6 
ment and fine temper, than in the graceful dismissal of his great 
minister. Henceforth Akber was to rule alone. He was now 
eighteen years of age. 
AKBER AS A GENERAL, 
As a general, Akber was celebrated for the promptitude with 
which he formed his plans of attack, and the celerity with which 
he carried them out. 
The war with the Usbecs under Khan Zeman and Asof Khan 
had lasted two years, and had been interrupted by alternate 
submission and renewed defection on the part of more than one 
of the chiefs. It was concluded by an act of courage, very 
characteristic of the Emperor. Akber had made great progress in 
reducing the rebellion, when he was drawn off by an invasion of 
the Punjab under his brother Hakim. This occupied him for 
several months; and on his return, he found the rebels had 
recovered their ground, and were in possession of most parts of 
the Subahs of Oudh and Allahabad. He marched against them, 
without delay, though it was the height of the rainy season; drove 
them across the Ganges; and when they thought themselves 
secure behind that swollen river, swam the Ganges at nightfall on 
his elephant, with his advanced guard of not more than 2,000 
men, and after lying concealed during the night, attacked the 
enemy about sunrise. ‘The rebels, though aware of the approach 
of a small body of horse, were quite unprepared for an attack ; 
and Khan Zeman having been killed, and another principal chief 
unhorsed, and made prisoner in the first confusion, they lost all 
advantage of their numbers, fell into complete disorder, and soon 
after dispersed and fled in all directions. 
In July, 1573, he received advice by express from Guzerat, that 
the officers of the Guzerat Kingdom had united in a formidable 
insurrection, taken several districts, and were then besieging 
Ahmedabad. The rainy season had set in, and the transport of a 
large force was impossible. Two thousand picked horsemen were 
therefore pushed on, and the Emperor and his retinue, about three 
hundred persons, followed by double marches on camels. When 
