The Book of Akbar 365.1

365.1

of espial; and some in their utter baseness had engaged themselves in his service, and uttered flatteries to him, such as Shah Quli Naranji, Muhammad Tahir, and Lang Sarban. He in his simplicity believed them to be truth-speakers and patronised them, and supported them. For instance, Shah Quli behaved in an offensive manner and did not listen to orders, and Muhammad Tahir gave such a rude answer that he deserved to have his tongue cut out or rather to be put to death. He (Bairam) heard of this and did nothing. Lang Sarban uttered before a number of people and in his presence such rude expressions that he too was deserving of condign punishment. He himself knows what was the position and rank of Wali Beg among the Qizilbashes. Without considering his service, his lineage or his position, and mainly on account of relationship, viz., his being his (Bairam’s) brother-in-law, he brought him and put him over the great officers, so that he even gave him precedence over Saiyid Quli Mirza, who is distinguished for the height of his Saiyidship and for his connection with the sovereign. He gave Husain Quli, who has not even fought with a chicken, equal position with Iskandar Khan, Abdullah Khan, and Bahadur Khan, and gave him cultivated fiefs, while he satisfied the great Khans with waste lands. At these times in many assemblages such deeds were performed by him as to distress and trouble our capacious soul.