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Ma-ásir-i Jahángírí, of Kámgár Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)

Translation of Maʾathir-i Jahangiri (Maʾāthir-i Jahāngīrī)

Language
English
Date
1875 CE
Translators
Henry Miers Elliot, John Dowson
Extent
4 passages, 1,095 words
Text
complete digital text
Source
archive.org · The History of India, as told by its own Historians. The Muhammadan Period. The posthumous papers of Sir H.… · Public domain (published before 1930)

Contents

Text

1.1

When the King of Kings (Jahangir) was residing in the city of Allahabad, before he succeeded to the throne, a body of seditious and turbulent people, who had the privilege of addressing the Emperor Akbar in his paradisaical Court, were in the habit of spreading false reports openly and clandestinely against that ornament of the crown the Prince Salim. Sometimes they represented that he had conferred upon his servants the titles of Khan and Sultan, and at other times they said that he had ordered coins to be struck in his name. By such misrepresentations they every day attempted to excite the alarm of the Emperor, who, being endowed with a very enlightened and noble mind, was but little affected by their insinuations. In truth, in the relation of father and son, there were those ties of love and affection between the Emperor and the Prince which existed between Jacob and his son Joseph. One of the events of those days was the murder of Shaikh Abu-l Fazl, who, by his superior wisdom and vast learning, was the most distinguished of all the Shaikhs of Hindustan. The following is a detailed account of this event. The Shaikh, intoxicated by the wine of fortune, and vain of the influence he had obtained over the Emperor’s mind, had lost his senses, and having suffered the thread of wisdom and the knowledge of self to drop from his hands, had become proud of his position, and acted with rancour and animosity against his master’s son.

1.2

He often said to the Emperor, both publicly and privately, that he knew none but His Majesty, and would never entreat or flatter any person, not even the eldest Prince. He had well assured the Emperor of the firmness of his sentiments in this particular. In those days, when the Prince was at Allahabad, some designing people constantly made statements which excited the displeasure of the Emperor against him. If at any time any of the nobles of the Court advanced any excuses, or volunteered any defence in behalf of the Prince, His Majesty would consider that they said it through ill-will towards himself, or too much partiality towards the Prince. But in defiance of all that he heard, he considered that the Shaikh was his friend, and that he was also cordially disposed towards the Prince. A farmán was therefore sent to him, ordering him to leave his son with the army he had under his command in the Dakhin, and to come alone and unattended to the Court. When this news reached the Prince, that master of prudence and scholar of the supreme wisdom at once reflected, that if the Shaikh should ever arrive at Court, he would certainly estrange His Majesty’s mind from the Prince by his misrepresentations. He reflected also that he would never be able to find his way to Court, so long as the Shaikh should remain there, and that he would necessarily be excluded from the enjoyment of that consummate happiness.

1.3

Under these circumstances, it was expedient to take measures to arrest the evil before it could occur. Finding that the only remedy depended entirely upon the Shaikh’s destruction, he called Raja Bir Singh Deo, son of Raja Budhkar, whose territory lay on the road which the Shaikh must take, and who was one of the servants of the throne, and told him that the Shaikh was about to proceed unattended to the Court, and that if he would put an end to his existence, he should obtain great rewards and favours. The Rajá willingly undertook the task, and hastily marched in that direction. Assisted by the divine power, he soon waylaid the Shaikh, while he was passing through his territory. After a short skirmish, the Shaikh’s attendants were dispersed, and he himself was slain. His head was sent to Allahabad by a confidential servant, who communicated all that had transpired. Great fear and consternation prevailed in men’s minds in consequence of this transaction, and as for the Emperor, although it excited his highest indignation, yet the deed done by Nar Singh Deo enabled the Prince to visit his father without any apprehension, and in a short time His Majesty’s sorrow wore off, and he received the Prince with kindness. * * *

2

[When the Prince Shah Jahan heard of the rebellious proceedings of Mahabat Khan, he resolved that he would hasten immediately to the Emperor his father, although he was unprepared for war, and was in a very feeble state of health. He stated his design to Khan Jahan and to Raja Nar Singh Deo, and endeavoured to gain their support; but they did not incline to his proposals, and made excuses. The Prince put his trust in God, and started with a small force from Nasik, trusting that he might find assistance on the road, and collect a force. He passed through the pass of Chanda, although Prince Parwez, with all the Imperial army, was at Burhanpur. Passing about twenty kos from Burhanpur, he crossed the Nerbadda, in the territory of Mandu. Upon reaching Ajmir, Raja Kishan Singh, son of Raja Bhim, who had accompanied him from Nasik with 500 horse, was taken ill, and died. His followers then dispersed. Only 400 or 500 men then remained with the Prince, and with such a small force it was impossible for him to carry out his design of going to the Emperor. It then occurred to him that he would go to Thatta, which is in a remote corner, and there wait patiently for a while. From Ajmir he proceeded to Nagor, and from thence to Joudhpur. From thence he travelled to Thatta by the route which the Emperor Humayun had fled to Sind when driven from his throne. This route was very arid and destitute of water, and his journey was attended with great hardship. When he reached the country of Thatta, Sharif Mulk, who held the place for Prince Shahriyar, did his best to put the town in a state of defence, and the Prince was thwarted in his designs by obstacles which it would be tedious to relate.
He was greatly affected by his ill-success, and many of his most devoted followers were disabled. Just at this time a letter reached him from Nur Jahan, informing him that his march had alarmed Mahabat Khan, whose forces had been driven away and dispersed, and that the Prince had better return to the Dakhin, and await a change of fortune. The advice of the Begam seemed good, so the Prince determined to return to the Dakhin by way of Gujarat.]