The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 35: Victories.
Dwázda-Sála-i Jahángírí; Wáki’át Jahángírí, of the Emperor Jahángír (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 35
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- English
Victories.
35.1
Towards the end of the year, tidings of victory arrived from all quarters of my dominions. The first victory was that won over Alidad the Afghan, who had long been in rebellion in the mountains of Kabul. * * Another victory was achieved over the army of the wretched ’Ambar. The following is a brief account of it. Some good officers and a body of Bargis (Mahrattas), a very hardy race of people, who are great movers of opposition and strife, being offended with ’Ambar, desired to become subjects to my throne. Having received assurances from Shahsawar Khan, who was with the royal army at Balapur, Adam Khan, Yakut Khan, and other chiefs, with the Bargis Jadu Rai and Baba Jukayath, came to see him, and he gave them each a horse, an elephant, a robe, and cash, according to their respective ranks. Having thus brought them into the interests of the throne, he marched with them from Balapur against ’Ambar. On their way they were opposed by an army of the Dakhinis ; but they soon defeated it, and drove the men in panic to the camp of ’Ambar. In his vanity and pride, he resolved to hazard a battle with my victorious army. To his own forces he united the armies of ’Adil Khan and Kutbu-l Mulk, and with a train of artillery he marched to meet the royal army till he came within five or six kos of it. On Sunday, the 25th of Bahman, they came to an engagement.
35.2
At about three o’clock in the afternoon the fight commenced with rockets and guns, and at last Darab Khan, who commanded the foremost division, with other chiefs and warriors, drew their swords and vigorously attacked the enemy’s advanced force. Their bravery and courage soon put their opponents to confusion. Without turning aside, they then fell upon the centre. In the same manner each division attacked the division which was before it, and the fight was terrible to behold. The battle went on for about an hour, and heaps of corpses were formed. ’Ambar, unable to withstand the royal army, fled from the field, and had it not been a very dark night, none of the enemy would have escaped. The great warriors of the royal army pursued the fugitives for about two or three kos, till horse and man were unable to move. The enemy was totally defeated and dispersed, and the warriors returned to their camp. All the enemy’s guns, with 300 camels laden with rockets, many elephants, horses, and munitions of war to an incalculable extent, fell into the hands of the victorious army. The killed and wounded were innumerable, and a great number of chiefs were captured alive. Next day the army having moved from Fathpur, marched towards Khirki, which had been the shelter of the rebels; but no trace of them was found. It encamped there, and learnt that the enemy were completely disorganized.
35.3
The third conquest achieved in those days was that by which the territory of Kokrah and its diamond mines were taken possession of, through the enterprising exertions of Ibrahim Khan. The territory belongs to the province of Bihar and Patna, and through it there runs a stream, from which diamonds are extracted in a very peculiar manner. In the days when the water is low, and is left in little holes and troughs, the people whose business it is to extract the diamonds, and who have great expertness in the art, search out for those portions from which they observe many little insects issue like gnats, which are called in the language of those people chika. These parts, along the whole course of the stream which is accessible, they fence round with a wall of stones, and then dig it up with spades and axes, to about one yard and a half deep, and search among the stones and mud which are brought up. In such soil both large and small diamonds are found, and sometimes so large that they are worth even a lac of rupees. In short, this territory and the stream from the bed of which diamonds are extracted were in the possession of Durjan Sal, zamíndár. Although the governors of the province of Bihar had several times led their armies to invade his dominions, yet, on account of the impassable roads and thick forests, they were obliged to return, being contented only with two or three diamonds which he presented to them.
35.4
When the governorship of the province was transferred from Zafar Khan to Ibrahim Khan, I instructed the latter, on his departure to the province, to invade the dominion of that refractory chief, and dispossess him. Accordingly, Ibrahim, immediately after his arrival in the province, collected a force and marched against the zamíndár; who, as on former occasions, sent him some diamonds and elephants; but the Khan did not accept them, and having proceeded with all speed, invaded his dominions. Before the enemy could collect his force, Ibrahim penetrated into his territory, and before the news of his approach could reach him, attacked the hill and the valley where he resided. Ibrahim ordered his people to search for him, and he was at last found in a valley with one of his brothers and some women, among whom was his mother and other wives of his father. All the diamonds which they had were taken, and twenty-three elephants fell into the hands of the royal army. As a reward for this service, the mansab of Ibrahim Khan was raised to the personal salary of 4000 and the command of 4000 horse, with the title of Fath-Jang. In like manner promotions were ordered to be made in the rank of all those who had shown distinguished bravery in the accomplishment of this undertaking. The territory is still under the possession of the officers of this government; and diamonds which are extracted from the stream are brought to this Court.
35.5
Recently, a diamond was found, the value of which was estimated at the amount of 50,000 rupees, and it is hoped that if the search be continued, more excellent diamonds will be placed in the repository of the crown jewels.