The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 3: DESCRIPTION OF FRUITS.
The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī (Rogers, Beveridge) 3
- Language
- English
Contents
- 3.1 — 8 parts
- 3.2 — 6 parts
- 3.3 — 8 parts
- 3.4 — 8 parts
- 3.5 — 8 parts
- 3.6 — 9 parts
- 3.7 — 8 parts
- 3.8 — 5 parts
DESCRIPTION OF FRUITS.
3.1.1
(Flower-scatterer), and erected in it a small building of cut red stone, and having completed a mosque on one side of it he intended to make a lofty building, but time failed him and his design was never carried into execution. In these Memoirs, whenever Sahib qirānī is written it refers to Amir Timur Gurgan ; and whenever Firdaus-makānī is mentioned, to Babar Padshah ; when Jannat-āshyānī is used, to Humayun Padshah; and when 'Arsh-āshyānī is employed, to my revered father, Jalalu-d-din Muhammad Akbar Padshah Ghazi. Melons, mangoes, and other fruits grow well in Agra and its neighbourhood. Of all fruits I am very fond of mangoes. In the reign of my father ('Arsh-āshyānī) many fruits of other countries, which till then were not to be had in India, were obtained there. Several sorts of grapes, such as the sāhibī and the habshi and the kishmishi, became common in several towns ; for instance, in the bazars of Lahore every kind and variety that may be desired can be had in the grape season. Among fruits, one which they call ananas (pineapple), which is grown in the Frank ports, is of excessive fragrance and fine flavour. Many thousands are produced every year now in the Gul-afshan garden at Agra. From the excellencies of its sweet-scented flowers one may prefer the fragrances of India to those of the flowers of the whole world. It has many such that nothing in the whole world can be compared to them.
3.1.2
The first is the champa (Michelia champaca), which is a flower of exceedingly sweet fragrance ; it has the shape of the saffron-flower, but is yellow inclining to white. The tree is very symmetrical and large, full of branches and leaves, and is shady. When in flower one tree will perfume a garden. Surpassing this is the keora flower (Pandanus odoratissimus). Its shape and appearance are singular, and its scent is so strong and penetrating that it does not yield to the odour of musk. Another is the rae bel, which in scent resembles white jessamine. Its flowers are double and treble (?). Another is the mulsari (Mimusops Elengi). This tree, too, is very graceful and symmetrical, and is shady. The scent of its flowers is very pleasant. Another is the ketaki (Pandanus ?), which is of the nature of the keora, but the latter is thorny, whereas the ketki has no thorns. Moreover, the ketki is yellowish, whereas the keora is white. From these two flowers and also from the chambeli (Jasminum grandiflorum), which is the white jessamine of wilayat (Persia or Afghanistan), they extract sweet-scented oils. There are other flowers too numerous to mention. Of trees there are the cypress (sarw), the pine (sanubar), the chanar (Platanus orientalis), the white poplar (safidar, Populus alba), and the bid mulla (willow), which they had formerly never thought of in Hindustan, but are now plentiful.
3.1.3
The sandal-tree, which once was peculiar to the islands (i.e., Java, Sumatra, etc.), also flourishes in the gardens. The inhabitants of Agra exert themselves greatly in the acquirement of crafts and the search after learning. Various professors of every religion and creed have taken up their abode in the city. After my accession, the first order that I gave was for the fastening up of the Chain of Justice, so that if those engaged in the administration of justice should delay or practise hypocrisy in the matter of those seeking justice, the oppressed might come to this chain and shake it so that its noise might attract attention. Its fashion was this : I ordered them to make a chain of pure gold, 30 gaz in length and containing 60 bells. Its weight was 4 Indian maunds, equal to 42 'Iraqi maunds. One end of it they made fast to the battlements of the Shah Burj of the fort at Agra and the other to a stone post fixed on the bank of the river. I also gave twelve orders to be observed as rules of conduct (dasturu-l-'amal) in all my dominions — (1) Forbidding the levy of cesses under the names of tamgha and mir bahri (river tolls), and other burdens which the jagirdars of every province and district had imposed for their own profit.
3.1.4
(2) On roads where thefts and robberies took place, which roads might be at a little distance from habitations, the jagirdars of the neighbourhood should build sarais (public rest-houses), mosques, and dig wells, which might stimulate population, and people might settle down in those sarais. If these should be near a khalisa estate (under direct State management), the administrator (mutasaddi) of that place should execute the work. (3) The bales of merchants should not be opened on the roads without informing them and obtaining their leave. (4) In my dominions if anyone, whether unbeliever or Musalman, should die, his property and effects should be left for his heirs, and no one should interfere with them. If he should have no heir, they should appoint inspectors and separate guardians to guard the property, so that its value might be expended in lawful expenditure, such as the building of mosques and sarais, the repair of broken bridges, and the digging of tanks and wells.
3.1.5
(5) They should not make wine or rice-spirit (darbahra) or any kind of intoxicating drug, or sell them; although I myself drink wine, and from the age of 18 years up till now, when I am 38, have persisted in it. When I first took a liking to drinking I sometimes took as much as twenty cups of double-distilled spirit; when by degrees it acquired a great influence over me I endeavoured to lessen the quantity, and in the period of seven years I have brought myself from fifteen cups to five or six. My times for drinking were varied; sometimes when three or four sidereal hours of the day remained I would begin to drink, and sometimes at night and partly by day. This went on till I was 30 years old. After that I took to drinking always at night. Now I drink only to digest my food. (6) They should not take possession of any person's house. (7) I forbade the cutting off the nose or ears of any person, and I myself made a vow by the throne of God that I would not blemish anyone by this punishment. (8) I gave an order that the officials of the Crown lands and the jagirdars should not forcibly take the ryots' lands and cultivate them on their own account. (9) A government collector or a jagirdar should not without permission intermarry with the people of the pargana in which he might be. (10) They should found hospitals in the great cities, and appoint physicians for the healing of the sick; whatever the expenditure might be, should be given from the khalisa establishment.
