Mughal Administration c11.54

c11.54

Between the outer wall of the palace at Agra (as well as Delhi) and the river Jamuna there is a large sandy plain. After the morning salute (*darshan*) was over, this plain was cleared of the crowd and two royal elephants were set to fight each other. As Tavernier remarks, “They have purposely selected this spot near the water, because the elephant which has been victorious being enraged, they would not be able to pacify him for a long time if they did not urge him into the river, to effect which it is necessary to use artifice,”—by attaching fireworks to the ends of spears and setting them on fire in order to drive him into the water. (i. 106.)