Storia do Mogor 60.1
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 60.1
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60.1.1
If any of the Mogul kings inherited the valour and judgment of Taimur-i-lang, it was, without contradiction, the king Akbar, who was born in Persia at the time when his father, Humayun, was living there, as I have already stated above (I., 72). This king, adopting the advice given to his father by the King of Persia, allied himself to several Rajput princes, thus bringing them over to his side. With their aid he conquered the greater part of Hindustan, routing the remaining Pathans in different battles and bringing them into subjection to his orders. So great was the dread in which Akbar was held by the Hindu princes that they came to offer their services, paying him tribute and voluntarily giving him their daughters. He received them all with open arms ; but he forced them to fight against the other Hindu princes, aiding them with his own army. In this way he destroyed many of them in those days. Still, in spite of all this, the Hindus are up to this day more numerous than the Mahomedans. But they can do nothing against the Moguls, for from of old time it has been the fashion of the Rajputs to dispute among themselves. If they were only of one mind they would be able to thrust out every other tribe and race [75]. Although the conquests of Akbar were many, I will recount only some of the principal; still, in this king's time some special events have happened, and I will take leave to give to my readers some notion thereof, at which they will rejoice not a little.
60.1.2
In the first place it is fitting to speak of the conquest that he made of the kingdom of Guzurate (Gujarat) from the king Sultan Bahader (Bahadur). It was from him at the same period that the Portuguese took the fortress of Dio (Diu), which is in the vicinity of Surat and Cambaya (Kambayat). At his death he (Bahadur) left his sons captives in the hands of Akbar, and there they remained until the end of their lives. Akbar well demonstrated on this occasion how important it is for a king to be present himself during an enterprise of importance, for his forces being in battle array opposite those of Sultan Bahadur, his captains began to talk of avoiding an action for fear of being beaten, since Bahadur's army was much the more powerful. When Akbar learnt this, he hurried in person to the spot, although at a distance of four days' journey from the army, and thus so completely restored the courage of his troops that they gained a victory and routed the foe. Secondly, it is necessary to speak of Akbar's conquest of the Decan (Dakhin), of which the principal places are Brampur (Burhanpur), Acer (Asirgarh), Amadanagar (Ahmadnagar), and Doltabad (Daulatabad). The two first named belonged to Melec Mostafa (Malik Mustafa), a Mahomedan. Amadanagar (Ahmadnagar) belonged to the princess Chande Bibi (Chand Bibi), and Doltabad (Daulatabad) to Meleque Ambar (Malik 'Ambar).
60.1.3
The events connected with the conquest of Asirgarh are worthy of notice. At Asir dwelt Malik Mustafa, lord of forty thousand horsemen. Akbar strictly invested the said fortress, and a scarcity of water arose. Malik Mustafa resolved on flight, but while leaving the place he was captured by the sentries. Concealing that he intended to escape, he asked to be taken into the presence of Akbar, having something to say to him. They took him to the king, and as soon as he arrived Akbar asked: 'Who are you, and what do you want?' He answered: 'I am the king Malik Mustafa, and come to seek your advice.' Obtaining leave to speak, he said: 'I have no water in the fortress, only enough for this one night; what advice do you give me?' Akbar's answer was: 'Go your way; if God means to leave you the fortress, He will equally give you water.' The following night so much rain fell that much damage was done in Akbar's camp. Repenting of having given liberty to one whom he had already in his hands, Akbar raised the investment. Some time afterwards he returned to invest the fortress and took it, as also Brampur (Burhanpur). Subsequently he (Akbar) went against the Princess Chande Biby (Chand Bibi) — that is, 'Lady Moon'; she also was a Mahomedan. She defended herself with great vigour, but was obliged to surrender the fortress for want of provisions.
60.1.4
This princess was so grieved at seeing herself despoiled of her dignities that she made up her mind not to allow her wealth to fall into the hands of Akbar. With this idea she gave orders that all the gold she had should be melted and made into cannon-balls. Upon these she had words engraved to the effect that the ball belonged to anyone who found it, that no one had the right to take it by force from the finder, adding other words of malediction against him who acted otherwise. The cannon were loaded with these balls, and they were discharged in all directions. After the fortress was taken King Akbar fell in love with her for her beauty, and transferred her to his own palace. In my time it happened that near the said fortress a grass-cutter found one of the said balls, which weighed eight pounds and was of gold. When the general Bader Can (Bahadur Khan) heard this fact, he ordered the ball to be brought before him, and directed that the inscribed letters should be deciphered. Their meaning was that the ball should be left with the finder. He (Bahadur Khan) took it for himself, saying he had complied with the wishes of Chand Bibi, and that he had not fallen into any sin. After this conquest, Akbar marched against Malik 'Ambar, lord of fifty thousand horse, and overcoming him, took from him Daulatabad. Thus those who knew not how to aid each other were all defeated, and Akbar remained master of the whole Decan (Dakhin).
60.1.5
In the third place we must put the conquest of the kingdom of Caxemir (Kashmir). For this realm was not taken by force of arms, but solely because the King of Kashmir was greatly frightened by Akbar's victories, and made an offer to him of the kingdom rather than go to war. Akbar saw the feebleness of heart of this king, for with a few men he could have defended himself, Kashmir being a country which cannot be entered by force owing to the great height at which it lies — on very high mountains, with steep paths so few and so narrow that one man could stop a whole army. Akbar therefore issued orders that men of that country should not be recruited as soldiers, that they were unworthy to carry arms. In effect, he allowed not one of them to serve as a soldier. They are employed only as tailors — being good at needlework — as barbers, and they are excellent cooks. Many of them are dealers in the very fine woollen materials made in the said kingdom. The people of Kashmir are very good-looking, of a light complexion, with black hair and eyes and high noses. Thus there is little difference between them and the Jews, either in physiognomy or character, being deceitful and without stability.
60.1.6
In the fourth place we come to the war he (Akbar) waged against the Rana, a Hindu king whose lands were twelve days' journey distant from Dihli. The first thing he (Akbar) did was to surround the fortress called Chitor, the which I have seen many a time. This fortress was on a hill of no very great height, but its sides are quite smooth like walls ; it lies in the midst of a wide, open plain. This plain is a league and a half long and half a league wide. At the foot [of the hill] is a stream called Nag — that is to say, ' Snake.' In this fortress are fine springs of sweet water, and during a time of siege supplies are collected enough to support the people in it ; it cannot be taken by force of arms, as will be seen from this my narrative.
60.1.7
Before Akbar came to invest this fortress, he despatched an ambassador to the rajah who was governor, directing him to forward his wife. If he did not agree to send her, he would come himself to fetch her. For he had been told that she was of great beauty, and so perfect that in all the world there was none other like her. Since, also, there was in the world no other king of greater valour or of greater wealth than himself (Akbar), therefore the most beautiful of women was his by right. If she were not delivered to him he would harry the whole kingdom with fire and sword in order to accomplish his desire. Therefore it were well if the rajah agreed to send him the lovely Padmany (Padamawati), as she was called, meaning 'the woman perfect in everything.' The Portuguese writer Faria mentions her many times.