The Akbarī Generations 42: Sixteenth year of the Reign.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 42
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Sixteenth year of the Reign.
42.1
The beginning of this year corresponded with Sunday, 17th Shawwal, 978 H. (13th March, 1571 A.D.) At the beginning of this year His Majesty departed from Dipalpur for Lahore, and Hasan Kuli Khan, the governor of that city, hastened forth to receive him. Leaving his camp at Malkapur, the Emperor went on speedily to Lahore. He passed that day and night in the house of Hasan Kuli, and next day the Khan presented his gifts. On the following day the Emperor returned to the camp, and after spending a few days in the vicinity of Lahore, he set off for Hisar-Firozah, on a visit to the shrine of Khwaja Mu'inu-d din. Nahid Begam was wife of Muhibb 'Ali Khan son of Mir Khalifa, and her mother was wife of Mirza 'Isa Tarkhan, the ruler of Thatta. Mirza 'Isa being dead, Nahid Begam had received leave from His Majesty about a year before this date to go to Sind, to see her mother, and bring the daughter of Mirza 'Isa to pay homage to the Emperor. Muhammad Baki Tarkhan now occupied the seat of his father, and would have nothing to do with Nahid Begam. She therefore returned in anger to the Emperor, and made a statement of the harshness and tyranny of Muhammad Baki, and of the disrespect he had shown to the Emperor's servants. She said that if the Emperor would permit and support her husband Muhibb 'Ali Khan, he could easily effect the conquest of Thatta.
42.2
As Nahid Begam was returning from Thatta, she had some conversation at Bakar with Sultan Mahmud Bakari, who was one of the officers of Mirza Shah Husain Arghun, and his koka; and, after the death of Mirza Shah, Bakar remained in his possession. This Sultan Mahmud Salai Samarkandi told Nahid Begam that if Muhibb 'Ali Khan would undertake the conquest of Thatta, he would join and assist him, and that he would have no need of any further support. In consequence of this promise, Nahid Begam was very desirous of going to Sind. Muhibb 'Ali Khan had for a long time given up the military life, so the Emperor granted him a banner and a kettle-drum, and he gave him a jagir of fifty lacs of tankas in the sarkar of Multan, towards the expense of the campaign. He also sent with him his daughter's son Mujahid, a young man of resolution and courage, and he wrote a farman to Sa'id Khan, the ruler of Multan, directing him to support Muhibb 'Ali Khan.
42.3
When the Emperor left the Panjab for Fathpur his royal residence (daru-l khilafat), he sent Muhibb 'Ali on his expedition. Upon arriving at his jagir in Multan, Muhibb 'Ali set about collecting men, and got together nearly 400 horse. Relying upon Sultan Mahmud Bakari, he wrote letters to him, and began his march. But Sultan Mahmud was adverse to the entrance of any Imperial forces into his territory, so, disregarding the promises he had made to Nahid Begam, he sent to say that he would not allow Muhibb 'Ali to pass through his country; but that if Muhibb 'Ali would march by way of Jesalmir, he would send his army to him, and render him all the assistance he could.
42.4
Muhibb 'Ali, and his grandson Mujahid, took a bold course, and proceeded towards Bakar. Sultan Mahmud sent his whole army to oppose them, but his men were defeated, and obliged to seek refuge in the fort of Matila. Mujahid and Muhibb 'Ali Khan besieged the fort for six months, and at length obtained possession of it by capitulation. At this time Mubarak Khan, a slave of Sultan Mahmud's, who acted as his vakil, being aggrieved with his master, went and joined Muhibb 'Ali. The latter having increased his force, laid siege to Bakar. Sultan Mahmud sent out his army, amounting to nearly 2000 horse and 4000 foot, archers, and gunners. They were defeated in battle and driven back into the fort. For three years Sultan Mahmud sometimes daily, sometimes every two or three days, sent out armed ships and ghrabs to fight. Three times he sent out his whole army, horse and foot, to fight a regular battle, but each time he was defeated. In consequence of the large number of men which he had crowded into the fort, pestilence and sickness broke out and became very fatal, so that 500 to 1000 persons died daily. At length, in the year 983, Mahmud himself died, and the fort came into the possession of the Emperor's adherents.
42.5
When the Emperor left the Panjab and proceeded to Fathpur, Mun'im Khan Khan-khanan came from Jaunpur, bringing Sikandar Khan with him. The offences of Sikandar Khan were pardoned, and the jagir of Lucknow was conferred upon him. Khan-khanan quickly returned to secure his Bengal frontier. Sikandar Khan also took his leave, and was sent along with Khan-khanan to his jagir. Each received a jewelled sword-belt and four horses with golden saddles. Soon after his arrival at Lucknow, Sikandar Khan fell sick, and died on the 10th Jumada-l awwal, 979 H.