The Akbarī Generations 1.6
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 1.6
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1.6.1
The road lay through a loose sand, and water was not procurable. The army toiled on with great difficulty, and every moment the news came of the approach of Mal Deo. The Emperor ordered Mun'im Khan, with a detachment, to march cautiously and slowly in the rear, and if the enemy approached, to give him battle. When night came on, that detachment lost the way, and at daybreak the enemy's forces were in sight. Shaikh 'Ali Beg, Darwesh Koka, and some others were (in the rear), numbering in all twenty-two persons. Darwesh Beg, son of Baki Jalair, was one of the party. They proceeded against the enemy, who was emerging from a narrow defile. Shaikh 'Ali killed the commander of the enemy with his first arrow, and every arrow that his little band discharged wounded some prominent man of the enemy's army. Unable to endure this, the enemy turned, and his great army fled before such an insignificant troop. Many were killed in their flight, and many camels fell into the hands of the victors. When the intelligence of the victory reached the Emperor, he hastened to publicly express his thanks.
1.6.2
The army encamped by a well which contained a little water, and the party which had lost its way during the night now came in, which was another cause of rejoicing. Next day the march was resumed, and for three days no water was found. On the fourth they reached a well: a drum was beaten when the bucket reached the surface of the earth, to give the bullock-driver notice to stop; for the well was so deep that a call would not reach him. In the intensity of their thirst, some men could not restrain themselves. Four or five threw themselves upon the bucket, the rope broke, and the bucket fell back into the well. Overcome with suffering, they uttered cries and lamentations, and some cast themselves intentionally into the well. In this way many perished through thirst. Next day the march was resumed, and at the hottest time they reached a river (áb). The horses and camels had not tasted water for several days, and now they drank so much that many of them died.
1.6.3
At length, with extreme toil, they reached Amarkot, which is 100 kos distant from Tatta. The raná, that is to say the ruler (hákim) of Amarkot, was kindly disposed, and came out to meet the Emperor, and offered his services. The army rested from their hardships some days in the city, and whatsoever the Emperor had in his treasury he distributed among his soldiers. He had arrived here with no great force, so he levied a sum of money from Tardi Beg and others as a benevolence, and graciously presented the rana and his sons with gold and girdles and daggers. Shah Husain Arghun had slain the father of the rana, and so the rana now collected a considerable number of men from his territories, and went with the Emperor in the direction of Bakhar. The Emperor's family, with their paraphernalia, under his orders remained at Amarkot. Khwaja Mu'azzam, brother of Maryam Makani, was left in charge of them. Fortune now for a time changed its treatment of the Emperor, by giving him a son, and impressing an imperishable mark upon the page of time. The child was born on the 5th Rajab, 949 (15th October, 1542). Tardi Beg Khan conveyed this intelligence to the Emperor in the neighbourhood of Amarkot, and the Emperor under spiritual guidance, as will be narrated in the proper place, gave to the child the name of Jalalu-d din Muhammad Akbar. He then continued his march towards Bakhar, but he wrote very urgent letters as to the safety of the young prince.
1.6.4
Upon reaching the pargana of Jun, he halted there for a while. He sent for his family and the suite of the prince, and then his eyes were gladdened by the sight of his son. The force which had been collected from the parts around dispersed while he remained at Jun; and his brave and intrepid officer, Shaikh 'Ali, fell in an action with the troops of Shah Husain Arghun, in one of the parganas of Tatta. His soldiers began to desert one by one from his camp. Mun'im Khan even went off. His Majesty, seeing that it was not advisable to remain longer in this country, determined upon going to Kandahar. At this time he was joined by Bairam Khan, who had come from Gujarat. He now sent representatives to Shah Husain Arghun, asking for boats to enable him to cross the river, and the Shah, delighted with his determination, sent him thirty boats and 300 camels. His Majesty then crossed the river, and began his march to Kandahar. Shah Husain sent a person to Mirza 'Askari and Mirza Kamran, to inform them of the Emperor's intention to march to Kandahar, and they wrote back desiring him to bar his progress and make him prisoner. The perfidious Mirza 'Askari, when His Majesty reached Shal and Mastan, marched rapidly from Kandahar, and sent forward Hawali Uzbek to watch his movements. This man had received kindness from the Emperor. He obtained a powerful horse from Mirza 'Askari, and betook himself to the Emperor's camp.