3.1.6
(11) In accordance with the regulations of my revered father, I ordered that each year from the 18th of Rabi'u-l-awwal, which is my birthday, for a number of days corresponding to the years of my life, they should not slaughter animals (for food). Two days in each week were also forbidden, one of them Thursday, the day of my accession, and the other Sunday, the day of my father's birth. He held this day in great esteem on this account, and because it was dedicated to the Sun, and also because it was the day on which the Creation began. Therefore it was one of the days on which there was no killing in his dominions.
3.1.7
(12) I gave a general order that the offices and jagirs of my father's servants should remain as they were. Later, the mansabs (ranks or offices) were increased according to each one's circumstances by not less than 20 per cent, to 300 or 400 per cent. The subsistence money of the ahadis was increased by 50 per cent., and I raised the pay of all domestics by 20 per cent. I increased the allowances of all the veiled ladies of my father's harem from 20 per cent, to 100 per cent., according to their condition and relationship. By one stroke of the pen I confirmed the subsistence lands of the holders of aimas (charity lands) within the dominions, who form the army of prayer, according to the deeds in their possession. I gave an order to Miran Sadr Jahan, who is one of the genuine Sayyids of India, and who for a long time held the high office of sadr (ecclesiastical officer) under my father, that he should every day produce before me deserving people (worthy of charity). I released all criminals who had been confined and imprisoned for a long time in the forts and prisons.
3.1.8
At a propitious hour I ordered that they should coin gold and silver of different weights. To each coin I gave a separate name, viz., to the muhr of 100 tola, that of nur-shahi; to that of 50 tola, that of nur-sultani; to that of 20 tola, nur-daulat; to that of 10 tola, nur-karam; to that of 5 tola, nur-mihr; and to that of 1 tola, nūr-jahānī. The half of this I called nūramī, and the quarter, rawājī. With regard to the silver coins (sikkas), I gave to the coin of 100 tola the name of kaukab-i-tāli' (star of horoscope); to that of 50 tola, the name of kaukab-i-iqbāl (star of fortune); to that of 20 tola, the name of kaukab-i-murād (star of desire); to that of 10 tola, the name of kaukab-i-bakht (star of good luck); to that of 5 tola, the name of kaukab-i-sa'd (star of auspiciousness); to that of 1 tola, the name of jahāngīrī. The half jahāngīrī I called sultānī; the quarter, nisārī (showering money); the dime, khair-i-qabūl (the acceptable). Copper, also, I coined in the same proportions, and gave each division a particular name. I ordered that on the gold muhr of 100, 50, 20, and 10 tola the following verse by Āṣaf Khān should be impressed — namely, on the obverse was this couplet: —
3.2.1
"Fate's pen wrote on the coin in letters of light, The Shāh Nūru-d-dīn Jahāngīr"; and between the lines of the verse the Creed (Kalima) was impressed. On the reverse was this couplet, in which the date of coinage was signified: — "Through this coin is the world brightened as by the sun, And the date thereof is 'Sun of Dominion' (Āftāb-i-Mamlakat)." Between the lines of the verse, the mint, the Hijra year, and the regnal year were impressed. On the nūr-jahānī, which is in the place of the ordinary gold muhr and exceeds it in weight by 20 per cent. (as 12 to 10), is impressed this couplet of the Amīru-l-umarā: — "Shāh Nūru-d-dīn Jahāngīr ibn Akbar Pādshāh Made gold's face bright with the sheen of sun and moon." Accordingly, a hemistich was impressed on each face, and also the mint, and the Hijra and regnal year. The jahangiri sikka, also, which is greater in weight by 20 per cent., was reckoned as equal to a rupee, its weight being fixed in the same manner as that of the nur-jahani (each was a tola in weight, but one was in gold and the other was in silver). The weight of a tola is 2½ misqals of Persia and Turan. It would not be good to give all the versified chronograms which were made for my accession. I therefore content myself with the one which Maktub Khan, the superintendent of the library and picture gallery, and one of my old servants, composed—
3.2.2
" The second lord of conjunction, Shahinshah Jahangir, With justice and equity sat on the throne of happiness. Prosperity, Good Fortune, Wealth, Dignity, and Victory, With loins girt in his service, stood rejoicing before him. It became the date of the accession when Prosperity Placed his head at the feet of the Sahib-Qiran-i-Sani." To my son Khusrau a lakh of rupees was presented that he might build up for himself the house of Mun'im Khan, the (former) Khankhanan, outside the fort. The administration and government of the Panjab was bestowed on Sa'Id Khan, who was one of the confidential nobles and connected with my father by marriage. His origin was from the Moghul tribe, and his ancestors were in the service of my forefathers. At the time of his taking leave, as it was said that his eunuchs oppressed and tyrannized over the weak and the poor, I sent a message to him that my justice would not put up with oppression from anyone, and that in the scales of equity neither smallness nor greatness was regarded. If after this any cruelty or harshness should be observed on the part of his people, he would receive punishment without favour. Again, having previously bestowed on Shaikh Farid Bukhari, who had been Mir Bakhshi in my father's service, a dress of honour, a jewelled sword, a jewelled inkstand and pen, I confirmed him in the same post, and in order to exalt him I said to him, "I regard thee as Sdhibu-s-saif-wa-l-qalam" ("Captain Sword and Captain Pen").
