The Akbarī Generations 80.3

80.3

Intelligence now reached the Emperor of the death of Mirza Muhammad Hakim. The Mirza was the Emperor's own brother, but the Emperor had shown him kindness and affection greater than even that of a brother. For the Mirza had often been presumptuous and aggressive, and the Emperor had not only pardoned him and showed him favour, but had sent amirs and armies to maintain him in Kabul. He was greatly addicted to wine, and excessive drinking was the cause of his illness and death. He died on the 12th Sha'ban, 993. When the news of his death reached the Emperor, he was much grieved; and after the period of mourning was over, his purpose was to confirm the country of Kabul to the sons of the Mirza. But the nobles urged that the Mirza's sons were of tender age, and incapable of ruling; and that the Uzbek army which had already taken Badakhshan was on the look out for Kabul also. These considerations induced the Emperor to march to the Panjab, and he began his march on the 10th Ramazan. * * * The Emperor travelled on by successive stages without making any halt to Dehli. There he visited the tomb of his father and the shrines of the saints, and dispensed his charity upon the poor, and celebrated the 'I'd. On the 19th Shawwal he reached the banks of the Sutlej and encamped. There he was informed that Kunwar Man Singh had sent a body of men across the Indus to Peshawar, and that Shah Beg, the officer of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, had fled to Kabul.