ʿIbrat-namah 5.2
'Ibrat-náma, of Fakír Khairu-d dín Muhammad (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 5.2
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- English
5.2.1
The poor Emperor kept groaning and crying, but no one heeded him. Next day Bedar Bakht sent two surgeons to dress his wounds, and ordered him to be supplied with water. His servants reported to him that the poor Emperor's eyes were running with blood, and that the (only) water he had to drink was what flowed from his eyes. * * Ghulam Kadir went to Shah 'Alam, and seizing him by the beard, said, "I have inflicted all this severity upon you for your faults, but I spare your life for God's sake, otherwise I should have no scruple in tearing you limb from limb." On the 12th Zi-l ka'da he went into the jewel-house, and took out a chest and a box of jewels; he also took several copies of the Kuran, and eight large baskets of books out of the library. On the 13th his spies informed him that two sisters of Sulaiman Shukoh, one aged five years and the other four, had died from thirst. When he heard it, he laughed and said, "Let them be buried where they lie." One of his men went to Bedar Bakht, and said, "Ghulam Kadir wants the jewels you have." The Prince immediately brought them out of his private apartments, and handed them over.
5.2.2
Next day Ghulam Kadir, taking Bedar Bakht with him, went to Malika Zamaniya and Sahiba Mahall, and said, "Where is the money that was promised?" They said, "What you demand from us is a mere fancy and dream of yours." When he heard this, he sent a person into the private apartments, with directions to bring them both out, with only the garments they stood upright in, and to seize upon all the money and valuables which could be found. Accordingly they took Malika Zamaniya and Sahiba Mahall in the dresses they were wearing (ba libas-i badan), and placing them in a rath, conducted them with three hundred attendants to the Moti Mahall. Workmen were then sent in to break down the roof and walls. Neither Nadir Shah, Ahmad Shah Durrani, nor Taraji Bhao, had ever dreamed of plundering the ladies of the harem; but now all the valuables, the accumulations of fifty or sixty years, were brought out. * *
5.2.3
On the 25th Zi-l ka'da Ghulam Kadir called Prince Akbar, Sulaiman Shukoh, and the other Princes, nineteen in number, before him, and with harsh words called upon them to sing and dance before him. They declined; but he would not listen to them, saying that he had long heard praises of their singing and dancing. He then commanded his attendants to cut off the Princes' noses if they did not sing. The Princes and boys, seeing there was no escaping from his commands, did as they were directed, and sang and danced. He was very pleased, and asked them what recompense they desired. They said, "Our father and children are in great want of water and food, we ask for some." He gave his consent. He then turned all his attendants out of the room, and, placing his head upon the knees of Prince Akbar, went to sleep, leaving his sword and knife in their presence. He closed his eyes for an hour (sa'at), and then getting up, he slapped each of them on the neck, and said, "Can such (craven) spirits entertain the idea of reigning? I wanted to try your courage. If you had any spirit, you would have made an end of me with my sword and dagger." Then abusing them in foul disgusting words, he sent them out of his presence.
5.2.4
Afterwards he called for Bedar Bakht and his brothers, and placed wine before them. With his own hands he several times filled the cups, and they continued drinking till evening, when they got up and danced and sang, and acted disgracefully. A eunuch came in, and told him that a daughter of Shah 'Alam, a child of ten years old, had died of hunger and thirst crouching on the earth. He cried, "Bury her just as she is, in the place where she lies." When Raja Mayar Singh heard of these things, he sent bread and provisions for Shah 'Alam and his children. Ghulam Kadir was angry—he sent for the Raja, and frowning at him, asked, "What concern have you with those men? Remove your people from the watch, for I will place Rohillas to keep guard." The Raja told him that the day of retribution for these deeds was approaching, and that it was not well to offend the chiefs. He replied that he would do whatever came into his heart. * *
5.2.5
On the 17th Zi-l ka'da (sic) Wai Khaili (his myrmidon) reported to him that he had probed the walls of the apartments of Malika Zamaniya and Sahiba Mahall till he had made them like sieves, that he had stripped everybody, and that no hole had been left unsearched by his fingers. He had found a few pearls. One of Bedar Bakht's ladies had died of fright at what was passing, and now the Afghans, having stripped the ladies, were thinking about taking them with (without?) gowns or bodices. He added, "The power is in your hands, but it is not well to cast such shame upon the honour of princes." It all depended on his pleasure, but Ghulam Kadir replied that when the Emperor's servants plundered his father's private apartments, they had done worse than that to his women. "Now," said he, "it shall be a sight for the time, for my men shall take the hands of kings' daughters, conduct them home, and take possession of their persons without marriage." He then ordered Wai Khaili to go and take possession of the house of Khairu-n nisa Begam, sister of Shah 'Alam, to strip her daughters and women naked, and to search for jewels. After taking * * all they could find, he asked the Princes for gold, and they replied, "You have taken all we have, and we are now ready to die." At his command the stony-hearted carpet-spreaders beat them so that the blood gushed from their mouths and noses. Then they placed the Princes in the salatin.
5.2.6
Ghulam Kadir heard from Wai Khaili of the beauty of the daughters of Mirza Haika and Mirza Jaika (?), and when he was sitting in the Moti Mahall in the evening, he ordered these unhappy ladies to be placed before him without veils or curtains. He was pleased with their beauty, showed them to his boon companions, and acted indecently to every one of them. When Bedar Bakht was informed of this, he beat himself upon the head and bosom, and sent an attendant to the ruffian, to dissuade him from such actions. He replied (sarcastically), "What power has this slave to do anything against His Majesty?" He (Bedar Bakht) then wrote to Raja Miyar Singh, who shuddered when he read the letter, and went to Ghulam Kadir. The Raja called Ghulam Kadir out of that private room, and said to him, "It is not right to deal thus with the daughters of enemies. No one seizes sons and daughters for the faults of their fathers. Shah 'Alam did not cast any evil looks upon the daughters or sisters of your father; refrain from such proceedings." Ghulam Kadir answered (in coarse terms to the effect) that he intended to take them into his harem and make them his concubines, and as for the other Princesses, he would give them to his Afghans, so that they might have a chance of bringing forth men of courage. Raja Miyar Singh, against the will of Ghulam Kadir, went into the room, cast a sheet over (the Princesses' heads), and sent them home.]