The Akbarī Generations 2.1

2.1

Himun was a shopkeeper (bakkal) in the town of Rewari, in Mewat. He was afterwards superintendent of the markets and director-general of the army, but now he rose still higher, and came to be one of King 'Adali's chief advisers. * * * * 'Adali one day held a Court in the fort of Gwalior, and nobles of renown were present. A distribution of jagirs was being made, and 'Adali made an order that the country of Kanauj, which was the jagir of Shah Muhammad Parmuli, should be taken from him and given to Sarmast Khan Sarbani. When this was announced, Sikandar Khan, son of Shah Muhammad, a young and daring man, cried out fiercely, "Things have come to this pass that they are taking our jagirs away from us and are giving them to this set of Sarbani dog-sellers." His father, Shah Muhammad, was ill, but he forbad his son to utter such unseemly and harsh expressions. But the son retorted, "Sher Khan (Sher Shah) once put you in an iron cage and intended to take your life, but Salim Khan interceded for you and was the means of delivering you from that peril. Now this Sur faction is determined upon ruining you, and you do not see it. These men will not leave you in peace, and why should we suffer this degradation?" Hereupon Sarmast Khan Sarbani, who was a very tall and powerful man, placed his hand in a false coaxing way upon the shoulder of Sikandar, and said, "What does all this mean, my lad?" intending to make him prisoner.