The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.5
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.5
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3.5.1
After this Mían Nizám wrote to Farid, telling him of the death of Mian Hasan, and of the whole affair. When Farid got the news, he performed the usual mourning, and told Daulat Khán the posture of affairs as regarded Sulaiman. Daulat Khán said, "Do not be anxious. Please God, the king will give you the government of the two parganas." Daulat Khán told the king the news of Mian Hasan's death, and procuring farmáns for the two parganas, gave them to Farid, and procured him also leave to go to his jágír, that he might establish his possession and authority over them, and console his family and followers; after which he was again to present himself before the king. When Farid arrived, all his relations and all the soldiery came out to meet him, and yielded obedience to the farmán. Sulaiman, unable to oppose him, went away to Muhammad Khán Súr Daúd-Sháh-khail, governor of the pargana of Chaundh, etc., who commanded 1500 horse. As there had been some little ill-feeling between this Muhammad Khán and Hasan Khán, he desired nothing better than that the brothers should quarrel, and both become dependent on him. He said to Sulaiman, "Have patience for a short while, for Farid has got a royal farmán for the government. But Sultán Ibráhím has maltreated the nobles of Sultán Bahlol and Sultán Sikandar, and they have all retired to their own districts, and remain there.
3.5.2
And the Khán-khánán Yusuf-khail, who was governor of the Panjáb, etc., has sent his son Diláwar Khán to Kábul, to fetch the Emperor Bábar, and he is now coming back with the Mughals. There will be war between the two monarchs. If Sultán Ibráhím prevails, you must go to him, and I will write to him on your behalf, and describe Faríd as hostile to Mián Hasan, as well as yourself, and that Mián Hasan preferred you. Whatever assistance your fortune gives you, you will get; and if the Mughals conquer, I will by force take the parganas from Faríd, and give them to you." Sulaimán replied, "I have taken refuge with you from fear of Faríd. Because there is none like you in the tribe of Súr, I place myself in your hands." Shortly after Muhammad Khán sent his vakíl to Faríd with this message: "Listen to my advice, and have respect to my interference. I come to mediate between you; whichever of you declines my mediation will bring shame on his kindred." Faríd Khán wrote in reply, "You are, indeed, very great and powerful, and the Dáúd-Sháh-khail is the most exalted among the tribes of Súr; the chieftaincy of the tribe is therefore yours of right. * * The truth is not hid from you, my lord; which is, that in my father's lifetime he was always disputing with me.
3.5.3
Even after his death, I offered to give my three brothers a larger jágír than had been assigned to them during my father's lifetime, and I said to Sulaimán, 'Let us put aside the ill-feeling that existed between us during our father's life, and let us pass the rest of our lives in amity and affection.' * * * I send my brother Nizám to bring him to me, and I will give him such a jágír as will satisfy him; but let him put aside the desire of sharing as his portion in (the government of) my pargana; for while I live he shall never obtain this." When Muhammad Khán's vakíl reported what Faríd Khán had said and written, Muhammad Khan said to Sulaimdn, "Farid Khdn will not give you a share quietly. I will make him do so by force." * * * Sulaiman was much delighted; but the matter was reported to Farid Khdn, who consulted with his brother Nizdm and his other adherents, and said, "I must ally myself with some one who will be able to oppose Muhammad Khdn, and there is no one within reach except Bihdr Khan, son of Darya Khdn Lohani. However, it is best to wait a little. If Sultan Ibrahim prevails, no one will be able to say a word against me; for do I not hold the Sultan's farmdn?
