On the morning of Thursday, the 4th of the month of Rabi`u-l-akhir,
Hijri 1028 (March 10, 1619), the world-enlightening sun entered his
house of honour in Aries, and the fourteenth year of the reign of this
suppliant commenced in all prosperity and happiness. On Thursday,
the 1st of the New Year, my prosperous son, Shah-Jahan, who is the
star of the forehead of accomplished desires, and the brilliancy of
the brow of prosperity, prepared a grand entertainment, and presented
me as offerings with a selection of the precious things of the age,
and rareties and curiosities of every country. One of these is a ruby,
weighing 22 surkhs, of good colour, and water, and shape. The jewellers
have valued it at Rs. 40,000. Another is a Qutbi [191] (?) ruby,
in weight 3 tanks, and very delicate, valued at Rs. 40,000. Further,
six pearls, one of them 1 tank and 8 surkhs in weight. The Vakils of
my son had bought it in Gujarat for Rs. 25,000, and the five others for
Rs. 33,000. Also one diamond, the price of which was Rs. 18,000. Also a
jewelled parda (sash), a sword-hilt made in his own goldsmith's shop;
most of the jewels he had himself set and cut. He had brought great
dexterity to bear on the design. Its value was fixed as Rs. 50,000. The
designs [192] were his own; no one else had up to this day thought of
them. Undoubtedly it was a fine piece of workmanship. There was also
a pair of drums made of gold for playing the mursal (overture?) with a
whole orchestra--viz., kuwarga, naqqara, karana, surna, etc.--whatever
was required for the naqqara-khana (music-hall) of great princes,
and all made of silver. At the auspicious hour at which I had seated
myself on the throne of success these were all sounded. The whole of
them came to a value of Rs. 65,000. Another was a seat for riding
an elephant, called by moderns a howdah (hauda), made of gold,
worth Rs. 30,000. Beside this there were two large elephants and
five elephant-trappings of the offerings of Qutbu-l-mulk, ruler
of Golconda. The first elephant was named Dad-i-Ilahi (the gift of
God). As it entered the private elephant-house on New Year's Day,
I gave it the name of Nur-i-Nauruz (the Light of New Year's Day). In
truth he is a grand elephant, and lacks nothing of size, beauty,
and dignity. As he looked well to my eye, I mounted him and rode him
into the courtyard of the palace. His value was fixed at Rs. 80,000,
and the value of six [193] others at Rs. 20,000. Its golden trappings,
consisting of golden chains, etc., my son had had made for the elephant
Nur-i-Nauruz, were worth Rs. 30,000. The second elephant, with silver
housings, was also presented, with Rs. 10,000 more in various choice
jewels. The kurkaraqs [194] of my son had also prepared and sent
delicate cloths from Gujarat. If all details were to be written,
it would take too long. Briefly, the whole of his offerings was of
the value of Rs. 450,000. It is hoped that he will eat the fruit of
long life and prosperity.
On Friday, the 2nd, Shaja`at K. `Arab, and Nuru-d-din Quli, the kotwal,
laid their offerings before me. On Saturday, the 3rd, Darab K., son
of the Khan-khanan, and on Sunday, the 4th, Khan Jahan, prayed to
be allowed to entertain me. Out of the latter's offerings I accepted
one pearl, bought for Rs. 20,000, with other rareties, altogether of
the value of Rs. 130,000, and presented him with the rest. On Monday,
the 5th, Raja Kishan Das and Hakim K., on Tuesday, the 6th, Sardar K.,
and on Wednesday, the 7th, Mustafa K. and Amanat K., presented their
offerings. From each of these I took a trifle in order to dignify
them. On Thursday, the 8th, I`timadu-d-daula, Madar-ul-mulk (the
pivot of the country), having prepared a royal entertainment, begged
to be allowed to receive me. In accepting this request his standing
was raised. In fact, in decorating the assembly and the largeness
of his offering, he had exceeded himself, and made many decorations,
and illuminated all sides of the lake as far as the eye could reach,
and decorated the streets both near and far with all kinds of lights
and coloured lanterns. Among the offerings of that Madar-us-saltana
there was a throne of gold and silver, much ornamented and decorated,
the supports of which were in the form of tigers. It had been completed
with great assiduity in the space of three years, and was made at the
cost of Rs. 450,000. This throne had been made by a skilful European
of the name of Hunarmand (skilful), who had no rival in the arts of a
goldsmith and a jeweller, and in all sorts of skill (hunarmandi). He
had made it very well, and I gave him this name. In addition to the
offerings he had brought for me, he offered the value of Rs. 100,000
in jewelled ornaments and cloths to the Begams and other ladies of
the Palace. Without exaggeration, from the beginning of the reign
of the late king (may the light of Allah be his testimony!) until
now, which is the fourteenth year of the rule of this suppliant,
not one of the great Amirs has presented such offerings. In fact,
what comparison is there between him and others?
