The Akbarī Generations 78.4
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 78.4
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78.4.1
Intelligence arrived that the Emperor was marching towards Kabul, and had arrived at Atak-Baudras, intent upon effecting the conquest of Badakhshan. Khan-khanan wrote a letter soliciting the honour of being allowed to serve under him, and the Emperor sent a farmdn, summoning him to his presence. Kalij Khan, Naurang Khan, and myself were confirmed in our commands in Gujarat. Khan-khanan and 'Azdu-d daula, who had come up from 'Azam Khan, went off to join the Emperor. Just as Khan-khanan started, the news was brought in that the men of Khangar, as allies of Muzaffar Gujarati, had attacked and killed Rai Singh, the zamindar of Jhalawar. This Rai Singh was son of Rai Man, Raja of Jhalawar; and when he succeeded his father, he attacked the neighbouring zamindars, such as the Jam, Khangar, and others, and subdued them. His name is celebrated in song and story, in the towns of Gujarat, for the courage he displayed, and he had a great renown. A feud arose between Rayat and Sayat, the nephews of the chief of Khangar, and severe fighting occurred, in which Sayat was killed, and many men on both sides perished. Rai Singh also was wounded, and was left upon the field. Next day some jogis found him, tended him, cured him, and carried him with them to Bengal. He passed two years with them in the guise of a jogi. When Khan-khanan marched against Muzaffar Gujarati, he came to the Khan, and told him his story. The Khan sent him to Jhalawar to be recognized by his people.
78.4.2
He related the facts to them, and adduced his proofs, on which they acknowledged him, and reinstated him. He attacked the people of Kathiwar, and plundered several of the tribes, and he also began to assail the country of the Jam and of Khangar. He mastered and took possession of the town of Halwad, one of the dependencies of Jhalawar. The people of that neighbourhood, who had long been at enmity with him, assembled in force to attack him. The intelligence of their rising was brought to him while he was in the chaugan ground. He immediately started to meet them, and came up to them in a moonlight night. They sent a person to him to say that if he were really Rai Singh he would not attack them by night. He magnanimously assented to their wish, and rested where he was, and went to sleep. His opponents here found their opportunity, and encouraging their followers they drew near to him, and when morning broke their whole party fell upon him. He and eighty men that were with him fought on foot, and he was killed.
78.4.3
When Muzaffar Gujarati heard of the departure of Khan-khanan with his troops and family, he came to Amarun, where the tomb of Malik Dawaru-l Mulk is, and laid the foundations of an army. Kalij Khan remained to guard Ahmadabad, and I with Saiyid Kasim and * * went to disperse the insurgents who had killed Rai Singh. When I reached Halwad, I sent a detachment to ravage the villages in the pargana of Malia, which belongs to Khangar; and I sent another detachment, under Medini Rai, to Amarun, against Muzaffar. Upon their approaching that place, Muzaffar went off to Kathiawar and hid himself. The Jam sent his son to me to make excuses for his cruel treatment of Rai Singh, and Khangar also sent his agents to renew his promises of loyalty. I then returned to Ahmadabad. After my arrival there Kalij Khan started for Surat, and encamped outside the city.
78.4.4
It then occurred to Muzaffar that after the departure of the army and the return of each man to his jagir, he would make a dash upon Dulaka and Kambay, as he might thus be able to raise a force before the return of the Imperial army. So he advanced rapidly upon Dulaka at the head of two thousand horsemen, Kathis and Jharejas. On receiving letters from Medini Rai, who was at Dúlaka, I instantly took horse and started thither. As I was resting till evening at Sarkaj, Kalij Khán came in and joined me with all the chief nobles and men of the city. Next morning we arrived at Dúlaka, but then Muzaffar was four kos away. For when his scouts informed him that the army of Ahmadabad was approaching, he fell back to Morbi.
