Part 7

On Wednesday, Muharram 8th, I auspiciously entered the fort of Lahore. A number of loyalists represented to me that my return to Agra would be for the good of the State at this time when much was going amiss in Gujarat, in the Deccan, and in Bengal. This counsel did not meet with my approval, for the reports of Shah Beg Khan, the governor of Qandahar, showed that the officers of the Persian border were meditating an attack on that fortress. They had been moved thereto by the machinations of the residuum of the Mirzas of Qandahar's army, which was always shaking the chain of contention. The Persian officers had written letters to these malcontents, and there was likelihood of a disturbance. It occurred to me that the death of His Majesty Akbar and the unreasonable outbreak of Khusrau might put an edge on their design, and that they might attack Qandahar. What had occurred to my mind became a realized fact. The governor of Farah, the Malik of Sistan, and the jagirdars of that neighbourhood, with the assistance of Husain Khan, the governor of Herat, invaded Qandahar. Praise is due to the manliness and courage of Shah Beg Khan, who planted his foot firmly like a man, and strengthened the fort, and seated himself on the top of the third(?) citadel of the aforesaid fort in such a manner that outsiders could see his entertainments. During the siege he girded not his loins, but with bare head and feet arranged parties of pleasure; yet no day passed that he did not send a force from the fort to meet the foe and did not make manly efforts. This went on as long as he was in the fort. The Qizilbash army had invested on three sides. When news of this reached Lahore it was clearly advisable to remain in that neighbourhood. A large force was immediately appointed under the leadership of Mirza Ghazi, who was accompanied by a number of men of rank and servants of the Court, such as Qara Beg and Tukhta Beg, who had been promoted with the titles of Qara Khan and Sardar Khan. I appointed Mirza Ghazi to a mansab of 5,000 personal, and horsemen, and bestowed drums on him. Mirza Ghazi was the son of Mirza Jani Tarkhan, king of Thathah (Sind), and by the efforts of `Abdu-r-Rahim Khankhanan that country had been conquered in the reign of the late king. The country of Thathah was included in his jagir, and he held the rank with personality and horsemen of 5,000. After his death his son Mirza Ghazi was raised to his rank and service. Their ancestors were among the amirs of Sultan Husain Mirza Bay-qara, the ruler of Khurasan, and they were originally descended from the amirs of Timur (Sahib-qirani). Khwaja `Aqil was appointed bakhshi of this army; 43,000 rupees were given to Qara Khan for road expenses, and 15,000 to Naqdi Beg and Qilij Beg, who were to accompany Mirza Ghazi. I determined to stay at Lahore in order to settle this matter and with the intention of a tour to Kabul. About this time the rank of Hakim Fathu-llah was fixed, original and increased, at 1,000 personality and 300 horse. As Shaikh Husain Jami had had dreams about me which had come true, I gave him twenty lakhs of dams, equivalent to 30,000 or 40,000 rupees, for the expenses of himself and his monastery and the dervishes who were with him. On the 22nd I promoted `Abdu-llah Khan to the rank of 2,500 personal and 500 horse, original and increased. I ordered to be given to the ahadis two lakhs of rupees to be paid in advance and deducted by degrees from their monthly pay. I bestowed 6,000 rupees on Qasim Beg Khan, the son-in-law of Shah Beg Khan, and 3,000 rupees on Sayyid Bahadur Khan.

In Gobindwal, which is on the river Biyah (Beas), there was a Hindu named Arjun, [144] in the garments of sainthood and sanctity, so much so that he had captured many of the simple-hearted of the Hindus, and even of the ignorant and foolish followers of Islam, by his ways and manners, and they had loudly sounded the drum of his holiness. They called him Guru, and from all sides stupid people crowded to worship and manifest complete faith in him. For three or four generations (of spiritual successors) they had kept this shop warm. Many times it occurred to me to put a stop to this vain affair or to bring him into the assembly of the people of Islam.

