The Book of Akbar 133.3

133.3

Owing to the rebels, the inclement weather, the impassableness of the roads, the delay of coming by merchants, there was distress for food and a want of necessary articles. The condition of the people became bad. Many officers resolved to leave Hindustan for Kabul and its neighbourhood, and many soldiers deserted. Though many old officers and veteran soldiers used improper language in the Presence, and also secretly used language disagreeable to his Majesty, yet his Majesty Giti-sitānī who was unique for far-seeing and endurance, did not heed this but set about the administration of the country. At length on the part of the elite and those who had been trained by his Majesty and from whom different things were to be looked for, there were stale movements of old times. Especially was this the case with Ahmadī Parwāncī and Walī Khāzin. Still more astonishing, Khwāja Kalān Beg,—who in all the battle fields and occasions, especially in the expedition to Hindustan, had always spoken gallantly, and given such opinions as befitted a brave man—now changed his views and was the foremost in advocating the abandonment of the country, both openly and by covert hints. At length his Majesty summoned his officers and spoke wise words of counsel to them, unveiling their secret imaginings (makhtūrāt) and forbidden (mahzūrāt) ideas.