The Akbarī Generations 72: Twenty-fifth year of the Reign.
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 72
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Twenty-fifth year of the Reign.
72.1
The beginning of this year corresponded with Thursday, the 24th Muharram, 988 H. (12th March, 1580). The rulers of Kashmir had always been well-wishers and servants of the Imperial house. His Majesty now intended, after performing his usual pilgrimage to Ajmir, to pay a visit to the tomb of Shaikh Farid Shakar-ganj, and to visit the Panjab. So he sent Mulla Ishki, one of the old servants of the Court, along with Kazi Sadru-d din, to Kashmir. 'Ali Khan, the ruler of Kashmir, entertained them nobly and respectfully, and exhibited his fidelity and devotion. Along with the two envoys he sent his own vakil, Muhammad Kasim, to carry his tribute and productions of Kashmir as presents to the Emperor — saffron, musk, paper, shawls, etc. They accordingly brought them to His Majesty, and reported what they had seen and knew of 'Ali Khan's cordiality and good wishes. Muzaffar Husain Mirza, whom Maksud Jauhari had brought from Raja 'Ali Khan, was pardoned through His Majesty's clemency, and released from prison. One day, when His Majesty was taking his dinner, it occurred to his mind that probably the eyes of some hungry one had fallen upon the food; how, therefore, could he eat it while the hungry were debarred from it? He therefore gave orders that every day some hungry persons should be fed with some of the food prepared for himself, and that afterwards he should be served.
72.2
Hakim 'Ali was now sent to Bijagarh along with the envoys of 'Adil Khan Dakhini. The rulers of the Dakhin, every one of them severally, had been accustomed to send their envoys every year with tribute and presents to the Imperial Court. When Khwaja 'Abdu-lla brought presents and elephants from 'Adil Khan, the ambassador, and his son Shahi Beg were presented with robes, one hundred Akbar-shahi ashrafis, one thousand five hundred and one rupees, and twenty-four tankas. Mir Nizam, husband of the sister of Mirza Shah Rukh, the ruler of Badakhshan, came on a mission to the Imperial Court, bringing Turki horses bred in Badakhshan, fine rubies, several camels, and other gifts.
72.3
The Emperor used to keep every year the anniversary of the Prophet's birth. This year he kept it on the 12th Rabi'u-l awwal, and he gave a great entertainment, at which the saiyids, learned men, shaikhs, and amirs attended. Open table was kept, and no one in the city was debarred from partaking of the refreshments. On this occasion it was represented to him that the Prophet and the four lawful Khalifas used themselves to preach. The 'Abbaside Khalifas also observed this tradition, and themselves used to speak. Sultans such as Sahib Kiran Amir Timur and Mirza Ulugh Beg used to follow the examples thus set them. His Majesty therefore felt it to be his duty to carry into practice on some Friday the custom observed by the Khalifas and Imams. On Friday, 1st Jumada-l awwal, he went into the Masjid-i jama' of Fathpur, and mounting the pulpit, he opened his speech with these lines : The Lord who gave me empire, Gave me a wise heart and a strong arm, Guided me in the way of justice and equity, And drove all but justice from my thoughts. His praise surpasses understanding ! Great is His power — Great is God ! To these eloquent lines he briefly added some verses of the Kuran, expressing thanks for mercies and favours ; then he repeated the fatiha, and came down from the pulpit and said his prayers.
72.4
Muzaffar Khan, since his appointment to the government of Bengal, had not sent a single article of the productions of the country, or any portion of its revenue, to the Imperial treasury ; but he now sent five lacs of rupees in cash, various goods and articles of the country, and elephants and rarities of great value, which were graciously accepted. Muhammad Ma'sum Kabuli also sent thirty-nine elephants as tribute. On a Friday in this month notice was given for all the poor and needy to assemble on the chaugan ground. Sultan Khwaja Kalij Khan distributed the alms to them one by one. Nearly a lac of persons assembled, and there was such a crowd and crush that eighty weak women and children were trampled to death. When the Emperor was informed of this, he ordered that for the future the people should come a few at a time, and not make a crowd. Kutbu-d din Atka, a nobleman of high rank, was now appointed tutor to Prince Salim. In celebration of this appointment he gave a grand feast, and the young prince honoured him with his presence. There was a grand assemblage, and Kutbu-d din made many offerings of elephants and Arab horses, jewels and cloths. According to the usual custom, Kutbu-d din Muhammad Atka carried the prince upon his back, and raised his aspiring head to the pinnacle of grandeur. He made presents of money and jewels to the prince, and the clamour of congratulations reached the sky.
72.5
'Abdu-lla Khan Uzbek, ruler of Mawarau-n nahr, had always kept up a friendly intercourse and community of feeling, and used to send his envoys to the Imperial Court. His Majesty now sent Mirza Fulad with Khwaja Khatib, a native of Bukhara, as his envoys to 'Abdu-lla Khan, bearing a letter full of kind words, and a great variety of presents. [_A legal discussion. The usual journey to Ajmir._] On the 21st Shawwal he returned to Fathpur. Mihtar Sa'adat, whose title is Peshrau Khan, and who had been sent on an embassy to Nizamu-l Mulk Dakhini, now returned with the Dakhini envoys, who brought with them elephants and other tribute.