Part 21

On Thursday, the 22nd Shahriwar, corresponding with 17th Rajab, 1021, the feast of my solar weighing took place in the house of Maryam-zamani. It is an approved custom with me to weigh myself in this manner. The late king Akbar, who was the place of manifestation of kindness and grace, also approved of the custom, and twice in every year weighed himself against several sorts of metals, gold, silver, and many precious articles, once according to the solar and once according to the lunar year, and divided their total value, which was worth about a lakh of rupees, among faqirs and needy people. I also observe this annual custom and weigh myself in the same manner, and give those valuables to faqirs. Mu`taqid Khan, Diwan of Bengal, who had been relieved from that service, produced before me the sons and brothers and some of the servants of `Usman, whom Islam Khan had sent with him to the Court. The charge of each one of the Afghans was entrusted to a responsible servant. Then he (Mu`taqid) produced his own offering, which consisted of twenty-five elephants, two rubies, a jewelled phul katara [379] (a kind of dagger), trustworthy eunuchs, Bengal stuffs, etc. Mir Miran, son of Sultan Khwaja, who was in the Deccan army, obtained the honour of kissing the threshold and gave a ruby as an offering. As between Qilij Khan, leader of the army of Bangash on the borders of Kabul, and the Amirs of that Subah who had been sent as companions to him under his leadership, there were quarrels, especially with Khan Dauran, I sent Khwaja Jahan to make enquiry as to which side was in fault. On the 11th of the month of Mihr, Mu`taqid Khan was appointed to the high dignity of bakhshi, and his mansab was raised to 1,000 personal and 300 horse. Raising for the second time the mansabs of Muqarrab Khan a little, I made it 2,500 personal and 1,500 horse by an increase of 500. On the representation of the Khankhanan, Faridun Khan Barlas was raised to the mansab, original and increase, of 2,500 personal and 2,000 horse. Ray Manohar received that of 1,000 personal and 800 horse, and Raja Bir Singh Deo that of 4,000 personal and 2,200 horse. Bharat, grandson of Ramchand Bandilah, I, after the latter's death, honoured with the title of Raja. On the 28th Aban, Zafar Khan, having come according to summons from the Subah of Gujarat, waited on me. He brought as offerings a ruby and three pearls. On the 6th Azar, corresponding with the 3rd Shawwal, news came from Burhanpur that the Amiru-l-umara had died on Sunday, the 27th Aban, in the parganah of Nihalpur. After the illness he had at Lahore his intelligence appeared to be less, and a great loss of memory happened to him. He was very sincere. It is sad that he left no son capable of patronage and favour. Chin Qilij Khan came from his father, who was at Peshawar, on the 20th Azar, and offered (on his father's behalf) 100 muhrs and 100 rupees, and also presented the offerings he had of his own in the shape of a horse and cloth stuffs and other things. To the government of Behar I promoted Zafar Khan, who is one of the trustworthy house-born ones and foster-children, and increasing his mansab by 500 personal and horse, I made it up to 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse, and also honouring his brothers with robes of honour and horses, allowed them to go off to that province. He had always hoped that he might obtain some separate service in order that he might show his natural ability. I also desired to prove him and make this service the touchstone by which to try him. As it was the season for travelling and hunting, on Tuesday, the 2nd Zi-l-qa`da (25th December, 1612), corresponding with the 4th Day, I left Agra with the intention of hunting and encamped in the Dahrah garden, remaining there four days. [380] On the 10th of the same month the news came of the death of Salima Sultan Begam, who had been ill in the city. Her mother was Gul-rukh Begam, daughter of King Babar, and her father Mirza Nuru-d-din Muhammad, of the Naqshbandi Khwajas. She was adorned with all good qualities. In women this degree of skill and capacity is seldom found. H.M. Humayun, by way of kindness (to Bairam), had