Padshah-namah 52: Capture of Kandahar and other forts.

52

[Text, vol. ii. p. 24.] The strong fortress of Kandahar was annexed to the Imperial dominions in the fortieth year of the Emperor Akbar. * * Shah Safi of Persia, was desirous of recovering it. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Jahangir, Prince Shah Jahan was sent to arrange the affairs of the Dakhin, * * and the Shah of Persia seized the opportunity to make an attempt to recover the place. He invested it, and after a siege of forty-five days reduced the fortress in the seventeenth year of Jahangir. * * After a time, 'Ali Mardan Khan was appointed governor of Kandahar, * * and Shah Jahan, being desirous of recovering the place, directed his governor of Kabul to send an able emissary to 'Ali Mardan Khan, who was to learn what he could about the fortress and its garrison, and to make overtures to 'Ali Mardan Khan. * * The envoy was received very graciously, * * and friendly relations were established between 'Ali Mardan Khan and the governor of Kabul, * * so that the Khan at length wrote, expressing his desire to surrender the place to Shah Jahan. * * On the approach of the Imperial forces, 'Ali Mardan Khan conducted them into the fortress, and gave it up to them. * * The governor of Kabul was directed to proceed to Kandahar, and to present a lac of rupees to 'Ali Mardan Khan. He was then to take the Khan to Kabul, and to send him under escort to the Imperial Court, with all his family and dependents. * * The Emperor sent 'Ali Mardan Khan a khil'at [and many other fine presents. Engagement between Sa'id Khan, governor of Kabul, and the Persians, and defeat of the latter. Capture by siege of the forts of Bust, Zamindawar, and Girishk.] All the country of Kandahar with its fortresses [enumerated in detail] were re-annexed to the Imperial dominions.