The Book of Akbar 350.7

350.7

the Shahinshah is innately devoted to the capture of kingdoms and the chase of hearts, he, during this interval of his career, was much inclined to hunting with the cita. He made that the veil of his world-adorning beauty. At this time he directed his progress southwards for the sake of hunting and glorified the territory of Gwaliar by his presence. While he was hunting, some deer-keepers (Ahadis) and other huntsmen represented that the merchants accompanying Shaikh Muhammad, who was one of the famous Shaikhs of India, had brought bullocks from Gujrat which were unequalled and fit for the royal hunting equipage. Accordingly an order was issued to bring the bullocks after paying the merchants the price which was agreeable to them. Thereupon it was represented to H.M. that Shaikh Muhammad and his relatives had better cattle than these, and that if he would pass by his location on his way back, the Shaikh would certainly for the sake of his own glorification present him with them. Accordingly, with the ostensible object of procuring those animals, but in reality in order to test the Shaikh’s urbanity, he went to his abode. The Shaikh made the dust of the royal party the eye-salve of his glory and recognised in H.M.’s advent a protection against Bairām Khān’s oppression, and presented all the cattle which belonged to his people, together with other gifts and curiosities of Gujrāt. He also tendered various sweet-meats and perfumes. At the end of the interview he asked H.M.