Tarikh-i Daʾudi 11.3
Táríkh-i Dáúdí of 'Abdu-lla (extracts) 11.3
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11.3.1
Shujá' Khán being aware that his own friends and connexions were of opinion that 'Usmán Khán had attacked him at the instigation of Islám Sháh, and seeing their hostile disposition, he thought it better to oppose the King's coming, in order to prevent them from acting rashly. He sent, therefore, a message to say, "Your servant was the dependent of Your Majesty's father, and never shrank from performing any service he required of him, although by so doing he placed his life in danger. Your servant is one of those thirty-five persons who were appointed by your father, and who were bound to him by the ties of affection, as all men know. I have this time escaped with life, and shall yet be able to do you service. Do not trouble yourself to come on your slave's account. It is sufficient that I should have been honoured by your kind inquiries after my health." When this was told to Islám Sháh, he understood his reasons for what he said. Nevertheless, as Shujá' Khán was one of the pillars of the State, and deserved well of his sovereign on account of his great services, after waiting for one day, Islám Sháh went to visit him in person. Fath Khán, the son of Shuja' Khan, whose strength was remarkable, and against whom no person could contend, saw Islam Shah entering Shuja' Khan's tent alone, and wished to slay him. Mian Bayazid, another son of Shuja' Khan, perceived his brother's intention, and felt certain that he would commit some act of violence;
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he therefore sent Fath Khan to prepare the customary presents. Islam Shah honoured Shuja' Khan's abode by entering it. They remained together for a short time; and when Islam Shah was about to depart, Shuja' Khan said, "May the King prosper! I entreat you not to take the trouble of coming again. Your slave is afraid that if you do, the remembrance of his past services will be effaced, and that the banner of the King and the dignity which I have raised with so much trouble will be overthrown in an instant. Your Majesty knows better than any other how rude and intemperate the Afghans are." Islam Shah returned thence to the royal dwelling, and became ten times as ill-disposed towards Shuja' Khan as he had been before.
11.3.3
Shuja' Khan recovered from his wound in a short time, and after performing his ablutions, and giving alms to the poor, went one day to pay his respects to Islam Shah, who presented him with 101 horses and 101 bales of merchandize of Bengal, and treated him with great favour and kindness in a right royal manner. Shuja' Khan was convinced that the King's excessive politeness only concealed a wish to injure him. He passed that day without taking any particular steps, and returned home. Next day he ordered his servants to place his camp equipage on beasts of burden. The people of the city thought that he was going to a fresh encamping ground, on account of the filthy state of that in which he then was. When the property of all his men had been laden, and his troops were armed and equipped, he ordered the drum to beat for the march, and departed towards Sarangpur. When Islam Shah learnt this circumstance, he was very angry, and sent a body of troops in pursuit; and after arranging his army, set off himself in the direction of Sarangpur. Shuja' Khan reached Sarangpur, and began to look after the equipments of his soldiery, who, when they heard that Islam Shah was coming, incited Shuja' Khan to give him battle. He said, "Islam Shah is my benefactor, and the son of my patron. I will never fight against him. Whoever thinks that I have any such intention had better leave off doing so, and quit my service."
11.3.4
When Islam Shah arrived in the vicinity of Sarangpur, Shuja' Khan left the city, after sending his family on a-head, and went in the direction of Banswara. Islam Shah resumed Malwa, and after leaving 'Isa Khan Sur in the district of Ujjain, with 22,000 horsemen, went himself to Gwalior. Shuja' Khan, notwithstanding his power, and the means which he had at his disposal, made no attempts on Malwa. Islam Shah was at this time engaged in checking the rebellion of the Niazis. As he had hitherto been unsuccessful, he marched a second time towards Lahore, for the purpose of punishing that tribe. Daulat Khan Ujiala, the adopted son of Shuja' Khan, who was one of the select associates of Islam Shah, entreated him to pardon the transgressions of Shuja' Khan. There was no person in whom the King placed so much confidence or liked so well as Daulat Khan; for this reason his petition was successful, and Shuja' Khan was enabled to come with the speed of the wind into the presence of Islam Shah, who pardoned his faults and granted him Sarangpur, the country of Raisin, and several other districts; he, moreover, presented him a gold ewer and a basin of the same material, and then gave him permission to depart. Daulat Khan Ujiala remained with His Majesty. He was called Ujiala, because at night time torches were always placed on both sides of the road between his dwelling and that of the King.
