Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/158

 I2t

HISTOIIY OF INDIA.

[Book I.

Behram'i i'el)eIU(ii fails.

A.D. 1500. case, did not scciri very hopcfiil ; and at last, as if Ik; had abandoned all treaw^n- altle designs, he set out for Gujerat with tiie avowed intention of taking shipping- and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Having halted at Nagore, in the hope that the kings i-esentment might be withdrawn, he was deeply mortified on receiving a message which dismissed him from office, and ordered him to continue his pilgrimage without delay. The message is said to have been in the following terms: — "Till now our mind haa Ijeen taken up with our education and the amusements of youth, and it was our royal will that you should regulate the affairs of our empire. But it being our intenti(jn henceforward to govern our people by our own judgment, let our wellwisher withdraw from aU worldly concerns ; and, retiring to Mecca, far removed from the toils of public life, spend the rest of his days in prayer."

It seems that Behram Khan had been travelling with all the insignia of office ; for, on receiving this message, he retiuTied his state elephants, banners, and drums, and set out, shorn of his public honours, for Gujerat. Suddenly a new thought seemed to have struck him, for, on arriving at Bicanere, he stopped short and retraced his steps to Nagore. Here he began to collect troops, and gave such decided evidence of treasonable intentions, that Akber sent a Vjody of troops against him. As they approached he retired into the Punjab, and openly raised the standard of revolt. He even fought one battle, but lost it, and retired into the mountains of Sewalik. Here the hopelessneas of Ms cause, and perhaps also remorse for having engaged in it, combined in determining him to thi'ow himself on Akbers mercy. He was at once forgiven ; and some of the leading officers of the court were sent to receive him, and conduct him into the [)resence with every mark of distinction. On entering the court he hung Ms turban round his neck ; and, advancing rapidly, threw himself in tears at the foot of the throne. Akber, giving him Ms hand, caused him to rise, and placed him in his former .station at the head of the nobles. A splendid dress was then given him ; and the king, addressing him, offered him the choice of a place at court, a provincial government, or libei"ty to continue his pilgrimage with an escoi't suitable to his rank. Behram preferred the last, and set out for Mecca with a large retinue and an annual pension of about £5000. After reaching Gujerat, he halted in the suburbs of Puttun, and turned aside to visit a cele- brated spot, called Sahasnak, from the thousand temples in its 'icinity. Having hired a boat and a band of musicians, he spent all mght on the lake in company with his friends. As he was returning in the morning he was acco.sted by an Afglian, who, pretending to embrace him, drew a dagger and pierced him to the lieart It was an act of revenge for the death of his father, who had fallen in battle }»y Behram's sword

Akber soon showed that, in taking the government into his own hand, he had not presumed too much on his own talents. While success almost invariably attended liis arms, his internal measui'es exhibited a model of liberal and

He is l)ai'doued

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