Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/157

 Chap. VF.) REIGN OF AKHER. 12.",

after, liaviiig coine to himself, he |)hicke(l out the arrfivv, which is said to have .v. iscio. brought the eye out along with it; and in the midst of this agony had the energy and presence of mind to attem}>t his escape by breaking through the ueroigm enemy's line. He deserved to succeed, but unhappily failed, and was taken aiiiiidoo. prisoner. On being brought back, Behram Khan lu-ged Akber to gain the envied title of Ohazy, or Champion of the Faith, by killing him with his own hand. He had too much spirit to do the executioner's office. It would have been pleasing to add that he went a step farther, and magnanimously interpose(i his sovereign authority to save the Hindoo's life, irnfoitunately, he left liim to the will of Behram Khan, who cut off" his head at a stroke.

Innnediately after the victory Akber marched upon Delhi, and entered it ■'^^^^

re-enter.

without opjjosition. He had not remained hmg when his presence was impera- i>eiiii. tively recpiired in the Punjab. Sikundur Shah, after defeating (me of his U'enerals, and oblio-ino- jum to take refuo-e in Lahore, had advanced to Kalanoi-e. On Akber's approach he retired to Mankote, and shut himself up in it. The siege wa,s immediately commenced, and liad lasted six months, when Sikundur Shah, who had been severely wounded, offered to ca})itulate. The tei'ms bomid liim to evacuate the fort, and give his son as an ho.stage for his future behaviour. Akber was happy to be thus rid of his most formidable opponent in India

Behram Khan, instead of gradually retiring from power sis his sovereign Anogimce became more capable of exercising it, began to presume more than ever on his services; and, as if Akber's consent had not been worth the asking, proceeded of his own accord to i)ass sentence of death and banishment on individuals whom he regarded fus his private enemies. One of tiie persons whom he banished was Molla Peer Mahomcul, the king's own preceptor; and, as if to make the act more galling, lie at once tilled ui) the office which he had thus rendered vacant by appointing another })rece[>tor in his stead. Akber was gTeatly incensed, ami immediately prepai'ed to adopt a mejwure which it is probable he had long- meditated.

Having gone on a hunting party in the beginning (tf 1560, he received, or no is

ilisiiiissoO

])reten<led to have received, a message from Delhi that his mother was extremely jui.irebeu. ill, and wished to see him. Immediately cu ai riving he issued a prochunatiou, announciiiiT that lie had taken the government into his own hands, and that in future no orders Init those issued liy his authority weiv to be oluyed. Hehi'am at once saw what was intended, and endeavoured to avert his downfall, by sending two of his principal friends to make his submis.sion in the humblest terms. Akber refused to see them, and shortly after imprisoned them. The disgraced minister soon found how little he could trust to those who ha<l pro- fited most by his prosperity, and .saw himself rapidly deserted. Various schemes passed through his mind. At one time he thought of proceeding to Malwah and setting up an independent sovereignty; at another, of making this experiment in Bengal, where it might be eas}- to expel the Afghans. The prospect, in either