betrothed her who was his sister's daughter to Bairam Khan. After his death, in the beginning of the reign of the late king Akbar, the marriage took place. After the said Khan had been killed, my revered father married her himself. She received mercy (died) in the 60th year of her age. [381] On the same day I marched from the Dahrah garden and sent I`timadu-d-daulah to bury her (lit. lift her up), and ordered him to place her in the building in the Mandakar garden which she herself had made. On the 17th of the month of Day, Mirza `Ali Beg Akbarshahi came from the army of the Deccan and waited on me. Khwaja Jahan, whom I had despatched to the Subah of Kabul, returned on the 21st of the same month and waited on me. The time for his going and coming had extended to three months and eleven days. He brought twelve muhrs and twelve rupees as an offering. On the same day Raja Ram Das also came from the victorious army of the Deccan and paid his respects, and made an offering of 101 muhrs. As robes of honour for the winter season had not been sent to the Amirs of the Deccan, they were forwarded by the hand of Hayat Khan. As the port of Surat had been assigned in jagir to Qilij Khan, he prayed that Chin Qilij (his son) might be despatched for its guardianship and administration. On the 27th Day he had a dress of honour, and being honoured with a dress of honour and the title of Khan, and a standard, obtained leave to go. For the purpose of advising the Amirs of Kabul, and on account of the disagreements that had sprung up between them and Qilij Khan, I sent Raja Ram Das, and bestowed on him a horse and robe of honour and 30,000 rupees for expenses. On the 6th Bahman, when my camp was in the parganah of Bari, there came the news of the death of Khwajagi Muhammad Husain, who was of the ancient servants of this State. His elder brother, Muhammad Qasim Khan, in the time of my revered father, found great favour, and Khwaja Muhammad Husain as well was one of his confidential servants, and held employments such as that of superintendent of the kitchen (bakawul) and such like. He left no son and was beardless, and not a single hair of moustache or whiskers appeared on him. At the time of speaking he spoke very shrilly, and was looked upon as an eunuch. Shah-nawaz Khan, whom the Khankhanan had sent from Burhanpur to make certain representations, came on the 15th of the same month and waited on me. He presented 100 muhrs and 100 rupees. As the affairs of the Deccan, in consequence of the hasty proceedings of `Abdu-llah Khan and the treachery of the Amirs, did not present a good prospect, the Dakhanis obtained an opportunity for speaking and began to talk of peace to the Amirs and well-wishers there. `Adil Khan embraced the robe of loyalty, and prayed that if the affairs of the Deccan were entrusted to him he would so arrange that some of the districts which had been taken out of the possession of the officers of the State should be restored. The loyal ones, looking to the necessities of the time, represented this, and a settlement of some kind was arrived at, and the Khankhanan undertook to settle matters. The Khan A`zam was also desirous of putting down the rebel Rana, and begged for this service by way of obtaining merit (as a ghazi). He was ordered to go to Malwa, which was his jagir, and after arranging matters there to take up this duty. The mansab of Abu-l-bi Uzbeg [382] was increased by 1,000 personal and 500 horse to 4,000 personal and 3,500 horse. My hunting went on for 2 months and 20 days, and during that time I went out every day to hunt. As not more than 50 or 60 days remained before the world-illumining New Year, I returned, and on the 24th Isfandiyar encamped in the Dahrah garden. The courtiers and some of the mansabdars, who by order had remained in the city, came on that day and waited on me. Muqarrab Khan presented a decorated jar, Frank hats, and a jewelled sparrow (?). I remained three days in the garden, and on the 27th Isfandiyar entered the city. During this time [383] 223 head of deer, etc., 95 nilgaw, 2 boars, 36 cranes (or herons), etc., and 1,457 fish were killed.

THE EIGHTH NEW YEAR AFTER THE AUSPICIOUS ACCESSION.