3.2.3
Muqim, to whom my father had given at the end of his reign the title of Wazir Khan and the viziership of his dominions, I selected for the same title, rank, and service. I also gave Khwajagi Fathu-llah a dress of honour, and made him a bakhshi, as formerly. 'Abdu-r-Razzaq Ma'muri, although when I was prince he had left my service without cause or reason and had gone over to my father, I made bakhshi as formerly, and I gave him a dress of honour. To Aminu-d-daula, who when I was prince had the post of bakhshi, and without my leave had run away and taken service with my revered father, not looking to his offences I gave the office of Atish-i-begi (Head of the Artillery), which he had held under my father. I left all those who were in possession of posts, both inside and outside, in the positions which they had with my father. Sharif Khan had lived with me from his early years. When I was prince I had given him the title of khan, and when I left Allahabad to wait upon my honoured father I presented him with a drum and the tuman-togh (standard of yak tails). I had also promoted him to the rank of 2,500 and given him the government of the province of Bihar. I gave him complete control over the province, and sent him off there. On the 4th of Rajab, being fifteen days after my accession, he waited upon me. I was exceedingly pleased at his coming, for his connection with me is such that I look upon him as a brother, a son, a friend, and a companion.
3.2.4
As I had perfect confidence in his friendship, intelligence, learning, and acquaintance with affairs, having made him Grand Vizier, I promoted him to the rank of 5,000 with 5,000 horse and the lofty title of Amiru-l-umara, to which no title of my servants is superior. Though his position might have warranted a higher rank, he himself represented to me that until some notable service on his part had become perceptible to me he would not accept a higher grade than that mentioned (5,000). As the reality of the loyalty of my father's servants had not yet become apparent, and certain faults and errors and unbecoming intentions which were not approved at the throne of the Creator or pleasing to His creatures had shown themselves, they of themselves became ashamed. Though on the day of my accession I had forgiven all offences and determined with myself that I would exact no retribution for past deeds, yet on account of the suspicion that had been aroused in my mind about them I considered the Amlru-l-umara my guardian and protector ; although God Almighty is the guardian of all His servants, and is especially so of kings, because their existence is the cause of the contentment of the world. His father, 'Abdu-s-Samad, who in the art of painting had no equal in the age, had obtained from the late king (Jannat-ashyani) Humayun the title of Shirln-qalam (Sweet pen), and in his council had attained a great dignity and was on intimate terms with him (the king).
3.2.5
He was one of the chief men of Shiraz. My honoured father, on account of his former services, paid him great honour and reverence. I made Raja Man Singh — who was one of the greatest and most trusted noblemen of my father, and had obtained alliances with this illustrious family, inasmuch as his aunt had been in my father's house (i.e. was his wife), and I had married his sister, and Khusrau and his sister Sultanu-n-nisa Begam, the latter of whom is my eldest child, were born of her — as before, ruler of the province of Bengal. Though as in consequence of certain of his acts he had no expectation of this favour towards himself, I dignified him with a charqab (vest without sleeves) as a robe of honour, a jewelled sword, and one of my own horses, and sent him off to his province, which is a place of (or can keep up) 50,000 horse. His father was Raja Bhagwan Das. His grandfather, Raja Bihari Mal, was the first of the Kachwaha Rajputs to have the honour of entering my father's service, and he excelled his tribe in truth and sincerity of friendship, and in the quality of valour. After my accession, when all the nobles with their retinues presented themselves at my palace, it came into my mind that I should send this body of retainers under my son, Sultan Parwiz, to make a holy war against the Rana, who was one of evil deeds, and a foul infidel of the country of Hindustan, and in my father's time had had troops sent constantly against him, but had not been driven off.
3.2.6
In a fortunate hour I invested my said son with gorgeous robes of honour, a jewelled waist-sword, a jewelled waist-dagger, and a rosary of pearls intermixed with rubies of great price of the value of 72,000 rupees, 'Iraq and Turkman horses and famous elephants, and dismissed him. About 20,000 horsemen with nobles and chief leaders were appointed to this service. The first was Asaf Khan, who in my father's time was one of his confidential servants, and for a long time had been confirmed in the post of bakhshi and afterwards became diwan ba istiqlal (Chancellor with full powers); him I advanced from the rank of an Amir to that of Vizier, and promoting him from the command of 2,500 horse to that of 5,000 made him guardian to Parwiz. Having honoured him with a robe of honour, jewelled waist-sword, a horse and an elephant, I ordered that all the mansabdars (commanders), small and great, should not depart from such orders as he thought proper to give them. I made 'Abdu-r-Razzaq Ma'muri his bakhshi and Mukhtar Beg, Asaf Khan's paternal uncle, diwan to Parwiz. I also presented to Raja Jagannath, son of Raja Bihari Mal, who had the rank of 5,000, a robe of honour and a jewelled waist-sword.
3.3.1
Again, I gave Rana Shankar, cousin of the Rana, — to whom my father had given the title of Rana, proposing to send him with Khusrau against the Rana, but at that time he (Akbar) became a shanqar (a falcon, i.e. he died) — a robe of honour and a jewelled sword, and sent him with him. I presented Madho Singh, brother's son of Raja Man Singh, and Rawal Sal Darbari with flags, from this consideration, that they were always present at Court and belonged to the Sekhawat Rajputs, and were confidential servants of my father. Each received also the rank of 3,000.
