The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 22.6
The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī (Rogers, Beveridge) 22.6
- Language
- English
22.6.1
At this time, on the representation of the Commander-in-Chief, Khan-Khanan, and all the loyal people, it was shown to me that ‘Ambar, the black-fated one (he was an Abyssinian), had again placed his foot beyond the bounds of good behaviour, and had, according to his nature, laid a foundation for trouble and sedition, and as the victorious army had proceeded to a distant part of the country, he, considering it a good opportunity, had broken the pledges he had given to the servants of the Court, and had stretched out his hand to take possession of royal territory. It is hoped that he will soon be entangled in the disgrace of his deeds. As he (the Commander-in-Chief) had asked for treasure, it was ordered that the diwans of Agra should send Rs. 20,00,000 to the Commander-in-Chief. Close upon this news came that the Amirs had left their posts, and come together to Darab K., and that the Bargls (the Mahrattas) were surrounding his camp, and that Khanjar K. had taken refuge in Ahmadnagar. Two or three battles had already taken place between the rebels and the servants of the Court, and each time the enemy had been defeated, and many of them killed. On the last occasion Darab K., taking with him well-mounted young men, attacked the rebels' camp. A fierce battle ensued, and the enemy being defeated turned the face of ruin towards the valley of flight. Their camp had been plundered, and the victorious army had returned in safety to their camp.
22.6.2
As difficulty and distress had fallen on the victorious army, those who were loyal came to the conclusion that they should go down by the Pass of Rohangarh and remain below the ghat, so that forage and grain might be easily obtained, and the men not incur any labour or distress. Having no choice, they prepared the army of prosperity at Balapur, and the rebels of black fortune, with impertinence and importunity, appeared near Balapur. Raja Bir Singh Deo, with some of the devoted servants, plucking up courage in order to beat back the enemy, slew many of them. An Abyssinian of the name of Mansur, who was in the rebel army, fell into their hands, and although they wished to put him on an elephant, he would not agree, and was insolent. Raja Bir Singh Deo ordered them to separate his head from his body. It is hoped that the circling sphere will lay the recompense of improper deeds on the skirt of life of all who do not recognize the right.
22.6.3
On the 3rd Urdibihisht I rode to see the Sukh Nag. It is a beautiful summer residence (yilaq). This waterfall is in the midst of a valley, and flows down from a lofty place. There was still ice on its sides. The entertainment of Thursday was arranged for in that flower-land, and I was delighted at drinking my usual cups on the edge of the water. In this stream I saw a bird like a saj. A saj is of a black colour and has white spots, while this bird is of the same colour as a bulbul with white spots, and it dives and remains for a long time underneath, and then comes up from a different place. I ordered them to catch and bring two or three of these birds, that I might ascertain whether they were waterfowl and were web-footed, or had open feet like land birds. They caught two and brought them. One died immediately, and the other lived for a day. Its feet were not webbed like a duck’s. I ordered Nadiru-l-'asr Ustad Mansur to draw its likeness. The Kashmiris call it galkari — that is, “water saj.” On this day the Qazi and the Chief Justice represented to me that ‘Abdu-l-Wahhab, the son of Hakim ‘Ali, claimed Rs. 80,000 from the Sayyids of Lahore, and produced a bond with the seal of Qazi Nuru-llah. He said that his father had placed that sum in deposit with Sayyid Wali, the father of these men, who denied it. If an order were given, the Hakim’s son, by way of caution, would swear an oath on the Qoran, and would take what was his due from them.
22.6.4
I told them to do whatever was right by the Divine Law. The next day Mu‘tamid Khan represented that the Sayyids showed great humility and submissiveness. The matter was a complicated one. The greater reflection shown in ascertaining the truth in the matter the better. I accordingly ordered that Asaf K. should take exceeding trouble and forethought in ascertaining the truth of this quarrel, and point out such a way (of unravelling it) that no doubt whatever should remain. With all this, if it could not be cleared up, I would examine them in my own presence. Immediately he heard these words, the Hakim’s son lost both his hands and his heart in the affair, and made a number of his friends intercessors, and proposed a withdrawal. His representation was that if the Sayyids would not refer the matter to Asaf K. he would give a release, and that hereafter he would have no right against nor claim from them. Whenever Asaf K. sent to fetch him, as he was a low deceiver, he passed his time in making excuses, and did not appear until he handed over the deed of release to one of his friends, and the true state of affairs became evident to Asaf K. They brought him by force into the place of examination, and, having no choice, he confessed that the deed had been prepared by one of his servants, who himself witnessed it, and had misled him. He gave a writing to this effect. When Asaf K.
