ostensibly to be read out for his order, and royal
letters were still issued in his name and stamped
with his seal. The acute stage of the disease had
passed, no doubt. But his death was now regarded
as only a question of time.he is removed to Agra. He knew it, and in
the presence of the nobles appointed Dara as his
successor. Then, with his mind freed from earthly cares, he went to Agra to die there[1] quietly in
sight of the tomb of the wife he had loved so
well. A change of air had also
been advised by the doctors. On
18th October Shah Jahan left
Delhi and moved by easy stages to Agra. Sami
Ghat, on the Jumna, six miles above Agra Fort,
was reached on 5th November, and here he waited for an auspicious day. The journey had restored him to health and he now discarded drugs
as unnecessary. On the 26th, the day chosen by
the astrologers, he made a royal progress from
Bahadur-pura, down the Jumna, in a State barge,
the people thronging both banks for miles and
miles to gaze on their beloved and long-lost ruler.
Shouts of prayer and blessings for him filled the
air. In this way he entered Agra city and put up
in Dara's mansion on the river-bank. After nine
days he entered his sumptuous palace in the Fort
and there held a darbar. At Agra he lived for
- ↑ Kambu, 8b.