3.3.2
I promoted Shaikh Ruknu-d-din the Afghan, to whom when I was prince I had given the title of Shir Khan, from the grade of 500 to that of 3,500. Shir Khan is the head of his clan and a very valiant man. He lost his arm by the sword in service against the Uzbegs. 'Abdu-r-Rahman, son of Shaikh Abu-l-fazl, Maha Singh, grandson of Raja Man Singh, Zahid Khan, son of Sadiq Khan, Wazir Jamil, and Qara Khan Turkman were exalted to the rank of 2,000 ; all these obtained robes of honour and horses, and were dismissed. Manohar also obtained leave to join the expedition. He is of the tribe of the Sekhawat Kachhwahas, and on him in his young days my father bestowed many favours. He had learned the Persian language, and, although from him up to Adam the power of understanding cannot be attributed to any one of his tribe, he is not without intelligence. He makes Persian verses, and the following is one of his couplets : — " The object of shade in Creation is this : That no one place his foot on the light of my Lord, the Sun."
3.3.3
If the details were to be described of all the commanders and servants appointed by me, with the conditions and connections and rank of each, it would be a long business. Many of my immediate attendants and personal followers and nobles' sons, house-born ones (khānazādān) and zealous Rajputs, petitioned to accompany this expedition. A thousand ahadis, the meaning of which is single ones (Blochmann, p. 20), were also appointed. In short, a force was collected together such that if reliance on the Friend (God) were vouchsafed, it could have embarked on enmity and conflict with any one of the monarchs of power. Soldiers came up from all sides, Seizing life from heroes of the world in battle ; They had no fear of death from the sharp sword, No terror of water and no flight from fire ; In valour singular, in vigour a crowd, Anvils in endurance, rocks in attack." When I was prince I had entrusted, in consequence of my extreme confidence in him, my own uzuk seal to the Amiru-l-umara (Sharif), but when he was sent off to the province of Bihar I made it over to Parwiz. Now that Parwiz went off against the Rana, I made it over, according to the former arrangement, to the Amīru-l-umara.
3.3.4
Parwiz was born of Sahib-Jamal (Mistress of Beauty), the cousin of Zain Khan Koka, who, in point of affinity, was on the same footing as Mirza 'Aziz Koka, in the 34th year of my father's reign, in the city of Kabul, two years and two months after the birth of Khusrau. After several other children had been born to me and had been received into God's mercy, a daughter was born of Karamsi, who belonged to the Rathor clan, and the child received the name of Bihar Banu Begam. To Jagat Gosa'in, daughter of the Mota Raja (the fat raja), was born Sultan Khurram, in the 36th year of my father's reign, corresponding to a.h. 999, in the city of Lahore. His advent made the world joyous (khurram), and gradually, as his years increased, so did his excellencies, and he was more attentive to my father than all (my) other children, who was exceedingly pleased with and grateful for his services, and always recommended him to me and frequently told me there was no comparison between him and my other children. He recognised him as his real child. After that (Khurram's birth) some other children were born who died in infancy, and then within one month two sons were borne by concubines. One of these I called Jahandar and the other Shahryar.
3.3.5
About this time there came a petition from Sa'Id Khan with regard to granting leave to Mlrza Ghazi, who was a son of the ruler of the province of Thathah (Tattah in Sind). I said that as my father had betrothed his sister to my son Khusrau, please God, when this alliance came into force, I would give him leave to return to Sind. A year before I became king I had determined that I would drink no wine on Friday eve, and I hope at the throne of God that He will keep me firm in this resolve as long as I live. Twenty thousand rupees were given to Mlrza. Muhammad Riza Sabzwarl to divide amongst the faqirs and the needy of Delhi. The viziership of my dominions I gave in the proportions of half and half to Khan Beg, to whom when I was prince I had given the title of Waziru-1-mulk, and to Wazir Khan (Muqim), and I gave to Shaikh Farld Bukharl, who held the rank of 4,000, that of 5,000. I promoted Ram Das Kachhwaha, whom my father had favoured, and who held the rank of 2,000, to that of 3,000. I sent dresses of honour to Mirza Rustam, son of Mirza Sultan Husain and grandson of Shah Isma'il, the ruler of Qandahar, and to 'Abdu-r-Rahim Khankhanan, son of Bairam Khan, and to Iraj and Darab, his sons, and to other nobles attached to the Deccan (command). Barkhurdar, son of 'Abdu-r-Rahman, son of Mu'ayyid Beg, as he had come to court without a summons, I ordered back to his jagir.
3.3.6
It is not according to good manners to go to the king's banquet without a summons, otherwise there would be no forbidding of the doors and walls to the foot of desire. A month had elapsed after my auspicious accession when Lala Beg, who while I was prince had obtained the title of Baz Bahadur, obtained the blessing of waiting on me. His rank, which had been 1,500, was raised to 4,000. I promoted him to the Subah of Bihar and gave him 2,000 rupees. Baz Bahadur is of the lineage of the special attendants of our family ; his father's name was Nizam, and he was librarian to Humayun. Kesho Das Maru, who is a Rajput of the province of Mairtha and is greater in loyalty than his contemporaries, I promoted to the rank of 1,500. I directed the 'ulama and the learned men of Islam to collect those of the distinctive appellations of God which were easy to remember, in order that I might make them into my rosary (ward). On Friday eves I associate with learned and pious men, and with dervishes and recluses. When Qilij Khan, who was one of the old retainers of the State in my revered father's reign, was appointed to the government of the province of Gujarat, I presented him with a lakh of rupees for his expenses. I raised Miran Sadr Jahan from the rank of 2,000 to that of 4,000. I knew him in my childhood when I read the "Forty Sayings" with Shaikh 'Abdu-n-Nabi, whose history is given in detail in the Akbarnama.
