Part 12

On the same day the envoy of the Sharif of Mecca came to wait on me with a letter and the curtain of the door of the Ka`bah. He showed great friendship towards me. The said envoy had bestowed on him 500,000 dam, equal to 7,000 or 8,000 rupees, and I resolved to send the Sharif the equivalent of 100,000 rupees of the precious things of Hindustan. On Thursday, the 10th of the month, a piece of the Subah of Multan was added to the jagir of Mirza Ghazi, though the whole of the province of Thattah had been given to him in jagir. He was also promoted to the rank of 5,000 personalty and 5,000 horse. The government of Qandahar and the protection of that region, which is the frontier of Hindustan, were assigned to his excellent administration. Conferring on him a robe of honour and a jewelled sword I gave him his leave. In fine, Mirza Ghazi possessed perfection, [253] and he made also good verses. He used Waqari as his takhallus, or poetic name (Ruz-i-rushan, Bhopal 1297, p. 455; also Ma'asiru-l-umara, vol. iii, p. 347). This is one of his couplets:--

"If my weeping should cause her to smile, what wonder? Though the cloud weep, the cheek of the rose-bush smiles."

On the 15th the offering of the Khankhanan was presented to me: 40 elephants, some jewelled and decorated vessels, some Persian robes, and cloth that they make in the Deccan and those parts, had been sent by him, altogether of the value of 150,000 rupees. Mirza Rustam and most of the office-holders of that Subah had also sent good offerings. Some of the elephants were approved. News of the death of Ray Durga, [254] who was one of those who had been brought up by my revered father, arrived on the 18th of the month. He had been in attendance for forty years and more in the position of an Amir on my revered father, until, by degrees, he had risen in rank to 4,000. Before he obtained the good fortune of waiting on my father he was one of the trusted servants of Rana Uday Singh. He died on the 29th. He was a good military man. Sultan Shah, the Afghan, whose disposition was turbulent and mischievous, passed his time in the service of Khusrau, and had his complete intimacy, so much so that this rebel was the cause of the running away of that unfortunate one. After the defeat and capture of Khusrau he went off alone(?) [255] into the skirts of the hills of Khizrabad and that region. At last he was made prisoner by Mir Mughal, the karori of that place. As he had been the cause of the destruction and ruin of such a son, I ordered them to shoot him with arrows on the plain of Lahore. The aforesaid karori was promoted to higher rank, and was dignified with a grand dress of honour. On the 29th Shir Khan, the Afghan, who was one of my old servants, died. One might say that he took his own life, because he was continually drinking wine, to the extent that in every watch he used to drink four brimming cups of arrack of double strength. He had broken the fast of the Ramazan of the past year, and took it into his head this year that he would fast in the month of Sha`ban on account of his having broken the fast of Ramazan, and would fast for two months together. In abandoning his usual custom, which is a second nature, he became weak and his appetite left him, and becoming very weak he passed away in his 57th year. Patronising his children and brothers according to their circumstances, I bestowed on them a portion of his rank and jagir.

