ndian
historians corroborate the invidious criticisms of "Normal" by
European travellers; on the contrary, they portray Nur-Mahall as a
pattern of all the virtues, and worthy to wield the supreme influence
which she obtained over the Emperor.' (Lane-Poole, _The History of
the Moghul Emperors of Hindustan illustrated by their Coins_, p.
xix.) The authorities on which this statement is founded are given in
_E. & D._, vol. vi, pp. 397 and 402-5. See also Blochmann, _Ain_,
vol. i, pp. 496, 524. Details of such stories in the various
chronicles always differ. Jahangir openly rejoiced in the death of
Sher Afgan, and it is by no means clear that he was not responsible
for the event. He was not troubled by nice scruples. The first
element in the lady's personal name seems to be _Mihr_, 'sun', not
_Muhr_, 'seal'. The words are identical in ordinary Persian writing.

11. The long interval which elapsed between Sher Afgan's death and
the marriage with the Emperor is a fact opposed to the assumptions
which the author adopts that Nur Mahall was 'nothing loth', and that
the death of her first husband was contrived by Jahangir.

12. Quaint Sir Thomas Herbert thus expresses himself: 'Meher Metzia
[Mihr-un-nisa] is forthwith espoused with all solemnity to the King,
and her name changed to Nourshabegem [Nur Shah Begam], or Nor-mahal,
i.e., Light or Glory of the Court; her Father upon this affinity
advanced upon all the other Umbraes ['umara', or nobles]; her
brother, Assaph-Chan [Asaf Khan], and most of her kindred, smiled
upon, with the addition of Honours, Wealth, and Command. And in this
Sun-shine of content Jangheer [Jahangir] spends some years with his
lovely Queen, without regarding ought save Cupid's Currantoes'
(_Travels_, ed. 1677, p. 74). Authority exists for the title Asaf
Jah, as well as for the variant Asaf Khan.

Coins were struck in the joint names of Jahangir and his consort,
bearing a rhyming Persian couplet to the effect that

'By command of Jahangir the King, from the name of Nur Jahan his
Queen, gold gained a hundred beauties.'

The Queen's administration is censured by some of the European
travellers who visited India during Jahangir's reign as being venal
and inefficient, and she is accused of cruelty and perfidy. She died
on the 18th December (N.S.), 1645, and was buried by the aide of
Jahangir in his mausoleum at Lahore. At her death she was in her 72nd
year, according to the Muhammadan lunar reckoning, and