Jaldluddin Muliammad Ahbar. 
87 
1886.] 
against the proposal but in vain, as Babar would not listen to their coun¬ 
sel. The consequences of such a proceeding are thus summed up by 
Abul Fazl: 
From the very moment that the Emperor did this, the prince be¬ 
gan to recover; the malady descended upon Babar resulting in his 
death.”* 
(3) “ Jiji Anagah ”—one of the nurses of prince Akbar, being on 
bad terms with another nurse Mahum Anagah by name—was very uneasy 
when accused of practising magic on the prince in the eighth month of 
his existence, thereby charming him to refuse to be nursed by any other 
woman than herself; but as the legend goes, the young prince to remove 
her anxiety, one day consoled her thus :—“ Be of good cheer ; I will 
not cease to be nursed by you, and on growing up I will hold your children 
in due regard.”t 
(4) Speaking of a talismanic knife presented to Akbar by the 
Raja of Kajli in the 14th year of the Emperor’s reign, Abul Fazl writes :— 
“ The knife is still kept in the Imperial Treasury, and I have several 
times heard the Emperor say ‘ More than two hundred persons on the 
point of death from illness, recovered instantly on touching it.’ ” 
(5) “ Prince Salim born with the blessings of Shekh Salim Chishti, 
after the Emperor had lost some children, was not allowed to be brought 
to the Emperor’s presence for two months.”§ 
Abul Fazl writes this in a roundabout way, but the true reason 
probably was the advice of astrologers. 
There is not the least doubt of Akbar’s belief in the miraculous 
powers of Shekh Salim. On one occasion the Emperor travelled on 
foot from Agra to worship at the sacred shrine of Khwaja Muiii-ud-din 
Chishti in Ajmere ; and again from Chitore to offer thanksgiving for his 
victory gained there. 
It is needless to multiply proofs in support of the prevalence of 
superstitious customs among the Mughals. Superstition having a strong¬ 
er hold upon the minds of females than those of males, I fancy Hamidali 
Banu Begam, Akbar’s mother and his guardian from his infancy till 
long nfter his accession to the throne, was possibly instrumental in keep¬ 
ing his birthday a mystery, as no one could be more anxious for his 
safety. She might have reported the 5 th Raj jab to Abul Fazl and other 
courtiers, as it is not easy to conjecture that they could have remembered 
the birthday during the troublous times when Akbar was born—the 
Begam’s report was trusted, and horoscopes were prepared accordingly. 
* Akbar Namah, Vol. I, pp, 144—145. 
f Akbar Namab, Vol. I, p. 225. 
X Akbar Namah, Vol. II, p. 431. 
§ Akbar Namah, Vol. II, p. 435. 
