The Rashīdī History 246: CHAPTER CXV. · THE AUTHOR CONQUERS KASHMIR. ADVENTURES OF THE CHAGHATAI AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE FROM HINDUSTAN.

246

I HAD arranged with the Emperor that I should, in the first place, proceed with a small number of men to Nau Shahr, and that as soon as the Maliks of Kashmir should have joined me, Iskandar Tupchi should overtake me there. When I should have reached the pass, Mir Khwaja Kilan, in praise of whom I have spoken above, was to enter Nau Shahr. On my descending into Kashmir Mir Khwaja Kilan was to advance to the foot of the pass of Kashmir, while the Emperor would pitch his camp at Nau Shahr. Matters having been thus arranged, Kamran Mirza and the rest were allowed to go wherever they pleased.
All being settled, I set out, and in Nau Shahr was joined by all the Maliks of Kashmir. Iskandar Tupchi was one day's journey from Nau Shahr. Mir Khwaja Kilan was in Sialkut. On the same day that I despatched a messenger to Iskandar Tupchi, news reached me that all our people had evacuated Lahur. I started in all haste: when I arrived at the foot of the pass [leading to] Kashmir, Kachi Chak ascended by one road, and we by another, and without further contention or discussion we [all] arrived at [Kashmir].
Now when Iskandar Tupchi and Mir Khwaja Kilan heard of the evacuation of Lahur, the former sought a refuge with Sarang, who was one of the Sultans of the slopes of the hills [kuh paya] of Hind, while the latter, leaving Sialkut, went and joined the fugitives [from Lahur]. In spite of the Emperor's endeavours to reach Kashmir, he could induce no one to accompany him. Some foolish imbeciles, namely, Hindal Mirza, Yadgar Nasir Mirza and others beside, carried him off to Tatta and Bakar, to attack [hasar] Mirza Shah Husain the son of Shah Beg Arghun (son of Zulnun Arghun). This Mirza Shah Husain is the same personage who was spoken of above. When Babar Padishah wrested Kandahar from Shah Beg, the latter retired to Ucha and Tatta and subdued the whole of the surrounding country. He was succeeded on his death by his son Mirza Shah Husain, who busied himself for some time in strengthening his forts and settling his country; for he was, in truth, a methodical and prudent man. Against him it was that this blundering band marched. But being able to achieve nothing, Hindal Mirza went to Kandahar, whose governor came out to receive him. He began to boast of empire, [whereupon] Kamran Mirza marched against him, from Kabul. After some unfortunate occurrences, and being reduced to extremities, he begged Kamran Mirza to spare his life, promising that he would enter his service. Not long after this, Yadgar Nasir Mirza and Kasim Husain Sultan also fled from the Emperor and joined Kamran Mirza. The Emperor, after endless hardships and incalculable misfortunes, passed on to Irak, but up to the present time it is not known what has become of him. As for Kamran Mirza, he is at Kabul and in despair from the buffetings of fortune.
My trust is in the most glorious and merciful God, that He will again raise to the throne of sovereignty Humayun Padishah, than whom there have been few greater Sultans. He has endured such suffering and misery as have fallen to the lot of few Emperors. May he make the people prosperous and contented under his benevolent shadow. It is thus written in the "Sunna": that when the affairs of a great ruler go to ruin, he is himself the cause. If, as is rarely the case, the ruler be spared these calamities, his escape must be certainly attributable to his good sense.
It is related, in the earlier portion of this book, that his [Humayun's] father, Babar Padishah, on several occasions mounted the throne of Samarkand, but as often suffered ruinous defeats. In those defeats his own head was kept safe, and finally God raised him to such power, that all the world felt his influence, while his name remains among the [immortal] Sultans. May God, having delivered Humayun Padishah from these perils and dangers, grant him similar well-being and wisdom!