The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.178

v4.c16.178

Akbar was engaged in his childish sport of pigeon-flying when he received the news of his favourite’s death. He shrieked and was for a time beside himself with grief and rage, even abstaining for three days from appearing in public. He railed bitterly against his son and ordered that Bīr Singh should be hunted to death. Patr Das, Rāi Rāyān, drove the murderer into the fortress of Erachh (25° 48ʹ N., 79° 6ʹ E.) on the Betwa, and his death or capture seemed certain, when he broke out and made his escape. Akbar was furious, and ordered that the circumstances of his escape should be investigated, but the inquiry was inconclusive. Akbar was old and nobody was eager to incur the resentment of his natural heir.