. He took the first propitious occasion
to rebel, and two years later was defeated in a great battle by the
Mughal general. He was taken prisoner, and in punishment of his
treason his head was severed from his body on the field of battle.
For some time, however, Bengal and Orissa continued to require great
vigilance and prompt action on the part of the Mughal administrators.

The other principal events of this year were the building by the
Emperor at Fatehpur-Sikri of an Ibadat-khana, or palace for the
reception of men of learning, genius, and solid acquirements. The
building was divided into four halls: the western to be used by
Saiyids, or descendants of the Prophet: the southern by the learned,
men who had studied and acquired knowledge: the northern by those
venerable for their wisdom and their subjection to inspiration. The
eastern hall was devoted to the nobles and officers of state, whose
tastes were in unison with those of one or other of the classes
referred to. When the building was finished, the Emperor made it a
practice to repair there every Friday night and on the nights of holy
days, and spend the night in the society of the occupants of the
halls, moving from one to the other and conversing. As a rule, the
members of each hall used to present to him one of their number whom
they considered most worthy of the notice and bounty of the Emperor.
The visits were always made opportunities for the distribution of
largesses, and scarcely one of {124} the guests ever went empty away.
The building was completed by the end of the year.

The following year was uneventful, but the year 1577 was marked by
that rebellion in Orissa under Daud of which I have already spoken.
The campaign was stirring whilst it lasted, but the death of Daud and
his uncle put an end to it.

This year, likewise, there was trouble in Rajputana. Alone of all the
sovereigns of the territories known by that name, the Rana of Mewar
had refused the matrimonial alliance offered to his female relatives
by Akbar. Descended, as he believed, from the immortal gods, he
regarded such an alliance as a degradation. He refused it then,
whilst he was yet struggling for existence. He refused it, though he
saw the Rajput prince whom he most hated, the Raja of Jodhpur,
enriched, in consequence of his compliance, by the acquisition of
four districts, yielding an ample revenue. He remained obdurate,
defying the power of Akbar. Rana Udai Singh had in 1568 lost