10 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



and the further we investigate, the more certainly we perceive 

 that political order, the supremacy of law, sound principles of 

 taxation, a wise land system, and almost every art of civilised 

 government owe their birth to this enlightened ruler. His 

 treatment of these unsettled wilds and their people was 

 marked with the same political wisdom. While, in the sur- 

 rounding countries, which had already been in a measure 

 reclaimed by Hindi! races, he everywhere broke up the feudal 

 system, under which strong government and permanent im- 

 provement were impossible, he asked no more from the chiefs 

 of these waste regions than nominal submission to his empire, 

 and the preservation of the peace of the realm. Those on his 

 borders he converted into a frontier police, and the rest he left 

 to administer their country in their own fashion. Acknow- 

 ledgment of his supremacy he insisted on however ; and in 

 case of refusal sent his generals and armies who very soon 

 convinced the barbarous chiefs of their powerlessness in his 

 hands. The influence of his power and splendour rapidly 

 extended itself over even this remote region. The chiefs 

 became courtiers, accepted with pride imperial favours and 

 titles, and in some cases were even converted to the fashion- 

 able faith of Islam. 



A vast development of the resources of these central 

 regions followed the coming of Akber. A great highway 

 between Upper India and the Deccan was established through 

 a gap in the Satpiira mountains. A vast city arose in the 

 Tapti valley, which became the seat of government of the 

 southern province of the empire. Armies marching to and 

 fro, and the retinues of a great court, brought with them a 

 demand, before unheard of, for the necessaries and the 

 luxuries of life. The open country, under the rule of Akber 

 was rapidly reclaimed by Hindu* immigrants, arriving simul- 



