82 Proceedings of the Asiatic Socie/;/, [March, 



shewed a slight dislike to the 'Ulamas and the Mullas, the learned 

 and the lawyers, whom he thought somewhat conceited, whilst he 

 manifested a sincere regard for really pious men and Quiis, especially 

 for such as lived in voluntary poverty. Of the tenets of Hinduism, 

 he was particularly attached to the doctrine of the transmigration of 

 the soul. According to the testimony of his enemies, he then 

 possessed a sincere heart, and was anxious to discuss certain tenets of 

 the Islam. For this reason he invited the learned and the lawyers of 

 various sects to meet him every Thursday* evening. These meetings 

 however, produced the very opposite of what Akbar wished. The 

 'Ulamas, in the very beginning, quarelled about precedence and rank ; 

 the discussions were carried on in a bitter spirit, and even in violation 

 of all rules of decorum. As both Shi'ahs and Sunnis were present, 

 every question was made a party cry, and the difference of their 

 opinions regarding some Islamitic laws was most remarkable. 

 Akbar, instead of profiting from the 'Ulamas, learned daily more to 

 despise them ; and judging the Islam by his conception of the 

 character of the 'Ulamas, he ceased to look upon the religion of the 

 prophet as the only true religion, and, shortly after, assigned to it a 

 very inferior rank among the religions of the world. 



Another proof of the emperor's sincerity is the zeal which he 

 shewed in collecting information regarding other religious systems. 

 He spent whole nights in conversation with free-thinking £ufis ; he 

 called Farsi priests from Gujrat, and Roman Catholic Missionaries 

 from Goa, whilst acute Brahmins led him into the mysteries of 

 Hindu philosophy. After making himself acquainted with the tenets 

 of these religious systems, Akbar came to the conclusion that there 

 were in every sect sensible men, and that it was, therefore, improbable 

 that truth should be confined to one single religion, especially to a 

 religion like the Islam, which had not existed a thousand years. 



This conclusion led to two important results -.—Jirst, it convinced 

 Akbar of the necessity of perfect religious toleration; and secondly, 

 it induced him to think that truth might be found by selecting, from 

 among the tenets of all religions, those doctrines which recommended 

 themselves to his calm understanding. 



* Not Friday evenings, as given in Elpluustone's History. 8hab i jum'ah, 

 or Bind, jum'ah hi nit, is Thursday evening. 