At last when Khusrau passed along this road this insignificant fellow proposed to wait upon him. Khusrau happened to halt at the place where he was, and he came out and did homage to him. He behaved to Khusrau in certain special ways, and made on his forehead a finger-mark in saffron, which the Indians (Hinduwan) call qashqa, [145] and is considered propitious. When this came to my ears and I clearly understood his folly, I ordered them to produce him and handed over his houses, dwelling-places, and children to Murtaza Khan, and having confiscated his property commanded that he should be put to death.

There were two men named Raju and Amba, who, under the shadow of the protection of the eunuch Daulat Khan, made their livelihood by oppression and tyranny, and had done many acts of oppression in the few days that Khusrau was before Lahore. I ordered Raju to the gallows and a fine to be taken from Amba, who was reputed to be wealthy. In short, 15,000 rupees were collected from him, which sum I ordered them to expend on bulghur-khanas (refectories) and in charity.

Sa`du-llah Khan, son of Sa`d Khan, was promoted to the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,000 horse.

In his great desire to wait upon me, Parwiz traversed long distances in a short time, in the rainy season and incessant rain, and on Thursday, the 29th, when two watches and three ghari of day had passed, obtained the blessing of seeing me. With exceeding kindness and affection, I took him into the embrace of favour and kissed his forehead.

When this disgraceful conduct showed itself in Khusrau, I had resolved not to delay in any place till I had captured him. There was a probability that he might turn back towards Hindustan, so it appeared impolitic to leave Agra empty, as it was the centre of the State, the abode of the ladies of the holy harem, and the depository of the world's treasures. On these accounts I had written when leaving Agra to Parwiz, saying that his loyalty had had this result, that Khusrau had fled and that Fortune had turned her face toward himself; that I had started in pursuit of Khusrau, and that he should consequently dispose of the affairs of the Rana in some way according to the necessity of the time, and for the benefit of the kingdom should himself come quickly to Agra. I had delivered into his charge the capital and treasury, which was equal to the wealth of Qarun, [146] and I had commended him to the God of power. Before this letter reached Parwiz, the Rana had been so humbled that he had sent to Asaf Khan to say that as by his own acts he had come to shame and disgrace, he hoped that he would intercede for him in such a way that the prince would be content with his sending Bagha, [147] who was one of his sons. Parwiz had not agreed to this, and said that either the Rana himself should come or that he should send Karan. Meantime the news of Khusrau's disturbance arrived, and on its account Asaf Khan and other loyalists agreed to the coming of Bagha, who obtained the blessing of waiting on the prince near Mandalgarh.

Parwiz, leaving Raja Jagannath and most of the chiefs of his army, started for Agra with Asaf Khan and some of those near to him and his own attendants, and with him brought Bagha to the Court. When he came near Agra he heard the news of the victory over Khusrau and his capture, and after resting two days an order reached him that as matters appeared settled in all quarters he should betake himself to me, in order that on the prescribed date he might obtain the good fortune of waiting on me. I bestowed on him the parasol (aftab-gir), [148] which is one of the signs of royalty, and I gave him the rank of 10,000 and sent an order to the officials to grant him a tankhwah jagir. At this time I sent Mirza `Ali Beg to Kashmir; 10,000 rupees were delivered to Qazi `Izzatu-llah to divide amongst faqirs and the poor of Kabul. Ahmad Beg Khan was promoted to the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,250 horse, original and extra. At the same time Muqarrab Khan, who had been sent to Burhanpur to bring the children of Daniyal, returned after an absence of 6 months 22 days and had the honour of an audience, and related in detail what had occurred in those regions.

Saif Khan was promoted to the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,000 horse. Shaikh `Abdu-l-Wahhab [149] of the Bukhara sayyids, who was governor of Delhi under the late king, was dismissed from the post (by me) for certain ill-deeds done by his men, and was entered amongst the holders of subsistence lands and the arbab-i-sa`adat.