On this day Ikram K., s. Islam K. was honoured with the mansab,
original and increased, of 2,000 personal and 1,000 horse, and Anira'i
Singh-dalan with that of 2,000 personal and 1,600 horse, original
and increased. On Friday, the 9th, I`tibar K. presented his offering,
and on the same day Khan Dauran, having been presented with a horse
and an elephant, took leave to go to the government of Patna. [195]
His mansab, according to a previous rule, was fixed at 6,000 personal
and 5,000 horse. On Saturday, the 10th, Fazil K., on Sunday, the 11th,
Mir Miran, on Monday, the 12th, I`tiqad K. on Tuesday, the 13th,
Tatar K. and Anira'i Singh-dalan, and on Wednesday, the 14th, Mirza
Raja Bhao Singh, presented their offerings. Selecting from them what
was delicate and new, I gave the remainder to them. On Thursday, the
15th, Asaf Khan prepared a grand assembly and a royal entertainment in
his own house, which is a very fine and pleasant place, and begged to
be allowed to receive me. At his request, giving him the dignity of
acceptance, I went there with the ladies. That pillar of the kingdom
looked on this as a bounty from the secret Giver, and in the increase
of his offering and preparation of the entertainment displayed great
magnificence. Of jewels of great price and delicate gold brocades
and all sorts of gifts, that which was approved was selected, and
I presented him with the remainder. Among the offerings was a ruby
weighing 12 1/2 tanks, which was bought for Rs. 125,000. The value of
the offerings that were accepted was Rs. 167,000. On this day Khwaja
Jahan was raised to the mansab of 5,000 personal and 2,500 horse.
Lashkar K., having come, by order, from the Deccan, had the honour of
waiting on me. As I had determined, after the rainy season had passed
and in the beginning of the good weather, to go to the perpetual
spring garden of Kashmir under the favour of Almighty God, it seemed
right to me that the guardianship and administration of the fort and
city of Agra and the faujdarship of the district, after the manner in
which they had been held by Khan Jahan, should be entrusted to Lashkar
K., and I honoured him with the good news. Amanat K. was entrusted
with the duty of superintendent of branding (of horses) and of
parading the troopers. [196] On Friday, the 16th, Khwaja Abu-l-Hasan,
Chief Bakhshi, on Saturday, the 17th, Sadiq K. Bakhshi, on Sunday,
the 18th, Iradat K., Chief Butler, and on Monday, the 19th, which
was the day of the sun's culmination, `Azudu-d-daula K., presented
offerings, and I accepted from each of them, by way of exalting their
dignity, what I approved. At this New Year the value of the accepted
offerings of the servants of the Court came to Rs. 2,000,000. On the
day of culmination I conferred on my auspicious son Sultan Parwiz
[197] the mansab of 20,000 personal and 10,000 horse, original and
increased. I`timadu-d-daula was promoted to that of 7,000 personal
and horse. I selected `Azudu-d-daula for the duty of tutor to the
pupil of the eye of the Sultanate, Shah Shuja`. I hope that he (the
latter) may endure for his natural term of life and may be one of the
prosperous ones. Qasim K. was raised to the mansab of 1,500 personal
and 500 horse, and Baqir K. to that of 1,000 personal and 400 horse. As
Mahabat K. had asked for reinforcements, I appointed 500 Ahadi horse
to Bangash, and presented `Izzat K., who had done approved service
in that province, with a horse and a jewelled khapwa. At this time
`Abdu-s-Sattar [198] presented as an offering a compendium in the
handwriting of the late king Humayun (may the lights of Allah be his
testimony!), containing some prayers, an introduction to the science of
astronomy, and other marvellous things, most of which he had studied
and carried into practice. After reverently inspecting his auspicious
handwriting, I felt a joy such as I had seldom experienced. I was
exceedingly rejoiced, for, by God, no precious thing I have can be
compared with this. In return I increased his mansab beyond what he
had imagined possible, and gave him a present of Rs. 1,000. Hunarmand,
the European who had made the jewelled throne, I presented with 3,000
darb, a horse and an elephant. I gave Rs. 1,000 to Khwaja Khawand
Mahmud, who is a pilgrim of the Path of the Khwajas, and is not void
of dervishism and spirituality. Lashkar K. was promoted to the mansab
of 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse, Ma`mur K. to that of 900 personal
