or UKHBAR, called also AKBAR or ACBER, or AKBAR or AKBER, the greatest and the best of the Mogul emperors of Hindustan, was the son of Humayun, the son of Baher, the founder of the empire. He was born at the foot of Anercote, in the desert of Sinde, on 14th October 1542; ascended the throne 15th February 1556; and died at Agra, 13th October 1605, after a chequered, but generally prosperous, reign of nearly fifty years. He established his dominion over all Hindustan, or Northern India, and was, in fact, the real founder of the empire; his two predecessors having commenced the conquest of India without complete success, and Humayun having lost nearly all that his father had gained. Although almost continually occupied with enemies abroad, and rebellions and revolutions at home, he found time to cultivate the arts of peace, and gave the most anxious and most enlightened attention to every-

thing that seemed calculated to promote the welfare of his people. He encouraged trade and commerce, reduced taxation, and kept a strict watch over the conduct of his officers. But what most of all distinguished him from other Mahometan rulers was his spirit of toleration. Professing no dogmatic faith himself, he not only did not persecute the adherents of any creed, but showed the same benevolent attention to the interests of all his subjects, whether Moslem or Hindu. The mildness of his character, his strict impartiality, magnanimity, and personal courage, are mentioned with praise even by the Jesuits, who visited India during his reign; and the memory of his good qualities and deeds still lives among the people of Hindustan. His body was deposited in a splendid mausoleum, which remains entire at Scundra, a ruined village six miles north of Agra; and is considered to be one of the finest architectural monuments of India, inferior only to the Taj-Mehal at Agra. It is built of red stone, and consists of several tiers of arcades and galleries, on the top of which is a small platform, surrounded by a marble screen richly carved, and affording an extremely fine view of the surrounding country. In the centre of the platform is Akbar's monument, of white marble, with these words:— "The god Akbar, may his glory be magnified;" an inscription that is thought to countenance the charge made against him, that he had aspired to divine honours. The body repose in a plain sarcophagus, under a lofty dome, on the ground floor. See ABULFAZL.