The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 22.7
The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī (Rogers, Beveridge) 22.7
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- English
22.7.1
When Mahabat K. heard this fearful news, he sent a fresh body of men to assist, and strengthened the posts. Wherever they found a trace of those ill-fortuned ones, they did not fail to slay or bind them. When I heard this news, I summoned Akbar Quli, s. Jalal K., who had been told off for duty in the conquest of the fort of Kangra, to my presence, and gave him the mansab of 1,000 personal and 1,000 horse, and confirmed to him, according to custom, his hereditary territory (the Gakhar country) in jagir, presented him with a dress of honour and a horse, and sent him to the support of the army of Bangash. As 'Izzat K. had left a son of very tender years, keeping before my eyes, that discerned the truth, his life-sacrifice, I gave him (the child) a mansab and a jagir, so that those left behind should not be scattered abroad, and others might have increased hope. On this day Shaikh Ahmad of Sirhind, who had for some time been placed in the prison of correction on account of his pretentiousness (literally, adorning his shop and selling himself) and immoderate language, was summoned to my presence, and I released him, giving him a dress of honour and Rs. 1,000 for expenses, and making him free to go or remain. He justly represented that his punishment had really been a valuable lesson to him, and that his desire was to wait on me.
22.7.2
On the 27th Murdad apricots arrived (from Kabul). The picture-gallery in the garden had been ordered to be repaired; it was now adorned with pictures by master hands. In the most honoured positions were the likenesses of Humayun and of my father opposite to my own, and that of my brother Shah ‘Abbas. After them were the likenesses of Mirza Kamran, Mirza Muhammad Hakim, Shah Murad, and Sultan Daniyal. On the second storey (row ?) were the likenesses of the Amirs and special servants. On walls of the outer hall the stages of the road to Kashmir were recorded in the order in which I had come to them. A poet fixed the date by this hemistich : Pictures of kings of Solomon-like glory.
22.7.3
On Thursday, the 4th of the Ilahi month of Tir, the Feast of buriya-kubi took place. On this day the Kashmir cherries came to an end. From the four trees of the Nur-afza garden, 1,500, and from other trees 500 had been plucked. I strictly ordered the officials of Kashmir to plant shah-alu (cherry) trees in all the gardens. On this day Bhim, s. Rana Amar Singh, was honoured with the title of Raja, and Dilir K., brother of the brave ‘Izzat K., was promoted to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 800 horse, Muhammad Sa‘id, s. Ahmad Beg K., to that of 600 personal and 400 horse, and Mukhlis-ullah, his brother, to that of 500 personal and 250 horse. On Sayyid Ahmad Sadr the mansab of 1,000, and on Mirza Husain, s. Mirza Rustam Safawi, that of 1,000 personal and 500 horse, were bestowed, and the last-named was despatched for duty to the Deccan. On Sunday, the 14th of the Divine month of Tir, Hasan ‘Ali Turkman was made Governor of Orissa, and his personal and horse mansab was raised to 3,000. On this day Bahadur K., Governor of Qandahar, sent offerings of nine Iraq horses, some nine pieces of gold brocade, some brocaded satin, and some marten skins, and other things; these were laid before me. On Monday, the 15th, I rode to see the summer quarters of Tusi-marg (?). Arriving in two marches at the foot of the kotal, on Wednesday, the 17th, I reached the top of the pass. For a distance of 2 koss very elevated ground was crossed with difficulty.
