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392
ACCOUNT OF THE RELIGION
from the royal treasury to those who played, at usurious interest. It was enacted, that the contact of hogs and dogs entailed no impurity; and both were kept in the palace, and led forth every morning. The flesh of dogs, cats, and tigers, was declared lawful food. The distribution of viands and alms at funerals was prohibited, as was marriage between first cousins: such affinity, it was said, inducing the degradation of the breed. And on the same plea it was enacted, that boys should not marry under 16, nor girls under 14 years of age!
A covenant was now proposed, and signed by many persons of rank, to this effect: 'I such a one, the son of such a one, with entire consent and cheerfulness of mind, declare myself liberated from the lying traditions of Islam, which I had heard and witnessed from my forefathers, and I hereby profess my adhesion to the Iláhí religion of Akbar the king; in testimony of which, I am willing to abandon wealth, life, fame, and faith?
It was one of Akbar's notions, that the prescribed duration of Mohammedanism was one thousand years, and he considered this period to have expired. Accordingly he abolished the era of Hijra, and substituted that of his accession, which was called the Tarikh
Akbar's sentiments on these subjects are repeated precisely to the same purpose by Abúlfazl. Ay. Ak., I. 290.
? The ceremony of initiation is rather differently described in the Ay. Ak., I, 219. [See also the Dabistán, III, 97 f.]