On the 1st of the month of Shawwal I went to visit Maulana Muhammad Amin, who was one of the disciples of Shaikh Mahmud Kamangar (the bow-maker). The Shaikh Mahmud [256] mentioned was one of the great men of his age, and H.M. Humayun had entire reliance on him, so much so that he once poured water on his hands. The aforesaid Maulana is a man of good disposition, and is free, notwithstanding the attachments and accidents (of the world), a faqir in manner and ways, and acquainted with brokenness of spirit. His company pleased me exceedingly. I explained to him some of the griefs that had entangled themselves in my mind and heard from him good advice and agreeable words, and found myself greatly consoled at heart. Having presented him with 1,000 bigha and 1,000 rupees in cash by way of maintenance, I took leave. One watch of day had passed on Sunday when I left Lahore on my way to the capital of Agra. Having made Qilij Khan governor, Mir Qawamu-d-din diwan, Shaikh Yusuf bakhshi, and Jamalu-d-din kotwal, and presented each according to his circumstances with dresses of honour, I turned towards my desired way. On the 25th, having passed over the river at Sultanpur, I proceeded two kos and halted at Nakodar. My revered father had given Shaikh Abu-l-fazl [257] gold of the weight of 20,000 rupees to build an embankment between these two parganahs and prepare a waterfall, and in truth I found a halting-place exceedingly pleasant and fresh. I ordered Mu`izzu-l-mulk, the jagirdar of Nakodar, to erect a building and prepare a garden on one side of this embankment, so that wayfarers seeing it might be pleased. On Saturday, 10th Zi-l-qa`da, Waziru-l-mulk, who before my ascension had the good fortune to serve me, and was Diwan of my establishment, died of diarrhoea. At the end of his life a son of evil fortune (lit footsteps) had been born in his house, who in the space of forty days ruined [258] (Erskine has 'ate') both his father and mother, and who himself died when he was two or three years old. It occurred to me that the house of Waziru-l-mulk must not all at once be ruined, and patronising Mansur, his brother's son, I gave him rank. Indeed, [259] he showed no love to me (the scent of love did not come from him). On Monday, the 14th, I heard on the road that between Panipat and Karnal there were two tigers that were giving much trouble to wayfarers. I collected the elephants and sent them off. When I arrived at their (the tigers') place I mounted a female elephant, and ordered them to place the elephants round them after the manner of a qamargah (enclosure), and by the favour of Allah killed both with a gun, and thus got rid of the raging tigers that had closed the road to the servants of God. On Thursday, the 18th, [260] I halted at Delhi and alighted at the residence which Salim Khan, the Afghan, had made in the days of his rule in the middle of the river Jumna and called Salimgadh. My revered father had given the place to Murtaza Khan, who was originally an inhabitant of Delhi. The aforesaid Khan had built on the margin of the river a terrace of stone excessively pleasant and bright. Below that building [261] near the water there was made a square chaukandi with glazed tiles by the order of H.M. Humayun, and there are few places with such air. In the days when the late king Humayun honoured Delhi with his presence, he often sat there with his intimates, and associated with the members of his assemblies. I passed four days in that place, and with my courtiers and intimates enjoyed myself with wine parties. Mu`azzam Khan, who was governor of Delhi, presented offerings. The jagirdars and citizens also made offerings and presents, each according to his circumstances. I was desirous to employ some days in a qamargah hunt in the parganah of Palam, which is one of the places near the aforesaid city and one of the fixed hunting-grounds. As it was represented to me that the (fortunate) hour for approaching Agra had come very near, and another proper hour was not to be obtained at all near that time, I gave up the intention, and embarking on board a boat went on by water. On the 20th of the month of Zi-l-qa`da four boys and three girls, children of Mirza Shahrukh, whom he had not mentioned to my father, were brought. I placed the boys among my confidential servants, and made over the girls to the attendants of the ladies of the harem in order that they might look after them. On the 21st of the same month Raja Man Singh came and waited on me from the fort of Rohtas, which is in the province of Patna and Behar, after orders had been sent to him six or seven times. He also, like Khan A`zam, is one of the hypocrites and old wolves of this State. What they have done to me, and what has happened to them from me, God the knower of secrets knows; possibly no one could mention such another case(?). The aforesaid Raja produced as offerings 100 elephants, male and female, not one of which was fit to be included among my private elephants. As he was one of those who had been favoured by my father, I did not parade his offences before his face, but with royal condescension promoted him.

On this day they brought a talking jal (lark) which distinctly said "Miyan Tuti." It was very strange and wonderful. In Turki they call this bird turghai. [262]

THE THIRD NEW YEAR'S FEAST FROM MY ACCESSION.

On Thursday, the 2nd Zi-l-hijja, corresponding with the 1st Farwardin (19th March, 1608), the Sun, which enlightens and heats the world with its splendour, changed from the constellation of Pisces to the joyful mansion of Aries, the abode of pleasure and rejoicing. It gave the world fresh brightness, and being aided by the Spring clothed those who had been plundered by the cold season, and tyrannised over by the Autumn, with the robes of honour of the New Year and the garments of emerald green, and gave them compensation and recuperation.

"Again to Not-Being came the world's lord's order, 'Restore what thou hast devoured.'"

