The Book of Akbar 256: MARCH OF HIS MAJESTY JAHANBANI JANNAT-ASHYANI FROM KABUL, AND FIGHT WITH M. KAMRAN; AND OTHER INSTRUCTIVE OCCURRENCES.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 256
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MARCH OF HIS MAJESTY JAHANBANI JANNAT-ASHYANI FROM KABUL, AND FIGHT WITH M. KAMRAN; AND OTHER INSTRUCTIVE OCCURRENCES.
256.1
When the arrival of M. Kamran at the borders of Kabul was approaching, a number of the loyal and farseeing represented that there should be a limit to simplicity and optimistic views of persons. Seeing that the fraud, lying and disaffection of this ingrate had been tested many times, it was right and proper that caution should not be thrown away again, and that the army should be ordered to march out, and the banners of victory be unfurled for the suppression of the rebellious. If indeed the Mirza had repented of his evil deeds, and had entered on the path of concord, and were desirous of doing homage, he would receive distinction from the royal favour (in going out to welcome him), and if on this occasion also he was persistent in perversity, the rules of precaution would be observed on our side. On hearing these weighty words His Majesty determined to march towards Ghurband, which was the Mirza’s route, and he set out in that direction in the middle of 957 (June-July, 1550). He left His Majesty the Shahanshah as prince in Kabul and put Qasim Khan Berlas at the head of affairs. Qaraca Khan, Musahib Beg and many others, white without and black within, who were always stirring up strife, were rejoiced and wrote seditious letters to M. Kamran, pressing him to come to Kabul and saying that they, and many others, would welcome him and would disperse the King’s well-wishers by unfitting suggestions, and that Kabul would easily fall into his hands.
256.2
’Tis marvellous how actions which, with complete inconsistency, they regarded as improper when practised on themselves by equals and associates, viz., promise-breaking, evil-devising, and lying, should all be performed by them against their Master and benefactor! Their blinded eyes opened not to the hideousness thereof, nay, they regarded its repulsiveness as a beauty, and counted it as part of their wisdom of strategy. Though they understood loyalty and right dealing and looked for them in their servants, yet they were so overcome by their own baseness as to play the game of deceit and infidelity against such a pure-hearted Master! And what wrongheadedness also! I can imagine that they could not comprehend the glorious merits of this holy personality, but where was their common sense! That which they expected from their own servants they would not render to that aggregation of benevolences and to that bestower of so many favours, any one of which deserved a life’s devotion, but on the contrary they acted in the very opposite way to one who was their Master and benefactor, and requited him with negligence and wrong advice. But alas! What marvel is it that he who has been kneaded of strife and malice, should show such behaviour? What joy have the born-blind in the glory of the sun? The sincerity’s eye of this crew has been filmed over with hypocrisy and become void of light, and their breast of love has been narrowed by the tumour of pride!
256.3
How can such recognise a Master’s rights to gratitude, or perceive the beauties of a benefactor? What place then is there for thanksgiving for boundless favours? The wild steeds of the o’ermastering passions of such self-pleasers have not such docility that their bridles can be tightened by the band of chiding, or their reins turned by the outspread fingers of counsel! At length His Majesty, in accordance with the decrees of fate, marched from Kabul and encamped at Qara Bagh. From thence he went to Carikaran and from there to the river Baran. It happened that there was a stream on this stage and that His Majesty crossed it on horseback, whilst his followers went off in different directions seeking for a safe passage. His Majesty did not approve of this and instanced in reproof of this disaffected crew, the conduct of the devotees of Shah Ism'ail Safavi, who flung themselves down from a sky-high mountain to seize his handkerchief and made for themselves a lofty foundation of fame and life-sacrifice. Such was His Majesty’s sound opinion of his followers on this occasion, and such was their pusillanimous circumspection. In fine Qaraca Qarabakht and Musahib Munafiq and others, who were burning torches of sedition, represented, directly and indirectly, that they had to do with mountains, and that there were many defiles; that the Mirza would have few men with him, and that the loyal should be stationed on different roads, so that the Mirza should not be able to come out.
