[35] Later the
children are said to have learned to speak with extraordinary
difficulty as was to be expected.
[Footnote 35: J.T. Wheeler, IV, I, 174; Noer, I, 511, 512. A familiar
classical parallel to this incident is the experiment recorded by
Herodotus (II, 2) which the Egyptian king Psammetich is said to have
performed with two infants. It is related that after being shut up in
a goat's stable for two years separated from all human intercourse
these children repeatedly cried out the alleged Phrygian word [Greek:
bekhos], "bread," which in reality was probably simply an imitation of
the bleating of the goats. Compare Edward B. Tyler, _Researches into
the Early History of Mankind_. 2nd edition, (London, 1870), page 81:
"It is a very trite remark that there is nothing absolutely incredible
in the story and that _Bek, bek_ is a good imitative word for bleating
as in [Greek: blechhaomai, mekhaomai], _bloeken, meckern_, etc."
Farther on we find the account of a similar attempt made by James IV
of Scotland as well as the literature with regard to other historical
and legendary precedents of this sort in both Orient and Occident.]
Akbar's repugnance to Islam developed into a complete revulsion
against every thing connected with this narrow religion and made the
great Emperor petty-souled in this particular.
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