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came familiar, all his ideas were confounded, and he proceeded to select and compose a religion for himself, out of such dogmas as struck his fancy, amidst the multitude of those new opinions amongst which he fluctuated. As his chief principles for his rule of action, he adopted these conclusions:-That every system of religious belief could adduce learned advocates; that saints, revelations, and miracles, were recorded by every people; that the principle of doing no wrong was recognised by every sect; that truth was equally common to all; that there was consequently no sufficient reason to accept one creed, and reject another; and that still less was it necessary to set aside all ancient ideas, in favour of the newfangled opinions, which could boast no higher date than a thousand years'.
The Brahmans had some time before these occurrences been growing into great favour with the Emperor, who with the utmost secrecy had admitted some of them to private and nocturnal conferences. One Purushottama was employed by him to teach him the denominations of all things peculiar to the Hindu faith; and Deví, a reader of the Mahábhárat, was introduced after dark into the palace, and hoisted up on a seat into the Emperor's bed-chamber, where he remained throughout the night, relating to Akbar the mythological fables of the Hindus. He also explained the adoration of material substances, of fire,
ACCOUNT OF THE RELIGION
That is to say, the religion of Mohammed. Akbar, according to Dow, ascended the throne Hij. 963, and died 1014.
