DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9696#0326
1633] A TOURNEY FROM AGRA TO SURATT
227
Halfe a mile out of Agra was a little Tanck lay by
the way side, of one entire massie peece of white Marble,
fowre square, each squaire conteyninge at least 2^ yardes,
brought for the kinge, yet unpollished, of about a foote
thick.
Gonga Mohol: wherefore built.
Within 3 Course of Futtapore, there is a ruinated build-
inge, named Gonga [giittgd, dumb] Mohol, that is, the
bowse of the dumbe, built by Kinge Ecbar of purpose,
where hee cawsed litle Children to be brought upp by
dumb Nurses to knowe what language the)- would
naturally speake; but it is said that in a long time they
spake nothing att all1.
The Cittie of Futtapore [Fatehpur Slkrl] was also built
by Kinge Ecbar aforesaid att his returne from the Conquest
of Guzaratt, nameinge it the Towne of Victories It is
encompassed with a faire high wall of bigg square redd
stone. In my opinion it was the only place that might
from Mandelgarh to Ajmer, regarding which ride another story for
the glorification of Minnu'd-din Chishti is told, vis. that a disciple
dreamt that the Emperor was relieved of the obligation of com-
pleting the pilgrimage barefoot. See Latif, Agra, p. 229.
1 Akbar's object in making this experiment was to ascertain
" natural laws " and he intended to follow whatever laws and customs
might belong to the people whose language the children spoke natu-
rally. As language is, however, acquired by imitation, the children
necessarily spoke no language, and Akbar had no opportunity of
ascertaining his "natural laws." See Beveridge. Father Jerome Xavier
in J.A.S.B. 1888, p. 37 ; Purchas, His Pilgrimage, p. 516; Manucci,
ed. Irvine, [. 142.
• Twenty-two miles from Agra was the hamlet of Sikri, the retreat
of the celebrated Indian Muhammadan Saint, Shekh Salim Chishti (i.e.
of the sect founded by Khwaja Maudud Chishti who died in 1153). In
1569, on his way back from his campaign in Gujarat, Akbar halted at
the foot of a rock, on the top of which the holy man had taken up his
abode. The Emperor had lately lost his only sons (twins by his
Hindu wife), and is said to have besought the Saint's prayers for
another son, and to have sent his wife to reside with the Saint, who
was then over ninety years of age. In the following year Prince
Salim (Jahanglr) was born. In honour of the Saint and to com-
memorate his conquests in Gujarat, Akbar built at Slkrl the town of
Fatehpur, the City of Victory, as a royal residence.
15—2
227
Halfe a mile out of Agra was a little Tanck lay by
the way side, of one entire massie peece of white Marble,
fowre square, each squaire conteyninge at least 2^ yardes,
brought for the kinge, yet unpollished, of about a foote
thick.
Gonga Mohol: wherefore built.
Within 3 Course of Futtapore, there is a ruinated build-
inge, named Gonga [giittgd, dumb] Mohol, that is, the
bowse of the dumbe, built by Kinge Ecbar of purpose,
where hee cawsed litle Children to be brought upp by
dumb Nurses to knowe what language the)- would
naturally speake; but it is said that in a long time they
spake nothing att all1.
The Cittie of Futtapore [Fatehpur Slkrl] was also built
by Kinge Ecbar aforesaid att his returne from the Conquest
of Guzaratt, nameinge it the Towne of Victories It is
encompassed with a faire high wall of bigg square redd
stone. In my opinion it was the only place that might
from Mandelgarh to Ajmer, regarding which ride another story for
the glorification of Minnu'd-din Chishti is told, vis. that a disciple
dreamt that the Emperor was relieved of the obligation of com-
pleting the pilgrimage barefoot. See Latif, Agra, p. 229.
1 Akbar's object in making this experiment was to ascertain
" natural laws " and he intended to follow whatever laws and customs
might belong to the people whose language the children spoke natu-
rally. As language is, however, acquired by imitation, the children
necessarily spoke no language, and Akbar had no opportunity of
ascertaining his "natural laws." See Beveridge. Father Jerome Xavier
in J.A.S.B. 1888, p. 37 ; Purchas, His Pilgrimage, p. 516; Manucci,
ed. Irvine, [. 142.
• Twenty-two miles from Agra was the hamlet of Sikri, the retreat
of the celebrated Indian Muhammadan Saint, Shekh Salim Chishti (i.e.
of the sect founded by Khwaja Maudud Chishti who died in 1153). In
1569, on his way back from his campaign in Gujarat, Akbar halted at
the foot of a rock, on the top of which the holy man had taken up his
abode. The Emperor had lately lost his only sons (twins by his
Hindu wife), and is said to have besought the Saint's prayers for
another son, and to have sent his wife to reside with the Saint, who
was then over ninety years of age. In the following year Prince
Salim (Jahanglr) was born. In honour of the Saint and to com-
memorate his conquests in Gujarat, Akbar built at Slkrl the town of
Fatehpur, the City of Victory, as a royal residence.
15—2