The Akbarī Generations 7.2

7.2

One day in this year His Majesty went out riding on an elephant called Lakhna, and as he was going along, the animal rushed after another elephant. It so happened that he came to a ditch into which he stumbled, and the Emperor was thrown from his seat on the neck of the animal, but his foot was caught in the rope which was tied round the beast's neck. The man who was riding behind him came to the ground, but His Majesty clung to the rope until a number of persons collected and released his foot. The elephant extricated himself by his own strength, and His Majesty again mounted him and returned home. After the expiration of six months the Emperor embarked in a boat and fell down to Agra, where he arrived on the 17th Muharram, 966 H. (30th Oct., 1558), in the third year of the Ilahi. One of the most important incidents of this year was that relating to Maulana Pir Muhammad Shirwani. The Pir was the general manager (wakil-i mutlak) of the Khan-khanan, and all the business of the State passed through his hands. He was the person to whom the nobles and officers had to make their applications, and of the many, high and low, who attended at his door, he admitted hardly any one. His temper now became so arrogant and perverted that for some days he would not come out of his house. The Khan-khanan went to call upon him as upon a sick person. The slave asked the Khan-khanan to wait until he had made known his wish to the Pir. This greatly incensed the Khan-khanan.