demanded the punishment of the driver, and Akber sent him to 
the minister to be dealt with as necessary. He also was put to 
death—an act of cruelty which caused the Emperor deep pain and 
offence. Perceiving himself out of favour, Beiram Khan under- 
took a campaign against Byana, but was unable to continue it 
unsupported, and released Shah Abdool Maaly, a nobleman who 
had been imprisoned for revolt, and seems by his aid to have 
contemplated an expedition against the Afghans of Bengal, with a 
view of establishing his own independence in that direction. All 
these acts combined to bring on a total estrangement between the 
Emperor and Beiram Khan: and Akber resolved upon asserting 
his right to carry on the government himself. He therefore sent 
his preceptor to the minister with the following characteristic 
message: “Till now,” he wrote, “our mind has been taken up 
with our education and the amusements of youth, and it was our 
royal will that you should regulate the affairs of our empire ; but it 
being our intention to govern our people by our own judgment, 
let our well-wisher withdraw from all worldly concerns, and retiring 
to Mecca, far removed from the toils of public life, spend the rest 
of his days in prayer.” Beiram Khan did not resist ; he sent the 
insignia of his rank and public establishments to the Emperor, and 
proceeded as far as Bhikanere, in Rajpootana, on his way to 
Mecca. Here he seems to have changed his pacific submission 
for an attitude of defiance and rebellion, and in 1559 began to 
raise troops. He was overthrown, and fled to the mountains, and 
eventually sent a favourite servant to the Emperor imploring 
forgiveness. An officer was despatched to bring him safely to 
Court. In December, 1560, he was met near the royal camp by 
a deputation of officers from the Emperor, and conducted honour- 
ably to his presence, where he threw himself weeping at the foot 
of the throne. Akber, much affected, stretched forth his hand 
and raised him, invested him with an honorary dress, and placed 
him in his old position as head of the nobles. A pension of 
50,000 rupees (5,000/.) a year was settled upon him, and Beiram 
Khan proceeded to Gudgerut, on his way to Mecca. 
In no act of his life did the Emperor display more acute judg- 