The feast of the New Year was held in the village of Rankatta, [263] which is five kos off (from Agra), and at the time of transit (of the sun) I seated myself on the throne with glory and gladness. The nobles and courtiers and all the servants came forward with their congratulations. In the same assembly I bestowed on Khanjahan the rank of 5,000 personal and horse. I selected Khwaja Jahan for the post of bakhshi. Dismissing Wazir Khan from the Viziership of the province of Bengal, I sent in his place Abu-l-hasan Shihabkhani; and Nuru-d-din Quli became kotwal of Agra. As the glorious mausoleum of the late king Akbar was on the road, it entered my mind that if in passing by I should have the good fortune of a pilgrimage to it, it might occur to those who were short-sighted that I visited it because it was the place where my road crossed. I accordingly had determined that this time I would enter Agra, and after that would go on foot on this pilgrimage to the shrine, which is two and a half kos off, in the same way that the Hazrat (my father), on account of my birth, had gone from Agra to Ajmir. Would that I might also traverse the same on my head! When two watches of day had passed of Saturday, the 5th [264] of the month, at an auspicious hour, I returned towards Agra, and scattering with two hands 5000 rupees in small coins on the way, entered the august palace which was inside the fort. On this day Raja Bir Singh Deo brought a white cheeta to show me. Although other sorts of creatures, both birds and beasts, have white varieties, which they call tuyghan, [265] I had never seen a white cheeta. Its spots, which are (usually) black, were of a blue colour, and the whiteness of the body was also inclined to bluishness. Of the albino animals that I have seen there are falcons, sparrow-hawks, hawks (shikara) that they call bigu [266] in the Persian language, sparrows, crows, partridges, florican, podna [267] (Sylvia olivacea), and peacocks. Many hawks in aviaries are albinos. I have also seen white flying mice (flying squirrels) and some albinos among the black antelope, which is a species found only in Hindustan. Among the chikara (gazelle), which they call safida in Persia, I have frequently seen albinos. At this time Ratan, son of Bhoj-hara, who is one of the chief Rajput nobles, came to the camp and waited on me, bringing three elephants as an offering. One of these was much approved, and they valued it in the office at 15,000 rupees. It was entered among my private elephants, and I gave it the name of Ratangaj. The value of elephants of the former great Rajas of India was not more than 25,000 rupees, but they have now become very dear. I dignified Ratan with the title of Sarbuland Ray. I promoted Miran Sadr Jahan to the rank of 5,000 personal and 1,500 horse and Mu`azzam Khan to 4,000 personal and 2,000 horse. `Abdu-llah Khan was promoted to 3,000 and 500 horse. Muzaffar Khan and Bhao Singh each obtained the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,000 horse. Abu-l-hasan diwan had 1,000 and 500 horse. I`timadu-d-daulah that of 1,000 personal and 250 horse. On the 25th Raja Suraj Singh, the maternal uncle of my son Khurram, came and paid his respects to me. He brought with him Shyam, the cousin of the turbulent Umra. In truth he possesses some skill and understands well how to ride elephants. Raja Suraj Singh had brought with him a poet who wrote verse in the Hindi tongue. He laid before me a poem in my praise to the purport that if the Sun had a son it would be always day and never would be night, because after his setting that son would sit in his place and keep the world in light. Praise and thanksgiving to God that God gave your father such a son that after his death men should not wear mourning which is like the night. The Sun had envy on this account, saying, "Would I might also have a son who, taking my place, should not allow night to approach the world, for from the light of your rising and the illumination of your justice, notwithstanding such a misfortune, the spheres are so bright that one might say 'night had neither name nor sign.'" Few Hindi verses of such freshness of purport have ever reached my ear. As a reward for this eulogy I gave him an elephant. The Rajputs call a poet Charan (name of a caste who are many of them poets). One of the poets of the age has turned [268] these sentiments into (Persian) verse--

"If the world-illuminator had a son, There would be no night; it would be always day; For when his gold-crowned head was hidden His son would display his tiara peak. Thanks that after such a father Such a son sits in his place. For from the demise of that king No one made black robes for mourning."

