Note 40 — The Fourteenth New Year’s Feast from the Auspicious Accession

On Thursday, the 1st of the Divine month of Ābān, I went on pilgrimage to the mausoleum of the late king (Akbar) (may the lights of Allah be his testimony!), and rubbed the head of supplication on the threshold, the abode of angels, and presented 100 muhars as nazar. All the Begams and other ladies, having sought the blessing of circulating round that shrine, which is the circling-place of angels, presented offerings. On the eve of Friday a lofty assembly was held of the holy men (Mas͟hāʾik͟h), the turbaned people (arbāb-i-ʿamāʾim—i.e., ecclesiastics, etc.), Ḥuffāz̤ (those who recite the Qoran), and singing people, assembled in numbers, and practised ecstasies and religious dancing (wajd and samāʿ), to each of whom, according to the circumstances of his merit and skill, I gave a dress of honour, a farjī, and a shawl. The buildings of this blessed mausoleum have been made very lofty. At this time the money expended satisfied me, and was far more than it had previously been. (The MS.40 here is clear, and the printed words wrong.)