The eighth year after my accession, corresponding with Muharram, 1022. On the night of Thursday, the 27th Muharram, corresponding with the 1st Farwardin in the eighth year after my accession, after 3 1/2 gharis of day had elapsed, his honour the sun passed from the constellation of Pisces to that of Aries, which is his abode of rejoicing and victory. Early in the morning of the New Year's Day the feast was prepared and adorned after the custom of every year. At the end of that day I sat on the throne of State, and the Amirs and ministers of the State and the courtiers of the palace came to salute and congratulate me. On these days of happy augury I sat the whole day in the public audience hall. Those who had anything to ask or claim presented their petitions, and the offerings of the servants of the palace were laid before me. Abu-l-bi, governor of Qandahar, had sent for an offering Iraq horses and hunting dogs, and they were brought before me. On the 9th of the same month Afzal Khan came from the Subah of Behar, and in waiting on me presented 100 muhrs and 100 rupees, as well as an elephant. On the 12th the offering of I`timadu-d-daulah was laid before me, consisting of jewels, cloths, and other things. That which pleased me attained to the dignity of acceptance. Of the elephants of Afzal Khan's offering ten others were inspected on this day. On the 13th the offerings of Tarbiyat Khan were laid before me. Mu`taqid Khan bought a house at Agra, and passed some days in that place. Misfortunes happened to him one after another. We have heard that prosperity and bad luck depend on four things: first, upon your wife; second, upon your slave; third upon your house; fourth, upon your horse. In order to know the prosperity or ill-luck of a house a rule has been established, indeed they say it is infallible. One must clear a small piece of the site from earth, and again strew the earth upon the same ground. If it cover it, one may call it middling good fortune for that house, neither prosperity nor misfortune; if it become less (i.e. does not cover it exactly) it points to ill-luck, and if it does more (than cover it) it is fortunate and auspicious. On the 14th the mansab of I`tibar Khan was raised from 1,000 and 300 horse to 2,000 personal and 500 horse. I increased the mansab of Tarbiyat Khan by 500 personal and 50 horse, so that it became 2,000 personal and 850 horse. Hushang, son of Islam Khan, who was in Bengal with his father, came at this time and paid his respects. He brought with him some Maghs, whose country is near Pegu and Arracan, and the country is still in their possession. I made some enquiries as to their customs and religion. Briefly they are animals in the form of men. They eat everything there is either on land or in the sea, and nothing is forbidden by their religion. They eat with anyone. They take into their possession (marry) their sisters by another mother. In face they are like the Qara Qalmaqs, but their language is that of Tibet and quite unlike Turki. There is a range of mountains, one end of which touches the province of Kashghar and the other the country of Pegu. They have no proper religion or any customs that can be interpreted as religion. They are far from the Musulman faith and separated from that of the Hindus.

Two or three days before the Sharaf (the sun's highest point) my son Khurram desired me to go to his house that he might present his New Year's offerings from that place. I agreed to his request, and remained for one day and one night at his house. He presented his offerings. I took what I approved of and gave him back the rest. The next day Murtaza Khan presented his offerings. Every day until the day of culmination (ruz-i-sharaf) the offerings of one or of two or three of the Amirs were laid before me. On Monday, the 19th Farwardin, the assembly of the Sharaf was held. On that auspicious day I sat on the throne of State, and an order was given that they should produce all sorts of intoxicating things, such as wine, etc., so that every one according to his desire might take what he liked. Many took wine. The offerings of Mahabat Khan were on this day brought to me. I gave one gold muhr of 1,000 tolas, which is called the star of destiny (kaukab-i-tali`), to Yadgar `Ali Khan, the ambassador of the ruler of Iran. The feast went off well. After the assembly broke up I ordered that they might carry off the furniture and decorations. The offering of the Muqarrab Khan had not been arranged on New Year's Day. All sorts of rareties and excellent presents were now produced which he had collected together. Amongst others, twelve Iraq and Arab horses that had been brought in a ship, and jewelled saddles of Frank workmanship [384] were produced before me. To the mansab of Nawazish Khan 500 horse were added so as to make it one of 2,000 personal and horse. An elephant called Bansibadan, which Islam Khan had sent from Bengal, was brought to me and put among my special elephants. On the 3rd Urdibihisht, Khwaja Yadgar, brother of `Abdu-llah Khan, came from Gujarat and waited on me; he offered 100 Jahangiri muhrs. After he had been in attendance a few days he was honoured with the title of Sardar Khan. As a competent bakhshi had to be sent to the army of Bangash and those regions, I chose Mu`taqid Khan for this duty, and increased his mansab by 300 personal and 50 horse so that it became 1,500 with 350 horse, and dismissed him. It was settled that he must go quickly. I sent off Muhammad Husain Chelebi, who understood the purchase of jewels and