Tarikh-i Daʾudi 11.4
Táríkh-i Dáúdí of 'Abdu-lla (extracts) 11.4
- Language
- English
11.4.1
There arose a great disturbance amongst the troops on account of the wound which the King had received, and the people said amongst themselves, "The King has been killed by a paik." Islám Sháh returned immediately to his camp, and remained seated for some time on the throne. He sent for the sword with which the man had wounded him, and threw it down before the nobles. They all, as well as the King, perceived that the weapon was one which he had himself given to Ikbál Khán. This Ikbál Khán was called Karamu-lla, and had served in the King's infantry. Islám Sháh had patronized him and promoted him to the rank of a noble. The King summoned him, and thus addressed him, "I raised you to your present station, because I believed you to be faithful and trustworthy ; and I made you extremely wealthy. I am ashamed to put you to death, because you are a person whom I have raised and treated kindly. Thus I punish you. I degrade you from your dignity and position as a noble, and send you back to the salary which you formerly received as a foot soldier. Take your old place again." The King then repeated this verse : "I am so vexed with my friends, I will never take one even to save myself from ruin ! "
11.4.2
Certain nobles desired to place Mubariz Khan, who possessed the title of 'Adali, on the throne. The King summoned him to the presence, but said nothing to him, for the sake of Bibi Bai. From that date, the suspicions which he entertained of his nobles led him to treat them with open enmity, and to take measures to overthrow them. He directed that the war elephants and those nobles in whom he placed confidence should keep watch and ward over his tent.
11.4.3
He then set seriously to work to exterminate the Niazis. When the Ghakkars had been rendered powerless, 'Azam Humayun went into the hill-country of Kashmir. Islam Shah encamped beneath Kaitdli-shahr, and designed to pursue the Niazis into Kashmir; while Mirza Haidar, the Governor of Kashmir, in order to gain Islam Shah's good-will, blocked up the road against the Niazis. 'Azam Humayun perceived that the King was coming in his rear, and that the Governor of Kashmir had closed the path on ahead ; being, therefore, unable to effect anything, he went to Rajauri. Islam Shah pursued the Niazis with the choicest of his troops as far as the village of Madad, in the territory of Naushahra, where he was terrified by the dangers and difficulties of the mountain passes, and thought that his best plan would be to make peace. With this view he sent Saiyid Khdn and 'Abdu-l Malik, who were two of his most trusted and confidential courtiers, with a letter to 'Azam Humayun and the other Niazis, counselling them to take a course by which their interests would be best benefited. 'Azam Humayun's son and mother were then surrendered as hostages to Islam Shah, and he, taking them with him, quitted the defiles of the hills, and encamped at Ban, a village near Sialkot. Muhammad Nazr and Sabr 'Ali, the King of Kashmir's governors in Rajauri, plotted to carry 'Azam Humayun into Kashmir, and expel Mirza Haidar thence.
11.4.4
'Azam Humayun consulted the Afghans who had accompanied him with reference to the propriety of this proceeding, and the greater portion of them counselled him to consent to what was evidently a decree of the Almighty. 'Azam Humayun, however, refused to agree to this arrangement, and sent a brahman to Mirza Haidar, with proposals for accommodation, at the same time begging for assistance, and giving an account of his distressed condition. Mirza Haidar, who was a youth of a magnanimous disposition, sent a large sum of money to 'Azam Humayun, with a civil message. 'Azam Humayun marched from his encampment to the village of Buzurs. When the faithless Kashmiris saw that 'Azam Humayun was unsuccessful, they turned against him and deserted him. Some of them went over to Islam Shah. Ghazi Khan Chak went to Mirza Haidar and told him that 'Azam Humayun was coming with a body of Afghans for the purpose of seizing Kashmir, and had reached the pargana of Banihal, and the hills of Lohkot and Malwakot. 'Idi Raina, Husain Makari, Bahram Chak, and Yusuf Chak, were ordered to attack the Niazis with a force of Kashmiris. Both sides prepared for action, and a fierce contest took place. Bibi Rabi'a, the wife of 'Azam Humayun, fought like a man, and smote Lali Chak with her sword. The Kashmiris were very numerous, and were victorious over the discomfited Afghans. 'Azam Humayun, Sa'id Khan, and Bibi Rabi'a were killed in the battle, and the men of Kashmir returned successful to Sirinagar.
