Halat-i Asad Beg 7: Mission to the Dakhin.

7

At last orders were passed, that royal farmdns should be addressed to the governors of the provinces of the Dakhin, namely, Bijapur, Golconda, Bidar, and the Carnatic. His Majesty said to me, “You went before, in great discomfort, to fetch Mir Jamalu-d din and the daughter of ’Adil Khan and the presents, because it was necessary. But this time you must go in state to the four provinces of the Dakhin, and remain in each place so long as may be necessary, to collect whatever they may have of fine elephants and rare jewels throughout their dominions, to bring back with you. Their money you may keep. I want nothing but their choice and rare elephants and jewels. You must secure things of this kind for the Government, the rest I give you. You must not relax your efforts as long as there is one fine elephant or rare jewel out of your grasp in the Dakhin.'”
In short, I was sent for these purposes. But nearly two months passed from the time of my first appointment before I received my dismissal. Again His Majesty said, “Don’t trouble yourself about money; all those countries are at your disposal, and shall come to you.” I made my preparations according to these gracious and kind orders. Though I was only a commander of 200, I enlisted 600 chosen horsemen of I’rak, Khurasan, and Turkistan; many among them being men of rank. To each servant I gave a fine horse and three or four months’ pay in advance. Even commanders of 1000 or 2000 could not boast of so well-accoutred a train as was then assembled. I appointed Shah ’Ali of Ispahan, a beautiful writer, as my bakhshi, and hired 100 musketeers, 100 guards and servants, and 100 archers. In short, I made great preparations.