uld have maintained it. They were the principles by
accepting which his Western successors maintain it at the present
day.

{200} In the foregoing pages I have spoken of Akbar and his
achievements as though I were comparing him with the princes of our
own day. Handicapped though he is by the two centuries which have
since elapsed, Akbar can bear that comparison. Certainly, though his
European contemporaries were the most eminent of their respective
countries, though, whilst he was settling India, Queen Elizabeth
ruled England, and Henry IV reigned in France, he need not shrink
from comparison even with these. His reputation is built upon deeds
which lived after him. No one can suppose that his successor,
Jahangir, had he followed Humayun, could have conciliated and welded
together the divided territories he would have inherited or
conquered. His passionate and bigoted character would have rendered
the task impossible. But the foundations dug by Akbar were so deep
that his son, although so unlike him, was able to maintain the empire
which the principles of his father had welded together. When we
reflect what he did, the age in which he did it, the method he
introduced to accomplish it, we are bound to recognise in Akbar one
of those illustrious men whom Providence sends, in the hour of a
nation's trouble, to reconduct it into those paths of peace and
toleration which alone can assure the happiness of millions.

{201}

INDEX

ABUL MA'ALI, favourite of Humayun, is sent to occupy Dipalpur, 62:
rebellion, and death of, 97.

ABULFAZL, becomes the friend of Akbar, 151:
character, studies, and influence of, 152-3, 170:
murder of, 139.

AGRA, the building of the fort of, 99.

AGRICULTURE, measures taken by Akbar to benefit those addicted to,
121.

AKBAR, birth of, 52:
is abandoned at Shal, 53:
is taken to Kandahar, and tended by his aunt, 54:
is removed to Kabul, 54, 55:
where his father rejoins him, 55:
perils of, at Kabul, 55-9:
joins his father in the invasion of India, and is present at the
battle of Sirhind, 62:
is sent by his father to the Punjab, 63:
is there proclaimed Emperor, 63:
choice of courses before, 65:
turns to contest the empire with Hemu, 66:
moves on Panipat, 68:
wins the battle of Panipat, 70:
refuses to slay the captured Hemu, 71:
the problem he had to solve in India, 78-80:
personal appearance of, 81:
character and predispositions of,