and 450 horse, Khwajagi Tahir to that of 800 personal and 300 horse,
and Sayyid Ahmad Qadiri to that of 800 and 60 horse. On Raja Sarang
Deo was conferred the mansab of 700 personal and 30 horse, on Mir
Khalil-u-llah, s. `Azudu-d-daula, that of 600 personal and 250 horse,
on the eunuch Firuz K., that of 600 and 150 horse, on Khidmat Khan
that of 550 and 130 horse, on Mahram K. that of 500 and 120 horse, on
`Izzat K. that of 600 personal and 100 horse, on Ray Newali Das, the
accountant of the elephant department, that of 600 personal and 120
horse, on Ray Mani Das, the superintendent of the Palace, that of 600
personal and 100 horse, on Nathmal and Jagmal, sons of Kishan Singh,
that of 500 and 225 horse each. If the increase of mansab given to
those of less than 500 were to be written in full it would be too
long. Rs. 2,000 were given to Khizr K., who belonged [199] to Khandesh.
On Wednesday, the 21st, I went to Amanabad for the purpose of
sport. Some days before this, in accordance with orders, Khwaja
Jahan, and Qiyam K., the head huntsman, had chosen a wide plain for a
qamargha hunt, and drawn an enclosure round it, and driven within it
many antelope from the neighbouring plains. As I had vowed that I would
hereafter not kill any living thing with my own hand, it occurred to me
to take them all alive, and place them within the Chaugan (polo-ground)
of Fathpur, so that I might both enjoy the pleasure of sport and
that at the same time no harm should happen to them. I accordingly
took 700 head and sent them to Fathpur. As the hour for entering the
capital was near, I ordered Ray Man, khidmatiyya, [200] to put up a
screen on two sides, like a lane, from the hunting-place to the plain
of Fathpur, and to drive the antelope there. About 800 antelope were
sent in this way, or altogether 1,500. On the night of Wednesday,
the 28th, marching from Amanabad, I halted in Bustan Saray, and on
the eve of Thursday, the 29th, I halted at the Nur-manzil garden.
On Friday, the 30th, the mother [201] of Shah-Jahan attained the mercy
of God. The next day I myself went to the house of that precious son,
and having condoled with him in every way, took him with me to the
palace. On Sunday, the 1st Urdibihisht, at the auspicious hour chosen
by the astrologers and astronomers, I mounted a special elephant
of the name of Dilir, and in all prosperity and happiness entered
the city. A great crowd of people, men and women, had collected
together in the streets and bazaars, and at the gates and walls,
expecting me. According to custom, I went on, scattering money on
the way, to inside the palace. From the date on which the army of
prosperity started for this happily terminated journey until now,
when I returned in happiness and good fortune, it was five years,
seven months, and nine days. At this time I ordered my son Sultan
Parwiz that, as a long time had passed during which he had been
deprived of waiting on me personally, or had been fortunate enough to
pay his respects, if he were desirous of meeting me, he should come
to Court. On the arrival of the gracious farman, that son, considering
the manifestation of this favour a gift from the hidden world, turned
the face of his hope towards the sphere-resembling Court. At this time
I gave away, as a means of livelihood, to Faqirs and deserving people
44,786 bighas of land, and two entire villages, with 320 ass-loads
(kharwar, a weight) of grain from Kashmir, and seven ploughs [202]
of land in Kabul. I hope that the Grace of the Bestower of desires
and benevolence may be their daily lot.
One of the occurrences of this time is the revolt of Allahdad,
son of Jalal, the Afghan. The details of this are that when Mahabat
K. obtained leave to go and take possession of Bangash and overthrow
the Afghans, from an idea that that wretch would do some service in
return for the favours and kindness I had conferred on him, he prayed
that he might take him with him. As the natural tendency of such
ungrateful men who do not recognize what is right, tends to enmity
and malevolence, by way of precaution it was decided to send his son
and brother to the Court that they might be as hostages. After the
arrival there of his son and brother, I, by way of comforting them,
did them all kinds of kindness, but, as they have said:
"The blanket of fortune of anyone that has been woven black
Cannot be whitened even by the waters of Zamzam and Kausar."
