Jahangir- The Naturalist (An Old and Rare Book)

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To naturalists, Jahangir (Mughal Emperor of India, 1605- 1627) has been introduced through Dr. Salim Ali's article "The Mughal Emperor of India as naturalists and sportsmen" (J.B. Nat. Hist. Soc. Oct. 20, 1927). As we turn over the pages of the Memoirs of this illustrious king. the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (also called Waqiat-i-Jahangiri and Jahangirnamah) we come across descriptions of animals and plants providing as though, refreshing deviations from amidst of his somewhat monotonous narratives of political and court events. Occasionally we encounter also many observations on natural phenomena such as the appearance of meteors, descriptions of medical interest, such as the rabies, or rats being the carriers of plague, or accounts of industrial processes, such as manufacture of beverages, preparation of rose-scent or the smelting of meteorite iron for the making of swords and daggers. All these put together make interesting reading both for the curious layman as well as the scientist. The present monograph is planned chiefly in order to have all this material from Jahan- gir's Memoirs assembled at one place in a systematic form.

The monograph is divided into five sections: The first is comprised of thirty three major items on as many species of animals, the second concerns eleven species of plants (some represented by their fruits or flowers). In these sections, note has also been taken of Jahangir's incidental references, respectively to 36 species of animals and 57 of plants. The information given by Jahangir includes distinctive characters, ecology, anatomical notes, habitats, local names, weights and measurements.

Jahangir did not belong to the community of the scientists. Nevertheless, his Memoirs that form primarily a historical document of his reign, contain a good deal of information on natural history and science which, for its accuracy, meticulousness of observation and originality, could well qualify any author of his times to claims of such distinction. Jahangir maintained a big aviary and a menagerie, carried out observations, tests and experiments. Often he would order a specimen to be dissected in his presence, keep records for ascertaining long range phenomena and take down measurements and weights.

The painters of his court, especially Ustad Mansur, who held from him the title of Nadiru'l-Asr (unique genius of the time) excelled in the art of animal and floral portaiture. The surviving items from Jahangir's collection of the paintings, make a veritable catalogue of strikingly accurate representations, which can be of use even for the purposes of modern research.

Jahangir's interests were widely known. Foreign dignitaries. his own nobles, hermits, traders and commoners brought for him presents of animals from far and wide. This added to the variety of his knowledge. He speaks of the loriquet of Malaysia, the African zebra, the mottled polecat of Afghanistan, the rare pheasants of the Himalayas, the Tibetan yak and the domestic turkey of Europe.