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The Book of Akbar 293: CHAPTER LIX.

The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 293

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English

CHAPTER LIX.

293.1

service, his words and his deeds did not agree. He extended his foot beyond his carpet and made men Khans and Sultans of his own motion, and gave them standards and drums! Frenzy took possession of him and often from madness or assumed madness and fraud, he gave up his own house to be plundered. There continually appeared in him irregular proceedings which were allied to madness. When these facts repeatedly came to the notice of His Majesty he issued an order to ‘Alī Qulī Khan Shaibānī to send him to Court, and to punish him if he resisted. Just when the madman, having been defeated by Rukn Khan, had come to Budaon, ‘Alī Qulī Khan after having settled the affairs of Mīrat came to Sambal. After arranging matters there he came to Budaon. Though he sent a person to call him, Qambar did not appear, and said “Just as you are a slave of the king, so am I one of the office-bearers of the expedition, and I have got this province by the sword.” At last ‘Alī Qulī Khan took to arms and when Qambar was defeated, he took refuge in the fort of Budaon, and sent a petition to Court. When His Majesty got this account of him, he sent Qasim Makhlas to encompass him with favours and to bring him to kiss the threshold. Before Qasim had reached Budaon, and brought this message of deliverance, ‘Alī Qulī Khan had killed him. The short account of this is that when Qambar strengthened the fort, and the siege was being protracted, ‘Alī Qulī Khan sent to him Muhammad Beg Turkaman and Mulla Ghiāsu-d-dīn.

293.2

He imprisoned these envoys, and they secretly won over a number of people to their side and having by craft overcome the garrison, they made Qambar a prisoner. ‘Alī Qulī Khan sent his head to Court. The just heart of the king was grieved at this and he sent a firman of rebuke to ‘Alī Qulī Khan. He asked why he went to war when he (Qambar) was making proffers of obedience and wished to submit, and why did he kill him without orders after getting him into his power? His Majesty repeatedly said to those near him that he had wished to see this man and that if he had found on the tablet of his forehead truth and rectitude, he would have shown him favour and have educated him. One of the occurrences of this time was the ingratitude of M. Sulaimān. The brief account of this is that when the royal standards went off to India, Tardī Beg Khan, who held Andarab and Ishkamish in his jāgīr, was ordered to join. Muqīm Khan remained behind to look after the jāgīr, M. Sulaiman thought this a good opportunity to get hold of the territories. First, he tried craft, and sought to win over Muqīm Khān to his side. When this failed, the Mīrzā threw off the mask and besieged Andarāb. Muqīm Khān was compelled to come out with his family, and by fighting his way through he got away from that dangerous spot and came to Kābul. One of the occurrences of this time was the killing by Haidar Muhammad Khān Akhta Begī of Ghāzī Khān the father of that Ibrāhīm who had had an itching desire for a throne.

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The story is as follows: When Haidar Muhammad Khān was sent to Bīāna, Ghāzī Khān, who was the governor, could not resist and took refuge in the fort. Relying upon the promises and engagements which were held out by Haidar Muhammad, he came out; but Haidar Muhammad fixed his eyes on his goods and chattels and broke his promise, and put him to death with the sword of injustice. When His Majesty Jahānbānī heard of this, it did not commend itself to his just mind. As he (i.e., Humāyūn) was at a distance, and had only recently come to India he ostensibly refrained from inflicting punishment on him but he announced that Haidar would never again bind on his belt. And in truth what the fate-interpreting tongue had uttered remained in force till he left this world. Shihābu-d-dīn Ahmad Khān who was the Mīr Bīyūtāt (i.e., officer in charge of buildings, &c.), was sent to inquire into the matter and to appraise the property. His Majesty went on, in ways well-pleasing to God, in taking care of his subjects, in building up the world, and in giving repose to mankind.