3.3.7
From these early days till now Miran Sadr Jahan has acted towards me with single-minded loyalty, and I regard him as my preceptor in religious matters (khalifa). Whilst I was prince and before my revered father's illness, and during that time, when the ministers (pillars of the State) and the high nobles had become agitated, and each had conceived some idea of gain for himself and wished to become the originator of some act which could only bring ruin on the State, he had not failed in the activity of his service and devotedness.
3.3.8
Having made 'Inayat Beg, who for a long period in the reign of my father had been Master of Works (Diwan-i-buyutat) and held the rank of 700, half-vizier of my dominions in the place of Wazir Khan, I gave him the high title of I'timadu-d-daula with the rank of 1,500, and I appointed Wazir Khan to the Diwani of the province of Bengal, and assigned to him the settlement of the revenues thereof. To Patr Das, who in the time of my father had the title of Ray Rayan, I gave the title of Raja Bikramajit. The latter was one of the great Rajas of India, and it was in his reign that astronomical observatories were established in India. I made Patr Das Master of Ordnance, and ordered that he should always have light artillery in the arsenal, 50,000 light guns and 3,000 gun-carriages, ready and in efficient order. He was a khatri by caste, and rose in my father's service from being accountant of the elephants' stables to be diwan and an amir. He is not wanting in military qualities and in administrative skill. I made Khurram, the son of Khan A'zam ('Aziz Koka), who had had the rank of 2,000, an officer of 2,500.
3.4.1
As it was my desire that many of the Akbari and Jahangiri officers should obtain the fruition of their wishes, I informed the bakhshis that whoever wished to have his birthplace made into his jagir should make a representation to that effect, so that in accordance with the Chingiz canon (tura) the estate might be conveyed to him by al tamgha and become his property, and he might be secured from apprehension of change. Our ancestors and forefathers were in the habit of granting jagirs to everyone under proprietary title, and adorned the farmans for these with the al tamgha seal, which is an impressed seal made in vermilion (i.e. red ink). I ordered that they should cover the place for the seal with gold-leaf (tilaposh) and impress the seal thereon, and I called this the altun tamgha. I had selected from the other sons of Shahrukh, Mirza Sultan, son of Mirza Shahrukh the grandson of Mirza Sulaiman, who was a descendant (great-grandson) of Mirza Sultan Abu Sa'id and for a long time ruler of Badakhshan, and with consent of my revered father brought him into my service. I count him as a son, and have promoted him to the rank of 1,000. I also promoted Bhao Singh, son of Raja Man Singh and the most capable of his sons, from his original rank to that of 1,500.
3.4.2
I raised Zamana Beg, son of Ghayur Beg of Kabul, who has served me personally from his childhood, and who, when I was prince, rose from the grade of an ahadi to that of 500, giving him the title of Mahabat Khan and the rank of 1,500. He was confirmed as bakhshi of my private establishment (shagird-pisha). I promoted Raja Bir Singh Deo, a Bandela Rajput, who had obtained my favour, and who excels his equals and relatives in valour, personal goodness, and simple-heartedness, to the rank of 3,000. The reason for his advancement and for the regard shown to him was that near the end of my revered father's time, Shaikh Abu-l-fazl, who excelled the Shaikhzadas of Hindustan in wisdom and learning, had adorned himself outwardly with the jewel of sincerity, and sold it to my father at a heavy price. He had been summoned from the Deccan, and, since his feelings towards me were not honest, he both publicly and privately spoke against me. At this period when, through strife-exciting intriguers, the august feelings of my royal father were entirely embittered against me, it was certain that if he obtained the honour of waiting on him (Akbar) it would be the cause of more confusion, and would preclude me from the favour of union with him (my father). It became necessary to prevent him from coming to Court.
3.4.3
As Bir Singh Deo's country was exactly on his route and he was then a rebel, I sent him a message that if he would stop that sedition-monger and kill him he would receive every kindness from me. By God's grace, when Shaikh Abu-l-fazl was passing through Bir Singh Deo's country, the Raja blocked his road, and after a little contest scattered his men and killed him. He sent his head to me in Allahabad. Although this event was a cause of anger in the mind of the late king (Akbar), in the end it enabled me to proceed without disturbance of mind to kiss the threshold of my father's palace, and by degrees the resentment of the king was cleared away. I made Mir Ziya'u-d-din of Qazwin, who had done me service in the days of my princehood and had shown loyalty, commander of 1,000 and accountant of the stables. An order was given that every day thirty horses should be produced before me for the purpose of making presents. I honoured Mirza 'Ali Akbarshahi, who is one of the distinguished braves of this family, with the rank of 4,000, and gave him the sarkar of Sambhal as his jagir.
3.4.4
One day the Amiru-l-umara (Sharif Khan) greatly pleased me by an incidental remark. It was this: "Honesty and dishonesty are not confined to matters of cash and goods; to represent qualities as existing in acquaintances which do not exist, and to conceal the meritorious qualities of strangers, is dishonesty. In truth, honesty of speech consists in making no distinction between intimates and strangers and in describing each man as he really is."