In the whole of the hereditary dominions, both the crown lands and the jagirs, I ordered the preparation of bulghur-khanas (free eating-houses), where cooked food might be provided for the poor according to their condition, and so that residents and travellers both might reap the benefit.

Amba [150] Khan Kashmiri, who was of the stock of the rulers of Kashmir, was selected for the rank of 1,000 personal and 300 horse. On Monday, Rabi`u-l-akhir 9th, I gave Parwiz a special sword; and jewelled swords were presented also to Qutbu-d-din Khan Koka and the Amiru-l-umara. I saw Daniyal's children, whom Muqarrab Khan had brought; there were three sons and four daughters. The boys bore the names Tahmuras, [151] Baysunghar, and Hushang. Such kindness and affection were shown by me to these children as no one thought possible. I resolved that Tahmuras, who was the eldest, should always be in waiting on me, and the others were handed over to the charge of my own sisters.

A special dress of honour was sent to Raja Man Singh in Bengal. I ordered a reward of 30 lakhs of dams to Mirza Ghazi. I bestowed on Shaikh Ibrahim, son of Qutbu-d-din Khan Koka, the rank of 1,000 personal and 300 horse, and dignified him with the title of Kishwar Khan.

As when I started in pursuit of Khusrau I had left my son Khurram in charge of the palaces and treasury, I now, when that affair had been settled, ordered the said son to attend upon Hazrat Maryam-zamani and the other ladies, and to escort them to me. When they reached the neighbourhood of Lahore, on Friday the 12th of the month mentioned, I embarked in a boat and went to a village named Dahr to meet my mother, and I had the good fortune to be received by her. After the performance of obeisance and prostration and greeting which is due from the young to the old according to the custom of Chingiz, the rules of Timur and common usage, and after worship of the King of the World (God), and after finishing this business, I obtained leave to return, and re-entered the fort of Lahore.

On the 17th, having appointed Mu`izzu-l-mulk bakhshi of the army against the Rana, I dismissed him to it. As news had come of the rebellion of Ray Ray Singh and his son, Dulip, in the neighbourhood of Nagor, I ordered Raja Jagannath to proceed against them with others of the servants of the State and Mu`izzu-l-mulk, and to put a stop to this disturbance. I gave 50,000 rupees to Sardar Khan, who had been appointed to the place of Shah Beg Khan as Governor of Qandahar, and I promoted him to the rank of 3,000 personal and 2,500 horse. To Khizr Khan, the late ruler of Khandesh, were given 3,000 rupees, and to his brother, Ahmad Khan, [152] who is one of the khanazadas of the State. Hashim Khan, son of Qasim Khan, who is one of the house-born of the State, and worthy of advancement, I promoted to the rank of 2,500 personal and 1,500 horse. I gave him also one of my own horses. I sent robes of honour to eight individuals amongst the nobles of the army of the Deccan. [153] Five thousand rupees were given to Nizam of Shiraz, the story-teller. Three thousand rupees were given for the expenses of the bulghur-khana of Kashmir to the wakil of Mirza `Ali Beg, the governor of that place, to send to Srinagar. I presented a jewelled dagger of the value of 6,000 rupees to Qutbu-d-din Khan.

News reached me that Shaikh Ibrahim Baba, the Afghan, had opened a religious establishment (lit. one of being a shaikh and having disciples) in one of the parganas [154] of Lahore, and as his doings were disreputable and foolish a considerable number of Afghans had collected round him. I ordered him to be brought and handed over to Parwiz to be kept in the fort of Chunar; so this vain disturbance was put an end to.

