The Book of Akbar 252: CHAPTER XLV.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 252
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CHAPTER XLV.
252.1
Turk! “Sit close by.” The right side was pointed out to M. Sulaiman. In like manner the princes and officers sat on the right and left according to their degree. All the intimate courtiers, such as Hasan Quli Muhrdar, Mir Muhammad Munshi, Haidar Muhammad, Maqsud Beg Akhta sat close together (dar dingal). A great festival was held, Qasim Cangi, Kocak Ghicaki, Makhlas Qabuzi, Hafiz Sultan Muhammad Rukhna, Khwaja Kamalu-d-din Husain, Hafiz Muhri and others of this enchanting band took their seats near the festive circle (qūr) and discoursed delightful music. Among the younger men (ikkahā) there were Kakar 'Ali, Shaham Beg Jalair, Tulak Qucin and others standing behind the circle (qūr). Fruits and varied dishes were set out in royal fashion. In this assembly Hasan Quli Muhrdar said to M. Kamran, “I have heard that it was stated before you that some one had said in Pir Muhammad Khan's presence that whoever did not cherish hatred as big as an orange against Murtaza 'Ali was not entitled to be called a Musalman, and that you remarked thereupon that it behoved a servant of God to have such hatred as big as a pumpkin.” The Mirza became very angry and said, “Then it seems people take me for a heretic” (khāriji). There was general conversation (?) and his Majesty Jahanbani scattered pearls of speech. The meeting lasted till the end of day. In this joyful assembly M. 'Askari was made over to M. Kamran, and allowed to go to his quarters.
252.2
As the Mirza had come in a hurry, tents, &c., were erected for him near the royal residence. Next day a counsel was held with the princes and officers about an expedition against Balkh. Everyone spoke according to his opinions. His Majesty ordered that when the army arrived at Nari whatever appeared proper should be carried into execution. Nari is a village from which there is a road to Balkh and another to Kabul. On the fourth day they marched from this delightful station and at night encamped at the spring of Bandgasha which is near Ishkamish where a joyful assembly was held. To that memorable place his Majesty Giti-sitani Firdus Makani had come in former times, and Khan Mirza and Jahangir Mirza had presented themselves there and placed the head of obedience on the line of command. And his Majesty Firdus Makani had in commemoration of his having halted there, and of the coming of his brothers and of their making their submission recorded the date on a rock. His Majesty Jahanbani Jinnat Ashiyani who had come to this delightful spot in accordance with H.H. Giti-sitani's precedent also recorded the date of his coming, and of the homage of M. Kamran, and the assembling together of the brothers. And these two dates of two mighty kings on one stone-tablet are like the writing of the portico of time on the page of night and day, being two closely intertwined memorials. From thence his Majesty proceeded to the village of Nari and proceeded to distribute the territory of Badakhshan.
252.3
Khatlan, which is commonly known as Kulab, was given to M. Kamran as far as the (river) Muk and Qaratigin. Cakar Khan was M. Kamran's prime minister and was sent along with him. 'Askari M. was also sent along with the Mirza, and Qaratigin was given to him as his fief. Though M. Kamran was not satisfied with his fief yet in consideration of his having been granted his life he did not make any objection. Qil'a Zaffar, Taliqan and several other parganas were assigned to Mirzas Sulaiman and Ibrahim. Qanduz, Ghuri, Kahmard, Baqlan, Ishkamish and Narin were conferred on M. Hindal, and Sher 'Ali was sent along with him. It was arranged that the expedition against Balkh should take place next year. After the princes had thus been made recipients of royal favours his Majesty decided upon going to Kabul. In a final meeting, agreement and engagements, which are the passwords of those who arrange temporal affairs, were interchanged and everyone having been committed to God, the Disposer of men whether great or small, was permitted to depart, but of brotherly affection he called for a cup of sherbat and after taking a little of it he tendered it to M. Kamran, and an order was given that each prince should in his turn partake of the royal draught (i Hush, see Vullers s.v.), and pledge themselves to unity and concord. In accordance with the lofty command they together with the bond of brotherhood tied the knot of sincerity and friendship.
