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OF THE EMPEROR AKBAR.
393
llábí': the names of the months also were changed to those known to the ancient Persians, and their festivals were adopted in place of those of the Mohammedan faith. These latterly were formally abolished, except the Friday's prayer. This service was allowed to continue; but it was rarely attended, except by the aged and the poor.
The study of the language and literature of the Arabs was next discountenanced, and that of its law and theology prohibited. A provision was subsequently made in favour of arithmetic, astronomy, natural history, and philosophy. In the mean time, it became fashionable to avoid the use of the Arabic alphabet as much as possible; and Abdullah was softened to Abdullah (or ain was changed to alif). The name of Mohammed was particularly obnoxious, and several persons changed it: thus Mohammed Khan adopted the appellation of Rahmán Khán.
In the year of Hijra 991, fresh regulations were published. No animals were to be killed on a Sunday, nor on any days held sacred to the solar fire. The emperor was desirous, indeed, of abolishing the use of animal food altogether, and abstained from it himself, at least six months in the year?. Prayers were
This account concurs also with that given in the Áyini Akbari, I, 346 [and the Dabistán. III, 99].
? So Abúlfazl: "His majesty has a great disinclination for flesh, and he frequently says, Providence has prepared variety of food for man; but through ignorance and gluttony, he destroys living creatures, and makes his body a tomb for beasts. If I