256.4
The whole idea of these evil-minded ones was to disperse the army so that M. Kamran’s purpose might be effected. His Majesty Jahanbani, who in his noble nature only believed good of men, thought the plan of these traitors a good one and sent Haji Muhammad Khan Kuki, Mir Barka, M. Hasan Khan, Bahadur Khan, Khw. Jalalu-d-din Mahmud, Calpi Beg, Muhammad Khan Beg Turkman, Shaikh Bahlul, Haidar Qasim Kohbar, and Shah Quli Naranji to Zuhhaq and Bamian, and appointed Mun'im Khan and a large body of troops to Sal Aulang. Qaraca, and Musahib, Qasim Husain Sl. and a number who remained with His Majesty, drew up daily an account of His Majesty’s position and sent it to M. Kamran, and were continually representing to His Majesty that this time the Mirza had no other idea but to serve him. When there were few loyalists in attendance, and the convention of hypocrites was powerful, M. Kamran, who had been confounded by the royal pomp and the large army and had been unable either to quit the service (of the king) or to go forward and do homage, having become acquainted by the brokerage of the hypocrites with their treachery, turned off from the road by Zuhhaq and Bamian towards Dara Qibcaq which is a dependency of Ghurband. Yasin Daulat, Maqdum Kuka and Baba Sa‘id led the advance, while he himself was in the centre. His men were arranged in two bodies. It was midday when His Majesty was apprised by a peasant of that quarter of the coming of M. Kamran, and of his evil intentions.
256.5
Qaraca who was the ringleader of the ill-disposed, represented that if one listened to the tales of a man like this and placed reliance on such false rumours, hearts would be divided, and the people (Kamran’s followers) would become apprehensive. Should there be a desire to give battle on account of this news, and should warlike preparations be made, certainly when M. Kamran heard of them, he would desist from his desire of entering into service. Meanwhile the news of the Mirza’s coming and of his wicked intentions became stronger and more continuous. Wondrous to relate, the hypocrisy and inmost thought of those hypocrites had not yet been revealed on the mirror of His Majesty’s mind. Nought entered his holy heart save good thoughts of people, till at length it become established that the enemy was coming and coming with a hostile intention. An order was given that all who were with him should mount their horses. He himself put the foot of courage in the stirrup of enterprise and in a short time there was a hot engagement. Pir Muhammad akhta, who was one of the devoted followers and Muhammad Khan Jalair and many other brave men moved forward. Pir Muhammad akhta, who was athirst for the stream of life-sacrifice, brought his foot into the circle of conflicts and so watered the sword of battle in slaying the foe, that he himself was swept away by the foam. M.
256.6
Quli made his steed so rush about in the field of contest that after slaughtering crowds of wretches he, in the press and confusion, fell wounded from his horse. His son Dost Muhammad could not endure to see him in the power of the foe, and ran to his help. While his father yet lived, he killed his adversary, and had such combats that he too was swept away, and disappeared. His Majesty Jahanbani got upon a rising ground and calculated the strength of friend and foe. By seeing the manner in which some of his servants were killed, and by seeing others go in crowds over to the enemy, the truth of the fraud and treachery of those scoundrels became apparent to him. His native valour and intrepidity were stirred up, and seizing a lance he himself rushed against the foe. They were scattered before him, but an arrow wounded his horse and Beg Babai of Kulab came from behind, and knowingly or unknowingly struck him a blow with his sword. His Majesty turned round and gave him an angry look which caused him to stumble. Mihtar Sakai known as Farhat Khan came and put that wretch to flight, and M. Nijat tendered his piebald horse to His Majesty who took it and gave the Mirza his. Meanwhile ‘Abdu-l-wahhab, one of the yasawal came and telling how the officers had joined with M. Kamran, seized His Majesty’s rein. “What time was it,” he said, for fighting.
