The Book of Akbar 208.2
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 208.2
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- English
208.2.1
The entertaining by the asylum of dominion will be as follows: Three thousand dishes of food, sweetmeats, syrups (shīra) and fruits will be prepared, and the necessary furniture will be arranged as follows:—First, fifty tents and twenty awnings, and the large store-tent which was reported to have been prepared for his Majesty's special use, with twelve pairs of carpets of twelve cubits and ten cubits, and seven pairs of carpets of five cubits, nine strings of female camels, 250 porcelain plates, large and small, and other plates and pots, all with bright covers, and also tinned (qal'ī karda), and two strings of mules let the asylum of dominion present on the occasion of his entertainment; and let the officers conduct their entertainments as follows:—Let them present food, sweetmeats and comfits to the extent of 1,500 plates, and also three horses, a string of camels and a string of mules, which shall have first been seen and approved by the asylum of dominion. The governors of Ghurian, Fūshanj, and Karshu will show hospitality in their own country. The governor of Bākharz, in Jam, and the governors of Khāf, Turshīz, Zāwaha and Muhawwalāt will entertain at Sarai Farhad which is five parasangs from Mashhad. When his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashiyani came near Farah, the Shah's ambassador and his Majesty's messenger arrived, and his Majesty was made aware that the king of Persia regarded his advent as a great gain and was delighted at it.
208.2.2
His Majesty, being a mine of courtesy, could not resist going to 'Iraq and so pleasing his faithful companions. He placed the foot of resolve in the stirrup of dominion and went on with a firm determination towards Herat. At every stage some one of the notables and grandees of Khurasan came out to meet him, and waited upon him as if he had been one of his own confidential courtiers. The sound of the royal cortege opened the gates of joy for the inhabitants, and the people of many towns, such as Jam, Turbat, Sarakhas, Isfarain, came to Herat in expectation of the sublime advent. When the couriers of Tatar Sultan, and of the nobles of Khurasan, who had gone forth to welcome him, reported to Muhammad Khan that the sublime procession had come near the Ziyaratgah the latter himself came out, accompanied by the nobles such as Wais Sultan, Shah Quli Sultan and the distinguished men of learning such as Mir Murtaza Sadr, Mir Husain of Kerbala and other excellent persons, and by the people generally. At the head of the Bridge of Malan, which is a famous resort in Herat, they met him and conveyed to him the Shah's felicitations and those respectful greetings which are magnanimity's essence. It had already been arranged that the roads should be swept and watered from the Hsian Bridge up to the Jahanara Garden, and that the grandees and the ingenious men (zurafa) of the city should come from either side and wait upon him.
208.2.3
When the royal party arrived at a certain stage Sultan Muhammad Mirza came and welcomed him, and paid his reverential respects. That fortunate Prince and the other great officers treated him with all honour and respect. From the Ziyaratgah to Pul-i-Malan, and from thence to the Jahanara Garden—a distance of three or four leagues, the whole plain and the heights were filled with spectators from the city and the villages, and the crowd and the rejoicings were such as never occur but at the ‘Id and on New Year's day. On 1st Zilqa'da, 950 (27th January, 1544), he alighted at Bagh Jahanara. Muhammad Khan gave a royal feast and tendered large presents. At the first assembly Sabir Qaq, the foremost reciter in Khurasan and ‘Iraq, chanted an ode of Amir Shahi to the air Sihgah so that even rapt devotees were moved by it. In truth it was very appropriate and affecting. It began thus— “ Blest the abode to which such a moon hath come, August the world where there is such a king." When he came to the verse “ Be nor grieved nor glad at terrestrial pain or pleasure For the world is sometimes this and sometimes that" His Majesty Jahanbani was touched and deeply affected, and poured presents into the skirts of his hopes.
208.2.4
As Herat and its sights pleased him much, and the New Year festival was at hand he stayed several days there. Whenever he rode out sight-seeing Muhammad Khan was in attendance and paid his respects and scattered gold on each side of his Majesty. Every day he visited some famous spot, and on each occasion there was a joyous assemblage. Everything was managed on a prescribed plan. Sometimes his heart was solaced with the (the of underground channels) and sometimes the Bagh Murad, the Bagh Khiyaban, the Bagh Zaghand and the Bagh Safed were visited. In every flowering spot there were particoloured assemblages. Also on these days he visited the shrines of the great saints, especially that of Khwaja ‘Abdullah Ansari, the Saint of Herat. May his grave be holy ! Ascetics, religious persons, lofty-souled men and famous men of learning were honoured by his company. When the festivities of the New Year were over and the places of recreation had been visited, he proceeded towards Holy Mashhad by the way of Jam. At this time Ahmad Sultan, Governor of Sistan, who had accompanied his Majesty hitherto, took leave to go to his own province. On 5th Zilhajja he reached Jam and visited the shrine of His Highness Zhinda Pil Ahmad-i-Jam. When he approached Mashhad Shah Quli Sultan Istajlu who was the governor of the province, came out to welcome him, accompanied by the leading