1.6.5
When he arrived, he dismounted from his horse, and went to the tent of Bairam Khan, whom he informed of Mirza 'Askari's advance, and of his designs against the Emperor. Bairam Khan immediately proceeded to the Emperor, and standing at the back of the tent he told him of Mirza 'Askari's approach. "What is the worth of Kandahar and Kabul," said the Emperor, "that I should strive with my faithless brothers?" Then he mounted his horse, and sent Khwaja-i Mu'azzam and Bairam Khan to bring up the Empress. They made all speed to do so, and conveyed her and the infant prince to the Emperor. There were very few horses in the Emperor's train, so Tardi Beg was asked for one. Again he gave a churlish refusal, and would not himself accompany his master.
1.6.6
The Emperor determined to go to 'Irak, and started off thither, taking with him the Empress, and having only a few persons as escort. The young prince was only one year old, and the weather was very hot, so he was left behind. Mirza 'Askari soon afterwards reached the camp, when he was informed that the Emperor had gone safely off, leaving a party in charge of his camp. Next day he, in his extreme insolence, entered the Emperor's audience hall, and Atka Khan delivered up to him the young prince. Under the orders of the Mirza, Tardi Beg was made prisoner, and officers were sent to search the tents and seize all the effects of the Emperor. Then he carried the prince off to Kandahar, and gave him into the charge of Sultan Begam, his own wife, who treated him with great tenderness.
1.6.7
The Emperor was accompanied by twenty-two persons, among whom were Bairam Khan, Khwaja Mu'azzam, Babi Dost Bakhshi, Khwaja Ghazi, Haidar Muhammad Akhtar-begi, Mirza Kuli Beg, Shaikh Yusuf, Ibrahim Aishak-akasi, and Hasan 'Ali Beg Aishak-akasi. They set off without even determining their route. When they had gone a little way, they fell in with three or four Biluchis, who directed them, and they arrived with great toil at the fort of Baba Haji. The Turks who were in the place gave them such provisions as they had. Khwaja Jalalu-d din, son of Mahmud, who had been sent by Mirza 'Askari to collect the revenues of this district, waited upon the Emperor, and presented him with horses, camels, mules, and such things as he possessed. Next day Haji Muhammad Koki, who had escaped from Mirza 'Askari, waited upon the Emperor. The hostile proceedings of his brothers made these parts no safe place for His Majesty, so he proceeded onwards towards Khurasan and 'Irak. Upon entering Sistan, Ahmad Sultan Shamlu, governor of the province under Shah Tahmasp, received him with the greatest kindness. He remained some days in Sistan, and Ahmad Sultan showed him every kind of hospitality and attention, sending even his own women to wait upon the Empress as handmaids. Ahmad also presented to him all kinds of provisions and necessaries, and enrolled himself among the number of his slaves. All these His Majesty courteously accepted, and then presented them to him.
1.6.8
Upon holding a consultation, Ahmad Sultan advised His Majesty to proceed to 'Irak by way of Tabas Kilaki, because that way was the nearest, and he offered to accompany him on the road. His Majesty replied that he had heard great praise of the city of Hirat, and that it would be more pleasant for him to proceed by that route. So His Majesty started for 'Irak, attended by Ahmad Sultan. At that time Sultan Muhammad Mirza, eldest son of Shah Tahmasp, was governor of Hirat, and Muhammad Khan Sharfu-d din Ughli Taklu held the post of Ataliko or tutor to the young prince. When they heard of the near approach of the Emperor, they sent 'Ali Sultan, who was one of the nobles of Taklu, to meet him and conduct him in with due honour. He joined His Majesty on the borders of the territory of Hirat, and brought him with all ceremony to the city. The prince, with his officers and attendants, then proceeded to wait upon him and pay their respects, omitting nothing that could do him honour. Muhammad Khan was admitted to the privilege of an introduction.