3.4.5
When I sent off Parwiz I had said to him, "If the Rana himself, and his eldest son who is called Karan, should come to wait upon you and proffer service and obedience, you should not do any injury to his territory." My intention in this recommendation was of two kinds; one, that inasmuch as the conquest of Transoxiana was always in the pure mind of my revered father, though every time he determined on it things occurred to prevent it, if this business could be settled, and this danger dismissed from my mind, I would leave Parwiz in Hindustan, and in reliance on Allah, myself start for my hereditary territories, especially as at this time there was no permanent ruler in that region. Baqi Khan, who, after 'Abdu-llah Khan and 'Abdu-l-Mu'min Khan, his son, had acquired complete independence, had died, and the affairs of Wali Muhammad Khan, his brother, who is now the ruler of that region, had not as yet been brought into proper order. Secondly, to bring about the termination of the war in the Deccan, of which a part in the time of my revered father had been acquired, so that it might come into possession, and be incorporated with the Imperial dominions. My hope is that through the favour of Allah both these undertakings will be accomplished. 'Though a king should seize the seven climes, He still would labour to take others."
3.4.6
I promoted Mirza Shahrukh, grandson of Mirza Sulaiman, (once) the ruler of Badakhshan, who was nearly related to my family, and held the rank of 5,000 in my father's service, to the rank of 7,000. The Mirza is a true Turk in disposition and simple-minded. My father conferred great honour on him, and whenever he bade his own sons sit he gratified him also with this distinction. Notwithstanding the mischievous propensities of the people of Badakhshan, the Mirza in this familiarity never left the right road, or undertook anything that might lead to unpleasantness. I confirmed him in the Subah of Malwa just as my father had kindly conferred it on him. I conferred on Khwaja 'Abdu-llah, who is of the Naqshbandi family, and in the commencement of his service was an ahadi, and who had risen by degrees to the command of 1,000, but without reason had gone into my father's service, the rank and jagir my father had conferred on him. Although I considered it best for my own prosperity that my attendants and people should go into his (Akbar's) service, yet this had occurred without my leave, and I was rather annoyed at it. But the fact is that he is a manly and zealous man; if he had not committed this fault he would have been a faultless hero (jawan). Abu-n-nabi, the Uzbeg, who is one of the distinguished inhabitants of Mawara'a-n-nahr and in the time of 'Abdu-l-Mu'min Khan was governor of Mashhad, obtained the rank of 1,500.
3.4.7
Shaikh Hasan is the son of Shaikh Baha. From the days of his childhood to this day he has always been in my service and in attendance on me, and when I was prince was distinguished by the title of Muqarrab Khan. He was very active and alert in his service, and in hunting would often traverse long distances by my side. He is skilful with the arrow and the gun, and in surgery is the most skilful of his time. His ancestors also had been well practised in this profession. After my accession, in consequence of the perfect confidence I had in him, I sent him to Burhanpur to bring the children and dependants of my brother Daniyal to wait on me, and sent a message to the Khankhanan in low and high words and profitable admonitions. Muqarrab Khan performed this service correctly and in a short time, and, clearing off the suspicions which had entered the minds of the Khankhanan and the nobles of that place, brought those who had been left behind by my brother in safety and security, together with his establishment and property and effects, to Lahore, and there presented them before me.
3.4.8
I promoted Naqib Khan, who is one of the genuine Sayyids of Qazwin and is called Ghiyasu-d-din 'Ali, to the rank of 1,500. My father had distinguished him with the title of Naqib Khan, and in his service he had complete intimacy and consideration. Shortly after his accession he (Akbar) had discussed several matters with him, and from this familiarity he called him akhund. He has no equal or rival in the science of history and in biographies. There is in this day no chronologist like him in the inhabited world. From the beginning of Creation till the present time, he has by heart the tale of the four quarters of the world. Has Allah granted to any other person such faculty of memory?
3.5.1
Shaikh Kabir, who was of the family of the venerable Shaikh Salim, I had honoured with the title of Shaja'at Khan when I was prince, on account of his manliness and bravery. I now selected him for the rank of 1,000. On Sha'ban 27th (28th December, 1605) a strange thing was done by the sons of Akhayraj, son of Bhagwan Das, the paternal uncle of Raja Man Singh. These unlucky ones, who bore the names of Abhay Ram, Bijay Ram, and Shyam Ram, were exceedingly immoderate. Notwithstanding that the aforesaid Abhay Ram had done improper (disproportioned) acts, I had winked at his faults. When at this date it was represented to me that this wretch was desirous of despatching his wives and children without leave to his own country and afterwards of himself running away to the Rana, who is not loyal to this family, I referred to Ram Das and other Rajput nobles, and said to them that if any one of them would become security for them, I would confirm the rank and jagir of those wretches, and passing over their offences would forgive them. In consequence of their excessive turbulence and bad disposition no one became security. I told the Amiru-l-umara that as no one would be bound for them, they must be handed over to the charge of one of the servants of the Court until security was forthcoming. The Amiru-l-umara gave them over to Ibrahim Khan Kakar, who was afterwards dignified with the title of Dilawar Khan, and Hatim, second son of Mangli, who held the title of Shahnawaz Khan.
3.5.2
When these wished to disarm these foolish people, they refused, and, not observing the dues of good manners, began, together with their servants, to quarrel and fight. The Amiru-l-umara reported the circumstance to me, and I ordered them to be punished according to their deeds. He betook himself to driving them off, and I sent Shaikh Farid also after him. One Rajput armed with a sword, and another with a dagger stood up to the Amiru-l-umara. One of his attendants named Qutb engaged the man with the dagger and was killed. The Rajput also was cut to pieces. One of the Afghan attendants of the Amiru-l-umara attacked the one who had the sword and killed him. Dilawar Khan drew his dagger and turned towards Abhay Ram, who with two others was holding his ground, and after wounding one of these fell down after receiving wounds from the three. Some of the ahadis and the men of the Amiru-l-umara opposed and slew these doomed men. A Rajput drew his sword and turned to Shaikh Farid; he was met by a Habshi slave, who brought him down. This disturbance took place in the courtyard of the public palace. That punishment served as a warning to many who had not looked to consequences. Abu-n-nabi represented that if such a deed had been done in the Uzbeg country the whole family and connections of that band of men would have been destroyed.
