The Events of Mushtāqī 4: Khawas Khan.

4

Khawas Khan, who was the predecessor of Mian Bhua, having been ordered by the Sultan to march towards Nagarkot, in order to bring the hill country under subjection, succeeded in conquering it, and having sacked the infidels' temple of Debi Shankar, brought away the stone which they worshipped, together with a copper umbrella, which was placed over it, and on which a date was engraved in Hindu characters, representing it to be two thousand years old. When the stone was sent to the King, it was given over to the butchers to make weights out of it for the purpose of weighing their meat. From the copper of the umbrella, several pots were made, in which water might be warmed, and which were placed in the masjids and the King's own palace, so that every one might wash his hands, feet, and face in them, and perform his purifications before prayers. Previous to the time when Khawas Khan was appointed, the jagirs of some people of that part of the country amounted to three lacs of tankas. He increased them to fifteen lacs. When he returned to the Court, being seized by a fatal sickness, he intimated that he had something to say to the King, and was asked whether he would send the message, or wished to speak himself. He replied he wished to speak personally. The King said if he had strength enough to come, he might, and if not he himself would go to him. Upon this, the Khan came to Court, seated in his palki, and informed the King that he had brought the diwan's and his own accounts, and requested that somebody might be ordered to examine them. His Majesty replied, "I had appointed you my Viceroy, invested with full power. What accounts have I to settle with you? What you did was just as if I had done it myself." The Khan again said, "I have given some things to people without your royal orders; if you maintain the grants, it is good; if not, you may deduct their value from my pay." There were some meritorious people who had very little maintenance, and some again were entirely destitute. Their provision formerly amounted only to three lacs of tankas, which he had increased to fifteen lacs. His Majesty said, "I have just told you that you were my Viceroy, and I know that whatever was done, was done for my advantage, and therefore I readily sanction it." He then ordered the papers to be brought, and had them all steeped in water and obliterated.