Muntakhab al-lubab 73: Prince Akbar.

73

[vol. ii. p. 284.] When Prince Akbar went to Rahiri, and became the guest of the accursed Sambha, he was at first treated very kindly and respectfully, and provision was made for the necessary expenses of his followers. One day a kazi in the presence of Muhammad Akbar, in a stupid flattering way, said to Sambha, "May all the Maharaja's enemies be trodden under foot." The Prince heard this, and being angry, reprimanded the kazi for his folly. He also told Sambha that such vain words ought not to be spoken in his (the Prince's) presence, and that it was also unbecoming in Sambha to listen to them. The report also came that an army had been sent under the command of I'tikad Khan to effect the conquest of Rahiri. Prince Muhammad Akbar therefore thought it advisable to make his way as best he could to Persia. He bought two small ships, furnished them with provisions for forty days, and was about to start. Sidi Yakut Khan Habshi, who scoured the seas in those parts, was at first desirous of stopping the progress of the Prince, but he at last connived at it. The Prince, with Ziau-d din Muhammad Shuja'i and forty or fifty persons, put his trust in God and embarked on his voyage. His ships were separated and endured great distress, the account of which would be too long for admission here.
Through stress of weather, the Prince's ship fell upon an island belonging to the Imam of Maskat. The people of the island made him prisoner and sent him to the Imam. This ruler is one of the great zamíndárs or rulers who are dependent on Persia. He affected to treat the Prince with hospitality and respect; but in reality he kept him under surveillance, and wrote to Aurangzeb offering to surrender the Prince for the sum of two lacs of rupees and for a charter exempting goods carried in the ships of Maskat from the payment of duty in the port of Surat. If Aurangzeb would send one of his officers, the Imám promised to give up the Prince.
Upon receiving this letter, Aurangzeb wrote to the officials of the port of Surat, directing them to act in accord with the proposition of the Imám. So the people at Surat sent Hájí Fázil, an old sailor in the royal service, to take Prince Akbar in charge. When intelligence of Prince Akbar's arrival in Maskat, and the evil designs of the Imám, became known to the King of Persia, he issued peremptory commands to the Imám, directing him to send the Prince (his guest) to him without delay, or an army would be appointed to deliver him and punish the Imám. So perforce the Imám delivered up the Prince to the Sháh's officers. * * When the Prince approached Isfahán, Sháh Sulaimán went forth to meet him. * * On the death of Sháh Sulaimán, his successor showed the Prince even greater hospitality and attention, so that the Prince asked for an army and money to assist him in Hindústán. Sháh Husain excused himself, * * and the Prince then asked permission to go to Garmsír in Khurásán. * * This was granted, and provision was made for his maintenance. * * He retired thither, and died there towards the close of the reign of Aurangzeb.