The Book of Akbar 206: CHAPTER XXXIII.

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to the King of Persia, he would be protected from that reckless crew. His Majesty reflected on the paucity of the sincere, and the plurality of the lords of opposition and discord, and recognised the fact that to stay in that country was to act carelessly, and so he proceeded towards Sistan. He crossed the Hirmand (Halmand) and halted at a lake into which its waters flow. Ahmad Sultan Shamlu, the governor of Sistan, recognised the advent as an unexpected blessing and tendered acceptable service and showed alacrity in offering hospitality. His Majesty spent some days in that pleasant country, the arena of the cavaliers of fortune’s plain, in the sport of catching waterfowl. And in order to comfort his faithful comrades he busied himself with worldly matters and was a spectator of the wonders of destiny. Thence he proceeded to (the city of ?) Sistan. Ahmad Sultan sent his mother and his wives to wait on her Majesty Maryam-makani, and tendered all the revenues (amwal) of his district as a present. His Majesty accepted a little of these in order to do him pleasure, and returned the remainder. In this halting place Husain Quli M. the brother of Ahmad Sultan, who had come from Mashhad to pay his respects to his mother and brother, in order that he might bid adieu to them before he went on pilgrimage, was honoured by an audience. His Majesty questioned him about ligion and faith. He submitted that he had long studied the creeds of the Shihis and Sunnis, and had perused the books of both sects. The Shi‘as maintained that the reviling and cursing of the Companions was meritorious and a means of religious progress, whereas the Sunnis held that to blaspheme the Companions was an act of impiety. After consideration and meditation he had satisfied himself that no one can become impious by thinking he is doing right. His Majesty much approved this remark, and with great kindness and condescension offered him the honour of service. As he was about to go on pilgrimage and had made his arrangements accordingly, he was debarred from this boon. Here also Haji Muhammad (son of) Baba Qashqa, and Hasan Koka left M. ‘Askari and joined the noble army. They recommended that his Majesty should proceed towards Zamin Dawar because Amir Beg, the governor thereof was coming to serve, and Calma Beg, governor of the fort of Bast, was also solicitous of the honour of employment; (and said also) that soon many men of M. ‘Askari would separate from him and enter his Majesty's service; and that Qandahar and its territory would come into the possession of the royal servants. When Ahmad Sultan heard that they were giving this advice and were deterring his Majesty from going to Persia, he came to his Majesty and submitted, out of well-wishing and affection, that the expedition to Persia was worthy of his genius and that the faction which was dissuading him from going, was only actuated by fraud and treachery. As Ahmad Sultan had by his devotion and sincerity established himself in his Majesty Jahanbani’s heart, his representations were accepted and acted upon. The Emperor determined to proceed to ‘Iraq. On account of this affair Haji Muh. Koka was for some days excluded from the presence. Ahmad Sultan attended on the stirrup, and wished to be a guide for the road, by way of Tabas Kilaki. As his Majesty had set his heart on visiting Herat, he took the road by the fort of Uk.