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NOVEMBER, 1915]
THE DATE OF AKBAR'S BIRTH
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fifth, and not on the fourth day of the month, according to the standard tables. We may take it as a fact, therefore, that Abu-l-Fazl, Badaoni, and Gulbadan agree in assigning the birth to Sunday, Rajab 5. En quoting those authors I hava purposely refrained from citing collateral details, because they can be considered more conveniently in relation to Jauhar's statements, which will now be quoted in full, so far as relevant.
Chap. XI.His Majesty waited for a fortunate hour, and then commenced his journey, leaving all his family in the fortress of Amerkote: the first day we marched twentyfour miles, and encamped on the banks of a large pond.
Chap. XII.-The next day, while the king was encamped at the large pond, a messenger arrived from Amerkote with the joyful intelligence of the birth of a son and hoir. This auspicious event happened on the night of the full moon of the month Shaban 949; in consequence of which his Majesty was pleased to name the child. The full moon of religion (Budr addyn) Muhummad Akber. On this joyful occasion he prostrated himself, and returned thanks to the Almighty Disposer of all events. When this joyful news was made known, all the chiefs came and offered their congratulations. The king then ordered the author of this memoir (Jauhar) to bring him the articles he had given in trust to him.'
Humayûn returned the silver coins and bracelet to the owners, keeping only a pad of musk, which he broke on a china plate and distributod, saying :
* This is all the present I can afford to make you on the birth of my son, whose fame will I trust be one day expanded all over the world, as the perfume of the musk now fills this apartment." After this ceremony the drums were besten, and the trumpets proolaimed the auspicious event to the world,
As soon as the evening prayers were finished we marched from the pond... After five marches we arrived in the vicinity of Jûn.... After this affray we moved on, and took possession of Jûn, when the royal tent was pitched in a large garden .. .. from this place a messenger was despatched to Amerkote to bring the young Prince and his mother. On the 20th of the month of Ramzan the Prince arrived, and had the honour of being first embraced by his Majesty on the 35th day of his age ............ During our stay at Jûn the king issued orders that all the chiefs of that country should wait on him.... ..... About this time Shâh Hussyn having marched from Tatta, arrived within eight miles of Jún, and took post on the bank of the river (Indus). It was one evening during the fast of Ramzan, just as his Majesty had taken his first mouthful of water, that intelligence was brought him of the desertion of Tersh Beg, and of his having joined his enemy, Huseyn ........ Various incidents are next related, and the author prooeeds
5 Probably Gulbadan used a different almanac. Cunninghan points out that 'according to Jervis the Indian almanaca give one year in each decade of each cycle differently from Ulugh Bog's tables, as regards the intercalary year. The result is, that where the years 8,19, and 27 are made intercalary those years will begin one day earlier than in the Tables, and every day throughout each of these yoar will be one day earlier. In the accompanying Tables I have placed Roman numerals against the interdalary years of the accepted reckoning, and stars against the three years which differ' (Indian Eras, 1883, p. 68). 949 is one of the starred years, the 19th, so that Gulbadan Begam was right according to the Indian almanacs.
Jauhar seeins to have forgotten an intermediate halt. The party first moved out four farsakhs, or about sixteen miles, and then, after. A rest, went on to the pond (A. N., p. 59).
Tardi Beg Khan was the messenger (Badami, I, 568) He was executed in 1566 by Bairam Khân for failure to defend Delhi.
8 Abu-l-Fazl gives an absurdly exaggerated account of the sublime festivities." (A. N., P. 60). 9 Shaban, 29 days less 1416, plus 20-35. Shaban 14 WM a Thursday.
