The Book of Akbar 284.2

284.2

Though they make an engagement with themselves that they will not use the information for attacking the reputation and honour of the good and loyal, yet the outwardly well-seeming but inwardly base crew of men seize their opportunity and for their own advantage attack the loyal with their smooth tongues,—while the great sometimes, owing to the multiplicity of business, forget the engagements with themselves and become suspicious of the loyal and raze the foundations of their own power. In short this wicked man soon got a place in Salim Khan’s affections by misrepresentation, and obtained a footing in the administration. When the measure of Salim Khan’s life was full, and the period of the sway of the evildoers of India had come to Mubariz Khan aforesaid who was Salim Khan’s cousin, Himu found him careless of worldly affairs and annexed the whole of the administration and rose to lofty offices. Nothing remained to Mubariz Khan, who was commonly known as 'Adli (tyrant), except the name (of king). Himu undertook all appointments and dismissals, and the distribution of justice. In his foresight he got possession of the treasures of Sher Khān and Salīm Khān and of their elephant-stud. He was freehanded in disposing of their accumulations. His base debtors worshipped him and did his behests. For some days he took the title of Rai and then he fastened the title of Raja on himself and assumed the style of the Raja Bikramajīt. Thus did he in his folly apply great names to himself.