22.6.5
informed me of the real state of matters, I took away his mansab and jagir, and cast him out of my presence, and gave the Sayyids leave to return to Lahore in all honour and respect. On Mubarak-shamba (Thursday), the 8th of Khurdad, I'tiqad Khan was promoted to the mansab of 4,000 personal and 1,500 horse, and Sadiq Khan to that of 2,500 personal and 1,400 horse. Zainu-l-‘abidin, son of the deceased Asaf Khan (Ja'far), was promoted to be Bakhshi of Ahadis. Raja Bir Singh Deo Bandila raised his head of honour with the high mansab of 5,000 personal and horse. In Kashmir the most juicy (?) fruit is the ashkan (?) (ashkam in the MSS.). It is subacid (mai-khush), smaller than the alu balu (sour cherry), much better flavoured, and more delicate. When drinking wine, one cannot eat more than three or four alu balu, but of these one can take as many as a hundred in twenty-four hours, especially of the paiwandi (?) sort. I ordered that the ashkan should hereafter be called the khushkan. It grows in the hills of Badakhshan and in Khurasan; the people there call it jamdani. The largest of them weigh 1 misqal. The shah-alu (cherry), on the 4th Urdibihisht, appeared of the size of a grain of pulse; on the 27th it reddened, and on the 15th Khurdad it was ripe, and new fruit (nau-bar) had formed (?). The shah-alu (cherry), to my taste, is better than most fruits. Four trees had borne fruit in the Nur-afza garden.
22.6.6
I called one of these Shirin-bar, the second Khush-guwar, the third, which bore the most fruit, Pur-bar, and the fourth, which had less, Kam-bar. One tree in Khurram's garden had also borne fruit, and I called it Shahwar. There was a young plant in the little garden of 'Ishrat-afza (joy enhancing), and this I called Nau-bar (new fruit). Every day I plucked with my own hand sufficient to give a flavour to my cups. Although they sent them by runners from Kabul as well, yet to pick them oneself from one’s home garden gave additional sweetness. The shah-alu of Kashmir is not inferior to that of Kabul; it is even better grown. The largest of them weighed one tank, five surkhs. On Tuesday, the 21st, Padshah Banu Begam died (became a sitter in the bridal chamber of the permanent world), and grief for this heart-rending event laid a heavy load on my mind. I hope that Almighty God may give her a place near his own forgiveness. A strange thing is — that Jotik Ray, the astrologer, two months before this, had informed some of my servants that one of the chief sitters in the harem of chastity would hasten to the hidden abode of non-existence. He had discovered this from the horoscope of my destiny, and it fell out accordingly. One of the events (that now took place) was the martyrdom of Sayyid ‘Izzat K. and of Jalal K. Gakhar in the army of Bangash. The particulars of this are that when the season for the collection of revenue arrived, Mahabat K.
22.6.7
appointed a force to go into the hill-country to eat up the crops of the Afghans, and not omit one tittle of raiding and plundering, and killing and binding. When the servants of the Court arrived at the foot of the Pass the ill-fated Afghans attacked them from all sides, and took the head of the Pass, and fortified it. Jalal K., who was an experienced man, and an old man that had undergone labours, thought it better to delay for a few days, so that the Afghans might expend the few days’ provisions they had brought with them on their backs, and necessarily disperse of their own accord; that then his men would be able to cross with ease over the head of the difficult Pass. When he once passed the head of the defile they would be unable to do any more, and would be punished. ‘Izzat K., who was a battle-lighting flame and a foe-burning lightning, did not fall in with Jalal K.’s idea, and excited the steed of courage of some of the Sayyids of Barha. The Afghans, swarming round on all sides, like ants and locusts, attacked him, and caught him in their midst. Though the battle-field was not fit for cavalry, yet wherever the forehead of his wrath shone, he consumed many with the fire of his sword. In the midst of the fighting they hamstringed his horse, but he fought on foot and as long as he had breath, and at last fell bravely. At the time when ‘Izzat K. made his attack, Jalal K. Gakhar and Mas‘ud, s. Ahmad Beg K., and Bizan (or Bizhan), s.
22.6.8
Nad 'Ali Maidani, and other servants, lost restraint, and rushed on from all sides of the pass, and the rebels seized the tops of the hills, and fought with stones and arrows. The devoted young men, both of the servants of the Court and the retainers of Mahabat K., performed the duties of valour, and slaughtered many of the Afghans. In this contest Jalal K. and Mas‘ud, with many other brave men, sacrificed their lives. Owing to the rashness of 'Izzat K. such a disaster as this befell the Imperial army.