The Akbarī Generations 7.4

7.4

Some days afterwards he was taken to the fort of Bayana, under Khan-khanan's orders, and from thence was sent to Mecca; but he proceeded to Gujarat, and there remained until after the fall of Bairam Khan, when he returned to Court. The office of wakil to Khan-khanan, which was thus taken from Pir Muhammad, was given to Haji Muhammad Sistani, who was one of the Khan's servants. At this time the dignity of Sadarat-i mamalik (office of Lord Chief Justice) was conferred upon Shaikh Gadai, son of Shaikh Jamal Kambu of Dehli, through the interest of Khan-khanan, who remembered the kindness which he had received from the Shaikh during the time of his exile in Gujarat. The honour thus conferred gave the Shaikh precedence over the grandees (akabir) of Hindustan and Khurasan. At the same period also that pattern of great men, Mir 'Abdu-l Latif Kazwini, was appointed tutor to His Majesty, and His Majesty used often to read with him ghazals in mystic language. The fort of Gwalior was celebrated for its height and strength, and had always been the home of great rajas. After the time of Salim Khan (Islam Shah) the fort had been placed in the charge of Suhail, one of his ghulams, by Sultan Muhammad 'Adali. When the throne of Akbar had been established at Agra, Habib 'Ali Sultan, Maksud 'Ali Kor, and Kiya Khan were sent to take the fort. They invested it for some days, and the garrison being in distress surrendered.