[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Tuḥfa-yi Akbarshāhī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi) › [Tarikh-i Sher Shahi of 'Abbas Khan Sarwani (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot) › 3.3 # The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.3 Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.3 - **Language:** English ### [3.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.1) He then sent to the cultivators for horses, saying, "Bring your horses to me as a loan for a few days, as I particularly require them. When I return after finishing this business, I will give you back your horses." They willingly and cheerfully agreed to lend their horses, and from every village they brought one or two horses, and put on the saddles which they had ready in their houses, etc. Farid gave to every one of his soldiers who had not one of his own, a horse to ride, and hastened against the rebels, and plundered their villages, bringing away the women and children, cattle and property. To the soldiery he made over all the property and quadrupeds which came into their possession; but the women and children and the peasantry he kept himself in confinement, and sent to the head-men, saying:—"Pay me my rights; if not, I will sell your wives and children, and will not suffer you to settle anywhere again. Wherever you may go, thither will I pursue you; and to whatever village you may go, I will command the head men to seize and make you over to me, or else I will attack them also." ### [3.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.2) When the head-men heard these words, they sent to say: "Pardon our past offences, and if hereafter we do anything you do not approve, punish us in any way you choose." Farid Khán sent to say in reply, "Give security, in order that if you offend and abscond, your security may be held responsible for your appearance." So the head-men, whose wives and families he had in confinement, paid what was due from them to Government, and gave security for their appearance, and so released their wives and families. There were some zamíndárs who had committed all sorts of offences, such as theft and highway robbery, and refusing to pay revenue, never came to the Governor's presence, but were insolent from confidence in their numbers. Although these were often warned, they took no heed. Farid Khán collected his forces, and commanded that every one of his villagers who had a horse should come riding upon it, and that he who had not a horse should come on foot. And he took with him half his own soldiers, and the other half he employed in collecting revenue and other local duties. ### [3.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.3) When the soldiers and peasantry were assembled, he marched towards the villages of the recusants, and at a distance of a kos threw up an earthen entrenchment; and ordered them to cut down the neighbouring jungle. His horsemen he directed to patrol round the villages; to kill all the men they met, and to make prisoners of the women and children, to drive in the cattle, to permit no one to cultivate the fields, to destroy the crops already sown, and not to permit any one to bring anything in from the neighbouring parts, nor to allow any one of them to carry anything out of the village, and to watch them day and night; and he every day repeated the order to his force to invest the village, and not to permit a soul to go out. His footmen he also ordered to cut down the jungle. When the jungle was all cut down, he marched from his former position, and made another entrenchment nearer the village, and occupied it. The rebels were humbled, and sent a representative saying, that if Farid Khan would pardon their fault, they would submit. Farid Khan replied that he would not accept their submission, and that there could be nothing but hostility between him and them; to whichever God might please, he would give the victory. ### [3.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.4) Although the rebels humbled themselves in every way, and offered to pay a large sum of money, yet Farid Khan would not accept the money, but said to his men: — "This is the way of these rebels: first they fight and oppose their rulers; if they find him weak, they persist in their rebelliousness; but if they see that he is strong, they come to him deceitfully and humble themselves, and agree to pay a sum of money, and so they persuade their ruler to leave them alone; but as soon as they find an opportunity, they return to their evil ways. \* \* \* Early in the morning, Farid Khan mounted and attacked the criminal zamíndárs, and put all the rebels to death, and making all their women and children prisoners, ordered his men to sell. them or keep them as slaves; and brought other people to the village and settled them there. When the other rebels heard of the death, imprisonment, and ruin of these, they listened to wisdom, repented of their contumacy, and abstained from theft and robbery. If any soldier or peasant had a complaint, Farid would examine it in person, and carefully investigate the cause, nor did he ever give way to carelessness or sloth. In a very short time, both parganas became prosperous, and the soldiery and peasantry were alike contented. When Míán Hasan heard of this, he was much pleased; and in all companies used to make mention of the prosperity of his parganas, the gallantry of his son, and the subjection of the zamíndárs. ### [3.3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.5) The fame of Farid's wisdom was noised abroad over the kingdom of Bihár, and all the nobles of that country who heard of it praised it. He gained a reputation among men, and satisfied and pleased all his friends and others, except a few enemies, such as the mother of Sulaimán. When, after some time, Míán Hasan came to his home from attendance on Masnad-i 'álí Míán Jamál Khán, all the vassals and soldiery with one voice unanimously proclaimed their well-being, and he witnessed himself the prosperity of the country and replenishment of the treasury, and was extremely delighted with Faríd. The dislike which he formerly entertained was dispelled, and he distinguished both brothers with all kinds of favours. "I am now old," he said, "nor can I bear the labour and trouble and thought of governing the parganas and the soldiery while I live; do you manage them." ### [3.3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.6) This speech displeased Sulaimán and his mother, and they made all kinds of lying and false complaints to Míán Hasan, and the money which Faríd had, for his sister's wedding, given to Sulaimán, they changed, and showed to Míán Hasan, declaring it was bad. Every day they complained and railed against Faríd Khán, but Míán Hasan gave ear to none of them. Sulaimán and his mother perceived that Míán Hasan was not incensed against Farid by their lying complaints, but said to them, "It is not right that you should always rail at Farid. Except you two, there is not a person among my friends, soldiers, or vassals, who complains of him; and I also am satisfied and grateful for his conduct and excellent behaviour, for both my parganas are prosperous." ### [3.3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.7) When the mother of Sulaiman heard Mian Hasan thus speak, she was overcome with grief, and discontinued complaining to Mian Hasan, but from that day seldom held any intercourse with Mian Hasan. She publicly displayed her grief, and the love and the intimacy which Mian Hasan had previously enjoyed with her were interrupted. Mian Hasan perceived her great affliction, and one day said to her, "What is the cause of your grief? and what is the reason of your shunning me?" She replied, "I was once your humble slave, you distinguished me by your love and affection, and the rest of your family, from envy, are little affectionate towards me; nor yet, to the best of my ability, have I failed in my duty to them. He (Farid) is your eldest son, and looks to succeed to your position, and if, during your life, you do not distinguish my sons as well as Farid, nor give them the management of a pargana, I will in your presence kill myself and my sons; for in your lifetime they should acquire property. Farid and your kindred, who are my enemies, after your death will insult and turn us out of the parganas. Therefore, it is better for us to die in your presence, than to survive dishonoured among our enemies." ### [3.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3.8) Mian Hasan, bound in the chain of her love, and helpless from the force of his affection (from which to the lover there is no escape), was persuaded by her, and withdrew his fickle affections from his eldest son, and sought to remove him from the country, and to place his other sons in his room. The mother of Sulaiman said, "I hope much from your love, but your relatives will not permit you to take away the management of the parganas from Farid." Mian Hasan, who was entangled in the noose of her love, swore a solemn oath to her and appeased her. After this Mían Hasan sought to discover some fault in Farid, and to remove him, and employed himself in examining his actions. Excessive aversion was kindled and angry words passed between Míán Hasan and Farid. When Faríd discovered that Míán Hasan had promised the mother of Sulaimán that he would give the management of both parganas to her sons, and had violated the promise which he had given to his kinsmen, Farid threw up the management of them, and sent to Mian Hasan, saying, "So long as I saw my father's affections and kindness turned towards me, I carried on the business of the parganas—now make anybody manager you like. Certain persons from envy and enmity have conveyed to your hearing reports which have grieved you. My father, inquire into them, as I shall show you how." \* \* \* --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.3) · Pramāṇa