There is nothing to justify a suspicion of
the Emperor's connivance in the husband's death; nor do Indian
historians corroborate the invidious criticisms of "Normal" by
European travellers; on the contrary, they portray Nur-Mahall as a
pattern of all the virtues, and worthy to wield the supreme influence
which she obtained over the Emperor.' (Lane-Poole, _The History of
the Moghul Emperors of Hindustan illustrated by their Coins_, p.
xix.) The authorities on which this statement is founded are given in
_E. & D._, vol. vi, pp. 397 and 402-5. See also Blochmann, _Ain_,
vol. i, pp. 496, 524. Details of such stories in the various
chronicles always differ. Jahangir openly rejoiced in the death of
Sher Afgan, and it is by no means clear that he was not responsible
for the event. He was not troubled by nice scruples. The first
element in the lady's personal name seems to be _Mihr_, 'sun', not
_Muhr_, 'seal'. The words are identical in ordinary Persian writing.
11. The long interval which elapsed between Sher Afgan's death and
the marriage with the Emperor is a fact opposed to the assumptions
which the author adopts that Nur Mahall was 'nothing loth', and that
the death of her first husband was contrived by Jahangir.
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