The Book of Akbar 267: CHAPTER L.

267

to mankind. The record of their good deeds remained unwritten, while their sins came to 102 great culpabilities,—each one of which might have been a ground of imprisonment and death and degradation. Good God! there is one man who after good service is trembling and downcast, lest his (Akbar's) glance fall upon his work and there be a suspicion that he, a simple-minded man, is selling his services, or that he is ill-conditioned. And the more honest his service, the greater his apprehensions! And there is another kind of man who sells things not done at the rate of things done; who passes off bad deeds as good ones; who after tricking out his blemishes, looks for favours, and indulges himself in self-commendation.
When by this thorough investigation it was proved to the world that these two disloyalists deserved the punishment of their own wickedness, and that it was time the skirt of the age should be cleansed from the dirt of their existence, their fierce and brutish natures—which infected them in the cage of the raw material of humanity,—were drawn forth by a halter from human shape, and consigned to a fitting place, and they, or rather the world, was granted deliverance from their hideous nature. Ghaznin was assigned to Bahadur Khan and his (Haji Muhammad's) other fiefs were distributed among the (royal) servants.
The winter was spent in that neighbourhood, in travelling and hunting, and in feasting and rejoicing. In the beginning of spring, when the humours are in a state of equilibrium, general receptions were held, and after petitions and tendering of gifts, a number were enrolled in service. The dust of the Mirza’s strife and disturbance was laid, and His Majesty Jahanbani went by Badpaj to the river Baran. On the night that the army was near Badpaj, there was much rain and snow and many suffered. When hunting and sight-seeing were ended, Kabul was made the seat of dominion, and Bairam Khan was sent to administer the affairs of Qandahar. Khw. Ghazi was sent with him to convey presents and to go on an embassy to the ruler of Persia. Ghaznin, Gardez, Bangash and the tuman of Lahugar (Logar) were bestowed on M. Hindal. Qunduz, which belonged to the Mirza, was conferred on Mir Barka and M. Hasan. M. Hindal was granted leave to go to Ghaznin and Mir Barka received permission to go to Qunduz. Jui Shahi and its territory were assigned to Khizr Khw. Khan. Before Mir Barka reached Qunduz, M. Ibrahim got possession of it by trickery from Muhammad Tahir Khan, and Mir Barka returned to Kabul. His Majesty Jahanbani allowed the good services of the Mirza to be an atonement for his action and left him in possession of Qunduz. At this time, Abu'l-ma'ali was introduced into the service through ‘Abdu-s-sami. Shah Abu’l-ma'ali traced his descent from the saiyids of Tirmiz. His personal beauty made the good and right-thinking look for goodness of nature, and his forwardness was tolerated on account of his courage. Consequently he became a favourite with His Majesty Jahanbani. Some of his insolencies and extravagancies will be related in their proper place.