252.4
Each prince received a standard and a kettle drum, and thereby was proclaimed to have obtained the dignity of a confidential relationship. Mirzas Kamran, Sulaiman and Hindal were honoured with tumantoghs and went off from here to their fiefs. The royal cortege marched to Khust and halted in that delightful spot. His Majesty then went on by Parian towards Kabul. Parian is a fort of which his Majesty Sahibqarani laid the foundations after he had chastised the Hindus of Katur. His Majesty repaired it and gave it the name of Islamabad. When the victorious standards arrived there Pahlwan Dost Mir Barr was ordered to repair the broken down fort, and the task of supervision was assigned to various officers. His Majesty remained there ten days and by Pahlwan’s exertions the fort received shape in the course of a week, and was furnished with gates, battlements and embrasures. His Majesty left Beg Mirak in charge of it. When the world-adorning mind was relieved from the business of the fort he turned his attention to the silver mines, but it appeared that the receipts did not equal the working-expenses. From there he proceeded and encamped on the bank of the Panjshir river near the pass of Usfetar Karam. He reached the environs of Kabul in the beginning of winter when the ground had become white with snow and waited there for some days in expectation of a suitable time and propitious hour.
252.5
His Majesty the Shahinshah in whose coming there were thousands of prosperities and good omens came out to welcome him. The Atgah Khan and a number of the courtiers tendered their service. His Majesty exulted and expanded at the auspicious sight of that eye-pupil of the Khilafat and new moon of glory, from whose temples there shone the auspiciousness of the two worlds, and prostrated his forehead in thanksgiving to Almighty God. On Friday, 2nd Ramzan, which was the auspicious time, he, attended by victory and conquest, cast the shadow of his advent over the city, and prostrated himself on the floor of prayer. Blessings and congratulations arose from the people, and at this time Samandar came from Kashmir with petitions and presents from M. Haidar. In the letter were eloquent praises of the climate, of the spring and the autumn, of the flowers and fruits of Kashmir, and pressing entreaties that he would visit that lovely region. There were also fitting expressions about the conquest of Hindustan, and incitements were held to the world-conquering genius. His Majesty out of the abundance of his goodness sent a diploma of victory full of favourable expressions to the Mirza. And he mentioned therein his secret designs upon India. He was constantly engaged in plans for strengthening the Khilafat and for improving the affairs of the State, and applied his intellect to this object in accordance with the methods which the times called for.
252.6
Among them was his dismissing to the Hijaz Qaraca Khan and Musahib Beg who were ringleaders in hypocrisy, and deserving of all kinds of punishment. His idea was that perchance in times of exile, which is a file of the immoderate in spirit, they might think of the time of fortune, and recognising its blessings to some measure might refrain from following evil. They went off and stayed in the Hazara country, and at length the clemency of his Majesty Jahanbani accepted the inaudible excuses of those ingrates. At the same time he sent Khwaja Jalalu-d-din Mahmud on an embassy to Persia along with gifts and rarities in order that the foundations of affection might be renewed, and love be confirmed.
252.7
Among the occurrences of this year was the martyrdom of M. Ulugh Beg, the son of Muhammad Sultan. The brief account of this affair is that the Mirza was proceeding from Zamin Dawar, which was his fief, towards Badakhshan in order to pay his respects to his Majesty Jahanbani, Khwaja M'uazzam also accompanied him from a desire to kiss the threshold, and to atone for his offences. When they came near Ghaznin the news of the grand army's victory arrived and Khwaja M'uazzam prevailed upon the Mirza to go against the Hazaras so that they might attack and harry a tribe who were always practising plunder and robbery. From the inconsiderateness which is the natural stock of youthful arrogance and is the madness of pride they did not observe proper strategy and showed rashness in fight. The Mirza drank the last draught from the goblet of the scimetar, and his Majesty exalted Tardi Muhammad Khan by assigning Zamin Dawar to him as his fief and sent him off in order that he might bring that country into order. In the same year the ambassadors of ‘Abdu-r-rashid Khan, son of Sultan Said Khan, the ruler of Kashghar arrived bringing valuable presents. They were welcomed with favours and allowed to return quickly. At the same time ‘Abbas Sultan, one of the Uzbeg princes, gained auspiciousness by kissing the threshold, and was received with favour. His rank was exalted by his marriage with the chaste Gulchahra Begam, a younger sister of his Majesty.
252.8
Among the occurrences of this year was the martyrdom of M. Shah, brother of M. Ulugh Beg. He was coming from Ushtar Karam, which was in his fief, with the intention of paying his respects, but when he reached the pass of Minar, Shah Muhammad, brother of Haji Muhammad, in revenge for M. Muhammad Sultan's having killed Koki, the paternal uncle of Haji Muhammad in India, lay in ambush and shot him with an arrow at the top of the pass, and raised the Mirza on that summit to the glorious degree of a martyr.