On Thursday, the 8th Muharram, 1017 [269] (24th April, 1608), Jalalu-d-din Mas`ud, who held the rank of 400 personal and was not wanting in bravery, and who in several battles had done great deeds, died at about the age of 50 or 60 years of diarrhoea. He was an opium-eater, and used to eat opium after breaking it in pieces, like cheese, and it is notorious that he frequently ate opium from the hand of his own mother. When his disease became violent and there was a prospect of his death, his mother from excessive love for him ate more opium than was right out of that which she used to give her son, and two or three hours after his death she also died. I have never heard of such affection on the part of a mother for her son. It is the custom among the Hindus that after the death of their husbands women burn themselves, whether from love, or to save the honour of their fathers, or from being ashamed before their sons-in-law, but nothing like this was ever manifested on the part of mothers, Musulman or Hindu. On the 15th of the same month I presented my best horse by way of favour to Raja Man Singh. Shah `Abbas had sent this horse with some other horses and fitting gifts by Minuchihr, one of his confidential slaves, to the late king Akbar. From being presented with this horse the Raja was so delighted that if I had given him a kingdom I do not think he would have shown such joy. At the time they brought the horse it was three or four years old. It grew up in Hindustan. The whole of the servants of the Court, Moghul and Rajput together, represented that no horse like this had ever come from Iraq to Hindustan. When my revered father gave the province of Khandesh and the Subah of the Deccan to my brother Daniyal, and was returning to Agra, he by way of kindness told Daniyal to ask of him whatever he desired. Seizing the opportunity, he asked for this horse, and he accordingly gave it to him. On Tuesday, the 20th, a report came from Islam Khan with the news of the death of Jahangir Quli Khan, the governor of the Subah of Bengal, who was my special slave. On account of his natural excellence and innate merit he had been enrolled in the list of the great Amirs. I was much grieved at his death. I bestowed the rule of Bengal and the tutorship to Prince Jahandar on my farzand [270] Islam Khan, and in his place gave the government of the Subah of Behar to Afzal Khan (son of Abu-l-fazl). The son of Hakim `Ali, whom I had sent on some duties to Burhanpur, came and brought with him some Karnatic jugglers who had no rivals or equals; for instance, one of them played with ten balls, each of which was equal to an orange and one to a citron, and one to a surkh, [271] in such a way that notwithstanding some were small and some large he never missed one, and did so many kinds of tricks that one's wits became bewildered. At the same time a dervish from Ceylon came and brought a strange animal called a deonak [272] (or devang). Its face was exactly like a large bat, and the whole shape was like that of a monkey, but it had no tail. Its movements were like those of the black tailless monkey which they call ban manush (jungle man) in the Hindi language. Its body was like that of a young monkey two or three months old. It had been with the dervish for five years. [273] It appeared that the animal would never grow larger. Its food is milk and it also eats plantains. As the creature appeared very strange, I ordered the artists to take a likeness of it in various kinds of movement. It looked very ugly.

On the same day Mirza Faridun Barlas was promoted to the rank of 1,500 personal and 1,300 horse. An order was given that Payanda [274] Khan Moghul, as he had reached old age after exerting himself as a soldier, should receive a jagir equal to 2,000 personal. Ilf Khan was promoted to the rank of 700 personal and 500 horse. The rank of Islam Khan, my son (farzand), the governor of the Subah of Bengal, was fixed at 4,000 personal and 3,000 horse. The guardianship of the fort of Rohtas was bestowed on Kishwar Khan, son of Qutbu-d-din Khan Koka. Ihtimam Khan was raised to the rank of 1,000 personal and 300 horse, and made mir bahr (admiral) and was appointed to the charge of the nawara (fleet) of Bengal. On the 1st Safar Shamsu-d-din Khan, son of Khan A`zam, made an offering of ten elephants, and, receiving the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,500 horse, was selected for the title of Jahangir Quli Khan, and Zafar Khan received the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,000 horse. As I had demanded in marriage the daughter of Jagat Singh, eldest son of Raja Man Singh, I on the 16th sent 80,000 rupees for the sachaq (a marriage present) to the house of the aforesaid Raja in order to dignify him. Muqarrab Khan sent from the port of Cambay a European curtain (tapestry), the like of which in beauty no other work of the Frank painters had ever been seen. On the same day my aunt, Najibu-n-nisa Begam, [275] died in the 61st year of her age of the disease of consumption and hectic fever. I promoted her son, Mirza Wali, to the rank of 1,000 personal and 200 horse. A man of Mawara'a-n-nahr, of the name of Aqam Haji, who for a long time had been in Turkey and was not without reasonableness and religious knowledge, and who called himself the ambassador of the Turkish Emperor, waited upon me at Agra. He had an unknown writing (? illegible letter). Looking to his circumstances and his proceedings none of the servants of the Court believed in his being an ambassador. When Timur conquered Turkey, and Yildirim Bayazid, the ruler of that place, fell alive into his hands, he, after levying tribute and taking one year's revenue, determined to hand back into his possession the whole of the country of Turkey. Just at that time Yildirim Bayazid died, and (Timur), having handed over the kingdom to his son Musa Chelebi, returned. From that time until now, notwithstanding such favours, no one had come on the part of the emperors, nor has any ambassador been sent: how, then, can it now be believed that this person from Mawara'a-n-nahr should have been sent by the emperor? I could in no way understand the affair, and no one could bear witness to the accuracy of his claim: I therefore told him to go wherever he might wish. On the 4th Rabi`u-1-awwal the daughter of Jagat Singh entered the harem, and the marriage ceremony was performed in the house of Her Highness Maryam-zamani. Amongst the things sent with her by Raja Man Singh were 60 elephants.