Institutes of Akbar, was the chief. Nor was this all. We find him besides ever anxious to promote not only the increase and tranquillity of his dominions, but also the well-being and improvement, material, intellectual, and moral, of his people—a monarch in every way worthy of comparison with his great European contemporaries.

In 1581 the Moguls occupied Kâbul, and five years afterwards accomplished the conquest of Cashmîr. Then followed, in 1592, the annexation of Sind; while, owing to the dissensions amongst the Persians, Kandahar too came again under Akbar's rule in 1594. Thus when thirty-eight years of his reign had passed, the emperor held undisputed sway, not only over his hereditary dominions beyond the Indus, but also

over the whole of Hindûstân, with the exception of Oudipûr. But not even this extensive empire was sufficient for his constantly increasing ambition. In 1595 his eyes were turned towards the Dakhan, and a series of attempts was commenced to re-establish Mogul supremacy in that country of steep hills and plains and rapid torrents. But, though these attempts continued for six years, all that was gained in the end was the annexation of Kândêsh and of a great part of Berâr, together with the possession of the fort of Ahmednagar and of the surrounding districts. But the victorious career of this Indian Charlemagne was now drawing to a close. The vigorous health began to show signs of the wear and tear of a life of incessant activity, and the keen inquiring mind was darkened with sorrow for the death of a much-loved son. It soon became manifest that recovery was impossible, and the jackals began to quarrel for the prey in the presence of the dying lion. Rousing himself for one last effort, the greatest of Eastern rulers proclaimed his sole surviving son his successor, and then humbly asking forgiveness of his nobles for any offences he might have committed against them, he turned his face to the wall, and murmuring 1605. words of hope and belief, passed "to where beyond these voices there is peace."

October 13,

His death was not so immediate a calamity to the state as might hastily be imagined, for he had built the policy and welfare of his government on something more lasting than his own individual will and personal superintendence. Nothing indeed more surely attests the excellence of Akbar's institutions

than the fact that the empire continued to prosper under its two next rulers. We have already hinted at the general tone of his policy; it was dictated and directed by plain good sense, benevolence, and an intellect at once comprehensive and thoroughly experienced in particulars. Above everything, he desired to treat all his subjects alike, and to abolish every discordant distinction between Hindû and Muhammadan. In revenue matters he introduced reforms, important, not so much for the novelty of the princiciples they involved, as for the painstaking and accuracy with which they adjusted the burdens of taxation, equalising their pressure on the richer classes, and relieving almost entirely the poorest. He laboured, too, continually to reduce the expenses of the collection of the revenue, and to prevent the extortions of government officers; while in the army, though with great difficulty, he managed to introduce a system of obedience, economy, and efficiency, which stood him and his successors in good stead, and by paying the soldiers in cash instead of by assignments of land, kept them constantly dependent on himself. In these reforms he was ably assisted by the great finance minister and military leader, Râja Todar Mal, while the enlightened counsel which he received from the renowned and admirable Âb-ul-Fazl, the author of the Ayîn Akbarf, and his brother Feizî, not only strengthened his endeavours, but, no doubt, often prompted their direction. The empire in this reign was divided into eighteen provinces or Sûbâhs each under a Sûbâhdâr or viceroy, whose deputies, having the charge of districts, were called Nuwâbs (=deputies), corrupted by the English into Nabobs. These

eighteen sûbâhs varied continually, it is true; but the following list will, we think, give a fairly accurate idea of them :-Kâbul, Lâhôr, Multân, Delhi, Agra, Oudh, Allâhâbâd, Âjmîr, Gujarât, Malwâ, Bahâr, Bengal, Kândêsh, Berâr, Ahmednagar, Orissa, Cashmîr, and Sind.

Selîm, taking the pompous title of Jehângîr, or conqueror of the world, succeeded his father. His reign contains little of interest for us from Jehangir, our present point of view, except the em- 1605-1627. bassy of Sir Thomas Roe and the progress of Mogul supremacy in the Dakhan. It was a reign of domestic trouble and domestic crime. At its opening one son revolts; and although on the failure of his attempt, his life is spared, he is never forgiven, and dies in captivity, while his followers are executed by hundreds with barbarous cruelty. At its close another son, Khurram or Shah Jehân, is goaded into rebellion by the evident design of supplanting him in favour of a younger brother. Nor was a quarrel between the Empress Nûr Jehân and the great general Muhâbet wanting to complete this scene of turmoil and distress. The emperor himself, despite his intemperance and violence, is described as remarkable for a sincere love of justice, and a desire to remedy the evils which existed in the state. But his cruelty to his son Khûsrû, his infamous murder of Âb-ul-Fazl, and the crime, like the crime of David, by which he obtained his empress, "The Light of the World," are blots too dark to be hidden by the light of his other endeaIt was between the years 1615 and Sir T. Roe, 1618 that Sir Thomas Roe sojourned at the 1615-1618. Mogul court, as ambassador from James I., a king

vours.

not at all unlike his Eastern contemporary. Sir Thomas confesses himself dazzled by the splendour that surrounded him, and alternately amused and disgusted with many of the proceedings he witnessed. His narrative is extremely interesting. But his endeavours to gain permanent advantages for the English traders were, as we have said before, altogether unavailing; heavy bribes being often necessary to obtain a hearing or a concession, and nearly as often entirely vain. Before very long he became quite convinced that the only course open to our merchants was to make the best terms they could with the local authorities.

After completing the reduction and conciliation of Râjpûtâna, Shâh Jehân the future emperor turned his attention to the affairs of the Dakhan, where after the loss of Ahmednagar in 1599 Malik Ambar, an Abyssinian noble of splendid abilities, had founded a new capital Khirki (changed afterwards by Aurungzib to Aurungâbâd), and there held his ground against the Moguls. For some time the prince made great progress, and gained reputation and influence by his successful conduct of the war. But his rebellion against his father in 1621, and his endeavour to make use of his power in the Dakhan proving unsuccessful, the fruits of his labours in that quarter were entirely forfeited, and the chaotic state of that unhappy district rendered still worse.

In 1627 Jehângîr died on his way from Cashmir to Lâhôr, his life having become a misery to him through sickness and domestic troubles. In the same year was born Sivajî, the man destined to create a