The Akbarī Generations 58.3

58.3

Mirza Sulaiman, after staying a few days at Lahore, started for Fathpur. On reaching Mathura, twenty kos from Fathpur, the Emperor sent * * several nobles to meet him, and to arrange for his meeting the Emperor on the 15th Rajab, 983. All the nobles and officers were sent out to the distance of five kos from Fathpúr to receive him. And when intelligence of his having left this stage was brought, the Emperor himself went out on horseback to meet him. Five thousand elephants, with housings of velvet and brocade, with gold and silver chains, and with white and black fringes on their necks and trunks, were drawn up in lines on each side of the road to the distance of five kos from Fathpúr. Between each two elephants there was a cart (ardba), the chítas in which had collars studded with gold and housings of fine cloth; also two bullock-carts, which had animals that wore gold-embroidered headstalls.