SHERE AFKUN. 
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imminent he was foremost to encounter it, while his 
valour was the theme of many a romance and of 
many a song. His bodily vigour was so great that 
he had slain a lion single-handed, from which circum- 
stance he obtained the cognomen of Shere Afkun, or 
the lion-slayer, his original name being Asta Jillo. 
He had been much esteemed by Akbar, who valued 
alike his bravery and his virtues. 
Soon after Jehangire ascended the imperial throne 
of the Moguls, Shere Afkun was invited to court, 
whither, after repeated solicitations, he repaired, trust- 
ing to his own high reputation for security against 
any tyrannical exercise of the sovereign power. Upon 
his arrival, he was much caressed by the emperor in 
order to lull suspicion : open and generous himself, 
he suspected no treachery in others. A day was at 
length appointed for the chase : the omrahs and in- 
ferior nobles assembled, and the forest-haunts of the 
lion and tiger were explored. The hunters soon in- 
closed a mighty beast of the latter species, of which 
the emperor being apprised, immediately proceeded 
to the spot. He demanded of those around him who 
would venture to attack it: all stood silent and 
confounded. Shere Afkun began to hope that the en- 
terprise would devolve upon him, when three omrahs 
stepped forward and offered to encounter the forest 
tyrant. The pride of the bold Turkoman was roused ,* 
they had challenged the encounter, and he therefore 
could not set aside their prior claim to the distinction 
which they insisted upon striving for. Shere Afkun, 
fearing that he was likely to be rivalled and that his 
fame would thus be tarnished, advanced and presenting 