collecting curiosities, with money to go by way of Iraq to Constantinople and buy and bring for the Sarkar curiosities and rareties. For this purpose it was necessary that he should pay his respects to the ruler of Iran. I had given him a letter and a memorandum (of what he was to procure). Briefly, he saw my brother, Shah `Abbas, in Mashhad, and the king enquired from him what kind of things should be brought for his master's Sarkar. As he was urgent, Chelebi showed the list he had brought with him. In that list there were entered good turquoise and mumiya (bitumen) from the mine of Ispahan. He told him that these two articles were not to be bought, but he would send them for me. He authorized Uwaisi Tupchi (gunner), who was one of his private servants, to hand over to him six bags (ambancha) of turquoise earth holding about 30 seers, with 14 tolas of mumiya and four Iraq horses, one of which was a piebald, and he wrote a letter containing many, many expressions of friendship. With regard to the inferior quality of the turquoise dust (khaka) and the small quantity of mumiya he made many apologies. The khaka appeared very inferior. Although the jewellers and makers of rings made every endeavour, no stone that was fit to be made into a finger ring could be produced. Probably in these days turquoise dust is not procurable from the mines such as it was in the time of the late king Tahmasp. He mentioned all this in the letter. With regard to the effect of mumiya I had heard much from scientists, but when I tried it no result was apparent. I do not know whether physicians have exaggerated its effect, or whether its efficacy had been lessened by its being stale. At any rate, I gave it to a fowl with a broken leg to drink in larger quantity than they said and in the manner laid down by the physicians, and rubbed some on the place where it was broken, and kept it there for three days, though it was said to be sufficient to keep it from morning till evening. But after I had examined it, no effect was produced, and the broken place remained as it was. [385] In a separate letter the Shah had written a recommendation of Salamu-llah, the Arab. I immediately increased his mansab and his jagir.

I sent one of my private elephants with trappings to `Abdu-llah Khan and gave another to Qilij Khan. I ordered that assignments (tankhwah) should be made to 12,000 horse on the establishment [386] of `Abdu-llah Khan at the rate of three horses and two horses for each trooper. As previously with a view to service in Junagarh I had increased the mansab of his brother Sardar Khan by 500 personal and 300 horse, and had afterwards assigned the duty to Kamil Khan, I ordered that he should retain his increase and that it should be counted (permanently) in his mansab. I increased the rank of Sarfaraz Khan, which was that of 1,500 personal and 500 horse, by 200 horse more. On the 27th Urdibihisht, corresponding with the 26th Rabi`u-l-awwal, in the eighth year of my reign, in the year 1022 of the Hijra era, on Thursday, the meeting for my lunar weighing took place in the house of Maryam-zamani (his mother). Some of the money that was weighed I ordered to be given to the women and the deserving ones who had assembled in my mother's house. On the same day I increased by 1,000 the mansab of Murtaza Khan, so that it came to 6,000 personal and 5,000 horse. Khusrau Beg, a slave of Mirza Khan, came from Patna in the company of `Abdu-r-Razzaq Ma`muri and waited on me, and Sardar Khan, brother of `Abdu-llah Khan, obtained leave to go to Ahmadabad. An Afghan had brought from the Carnatic two goats that had pazahar (bezoar stones, an antidote against poison). I had always heard that an animal that has pazahar is very thin and miserable, but these goats were very fat and fresh. I ordered them to kill one of them, which was a female. Four pazahar stones became apparent, and this caused great astonishment.

It is an established fact that cheetahs in unaccustomed places do not pair off with a female, for my revered father once collected together 1,000 cheetahs. He was very desirous that they should pair, but this in no way came off. He had many times coupled male and female cheetahs together in gardens, but there, too, it did not come off. At this time a male cheetah, having slipped its collar, went to a female and paired with it, and after two and a half months three young ones were born and grew up. This has been recorded because it appeared strange. As cheetahs did not pair with cheetahs, (still less) had it ever been heard in former times(?) that tigers mated in captivity. As in the time of my reign wild beasts have abandoned their savagery, tigers have become so tame that troops of them without chains or restraint go about amongst the people, and they neither harm men nor have any wildness or alarm. It happened that a tigress became pregnant and after three months bore three cubs; it had never happened that a wild tiger after its capture had paired. It had been heard from philosophers that the milk of a tigress was of great use for brightening eyes. Although we made every effort that the moisture of milk should appear in her breasts, we could not accomplish it. It occurs to me that as it is a raging creature, and milk appears in the breasts of mothers by reason of the affection they have for their young, as milk [387] comes into their breasts in connection with their young ones drinking and sucking at the time of their taking (the milk), their (the mothers') rage increases and the milk in their breasts is dried up.