Ferishta in his history [ii. 217 ff.] gives an animated picture of Durgavati, queen of Garha, defending the rights of her infant son against Akbar’s ambition. Like another Boadicea, she headed her army, and fought a desperate battle with Asaf Khan, in which she was wounded and defeated; but scorning flight, or to survive the loss of independence, she, like the antique Roman in such a predicament, slew herself on the field of battle. [For Durgāvati see Badaoni, trans. W. H. Lowe, ii. 65; Elliot-Dowson v. 169, 288, vi. 118 ff.; Sleeman, _Rambles_, 190 f. Whoever desires to judge of the comparative fidelity of the translations of this writer, by Dow [ii. 224 ff.] and Briggs, cannot do better than refer to this very passage. The former has clothed it in all the trappings of Ossianic decoration: the latter gives “a plain unvarnished tale,” which ought to be the aim of every translator. Footnote 4.24.22: _Sachha_ is very comprehensive; in common parlance it is the opposite of ‘untrue’; but it means ‘loyal, upright, just.’ Footnote 4.24.23: [_Āīn_, iii. 114.] Footnote 4.24.24: [_Ibid._ iii. 8.] Footnote 4.24.25: The autobiography of both these noble Tatar princes are singular compositions, and may be given as standards of Eastern intellectual acquirement. They minutely note the progress of refinement and luxury. [The sweet melon was probably introduced from Persia, but some varieties of the plant seem to be indigenous. India, however, has a strong claim to ancient cultivation of the vine. Doubtless to the Portuguese may be assigned the credit of having conveyed both the tobacco plant and the knowledge of its properties to India and China (Watt, _Econ. Dict._ ii. 626, 628, vi. Part iv. 263, v. 361; _Id. Comm. Prod._ 437 f., 796, 1112; Yule, _Hobson-Jobson_, 2nd ed. 924 ff.)]. Footnote 4.24.26: [If the Greeks discovered opium, the Arabs were chiefly concerned in disseminating in the East the knowledge of the plant and its uses (Watt, _Econ. Dict._ vi. Part i. 24 ff.; _Comm. Prod._ 846).] Footnote 4.24.27: _‘Araq_, ‘essence’; whence _arrack_ and _rack_. Footnote 4.24.28: