The Book of Akbar 291.1

291.1

servants of the State, and as a mark of the destruction of the contumacious. But as it prevented a pursuit of the fugitives and gave them after a thousand agonies a release from danger it may be regarded as a respite to an ill-fated crew. When by Divine aid such a great gift had been revealed, His Majesty sat on the throne of justice and appraised the services of the loyal and devoted. In order to bring out the jewel of the sincere from the potsherd of service-sellers the question arose, in whose name should the proclamation of victory be recorded? An order was given that everyone should lay in his claim. Shah Abu’l-ma'ali, who was drunk with the wine of negligence, wished that the record of the glorious victory should be in his name. Bairam Khan who was conscious that the coming to India was by his exertions, and who, up to the time of the victory, had, in opposition to a crowd of men, supported the world-adorning views of His Majesty Jahanbani and had conducted the conquest of the countries and the uprooting of foes, was keenly desirous that the proclamation should bear his name.