From the day on which he arrived in that country the signs of rascality
and want of recognition of the right began to be apparent on the
cheeks of his affairs, and Mahabat K., in order to control matters,
did not loose from his hand the rope of forbearance until, at this
time, he sent a force under the leadership of his son against a band
of Afghans, and sent Allahdad with him. When they reached the purposed
place, from the enmity and malevolence of the aforesaid, that attack
did not succeed, and they returned with their aim uncompleted. The
evil-dispositioned Allahdad, from a suspicion lest this time Mahabat
K. should abandon his method of conciliation, and ascertain the real
state of affairs, and that he should be caught in recompense for his
evil deeds, lifted up the veil of reverence, and betrayed involuntarily
the faithlessness to his salt, which he had till then concealed. When
I heard from Mahabat K.'s letter the true state of affairs, I ordered
them to imprison his son and brother in the fort of Gwalior. As it
had happened (Jalal Tariki), the father of this wretch had also fled
from the service of the late king, and for years passed his time in
thieving and highway robbery, until he was caught in the recompense
of his own evil deeds. It is hoped that this rascal will also soon
obtain the reward of his bad actions.
On Thursday, the 5th, Man Singh, s. Rawat Shankar, who was one of the
auxiliaries of Bihar, was promoted to the mansab of 1,000 personal
and 600 horse. I sent off `Aqil K. to look after the cavalry, [203]
and inquire into the corps of the mansabdars who had been appointed
for duty in Bangash, and gave him an elephant. I sent as a gift
to Mahabat K. a private dagger made after the Mazandaran fashion,
along with Dust Beg. The offering of Monday was given as a present
to Mahmud Ab-dar, who from the time when I was a prince and the days
of my childhood had served me. Miran (not Bizan, [204] as in the
printed book), son-in-law of Payanda K. Moghul, was promoted to the
mansab of 700 personal and 450 horse. Muhammad Husain, brother of
Khwaja Jahan, who was Bakhshi of Kangra, was promoted to the mansab
of 600 personal and 450 horse. On this day Tarbiyat K., who is one
of the hereditary houseborn ones of this Court, and had been enrolled
among the Amirs by reason [205] of his good disposition, died. He was
not devoid of sluggishness (na-muradi, literally want of desires)
and self-indulgence (salamat-i-nafs), and was a young man fond of
pleasure (`ayyash-tabi`at). He wished to pass his whole life at ease,
and was devoted to Hindu music and did not understand it badly. He
was a man void of evil. Raja Suraj Singh was raised to the mansab of
2,000 personal and horse. To Karamu-llah, s. `Ali Mardan K. Bahadur,
Baqir K., Faujdar of Multan, Malik Muhibb Afghan, and Maktub K. were
given elephants. Sayyid Bayazid Bhakkari, to whom was entrusted the
charge of the fort of Bhakkar and the faujdarship of that region,
was also honoured with an elephant. Amanu-llah, s. Mahabat K. was
distinguished with the gift of a jewelled dagger. I gave elephants
to Shaikh Ahmad Hansi, Shaikh `Abdu-l-Latif Sambhali, the eunuch
Firasat K., and Ray Kunwar Chand Mustaufi (auditor). Muhammad Shafi`
Bakhshi of the Panjab, was raised to the mansab of 500 personal and 300
horse. The mansab of 500 personal and 150 horse was conferred on Munis,
s. Mihtar [206] K. He (Munis) had charge of the fort of Kalinjar.
