The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.185

v4.c16.185

On 16 November Salīm arrived at court from Allahābād, ostensibly to offer his condolences to his father, but actually in order to be on the spot in case the shock of his mother’s death should seriously affect his health. He brought valuable gifts and was well received at the public audience, but Akbar afterwards had him arrested, and, after upbraiding him with his crimes, struck him in the face and imprisoned him in a room in the inner apartments where he could obtain no wine. He was released after ten days’ confinement, but would have been deprived of his command and his fiefs had not the reports of his brother Dāniyāl’s health restrained Akbar from proceeding to extremities against him. On 28 April, 1605,¹ this wretched drunkard died of *delirium tremens* at Burhānpur. He had been placed under restraint, but some of his personal servants, moved by his distress, contrived to convey liquor to him in a gun-barrel, and he died raving. They were arrested by the Khān Khānān and were beaten and stoned to death. Akbar was deeply grieved by the death of his favourite son, but reports from the Deccan had prepared him for the news, which he received with resignation.