3.5.4
And if (which God avert) the Mughals should defeat Sultdn Ibrahim, then indeed I must of necessity ally myself to Bihar Khan, and remain in his service." After some time news came that the two monarchs had joined battle on the field of Panipat, and that after a severe contest Sultdn Ibrdhim had been slain, and that the kingdom of Dehli had fallen into the hands of the Emperor Babar, in the year 932. * * Farid Khan, being thus compelled, went to Bihar Khan, and entered into his service, and employed himself day and night in his business; nor did he rest one moment from it, and from this good service he gained Bihdr Khdn's favour; so that he had access to him in public and in private, and became one of his most intimate friends. In consequence of his excellent arrangements, he became celebrated throughout the country of Bihar. One day he went out hunting with Bihar Khan, and a tiger [sher] having been started, Farid Khan slew it. Bihdr Khan, who on the death of Sultdn Ibrahim had assumed the title of "Sultan Muhammad," and had caused coin to be struck, and the khutba to be read in his own name throughout the country of Bihdr, gave to Farid Khdn, on account of this gallant encounter, the title of "Sher Khan," and made him the deputy to his son Jaldl Khan.
3.5.5
He performed the duties of deputy for a long time, but at length went on leave to visit his own parganas, where he delayed for some time. On account of his long absence, Sultan Muhammad used to talk reproachfully of him, and said, "Sher Khan promised to return very shortly, but has remained a long time away." Those were days of confusion, no man put entire confidence in another. Muhammad Khan Sur came to Sultan Muhammad and spoke detractingly of Sher Khan, saying, "He sees some probability of the advent of Sultan Mahmud, the son of Sultan Sikandar, to whom many of the nobles and Afghans have given in their adhesion. If Your Majesty commands me, I will contrive to bring Farid Khan here without any stir. His brother Sulaiman is an able young man, to whom Hasan Khan during his lifetime made over the management of both his parganas, when he banished Sher Khan from his districts, who even formerly preferred an accusation against his own father, and of whom the Sultan said, 'This is a bad man who complains even against his own father.' When Hasan Khan died, Farid Khan, through his patron Daulat Khan, obtained a grant of both parganas from Sultan Ibrahim. Sulaiman was also desirous of going to Sultan Ibrahim, to show the recommendatory letter which Mian Hasan when dying had written to the Sultan. But disturbances arose, and he was unable to go, and has now come to you to complain of his brother.
3.5.6
If Your Majesty will confer these parganas on Sulaiman, Farid Khan will very quickly come unto your presence again. It is now long since that Sulaiman, flying from him, sought refuge with me; and if he attains his rights, he will ever be your obliged servant." Sultan Muhammad replied, "He has done me much good service, how can I give away his jagirs to another, and that for a trifling fault, and without inquiry? However, to please you they shall both bring their cause before you. Both are similarly related to you—do you favour neither, that the right may be established, and the dust of the enmity which exists between them may be allayed." Muhammad Khan, when he was dismissed, returned to his own jagir, and sent Shadi Khan, his confidential servant, to Farid Khan with a message to this effect:—"It is not right for you to take possession of both parganas and to disinherit your brothers, and lay the foundation of strife among your own kindred. I have sent Shadi Khan to you, and I hope you will take heed to what he will say to you. Your brothers have now been a long time with me, and the laws and customs of the Afghans are no secret to you."
3.5.7
When Shadi came to Sher Khan, and delivered at full length Muhammad Khan's message, Sher Khan replied:—"Do you, Shadi Khan, tell the Khan from me, that this is not the Roh country that I should share equally with my brothers. The country of India is completely at the disposal of the king, nor has any one else any share in it, nor is there any regard to elder or younger, or to kindred. Sikandar Lodi thus decided: 'If any noble dies, whatever money or other effects he may leave should be divided among his heirs according to the laws of inheritance; but his office and his jagirs and his military retinue let him confer on whichever of the sons he thinks most able; and in these no one else has a right to share, nor is any remedy open to them.' Whatever goods and money my father left, Sulaiman with my brothers appropriated before he sought refuge with you. Hitherto, out of regard for my relationship to you, I have said nothing; but whenever he may quit you, I shall reclaim my share of my patrimonial inheritance from him. The jagir and office were conferred on me by Sultan Ibrahim; in them no one has any share. But I said to my brothers, 'The jagirs which you enjoyed in my father's lifetime I will continue, nay increase to you; but no one can participate in my office.' It does not become you to say, 'Give up Tanda and Malhu to Sulaiman.' I will not willingly yield them. If you take them by force, and give them to him, it is in your power to do so. I have not another word to say."