11.4.5
Mirza Haidar sent the heads of the Afghans, by the hand of Ya'kub Mir, to Islam Shah, who was in the village of Ban, near the river Chinab, and who, well pleased at the termination of the Niazi rebellion, marched back homewards. About this time Mirza Kamran fled from King Humayun's Court, and sought refuge with Islam Shah. Kamran Mirza was an excellent poet, and this fact had repeatedly been a subject of conversation in Islam Shah's presence. At their first interview, Islam Shah, with the view of testing Kamran's skill, repeated three couplets: one composed by a poet of 'Irak, the second by one of the learned of Hindustan, the third was an Afghan production. He then asked for an explanation of them, Kamran Mirza said, "Do you question me concerning the beauties of the poetry, or do you wish to know who the poets are?" After this Kamran Mirza said "The first couplet which you recited was written by a Mughal of 'Irak; the second by a poet of Hind; the third is by an Afghan poet." Islam Shah praised the excellence of Mirza Kamran's knowledge and understanding before all that assembly. After this occurrence, Islam Shah, although he meant him no good, by the advice of certain nobles, continued to treat that prince with fitting distinction. Nevertheless, the Mirza fled from Islam Shah's presence into the Siwalik hills, and from thence went into the Ghakkar country. All this is related in detail in the histories of King Humayun's reign.
11.4.6
Islam Shah proceeded by uninterrupted marches from the village of Ban to Dehli, where he remained for some months. One day when in Dehli Islam Shah had applied leeches to his neck, when intelligence reached him that Humayun had crossed the Nflkh and entered Hindust&n. At this moment an Afgh&n musician was singing this verse, and accompanying himself on the rub&b: "When the whole universe is inimical to me, If you befriend me, why should I be afraid?"
11.4.7
Isl&m Sh&h said to those who were present, "This good news, which my guardian angel has sent me, is the best omen of success I can have." He paid no attention to the selection of an auspicious moment for departure, nor did he consult the astrologers, but immediately freed his neck from the leeches, and mounted his horse, and determined to sustain the royal honour. On the first day he made a march of three kos. He was always accompanied by his artillery; but on account of the haste with which he started on this expedition, oxen were not procurable in the villages near Dehll. He did not, however, wait for their arrival, but directed that the common people should pull the gun carriages. He had 300,000 of these individuals employed on this service; 150,000 of whom were provided with mattocks for the purpose of entrenching the camp. Each gun was pulled by 2000 men on foot. He went in person, with great speed, to Lahore; but King Hum&y&n had, previous to Isl&m Sh&h's arrival, received his brother K&mr&n Mirz& from Sult&n Adam Ghakkar, and returned with him to K&bul.
11.4.8
Isl&m Sh&h advanced as far as Lahore, and returned from that place to Gw&lior, where he amused himself with hunting. He was one day hunting in the district of Antri, when certain Afghán nobles, who were ill-disposed towards him, laid an ambuscade on his road, with the intention of injuring him; but as his life was not destined to close so soon, he went back by another route, and was informed the same evening of the meditated treachery. He caused Baháu-d dín, Mahmúd, and Madaka, the chiefs of the conspirators, to be seized and punished. After this Islám Sháh became more mistrustful than ever of his nobles, and seized and imprisoned or put to death all those whom he chiefly suspected. One day he said to his wife Bíbí Bái, "I have cleared the road for your son, but your brother Mubáriz Khán is still a thorn in his way. If you wish for your son's life, say that you desire your brother to be put out of the way." Bíbí Bái answered, "My brother is a man who loves his pleasure and dissipation, and has always passed his life in looking after musical instruments, and listening to tunes; he has no head for government." Islám Sháh endeavoured with great skill and ability, by adducing strong proofs, and by beneficial advice, to induce her to be of his opinion; but this ignorant woman refused to consent to what Islám Sháh said, although it was all for her benefit.