The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c15.125

v4.c15.125

Before leaving Lahore Akbar organised an enormous *battue* of big game in the neighbourhood. Beaters, including the army, encircled an area of over 60 by 60 miles and, contracting the circle day by day, drove all living creatures towards the centre. About 15,000 wild animals of various kinds were counted, and the nobles, and afterwards the people generally, were permitted to join in the "sport". Akbar himself was employed for five consecutive days in slaughtering animals with sword, spear, musket and arrows. It may be conceived that the recollection of this slaughter troubled his conscience in later years, when he had adopted the Jain principle of the sanctity of animal life.