On Sunday, 7th Jumada-l-awwal, many of the mansabdars and ahadis were promoted: Mahabat Khan obtained the rank of 2,000 personal and 1,300 horse, Dilawar Khan 2,000 personal and 1,400 horse, Waziru-l-mulk 1,300 personal and 550 horse, Qayyam Khan 1,000 personal and horse, Shyam Singh 1,500 personal and 1,200 horse; in the same way forty-two mansabdars were promoted. On most days the same observances occur. I presented Parwiz with a ruby of the value of 25,000 rupees. On Wednesday the 9th of the aforesaid month, the 21st of Shahriwar, [155] after three watches and four gharis, the feast for my solar weighing, which is the commencement of the 38th year of my age, took place. According to custom they got ready the weighing apparatus and the scales in the house of Maryam-zamani (his mother). At the moment appointed blessings were invoked and I sate in the scales. Each suspending rope was held by an elderly person who offered up prayers. The first time the weight in gold came to three Hindustani maunds and ten seers. After this I was weighed against several metals, perfumes, and essences, up to twelve weighings, the details of which will be given hereafter. Twice a year I weigh myself against gold and silver and other metals, and against all sorts of silks and cloths, and various grains, etc., once at the beginning of the solar year and once at that of the lunar. The weight of the money of the two weighings I hand over to the different treasurers for faqirs and those in want. On the same auspicious day I promoted Qutbu-d-din Khan Koka, who for many years had expected such a day, [156] with various favours. First, I gave him the rank of 5,000 personal and horse, and with this a special robe of honour, a jewelled sword, and one of my own horses, with a jewelled saddle, and I gave him leave to go to the subahdarship of the province of Bengal and Orissa, which is a place for 50,000 horse. As a mark of honour he set off accompanied by a large force, and two lakhs of rupees were given him as a sumptuary allowance. My connection with his mother is such that as in my childhood I was under her guardianship and care, I have not so much affection for my own mother as for her. She is to me my gracious mother, and I do not hold him less dear than my own brothers and children. Qutbu-d-din is the foster-brother who is most fit for fosterage. I gave 300,000 rupees to his auxiliaries. On this day I sent 130,000 as a marriage present (sachiq) for the daughter of Pahari (his brother Murad), who had been betrothed to Parwiz.

On the 22nd, Baz Bahadur Qalmaq, who had long been guilty of evil practices in Bengal, by the guidance of fortune obtained the honour of kissing my threshold. I gave him a jewelled dagger, 8,000 rupees, and promoted him to the rank of 1,000 personal and horse. One lakh of rupees and cash and jewels were bestowed on Parwiz. Kesho Das Maru was promoted to the grade of 1,500 personal and horse. Abu-l-hasan, who had been the diwan and factotum of my brother Daniyal, together with his children, [157] had the honour of an audience, and was raised to the rank of 1,000 personal and 500 horse. On the 1st of the second Jumada Shaikh Bayazid, [158] who was one of the shaikhzadas of Sikri, well known for brilliance of understanding and knowledge, and the connection of old service, [159] was honoured with the title of Mu`azzam Khan, and to him I gave the government of Delhi. On the 21st of the same month I presented Parwiz with a necklace composed of four rubies and one hundred pearls. The rank of Hakim Muzaffar was fixed at 3,000 personal and 1,000 horse, original and extra. I gave 5,000 rupees to Nathu Mal (?), Raja of Manjholi. [160]

