The Book of Akbar 253: CHAPTER XLVI.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 253
- Language
- English
CHAPTER XLVI.
253.1
March of his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-Ashyani from Kabul to Balkh, and his return owing to the discordance of M. Kamran and the hypocrisy of the officers. Though the conquest of India and the removal of weeds from that garden held a foremost place in his Majesty’s mind, and though he was also anxious to visit Kashmir, he postponed these enterprises and undertook the expedition to Balkh, which had been previously determined on, and for which preparations had been made. In the beginning of 956 (February, 1549), when the season had become milder, he sent Baltu Beg, one of his confidants, to M. Kamran with the information that he was proceeding against Balkh in accordance with agreements, and that M. Kamran should co-operate in this and meet him when he should arrive at the borders of Badakhshan. Orders were also sent to Mirzas Hindal, ‘Askari, Sulaiman and Ibrahim to make arrangements for carriage and to prepare their men and join quickly. The grand expedition started, but because of arrangements and the disposal of business and the coming of Haji Muhammad Khan from Ghaznin, there was a delay of nearly a month in Calak. From this stage Khw. Dost Khawand was sent to Kulab to bring in M. Kamran. Khw. Qasim Buyutat, a former vizier, Khw. M. Beg, who was diwan-i-hal but owing to whose want of guiding-power (bi rashidi)
253.2
Khw. Ghazi had seized the charge of affairs—and Khw. Maqsud ‘Ali who was M. Kamran’s factotum, made with others an inquiry, through the instrumentality of Mir Barka, into the affairs of Khw. Ghazi and Ruli Allah. Mun‘im Khan, Muhammad Quli Khan Barlas, Faridun Khan and Maulana ‘Abdu-l-baqi, the sadr, were appointed to audit the accounts. Husain Quli Sultan who was one of his Majesty’s intimates, was the superintendent in this affair. The result of the inquiry was that Khw. Ghazi and Ruli Allah and a number of other condemned clerks were held to ransom. Muhammad Quli Sultan was appointed to take an account of Khw. Ghazi’s property, and Khw. Sultan ‘Ali, who, by the favour of his Majesty, had received the title of Afzal (most excellent) Khan, was raised from the position of mushrif-i-buyutat to that of diwan-i-buyutat. At this time, M. Ibrahim came post and did homage and was welcomed with favours.
253.3
When his Majesty’s mind had been set at rest about the necessary arrangements for the expedition, he marched to Istalif. Here ‘Abbas Sultan Uzbak absconded. His Majesty marched slowly, as he waited to be joined by the Mirzas. When he heard that they had started, and that M. Kamran was getting ready, he went by Panjshir and encamped at Andarab. In imitation of his Majesty Sahib-qirani, he halted for three days at a stage where that fortunate prince had laid foundations. Thence he went to Nari, where there is a meeting of the ways. Having crossed the Nari Pass, he traversed the plain of Nilbar, the spring beauty of which is famous and pre-eminent above that of other parts of Badakhshan. Near this flowery spot, Mirzas Hindal and Sulaiman did homage and were encompassed with favours. Here at M. Sulaiman’s request, M. Ibrahim was permitted to go to Badakhshan that he might protect the country and look after the local army. From the neighbourhood of Baqlau, Mirzas Hindal and Sulaiman and Haji Muhammad Khan and a number of experienced and energetic men were sent on in advance, that they might set free from the Uzbeks the town of Aibak, a dependency of Balkh which is famed for its cultivation, the abundance of its fruits, and the excellence of its climate.
253.4
At this time, Sher Muhammad Pakna—one of the personal attendants (yasawalan) killed a leopard with an arrow and presented it. Husain Quli muhrdar, represented that the Turks regarded it as unlucky to kill a leopard when on an expedition, and said that, at the time when Bairam Ughlan made him prisoner and brought him before Kistan Qara, the ruler of Balkh, and they were making preparations in Jajaktu and Maimana for marching to Herat, someone killed a leopard and for this reason the expedition was stayed. His Majesty paid no heed to this story, and held firmly to his resolution of going to Balkh. Next day the advance force arrived at Aibak. Pir Muhammad Khan, the ruler of Balkh, had sent his guardian, Khw. Bagh and a number of experienced men such as Bāqī M., Husain Sa‘īd Bai, Muhammad Quli M. and Jujak M. to guard Aibak and provide for its defence. They reached it at about the same time as the imperial army and had no resource but to enter the fort of Aibak and secure themselves there. His Majesty arrived and set himself to take the fort and distributed the batteries. In two or three days the garrison asked for quarter and came out and did homage and Aibak fell into the hands of the imperial servants.
253.5
His Majesty held a royal festival and consulted with the atālīq about the conquest of Transoxiana. The atālīq represented that he was not a fit person to consult about such matters, but his Majesty replied that he bore marks of honesty, and that he should, without hesitation, say what he thought. Then the atālīq said that as the serviceable men of Pīr Muhammad Khān had fallen into his Majesty’s hands, he should put them all to death and go on in the career of victory, for Transoxiana would fall into his hands without a battle. His Majesty replied that it is ignoble to break one’s word and that this is especially so in the case of princes; that he had granted quarter and could not recede from this. The atālīq replied that if his Majesty did not approve of this plan, he might keep him prisoner and make a treaty to the effect that all the country on this side of Khulm should be his own and that an auxiliary force should be supplied (i.e., by Pīr Muhammad) whenever the expedition against India should take place. As the eternal will and stablished decree had gone forth against these two propositions, what was written by the pen of fate appeared to the Lord of Purpose to be preferable. His Majesty stayed there several days. Though the climate of Aibak and its abundance of fruit were a motive for staying, yet the chief reason was the non-arrival of M. Kāmrān. The wise and far-seeing used to insist that if this delay had not taken place, Pīr Muhammad