Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/131

MOGHULS. years after he had attained his majority, the reforms, which emanated entirely from himself", were either securely established, or in sure progress. He was described by English gentlemen who were at his court, as "aflable and majestical, merciful and severe; skilful in mechanical arts, of sparing diet, and sleeping but three hours a-day." Such was the Emperor Akbur; by far the noblest, as he was the most intelligent and glorious of his family.

To him succeeded his son Selim, who took the proud title of Jehangeer, or conqueror of the world; and for twenty-two years the splendour of the empire continued undiminished. The conduct of Jehangeer was not, however, formed on the liberal foundation of his father; and in some respects there were relapses into the customs of the old regime. Jehangeer was, however, a magnificent monarch, but not a statesman, and nothing of an original character marks the prosperous continuance of his reign. His court, however, was the resort of men of all creeds and races, and Jehangeer himself was believed to have had a stronger leaning to Christianity than even his father.

His successor, Shah Jehan, fully maintained, if he did not increase, the splendour of the empire and its unity. It is even probable that the magnificence of his court exceeded that of Jehangeer, as well as the vigour of his character. In most details of administration, the institutes of Akbur were still the guides of the executive officers, and the efficiency of then conduct nowhere appears doubtful. Although his expenditure in public works, in gorgeous expeditions to Cashmere, and in the mamtenance of the court, was greater than that of even his father.

Shah Jehan left in his treasmy twenty-four millions sterling, besides a vast treasure in jewels and precious metals—a fact which speaks well for the fiscal administration. During his reign the imperial troops had gamed many advantages over the independent kings of the Deccan; and it was in the events of the next reign, that of Aurungzeeb, that the lamentable results of that policy became apparent. Shah Jehan reigned thirty years, and was deposed by his son Amamgzeeb in June, 1658. He lived some years afterwards, but had retired into strict privacy. The benefits of the reign of Shah Jehan have been little exaggerated by contemporary historians. The accounts of Tavernier, the diamond merchant, also, who travelled through the country, attest the good order, prosperity, and content that everywhere prevailed. The city of Delhi had been built anew, and the noble mausoleum at Agra completed. Six and a-half millions had been spent on the peacock throne, and great numbers of other public works, palaces, aqueducts, caravansaries, and the like, executed ; yet, as has been already mentioned, he left twenty-four millions sterling in cash in his treasury. The events of the reign of Aurungzeeb were very chequered. After his brothers, who contested his succession, had been disposed of, and his reign had fairly begun, he was drawn gradually into the Deccan, as well to carry out his