3.5.3
I replied that as these people had been treated kindly and educated by my revered father I carried on the same benevolence to them, and justice demands that many shall not be chastised for the fault of one. Shaikh Husain Jami, who now sits on the cushion of darwishi and is one of the disciples of the dervish of Shiraz, had written to me from Lahore six months before my accession that he had seen in a dream that saints and pious men had delivered over the affairs of the kingdom to that chosen one of the Court of Allah (Jahangir), and that, rejoicing in this good news, he should await the event, and that he hoped that when it had occurred, the faults of Khwaja Zakariyya, who was one of the Ahrariyya, would be pardoned.
3.5.4
I conferred on Tash Beg Furji, who was one of the old servants of the State, and whom my father had honoured with the title of Taj Khan, and who had the rank of 2,000, that of 3,000, and I raised Tukhta Beg Kabuli from the rank of 2,500 to that of 3,000. He is a brave and active man, and was greatly trusted in the service of my uncle, Mirza Muhammad Hakim. I promoted Abu-l-Qasim Tamkin, who was one of my father's old servants, to the rank of 1,500. There are few men such as he for abundance of children; he has thirty sons, and if his daughters do not number so many they must be half that number. I dignified Shaikh 'Ala'u-d-din, grandson of Shaikh Salim, who had strong connections with me, with the title of Islam Khan, and promoted him to the rank of 2,000. He had grown up with me from his childhood, and may be a year younger than I. He is a brave and well-dispositioned youth, and is distinguished in every way above his family. Till now he has never drunk intoxicating drinks, and his sincerity towards me is such that I have honoured him with the title of son.
3.5.5
I have bestowed on 'Ali Asghar Barha, who has not a rival in bravery and zeal, and is the son of Sayyid Mahmud Khan Barha, one of my father's old nobles, the title of Saif Khan, and thus distinguished him amongst his equals and connections. He is evidently a brave youth. He was always one of the confidential men who went with me to hunt and to other places. He has never in his life drunk anything intoxicating, and as he has abstained in his youth he probably will attain high dignities. I granted him the rank of 3,000. I promoted Faridun, son of Muhammad Quli Khan Barlas, who held the rank of 1,000, to that of 2,000. Faridun is one of the tribe of Chaghatay, and is not devoid of manliness and courage. I promoted Shaikh Bayazid, grandson of Shaikh Salim, who held the rank of 2,000, to that of 3,000. The first person who gave me milk, but for not more than a day, was the mother of Shaikh Bayazid.
3.5.6
One day I observed to the Pandits, that is, the wise men of the Hindus, "If the doctrines of your religion are based on the incarnation of the Holy Person of God Almighty in ten different forms by the process of metempsychosis, they are virtually rejected by the intelligent. This pernicious idea requires that the Sublime Cause, who is void of all limitations, should be possessed of length, breadth, and thickness. If the purpose is the manifestation of the Light of God in these bodies, that of itself is existent equally in all created things, and is not peculiar to these ten forms. If the idea is to establish some one of God's attributes, even then there is no right notion, for in every faith and code there are masters of wonders and miracles distinguished beyond the other men of their age for wisdom and eloquence." After much argument and endless controversy, they acknowledged a God of Gods, devoid of a body or accidents, and said, "As our imagination fails to conceive a formless personality (zat-i-mujarrad), we do not find any way to know Him without the aid of a form. We have therefore made these ten forms the means of conceiving of and knowing Him." Then said I, "How can these forms be a means of your approaching the Deity?"
3.5.7
My father always associated with the learned of every creed and religion, especially with Pandits and the learned of India, and although he was illiterate, so much became clear to him through constant intercourse with the learned and wise, in his conversations with them, that no one knew him to be illiterate, and he was so acquainted with the niceties of verse and prose compositions that his deficiency was not thought of. In his august personal appearance he was of middle height, but inclining to be tall; he was of the hue of wheat; his eyes and eyebrows were black, and his complexion rather dark than fair; he was lion-bodied, with a broad chest, and his hands and arms long. On the left side of his nose he had a fleshy mole, very agreeable in appearance, of the size of half a pea. Those skilled in the science of physiognomy considered this mole a sign of great prosperity and exceeding good fortune. His august voice was very loud, and in speaking and explaining had a peculiar richness. In his actions and movements he was not like the people of the world, and the glory of God manifested itself in him. "Greatness in his manner, kingship in his lineage, As if Solomon would have put the ring on his finger."
3.5.8
Three months after my birth my sister, Shahzada Khanam, was born to one of the royal concubines ; they gave her over to his (Akbar's) mother, Maryam Makani. After her a son was born to one of the concubines, and received the name of Shah Murad. As his birth occurred in the hill country of Fathpur, he was nicknamed Pahari. When my revered father sent him to conquer the Deccan, he had taken to excessive drinking through associating with unworthy persons, so that he died in his 30th year, in the neighbourhood of Jalnapur, in the province of Berar. His personal appearance was fresh-coloured ; he was thin in body and tall of stature. Dignity and authority were evident in his movements, and manliness and bravery manifested themselves in his ways. On the night of Jumada-l-awwal 10th, a.h. 979 (September, 1572), another son was born to one of the concubines. As his birth took place at Ajmir in the house of one of the attendants of the blessed shrine of the reverend Khwaja Mu'inu-d-din Chishti, whose name was Shaikh Daniyal, this child was called Daniyal.