A remarkable occurrence was the discovery of a letter from Mirza `Aziz Koka to `Ali Khan, the ruler of Khandesh. I had had an impression that he had a particular enmity to me on Khusrau's account, who was his son-in-law. From the discovery of this writing it became clear that he had never given up his innate treachery, and had adopted this unbecoming attitude towards my revered father also. In short, this letter which he had written at some time to Raja `Ali Khan was from beginning to end full of abuse and disapprobation, and said things which no enemy even could have written and such as could not be attributed to anyone, and far less to one like His Majesty, `Arsh-ashyani, a king and an appreciative sovereign, who from childhood had educated him and brought him up because of what was due for services rendered by his mother, and raised the standard of reliance on him to such a high degree as no other person possessed. This letter fell into the hands of Khwaja Abu-l-hasan in Burhanpur amongst the property of Raja `Ali Khan. He brought and laid it before me. In reading and seeing it the hair on my limbs stood on end. But for the consideration and due recognition of the fact that his mother had given her milk to my father I could have killed him with my own hand. Having procured his attendance I gave the letter into his hand and told him to read it with a loud voice to those present. When he saw the letter I thought his body would have parted from his soul, but with shamelessness and impudence he read it as though he had not written it and was reading it by order. Those present in that paradise-like assembly of the servants of Akbar and Jahangir and heard the letter read, loosened the tongue of reproach and of curses and abuse. I put the question to him, "Leaving aside the treacheries which in reliance on your worthless self you contrived against my fortune, what was done to you by my father, who raised you and your family from the dust of the road to such wealth and dignity as to make you the envy of your contemporaries, that you should write these things to the enemies of his Empire? Why did you enrol yourself amongst the wicked and disloyal? Truly, what can one make of an original nature and innate disposition? Since your temperament has been nourished by the water of treachery, what else can spring up but such actions? Passing over what you did to myself, I gave you the rank you had held before, thinking that your treachery was directed against me only. Since it has become known that you behaved in a similar way to your benefactor and visible Deity, I leave you to the thoughts and actions which you formerly had and still have." After these remarks his lips closed, and he was unable to make any reply. What could he have said in the presence of such disgrace? I gave an order to deprive him of his jagir. Although what this ingrate had done was unpardonable, yet in the end, from certain considerations, I passed it over.

On Sunday the 26th of the above-mentioned month was held the marriage feast of Parwiz and the daughter of Prince Murad. The ceremony was performed in the house of Her Highness Maryam-zamani. The entertainment was arranged in the house of Parwiz, and all who were present were exalted with all kinds of honour and civilities. Nine thousand rupees were handed over to Sharif Amuli and other nobles, to be given in alms to faqirs and other poor people.

On Sunday the 10th Rajab I left the city to hunt in Girjhak and Nandana, [161] and took up my quarters in the garden of Ram Das, where I remained four days.

On Wednesday the 13th the solar weighing of Parwiz took place. They weighed him twelve times against various metals and other things, and each weighing came to two maunds and eighteen seers. I ordered the whole to be distributed amongst faqirs. At this time the rank of Shaja`at Khan was fixed at 1,500 personal and 700 horse, original and extra.

After the march of Mirza Ghazi and his force it occurred to me to send a second contingent after him. Having bestowed on Bahadur [162] Khan Qurbegi the rank of 1,500 personal and 800 horse, original and extra, I started off a body of cavalry, [163] which came to about 3,000, with him under the leadership of Shah Beg and Muhammad Amin. For the expenses of this force 200,000 rupees were given and 1,000 musketeers were also appointed.

I left Asaf Khan to guard Khusrau and defend Lahore. The Amiru-l-umara was deprived of the honour of waiting on me, as he had a severe illness and remained in the city. `Abdu-r-Razzaq Ma`muri, who had been summoned from the Rana's country, was promoted to be bakhshi at headquarters, and it was ordered that in company with `Abu-l-hasan he should perform this service permanently. Following my father's rule, I appoint two men in association in the discharge of the chief offices, not from want of confidence in them, but because, as they are mortal and no man is safe from accidents or illness, if any confusion or obstacle should present itself to one the other is there so that the affairs of the servants of God may not come to ruin.

At this time also news came that at the Dasahra, which is one of the fixed feast days of the Hindus, `Abdu-llah Khan had made an incursion from Kalpi, which is his jagir, into the province of Bandilah, and displaying great valour made prisoner Ram Chand, son of Madhukar, who for a long time had made a centre of disturbance in that difficult country and taken him to Kalpi. For this service he was presented with a standard and raised to 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse.