Halat-i Asad Beg 5: Akbar orders a servant to be thrown off a tower.

5

At that time the Emperor used to retire for a long interval, after evening prayers, during which time the servants and courtiers used to disperse, assembling again when they expected His Majesty to re-appear. That evening he happened to come out sooner than usual, to hear the news from the Dakhin, and at first found none of the servants in the palace. When he came near the throne and couch, he saw a luckless lamplighter, coiled up like a snake, in a careless death-like sleep, close to the royal couch. Enraged at the sight, he ordered him to be thrown from the tower, and he was dashed into a thousand pieces. In the midst of his anger, the unhappy Khwaja Amiru-d din, whose watch it was, came in sight. Akbar addressed him with harshness and anger, and after abusing and disgracing him, turned him out of the tower, and ordered him instantly to start off and join the Prince’s camp. He severely reprehended Daulat Khan, who was also on guard at the time, and disgraced and dishonoured him. Even Ram Das had a share in that misfortune, but he was not so severely punished. The Emperor then sat down on the royal couch, and in great fear I approached and saluted him. As soon as his eyes fell upon me, he bestowed upon me the office which Khwaja Amiru-d din had held for some years, and in which he had enjoyed great respect and honour, and at the same time said to Ram Das, I have bestowed the office of that wretch on Asad : we shall see how he conducts himself. Bring him now to do homage.”