On this day arrived the news of the death of Shah-nawaz K. s. the
Commander-in-Chief Khan Khanan. It was the cause of distress of
mind to me. At the time when that Ataliq (Khan Khanan) took leave
from waiting on me, it had been strictly impressed upon him that,
as it had been repeatedly brought to my ear that Shah-nawaz K. had
been maddened with wine and drank immoderately, if there was truth
in this it was a pity that he should destroy himself at his age. It
was necessary that he should not leave him to his own way, but look
after his case properly. If he could not leave his charge himself,
he should write a clear report, so that, having summoned him into
my presence, I might give the best order practicable under the
circumstances. When he arrived at Burhanpur, having found Shah-nawaz
Khan very weak and low, he tried to make some remedy for him. After
some days' confinement to bed (literally, lord of the carpet) he
fell on the couch of powerlessness. Whatever remedies and plans the
physicians employed were of no avail, and in the best time of his
youth and prosperity, in the thirty-third year of his age, to the
sorrow and grief of the world, he went to the place of the mercy and
pardon of God. On hearing this unpleasant news I was greatly grieved,
for in truth he was an intelligent youth and born in the house. He
would have performed important services in this State, and left great
traces behind him. Although this road is before all and there is no
escape for anyone out of the command of destiny, yet it appears sad
to depart in this fashion. It is hoped he will be among those who are
pardoned. I sent Raja Sarang Deo, who was one of my close attendants
and is a tactful person, to the Ataliq, and favoured and consoled him
in every way. The mansab of 5,000 held by Shah-nawaz I added on to
those of his brothers and sons. To Darab, his younger brother, I gave
the mansab of 5,000 personal, original and increased, and presented
him with a dress of honour, an elephant, a horse, and a jewelled sword,
and gave him leave to go to his father to fill, in place of Shah-nawaz,
the post of governor of Berar and Ahmadnagar. Rahman-dad, another
brother, I promoted to the mansab of 2,000 and 800 horse. Manuchahr,
s. Shah-nawaz, was given the mansab of 2,000 personal and 1,000
horse. Taghzal (Toghril?), s. Shah-nawaz [207] K. was promoted to the
mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse. On Thursday, the 12th, Qasim
K., son-in-law of I`timadu-d-daula, was honoured with the favour of a
standard. Asadu-llah, s. Sayyid Haji, who had come with the intention
of obtaining service, had the mansab bestowed on him of 500 personal
and 100 horse. Sadr Jahan, son-in-law of the deceased Murtaza K.,
received that of 700 personal and 600 horse, and was appointed to the
faujdarship of Sambhal, and, having had an elephant bestowed on him,
I gave him leave. Bharat Bandila was also presented with the mansab
of 600 personal and 400 horse, and had an elephant given him, and an
elephant was bestowed on Sangram, the Raja of Jammu.
In Ahmadabad I had two male markhur goats. As I had not a female in
my establishment to pair with them, it occurred to me that if I could
pair them with Barbary goats, which they bring from Arabia, especially
from the port of the city of Darkhar, [208] young of their form and
qualities might be obtained. In short, I paired them with seven Barbary
ewes, and after six months had elapsed each of the latter had a young
one at Fathpur: there were four females and three males, very pleasing
in appearance, of good shape and good colour. In their colour, those
(kids) which resembled the male (taka, not baka, as in the printed
copy) were dun-coloured with black stripes on their backs. Red, [209]
indeed, appears to me a more pleasing colour than any other, and it is
the mark of a better breed. Of their liveliness and laughable ways and
their manner of gamboling and leaping, what can be written? Some of
their ways are such that the mind derived uncontrolled pleasure from
looking at them. It is notorious that painters cannot draw properly
the motions of a kid. Granting that they may chance to draw the
movements of an ordinary kid after a fashion, they certainly would
have to acknowledge themselves at a loss how to draw the motions
of these kids. When one month, or even twenty days old, they would
leap up upon high places and throw themselves on to the ground in a
way that if any other but a kid were to do so, not one limb would be
left whole. As it pleased me, I ordered them always to be kept near
me, and I gave each of them an appropriate name. I am much delighted
with them, and pay great attention to bringing together markhur males
and well-bred she-goats. I desire to have many young ones from them,
and that they may become well known among men. After their young shall
have paired, most probably more delicate ones will be obtained. One of
their peculiarities is that ordinary kids immediately they are born,
and until they begin to suck, make a great bleating, whilst these,
on the contrary, make no sound, and stand quite contented and without
wailing. Perhaps their flesh would be very pleasant to the taste.