22.7.4
From the top of the kotal to the Ilaq (summer quarters) was another koss of high and low land. Although here and there flowers of various colours had bloomed, yet I did not see so many as they had represented to me, and as I had expected. I heard that in this neighbourhood there was a very beautiful valley, and on Thursday, the 18th, I went to see it. Undoubtedly, whatever praise they might use in speaking of that flowery land would be permissible. As far as the eye reached flowers of all colours were blooming. There were picked fifty kinds of flowers in my presence. Probably there were others that I did not see. At the end of the day I turned my reins in order to return. That night an account was given in my presence of the siege of Ahmadnagar. Khan-Jahan told a strange tale, which I had also heard before, and it is written on account of its strangeness. At the time when my brother Daniyal was besieging the fort of Ahmadnagar, one day the garrison laid the gun Malik-maidan (king of the plain) against the Prince’s camp, and fired it. The ball reached nearly to the Prince’s tent; from that place it bounded (ricocheted), and went to the lodging of Qazi Bayazid, who was one of the Prince’s companions, and fell there. They had tied up the Qazi’s horse at a distance of 3 or 4 gaz. As the ball touched the ground, the horse’s tongue was torn out by the root and fell on the ground. The ball was of stone, weighing 10 maunds as current in Hindustan, or 80 Khurasan maunds.
22.7.5
The said gun is so large that a man can sit comfortably in it. On this day I promoted Abu-l-Hasan, the chief Bakshi, to the mansab of 5,000 personal and 2,000 horse, Mubariz K. to that of 2,000 personal and 1,700 horse, Bizan (or Bizhan), s. Nad ‘Ali, to that of 1,000 personal and 500 horse, and Amanat K. to that of 2,000 personal and 400 horse. On Thursday, the 25th, I gave Nawazi^ K., s. Sa‘id K., the mansab of 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse, Himmat K. that of 2,000 personal and 1,500 horse, and Sayyid Ya‘qub K., s. Sayyid Kamal Bukhari, that of 800 personal and 500 horse. Mir ‘Ali ‘Askar, s. Mir ‘Ali Akbar Musawi, was dignified with the title of Musawi K. As I had repeatedly heard praise of the Ilaq of Kuri-marg, I felt much disposed to visit it at this time, and on Tuesday, the 7th Amurdad, rode in that direction. How shall I write its praise? As far as the eye could reach flowers of various hue were blooming, and in the midst of the flowers and verdure beautiful streams of water were flowing: one might say it was a page that the painter of destiny had drawn with the pencil of creation. The buds of hearts break into flower from beholding it. Undoubtedly there is no comparison between this and other Ilaqs, and it may be said to be the place most worth seeing in Kashmir.
22.7.6
In Hindustan (i.e., Upper India) there is a bird called Papiha, of a sweet voice, which in the rainy season utters soul-piercing (jan-suz, lit. soul-burning) laments. As the koyal lays its egg in the nest of the crow, and the latter brings up its young, so I have seen in Kashmir that the papiha lays its egg in the nest of the ghaughai (ring-dove ?) and the ghaughai brings up its young. On Thursday, the 17th, Fida’i K. was promoted to the mansab of 1,500 personal and 700 horse. On this day the ambassador of ‘Izzat K., ruler of Urganj, by name Muhammad Zahid, came to the Court, and presented a petition, accompanied with some trifling presents, and recalled the existence of hereditary relations (lit., shook the chain of hereditary connection). I distinguished him with the eye of kindness, and on the spur of the moment gave the ambassador 10,000 darbs (Rs. 5,000) as a present, and ordered the officials of the buyutat (household) to prepare and send (by him) such things as he might ask for.
22.7.7
At this time a strange act of grace occurred to my son Khan-Jahan (Lodi). He had become very ill from the madness of wine, and from the overpowering of this man-destroying intoxication things had come to such a pass that it threatened his precious life. Suddenly he reformed, and God directed him, and he made a vow that thereafter he would not defile the fringe of his lip with wine. Although I warned him that it was not good to give it up all at once, and that he should leave it off gradually, he would not consent, but gave it up manfully. On the 25th of Amurdad Bahadur K., Governor of Qandahar, was promoted to the mansab of 5,000 personal and 4,000 horse, and on the 2nd of the Divine month of Shahriwar, Man Singh, s. Rawat Shankar, to that of 1,500 and 800 horse, Mir Husamu-d-din to that of 1,500 and 500 horse, and Karamu-llah, s. ‘Ali Mardan K. to that of 600 with 300 horse.