78.4.5
The Imperial army occupied Dúlaka, and at night Kalij Khán returned to Ahmadabád. I and my companions followed Muzaffar. One night and the next day we travelled forty-five kos. On reaching Biram-gam, we heard that Muzaffar had gone to the village of Akhar, which was four kos off, and had there shut up Saiyid Mustafa, son of Saiyid Jalál, who happened to be there with his family. Night had come on, and we were unable to proceed farther. So I sent twenty horsemen, with a pair of kettle-drums, directing them to go about a kos from the village, and beat them, that Muzaffar might suppose our army to be near and give up the siege. By God's help my stratagem succeeded, the beleaguered people were released, and Muzaffar went off to the Ran and Kach. In the morning I mounted and hastened off in pursuit, I went as far as the Ran; then leaving an outpost in the village of Jhajusa, near the water, I returned to Ahmadabad. Four months afterwards, the zamíndárs of Kach collected a force of nearly a thousand horse and ten thousand foot, under the command of Jasa and Bajain, nephews of Khangár. They proceeded to the village of Radhanpur, one of the dependencies of Pattan, and laid siege to the fort. When intelligence of this arrived at Ahmadabad, I and * * went off to relieve the place. On hearing of our approach, the enemy took flight, passed over the Ran, and went into their own country.
78.4.6
It was necessary to put an end to these proceedings, so I crossed over the Ran into Kach at a place where the water was not more than three kos wide, and set to work plundering and destroying. We burnt and destroyed the towns of Kari and Kataria, two places well known in Kach. We realized an enormous booty, and after plundering and destroying nearly three hundred villages in the course of three days, we re-crossed the Ran opposite Malia and Morbi. Here the Ran was twelve kos wide, and we were engaged from dawn till eve in the passage. The water was up to a man's navel. After crossing we ravaged and destroyed the parganas of Malia and Morbi, which belonged to Khangar. We remained at Morbi three days. Here I wrote to Khangar, telling him how I had been informed that the hostile proceedings were the work of Jasa and Bajain, and had not been sanctioned by him. I had therefore inflicted a little punishment. Had it been otherwise, I would have attacked Bhuj, his residence. If he did not henceforth act loyally, he would see what would happen. Khangar sent his vakil to me with his apologies. After this a barrier was raised (against inroads).
78.4.7
In the year 995 the younger son of Amin Khan rebelled against him, and went to Muzaffar, and brought him against his father. When I heard this, I went with * * against Muzaffar, to repress this outbreak. On arriving at Rajkot, 80 kos from Ahmadabad, and thirty from Junagarh, Muzaffar made off towards the Ran. Sidi Rihan, vakil of Amin Khan, and a promoter of the strife, with Nokin Gohil, and other zamindars, and Bir Khan Singh, Malik Rajan, and others of the chief men of those parts, nearly five hundred horsemen, separated from the insurgents, and came in to make peace. I treated them hospitably, and held out to them expectations of royal favour. The Jam and Amin Khan also sent their sons to me, and renewed their professions of loyalty. After returning to Ahmadabad, I turned my thoughts to the repression of the Grassias. In the course of two months I fitted out an army, and then marched towards Othaniya and Ahmadnagar. I attacked and laid waste nearly fifty villages of the Kolis and Grassias, and I built forts in seven different places to keep these people in check. Falling back with my forces, I went to Wakaniru and Sarnal, to put down the mutinous proceedings of the Grassias. Having put Chait Rawat to death, I removed Karmi Koli, Kishna Koli, and Lakha Rajput, who were the principal Grassias of those parts, and left forts and garrisons in their places.
78.4.8
In the year 996 the Emperor gave Gujarat to 'Azam Khan, and recalled me to Court. By rapid stages I reached the Imperial Court at Lahore in fourteen days, and was most graciously received. The intelligence of the successes in Gujarat reached the Emperor as he was travelling. He returned thanks to God for his success, and continued his journey in great joy. At this time Zain Khan Koka, Raja Ram Chandar Raja of Bittiah, a man of high repute among the Rajas of Hindustan, who had never before acknowledged allegiance to the Sultans of Hindustan, now expressed his desire of doing so, and came to wait upon the Emperor at Fathpur. He was graciously received. He presented as his tribute one hundred and twenty elephants, and a fine ruby, valued at fifty thousand rupees.