The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 1: Nineteenth Year of the Reign.
Tatimma-i Wáki’át-i Jahángírí, of Muhammad Hádí (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 1
- Language
- English
Nineteenth Year of the Reign.
1.1
[The New Year began on a day corresponding with 29th Jumada-l awwal, 1033 H. (10th March, 1624 A.D.). When Sultan Parwez and Mahabat Khan arrived near Allahabad, ’Abdu-lla Khan raised the siege and returned to Jhaunsi. Darya Khan held the bank of the river in force, and had carried all the boats over to his own side; the passage of the Imperial army was thus delayed for some days. The Prince and Mahabat Khan encamped on the other side of the river. Darya Khan held the fords, but the zamíndárs of the neighbourhood showed their loyalty, and collected thirty boats from various parts, and guided the royal forces over at a spot some kos higher up. Darya Khan held his position to contest the passage until he heard that the royal army had crossed. He then knew that it was no longer tenable, and fell back to Jaunpur. ’Abdu-lla Khan and Raja Bhim proceeded to Jaunpur, and counselled a movement to Benares; so Shah Jahan sent his females and attendants to Rohtas, and himself proceeded to Benares. He was joined by ’Abdu-lla Khan, Raja Bhim, and Darya Khan, and having arrived at Benares, passed over the Ganges, and halted on the river Tunus. Prince Parwez and Mahabat Khan, having arrived at Damdama, they left Muhammad Zaman Teherani there, while they passed over the Ganges with the intention of crossing over the Tunus. Shah Jahan, leaving Khan-dauran in charge of his position, crossed the Ganges, and confronted Muhammad Zaman, who fell back to Jhaunsi.
1.2
Khan-dauran advanced in full confidence, and Muhammad Zaman hastened to meet him. A sharp action followed. Khan-dauran was defeated, and his soldiers abandoned him. Being left alone, he struggled and fought desperately in every direction until he was killed. His head was sent to Prince Parwez. Rustam Khan, an old servant of Shah Jahan’s, now left him and joined Prince Parwez. He said it was a good thing that the traitor (Khan-dauran) had been killed. Jahangir Kuli, son of Khan-i ’azam, who was present, said, “No one can call him rebel or traitor, a more devoted man cannot exist, for he served his master to the death, and what more could he do! Even now his head is raised above all.” Shah Jahan took his departure from Bengal, and proceeded towards the Dakhin. Mukhlis Khan then went on the wings of haste to Prince Parwez, to send him and his amirs on to the Dakhin. * * A despatch arrived from Asad Khan, the Bakhshi of the Dakhin, written at Burhanpur, to the effect that Ya’kub Khan Habshi, with 10,000 horse, had arrived at Malkapur, ten kos from the city, and that Sarbuland Rai had gone out of the city with the intention of attacking him. Upon this, strict injunctions were sent forbidding him to fight until reinforcements arrived.
1.3
At the beginning of 1034 A.H. Shah Jahan arrived in the Dakhin. Malik ’Ambar tendered him assistance, and sent a force under the command of Ya’kub Khan Habshi to Burhanpur to plunder. He communicated this movement to Shah Jahan, who proceeded in that direction, and pitched his camp at Dewalganw. The Prince then sent ’Abdu-lla Khan to join Ya’kub Khan, and lay siege to Burhanpur. He himself followed, and pitched his tent in the Lal Bagh, in the outskirts of the city. Rao Ratan, and other Imperial officers who were in the place, did their best to put it in a state of defence, and took every precaution to secure it. Shah Jahan ordered ’Abdu-lla to assail the town on one side, and Shah Kuli Khan on the other. The besieged, by dint of numbers and by hard fighting, held ’Abdu-lla in check; but Shah Kuli’s division breached the walls, and made their way inside. Sarbuland Rai then left a force to keep ’Abdu-lla Khan in check, and hastened to attack Shah Kuli. Several of Shah Kuli Khan’s men were scattered in the streets and bazars, but he, with the few around him, stood fast in the esplanade in front of the citadel. Several of them fell. He then entered the citadel, and closed the gates. Sarbuland Rai surrounded it, and Shah Kuli, being hard pressed, capitulated.
1.4
Shah Jahan then ordered a second attack to be made; but although great gallantry was exhibited, the assault failed, and several officers of distinction fell. He mounted his horse, and ordered a third assault. Great courage was again displayed, and many officers and men fell, but without success. Saiyid Ja’far received a slight wound in the neck from a bullet, but he was so frightened that he went away. His departure affected all the Dakhinis, who broke up and went away, followed by many men who were disheartened by failure. Intelligence now arrived, that Prince Parwez and Mahabat Khan, with the Imperial army, had reached the Nerbadda on