Storia do Mogor 148: What I encountered from Muhammad Amin Khan.

Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 148

Language: English

What I encountered from Muhammad Amin Khan.

148.1

This was the year in which Muhammad Amin Khan gave me a lot of annoyance, for, having been ordered by the king to Kabul as governor in place of Mahabat Khan, he wanted to take me with him by force. He made me many promises, but I knew my man too well. He had promised me ten rupees a day for healing a putrid venereal disease, of recovery from which he had despaired; afterwards, ignoring what he had said, he refused to pay me the promised sum. I therefore made my excuses, saying I did not wish to leave Lahor.

148.2

He left with his retinue, and finding that neither by promises nor by threats could I be made to follow him [151], he ordered me to be carried off by force. Thus I travelled with him for three days as far as Little Gujarat, crossing the river of Lahor and the river Chinab. He acted thus not only from his desire to keep me, but also because his wife so willed it. She went the length of unveiling before me her daughter's face (a most unusual thing among them), and said to me that, if I would not go for her sake, at the least I might for her daughter's, whom I had brought back to health when she was very ill. I had come thus far, but never forsook the project I intended to carry out ; for he who serves by compulsion can never be satisfied. Thus, the marches being at night on account of the heat, I turned back, without saying a word to anyone except an Englishman, whom I told I was going to the town of Little Gujarat to buy some medicines, and if Muhammad Amin Khan should ask him about me, he was to give that answer.

148.3

That nobleman had given an order that no one was to be allowed to cross to the other side of the river, permitting nothing to remain on our side except the ferry-boat for conveying the couriers to and from the court ; but I so took my measures that this boat was forced to carry me across, for as I approached I sent my servants to take possession of the boat and keep it till I arrived. I came up and ordered the boatman to convey me across, pretending I was a courier from Mahabat Khan to the court. As soon as I had passed the river it began to be dawn, and I met a body of Muhammad Amin Khan's people. When they asked me where I was going, I answered angrily that Mirza 'Abdullah being unwell, the prince had sent me to treat him. Thus I got past them. I reached Lahor by fast travelling before he could overtake me on the way.

148.4

But Muhammad Amin Khan planned a piece of treachery for my destruction. This consisted in writing to Gitar, commander of the fort and provisional governor, to his own agent (? wakil), to the kotwal, and to the qazi, requiring them to forward me to his camp. If I refused, they were to charge me with having stolen from him five lakhs of rupees. They knew quite well it was a false accusation, but Muhammad Amin Khan being a great man, they did not hesitate to do everything possible to have me seized. But I was not asleep, and I was tolerably versed in Mahomedan tricks, for they stick at nothing to gain success in their desires [152]. Therefore I did not stay inside Lahor at my house, but hid myself in the gardens, moving about from one place to another in disguise. This went on for forty days, and proclamation was made that anyone knowing where I was hid and discovering me, would be highly rewarded, and whoever concealed me in his house would be compelled to pay the five lakhs of rupees robbed by me from Muhammad Amin Khan. At this time Fida,e Khan, who was to succeed Muhammad Amin Khan as governor, was approaching. He was his predecessor's enemy. In advance of his own arrival he sent two hundred cavalry, conveying letters to the provisional governor, the kotwal, and the qazi, telling them to carry on the government in his name until he should arrive. At each court of justice was posted one of Fida,e Khan's troopers to act as witness and verify everything that took place.

148.5

When I knew of this, I came boldly into Lahor, and had an interview with the trooper who attended the kotwal's court, also with the man posted at the deputy-governor's, telling them my story. Both men pledged me their word that they would help me, but I told them not to take action until they saw me being taken away by force to Muhammad Amin Khan. Secure of their aid if anything happened to me, I returned to my house. The kotwal and the other officials were in fear of Muhammad Amin Khan, so the kotwal sent for me and locked me up in prison, and three times, on three different days, he asked me in public audience whether I would go willingly to Muhammad Amin Khan or not. On my saying resolutely that I would not go, he said that as Muhammad Amin Khan had accounts to go into with me, I must be forced to go. My reply was that I had no sort of account with him, nor knew I aught about his jewels, for I was no official of his household, but only a Frank surgeon, to whom jewels would not be made over. Seeing me thus firm, he too spoke resolutely, at the instigation of Muhammad Amin Khan's wakil, declaring that I must absolutely go.

148.6

They had already removed me from the audience, and were making me mount into a carriage prepared for that purpose, when the trooper, whom I had already made my friend, announced openly that if they wished to send me, they might; but hereafter Fida,e Khan would have something to say to them, he having given special instructions for Hakim Niccolao, the Frank, to be looked after, he being his (Fida,e Khan's) private doctor. He called on everyone to bear witness how he had made requisition on his master's behalf. Upon hearing this, the kotwal got into a fright and sent for me once more, and said to me in a loud voice that the trooper had made a requisition on behalf of Fida,e Khan; but the law demanded that at the very least I should produce bail for my person, so as to be able afterwards to justify itself against a claim by Muhammad Amin Khan. Sureties were not wanting who, knowing the truth, were willing to bind themselves for me. But neither the kotwal nor the wakil would accept them as bail, warning them that in this way they would have to defend themselves from Muhammad Amin Khan, a violent and powerful man. Thus it came to pass that all of them were afraid to do what they wished, until at last a Hindu turned up, who, in defiance of Muhammad Amin Khan, became surety, I giving him an indemnity, and thus I was free.

148.7

Meanwhile Mirza Salih, the son of Fida,e Khan, arrived. I visited him and paid my respects, having beforehand had some good words said to him about me; for I was tolerably well known in Lahor. In this way, when Fida,e Khan himself subsequently arrived, he (Mirza Salih) presented me to his father, by whom I was well received. I presented to him a box full of an electuary. He sent for the kotwal, and told him to take good care that no one interfered with me, and he also gave me his word to be favourable to me. This, of a truth, he was as long as he lived, and that, too, in things of great importance, as I shall relate in the proper place (II. 162).