11.3.5
He was one of the most celebrated men of his time, on account of his family, his courage, and his liberality. We have now come to the remainder of the history of the Niázís. 'Azam Humáyún and Khwája Wais fought together on several occasions. In the last action 'Azam Humáyún defeated the Khwája, and turned his face towards Sirhind. When Islám Sháh heard this news, he raised a large force, and sent it against the Níázís, on which 'Azam Humáyún retraced his steps and went to Mánkot. Islám Sháh's troops came up with him near Sambhal, and a battle took place, in which the Níázís were again routed. The children and mother of 'Azam Humáyún were made captive, and brought before Islám Sháh.
11.3.6
After their defeat, the Níázís took refuge with the Ghakkars, in the hill-country bordering on Kashmír. Islám Sháh advanced in person with a large army for the purpose of quelling the Níází rebellion, and during the space of two years was engaged in constant conflicts with the Ghakkars, whom he desired to subdue. He strove by every means in his power to gain possession of the person of Sultán Adam Ghakkar, who had been a faithful friend of the Emperor Humáyún, without success; but he caught Sárang Sultán Ghakkar, who was one of the most noted men of his tribe, and caused him to be flayed alive, and confined his son, Kamál Khán, in the fort of Gwálior. When Islám Sháh had thus taken a proper revenge of Sultán Adam Ghakkar, and destroyed many of his tribe, many of the zamíndárs whose possessions were at the foot of the hills submitted themselves to him. Skirting the hills, he went thence towards Murín, and all the Rajas of the Siwalik presented themselves, and expressed their intention of being obedient and faithful in their allegiance to him. Parsuram, the Raja of Gwalior, became a staunch servant of the King, and was treated with a degree of consideration which far exceeded that shown to the other zamindars. Gwalior is a hill, which is on the right hand towards the south amongst the hills, as you go to Kangra and Nagarkot. Islam Shah erected some buildings there. The inhabitants of Gwalior are not particularly good-looking, and Islam Shah composed these lines in jest:
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"How can I sing the praises of the beloved ones of Gwalior? I could never do so properly if I tried in a thousand ways! I do not know how to salute Parsuram, When I behold him, I am distracted, and exclaim, Ram! Ram!" Taj Khan Kirani, one of the King's attendants and companions, wrote and presented this verse: "I style myself your slave! What better employment can I find than your service?" Islam Shah stayed some time at Gwalior, and then set about building the fort of Mankot. He went thither and caused five forts to be erected: one of which he named Shergarh, a second Islamgarh, a third Rashidgarh, a fourth Firozgarh, the fifth retained its original names of Mankot and Mangarh. The performances of Islam Shah at this period can only be compared with the works done by the genii, by order of Hazrat Sulaiman (on whom be peace!). Those who have beheld these forts know better than any other how miraculously they have been constructed. But Islam Shah at this time behaved harshly towards the people, and gave no money to the nobles and the army for three years. Certain nobles agreed together to act treacherously, and instructed a certain individual, who was careless of his life, thus, "The King will go forth to-day from the red tents for the purpose of inspecting the fort of Mankot;
11.3.8
approach him, where the path is narrow, under the pretext of demanding justice, and then kill him!" This person went to the summit of a hill, and posted himself in a place where only one man could pass at a time. When Islám Sháh reached that narrow passage, he was preceded by some of his attendants and followed by others. The aforesaid assassin approached the King, demanding a hearing. As he did so, and when he was close to him, he drew a short sword which he had kept concealed, and struck at Islám Sháh, who was slightly wounded in the neck and fingers. Islám Sháh's extraordinary valour induced him to spring from his horse, and grapple with his assailant, whom he threw down, and then wrested his weapon from him. Daulat Khán Ujialá beheld all that took place from the rear, and came as swift as the wind to the assistance of His Majesty. He took the man out of the King's hands, saying, "If you will allow me, I will take charge of this person." Islám Sháh replied, "He will be the cause of the ruin of many. Put him quickly to death. He is sure to accuse many people falsely of having instigated him to act thus. There is no benefit to be derived from keeping him." Daulat Khán accordingly killed him on the spot.