The Book of Akbar 299.5

299.5

It seems to me probable that the Turkish Admiral is the person referred to by A.F. as Caghatai Khan. No officer of Humayun's or Akbar’s of that name is mentioned anywhere, and Sidi ‘Ali may have got the sobriquet of Caghatai Khan on account of his proficiency in the Caghatai language. See the Turkish publisher's preface, Vambery, l.c., p. XVII. Sidi ‘Ali, too, had just come from Gujrat. Another reason for believing Friday to be the day, is that Friday was Humayun's day for holding receptions and granting audiences. See A.N. Cap., LXII. On the whole then, unless it can be established astronomically that Venus did not rise on Friday, 24th January 1556, I think we may take that to be the day of the accident. This date is further corroborated by Sidi ‘Ali's statement that he left for Lahore on a Thursday in the middle of Rabi’-al-awwal. He did not leave till after the death, and Thursday would be the 17th Rabi'-al-awwal. Vambery’s translation, contrary to that of Diez, makes Thursday the day of the Admiral's arrival at Lahore, but this is clearly wrong.