1896.] LE. D. Maclagan—Jesuit Missions to the Emperor Akbar. 57 
Sun and Moon, and abstaining from meat from Saturday night and all 
Sunday. I have certain information that many of the heathen out of super- 
stition, because it is the day of the Sun and Moon, eat absolutely nothing. In 
general it is forbidden to kill any meat in the market, and we are generally 
unable to get any to eat on Sundays. 
‘Two or three days after their Lent has commenced, a new Haster has been 
introduced called ‘ Merjan,’! on which it is commanded that all the chiefs be 
dressed out in State, and listen to music and dances. I enquired of the 
Emperor’s astrologers, and they told me that it was a feast observed by the 
ancient fire-worshipping kings of Persia. The Muhammadans were very 
scandalized and would not imitate the observers of the feast, they cannot 
understand whether they do these things because they like them or whether 
they do them by way of experiment. In truth, I also cannot understand the 
matter, for the Emperor converses with me familiarly, as he has done this 
rainy season, always enquiring into the faith, and yet he seems confused 
with other things, and confessed to me one day that he would be much sur- 
prised if one could really discern the truth.?...... | 
‘On Tuesday, the 24th of September, the Emperor came in the afternoon 
to see the marriage of Domingo Pires in our chapel. We decorated the 
chapel very well and painted two trophies in his honour, and Domingo Pires 
ordered a Portuguese banquet to be prepared for him at our house. The 
Emperor was delighted with everything and showed me much affection for 
entertaining him to the best of my power. At the marriage I preached a 
sermon to the couple; the woman did not understand me, and the Emperor 
interpreted to her in her own language what I was saying in Persian. The 
Emperor remained in our house till nearly eight o’clock at night. With 
great pleasure he brought to the house all the principal chiefs of the Muham- 
madans and the heathen. One of the heathen, a ruler in these lands, was 
much amazed and made a jest of the chapel. Others, children of the Em- 
peror, were present and dined at the house, as well as two of the principal 
Muhammadan chiefs whom the Emperor sent for. 
‘7 have nothing further to write to Your Reverence, excepting the follow- 
ing things: Ist. If it seems to you that I am absolutely nothing here, let 
Your Reverence seek a remedy, for the Emperor takes no notice of my asking 
his leave, and for me to press the point only exasperates him. Your Reverence 
knows I am indifferent, and my indifference is increased by my being in 
doubt and not knowing the wish of God with regard to this mission. The 
second matter is to ask Your Reverence to inform me what you think about 
the church which the Emperor desires to have built. Up to the present no- 
thing has been signified in your letters concerning it. Thethird is that Your 
Reverence will have the charity to let me know how to proceed, for I fear that 
the Emperor and some of his wish to make use of me to explain the law of 
1 Mihrjan, the Persian feast of the autumnal equinox: the Muhammadan Lent, 
the month of Ramzan, began in 1582 on the 19th September. 
2 I omit a marginal addition which is too defaced in the original to admit of 
the sense being ascertained. ' 
a alte: 