Before this, an order had been given that Muqarrab K., having been
appointed to Bihar, should hasten off there. He came to Court in
order to pay his respects before he repaired to his destination, and
accordingly, on Thursday, the 2nd Khurdad, an elephant with trappings,
two horses, and a jewelled khapwa were conferred on him, and he took
leave. Rs. 50,000 were given him as an advance of pay. On the same day
Sardar Khan received a dress of honour, an elephant, and a horse, and
obtained the Sarkar of Monghyr, which is in the province of Bihar and
Bengal, and took leave. Mir Sharif, [210] the Vakil of Qutbu-l-mulk,
who was at Court, took leave. My fortunate son, Shah-Jahan, sent
with him the brother of Afzal K., his Diwan. As Qutbu-l-mulk had
shown attachment and desire to please, and repeatedly importuned me
for a portrait, I presented him, at his request, with my likeness,
a jewelled khapwa, and a phul katara. 24,000 darb, a jewelled dagger,
a horse, and a dress of honour were also given to the aforesaid Mir
Sharif. Fazil K., director of buildings, was advanced to the mansab
of 1,000 personal and 500 horse, and Hakim Ragho Nath to that of
600 personal and 60 horse. As at this time the anniversary of the
late king (Akbar) occurred, Rs. 5,000 were handed over to some of
my chief servants to divide among poor and deserving people. Hasan
`Ali K., jagirdar of the Sarkar of Monghyr, was honoured with the
mansab of 2,500 personal and horse, and sent to the assistance of
Ibrahim K. Fath-jang, governor of the province of Bengal, and he
was presented with a sword. As Mirza Sharafu-d-din Husain Kashghari
sacrificed his life on duty in Bangash, I promoted his son Ibrahim
Husain to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse. At this time
Ibrahim K. constructed two boats, [211] which in the language of the
country they call Kosha, one of gold and the other of silver, and sent
them to me by way of offering. Undoubtedly, of their own kind they are
the finest. One of these I gave to my son Shah-Jahan. On Thursday,
the 9th, Sadat K. was granted the mansab of 1,000 personal and 60
horse. On this day `Azudu-d-daula and Shaja`at K. `Arab took leave
for their jagirs. On this Thursday I presented Asaf K. with a jewelled
khapwa and a phul katara. As my fortunate son Sultan Parwiz proposed
to come to Court, he asked for a special nadiri dress of honour, a
chira, and a fota, so that he might wear them and be distinguished
on the day of meeting me and of having the good fortune to pay his
respects. According to his request, I sent by the hand of his Vakil,
Sharif, a sumptuous dress of honour with a chira and a special sash. On
Thursday, the 23rd, Mirza Wali, son of the aunt of this suppliant,
came by order from the Deccan, and had the good fortune to kiss the
threshold. His father, Khwaja Hasan Khaldar (the freckled?), was one
of the Naqshbandi Khwajas. My uncle, Mirza Muhammad Hakim, gave his
sister in marriage to the Khwaja. I heard much praise of the Khwaja
from people: he had both good family and got on well with every one,
and for a long time the management of the affairs of my uncle Mirza
Muhammad Hakim had been in his hands, and he was on very good terms
with him. Before the Mirza's death he had himself delivered [212]
over the deposit of his life. Two sons survived him--viz., Mirza
Badi`u-z-zaman and Mirza Wali. M. Badi`u-z-zaman, after the death of
the Mirza, ran away, and went to Ma-wara'a-n-nahr (Transoxania), and in
that exile became a traveller on the road of non-existence. The Begam
and Mirza Wali came to the glorious Court, and H.M. (Akbar) behaved
very kindly to the Begam. The Mirza also is a steady and sedate young
man, not devoid of reasonableness and understanding. He is very skilled
in the science of music. At this time it occurred to me to marry the
daughter of the deceased Prince Daniyal to the Mirza, and my reason
for sending for the Mirza to Court was this. This girl (Bulaqi Begam)
is the offspring of the daughter of Qilij Muhammad K. It is hoped that
the grace of striving to please and to serve, which is the means of
good fortune and prosperity, may be his (M. Wali's) lot and fortune.
On this day Sarbuland Ray, who had been sent on duty to the Deccan,
was promoted to the mansab of 2,500 personal and 1,500 horse.
