THE TWELVE INSTITUTES 297 and at present I drink wine solely to promote the diges- tion of my food. 5. Prohibition of seising houses and of cutting off the noses and ears of criminals. No one was per- mitted to take up his abode in the dwelling of another. I likewise issued an order prohibiting every one from cutting off the noses or ears of criminals for any offence, and I made a vow to heaven that I would never inflict this punishment on any one. 6. Prohibition of taking the property of another without his consent. Fief -holders and officers of lands belonging to the exchequer were forbidden to take the property of the peasants by force or to cultivate them on their own account; nor were these officials allowed to intermarry with the people in their districts without special permission. 7. Building of hospitals and appointment of phy- sicians to attend the sick. Hospitals were to be built in large cities and doctors were to be appointed to at- tend the sick. The expenses were to be paid from the royal treasury. 8. Prohibition of the slaughter of animals on cer- tain days. In imitation of my honoured father, the Emperor Akbar, I directed that every year from the eighteenth of Rabi'-al-awwal, my birthday, no animals should be slaughtered for a number of days correspond- ing to the years of my age. In every week, moreover, two days were to be exempted from slaughter: Thurs- day, the day of my accession, and Sunday, the birthday of my father.