256.7
The bucket of success must at one time come up full from the waters of hope and at another, it must, by a revolution of the wheel, go down empty.” Hail! eternal fate! which rules the beggar and the king, and directs the cycle of fortune and misfortune, which holds the key of deliverance for those in bonds, and causeth the exalted to fall. Until men have passed through the dark night of the hours of affliction, they know not the glory of the world-warming sun, and until the thirsty lips have sought the desert mirage, they are not watered at the spring of desire. This event is a proof of this, for on that day there was the apparition of the eventual salvation of His Majesty. He proceeded to Zuhhaq and Bamian whither he had sent many of his loyal officers. ‘Abdu-l-wahhab, Farhat Khan, Muhammad Amin, Sabdal Khan and others accompanied him. Muhammad Amin and ‘Abdu-l-wahhab were ordered to form the rear guard. On account of weakness and of the distress from his wound, he took off his cuirass and made it over to Sabdal Khan who, out of stupidity, flung it away. Next day many of his servants joined him. One day he sent Shah Budagh Khan, Tulak Qucin, and Majnun Qaqshal—ten in all,—towards Kabul to serve as a rear guard and also to keep a look out, but Tulak Qucin only returned. He was received with favour on that market day of testing and raised to the office of Qurbegi. The confidential servants were summoned and a council was held.
256.8
Haji Muhammad Khan whose fief was Ghaznin, and on whose heart’s fireplace dissimulation was pre-eminently concocted, recommended a march to Qandahar. This however was not approved of. A number of the right-thinking recommended marching to Badakhshan, and then proceeding to Kabul along with Mirzas Sulaiman, Hindal and Ibrahim. A party of devoted heroes suggested that to-day M. Kamran was intoxicated with the mischievous wine of the hypocrites and narrow-souled ones and off his guard, while they had the good fortune to be at the feet of His Majesty. On what other day would they be successful? The proper thing was that they should all with one heart march to Kabul. There was a confident hope that they would be able to dispose of M. Kamran without going to Badakhshan. As recent evidence had been obtained of the deceit and hypocrisy of very many of the nurslings of the Court, reliance was not put upon this opinion and the cautious course seemed to be to proceed to Badakhshan. Accordingly he ordered a march by the route of Yekka Aulang. At such a time as this Haji Muhammad obtained leave for his brother Shah Muhammad and his men and sent them to Ghaznin! His Majesty with his own holy hand wrote a letter to His Majesty the Shahinshah announcing his safety and made it over to him (Shah Muhammad) in order that he might by every possible means convey it to him. He also sent verbal messages of victory and promises of his coming.
256.9
And he bade him (Shah Muhammad) go quickly to Ghaznin and make every effort for keeping it safe till his return which, he trusted, would soon occur. Though the loyal represented that to separate hypocrites from himself at such a time was to put the reins of hypocritical actions into the hands of these unreliables and forward the schemes of the seditious, and though every one represented, either openly or by hints, that he (Haji Muhammad), was sending his brother to M. Kamran, and that he himself was seeking to be a household-spy and a deceiver of simple believers, His Majesty did not give heed and granted leave to Shah Muhammad. Next day he proceeded towards Kahmard. Many faithless ones separated from his service, but all who observed the limits of loyalty and were careful of their good name, stayed with him and bound the girdle of service on the waist of fidelity. After travelling three days on this road, Tulakjī and Sanqajī, the headmen of the Aimaqs who live there, brought horses and sheep to the utmost of their power and presented them. They rendered acceptable service. His Majesty encamped at night near one of their settlements. When he mounted his horse in the morning, news was brought that a large caravan had arrived under the charge of Mīr Saiyid ‘Alī of Sabzawar. Merchants from Iraq and Khurasan had many horses and other goods with them and were on their way to India. At the end of the day the chiefs of the caravan were admitted to the Presence.
256.10
The providential arrival of this large party was the beginning of celestial victories. The prudent and farseeing merchants recognised a great auspiciousness for themselves in the favour of so great a prince, and in assisting him; and tendered all their horses and goods as a present. His Majesty perceived that this was an aid from heaven and took a portion of the goods at four or five times their value, and divided them among his followers and intimates. He also set aside presents for each of the princes of Badakhshan. The remainder he returned to them that they might sell the articles wherever they chose. Next day he arrived at Kahmard. Tahir Muhammad, son of Mīr Khurd was there. He recognised the arrival as a great favour and paid his respects, but either from meanness or not having materials, he could not with regard to his entertainment, succeed in wiping the sweat of shame from the face of his service. From there after two days and a night (shab darmiyan) they arrived at the bank of the river Bangī. From the other side a man called out “O men of the caravan, have you any news among you of the King?” When His Majesty heard him,