62 AKBAll SETTJ.lvS HELUilUUS, (QUESTION. 



and wliite marble, upon which Akbar and bis fair 

 companions were wont to move from square to 

 square, playing at " pachisi," a game resembling back- 

 gammon. 



Sucli are the wonders of this Indian paradise of 

 three centuries ago. This genius of Agra, this 

 greatest of Mogul emperors, also was a wise man in 

 his generation, and he had a ready ^vay of settling 

 knotty questions of State. Religion in those days 

 Avas the apple of discord, as it is to-day, so many new 

 sects having sprung up amongst both the Hindus and 

 the Mohamedans ; and at one time the people became 

 .so importunate that it was deemed necessary to devise 

 means of reassuring them. Akbar and his minister, 

 the crafy Rajah Beer-Bul, a Hindu, were equal to the 

 occasion ; the latter was despatched to call the chiefs 

 iind the head men of the village to a conference, when 

 he assured them that, the matter being of the very 

 gravest importance, time would be required to satisfy 

 all consciences, and that the emperor desired them to 

 attend him in durbar on that day six months, when 

 he would be prepared to settle the whole question, 

 €!njoining them in the meantime to hold the peace, 

 which they all promised. The appointed day at last came 

 round, and from an eai'ly hour in the morning crowds 

 of people from far and near, accompanied by their 