3.6.1
After the death of my brother Shah Murad, he (Akbar), towards the end of his reign, sent Daniyal to conquer the Deccan and followed him himself. When my revered father was besieging Asir (Asirgarh) he, with a large body of nobles such as the Khankhanan and his sons, and Mirza Yusuf Khan, invested the fort of Ahmadnagar, and it came into the possession of the victorious officers about the time that Asir was taken. After my father 'Arsh-ashyani had returned in prosperity and victory from Burhanpur towards his capital, he gave the province to Daniyal and left him in possession of that territory. Daniyal took to improper ways, like his brother Shah Murad, and soon died from excessive drinking, in the 33rd year of his age. His death occurred in a peculiar way. He was very fond of guns and of hunting with the gun. He named one of his guns yaka u janaza, 'the same as the bier,' and himself composed this couplet and had it engraved on the gun: — "From the joy of the chase with thee, life is fresh and new; To everyone whom thy dart strikes, 'tis the same as his bier."
3.6.2
When his drinking of wine was carried to excess, and the circumstance was reported to my father, farmans of reproach were sent to the Khankhanan. Of course he forbade it, and placed cautious people to look after him properly. When the road to bring wine was completely closed, he began to weep and to importune some of his servants, and said: "Let them bring me wine in any possible way." He said to Murshid Quli Khan, a musketeer who was in his immediate service: "Pour some wine into this yaka u janaza, and bring it to me." That wretch, in hope of favour, undertook to do this, and poured double-distilled spirit into the gun, which had long been nourished on gunpowder and the scent thereof, and brought it. The rust of the iron was dissolved by the strength of the spirit and mingled with it, and the prince no sooner drank of it than he fell down. "No one should draw a bad omen: If he does, he draws it for himself." Daniyal was of pleasing figure, of exceedingly agreeable manners and appearance; he was very fond of elephants and horses. It was impossible for him to hear of anyone as having a good horse or elephant and not take it from him. He was fond of Hindi songs, and would occasionally compose verses with correct idiom in the language of the people of India, which were not bad.
3.6.3
After the birth of Daniyal a daughter was born to Bibi Daulat-Shad whom they named Shakaru-n-nisa Begam. As she was brought up in the skirt of my revered father's care, she turned out very well. She is of good disposition and naturally compassionate towards all people. From infancy and childhood she has been extremely fond of me, and there can be few such relationships between brother and sister. The first time when, according to the custom of pressing the breast of a child and a drop of milk is perceptible, they pressed my sister's breast and milk appeared, my revered father said to me: "Baba! drink this milk, that in truth this sister may be to thee as a mother." God, the knower of secrets, knows that from that day forward, after I drank that drop of milk, I have felt love for my sister such as children have for their mothers. After some time another girl was born to this same Bibi Daulat-Shad, and he (Akbar) called her Aram Banu Begam. Her disposition was on the whole inclined to excitement and heat. My father was very fond of her, so much so that he described her impolitenesses as politenesses, and in his august sight they, from his great love, did not appear bad. Repeatedly he honoured me by addressing me, and said: "Baba! for my sake be as kind as I am, after me, to this sister, who in Hindi phrase is my darling (that is, dearly cherished). Be affectionate to her and pass over her little impolitenesses and impudences."
3.6.4
The good qualities of my revered father are beyond the limit of approval and the bounds of praise. If books were composed with regard to his commendable dispositions, without suspicion of extravagance, and he be not looked at as a father would be by his son, even then but a little out of much could be said. Notwithstanding his kingship and his treasures and his buried wealth, which were beyond the scope of counting and imagination, his fighting elephants and Arab horses, he never by a hair's breadth placed his foot beyond the base of humility before the throne of God, but considered himself the lowest of created beings, and never for one moment forgot God. "Always, everywhere, with everyone, and in every circumstance, Keep the eye of thy heart secretly fixed on the Beloved." The professors of various faiths had room in the broad expanse of his incomparable sway. This was different from the practice in other realms, for in Persia there is room for Shias only, and in Turkey, India, and Turan there is room for Sunnis only.
3.6.5
As in the wide expanse of the Divine compassion there is room for all classes and the followers of all creeds, so, on the principle that the Shadow must have the same properties as the Light, in his dominions, which on all sides were limited only by the salt sea, there was room for the professors of opposite religions, and for beliefs good and bad, and the road to altercation was closed. Sunnis and Shias met in one mosque, and Franks and Jews in one church, and observed their own forms of worship.
3.6.6
He associated with the good of every race and creed and persuasion, and was gracious to all in accordance with their condition and understanding. He passed his nights in wakefulness, and slept little in the day; the length of his sleep during a whole night and day (nycthemeron) was not more than a watch and a half. He counted his wakefulness at night as so much added to his life. His courage and boldness were such that he could mount raging, rutting elephants, and subdue to obedience murderous elephants which would not allow their own females near them — although even when an elephant is bad-tempered he does no harm to the female or his driver — and which were in a state in which they might have killed their drivers or the females, or not have allowed their approach. He would place himself on a wall or tree near which an elephant was passing that had killed its mahout and broken loose from restraint, and, putting his trust in God's favour, would throw himself on its back and thus, by merely mounting, would bring it under control and tame it. This was repeatedly seen.
First 44 of 69 passages. Read on