At this time it was reported to me that a Shayyad (a loud talker,
a cheat) of the name of Shaikh [213] Ahmad had spread the net
of hypocrisy and deceit in Sirhind, and caught in it many of the
apparent worshippers without spirituality, and had sent into every
city and country one of his disciples, whom he called his deputy
(khalifa), and whom he considered more skilled than others in the
adorning of shops (of deceit) and selling of religious knowledge,
and in deceiving men. He had also written a number of idle tales to
his disciples and his believers, and had made them into a book which
he called Maktubat (letters). In that album (Jung) of absurdities
many unprofitable things had been written that drag (people) into
infidelity and impiety. Amongst these he had written in a letter
as follows: "In the course of my travels I had come to the dwelling
of the Two Lights (the Sun and Moon), and saw a very lofty and very
splendid building. From there I passed to the abode of Discrimination
(Faruq), and from there I passed to the abode of Truth (Siddiq), and
to each I wrote a suitable explanation (or perhaps, of each I wrote
a suitable description). From there I reached the abode of Love, and
I beheld a brilliant dwelling. It had divers colours and lights and
reflected glories. That is to say (God forgive us!--an exclamation
of Jahangir's), I passed from the abode of the Vicegerents (khulafa)
and attained to the highest rank." There were other presumptuous
expressions which it would be too long to write, and would be contrary
to good manners. I accordingly gave an order that they should bring him
to the Court that is based on justice. According to order he came to
pay his respects. To all that I asked him he could give no reasonable
answer, and appeared to me to be extremely proud and self-satisfied,
with all his ignorance. I considered the best thing for him would
be that he should remain some time in the prison of correction until
the heat of his temperament and confusion of his brain were somewhat
quenched, and the excitement of the people also should subside. He
was accordingly handed over to Anira'i Singh-dalan to be imprisoned
in Gwalior fort.
On Saturday, the 25th Khurdad, my fortunate son Sultan Parwiz came
from Allahabad, and with prostration at the threshold of the Khalifate
illuminated the forehead of sincerity. After he had performed the
ceremony of kissing the ground and been honoured with special favour,
I bade him sit. He presented 2,000 muhars and 2,000 rupees by way
of nazr, and made an offering of a diamond. As his elephants had
not yet arrived, he would produce them on another occasion. He had
brought with him to the Court, which is the asylum of the world, Raja
Kalyan, Zamindar of Ratanpur, against whom this my son had by order
sent an army, and had taken from him as an offering 80 elephants and
Rs. 100,000. My son brought him with him, and he had the good fortune
to kiss the threshold. Wazir K., my son's Diwan who is one of the old
servants of the Court, having had the good fortune to pay his respects
to me, presented as offerings 28 elephants, male and female. Of these
nine were accepted, and the rest bestowed on him.
As it had been represented to me that Muruwwat K., s. Iftikhar K.,
who was one born and bred up at this Court, had fought with a band of
Maghs on the borders of Bengal and had sacrificed his life, I promoted
Allah-yar, his brother, to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse,
and another brother to that of 400 personal and horse, so that those
he had left behind should not be distressed. On Monday, the 3rd of
the Divine month of Tir, in the neighbourhood of the city four black
bucks, a doe, and a fawn were taken. As I passed by the house of my
fortunate son, Sultan Parwiz, he presented two tusked elephants with
their trappings by way of offering; both were ordered to be placed
in the private elephant-stud.
On Thursday, the 13th, Sayyid Hasan, the ambassador of my happy
brother, Shah `Abbas, ruler of Persia, having had the good fortune
to kiss the threshold, produced a letter, together with a crystal
drinking-cup, on the cover of which was a ruby. As it was given from
excessive friendship and sincerity it was the cause of the increase
of amity and good fellowship. On this day Fida'i K. was promoted
to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse, and Nasru-llah,
s. Fathu-llah, in whose charge was the fort of Ambar, that of 1,500
personal and 400 horse. On Thursday, the 20th, Amanu-llah, s. Mahabat
K., was promoted to the mansab of 1,500 personal and 800 horse. Having
conferred on Wazir K. the Diwanship of Bengal, I gave him a horse,
a dress of honour, and a jewelled dagger. Elephants were given to
Mir Husamu-d-din and Zabar-dast K. On this day Hafiz Hasan, a servant
of Khan `Alam, came to Court with a precious letter from my brother
Shah `Abbas, and a report from that pillar of the Sultanate (Khan
`Alam). He laid before me a dagger the hilt of which was made of a
fish's [214] tooth spotted with black, that my brother had given to
Khan `Alam. As it was a great rarity, he (Khan `Alam) had sent it to
me. I greatly approved of it; in fact, it is a rare present. I had
never seen a spotted one until now, and I was much pleased.
On Thursday, the 27th, M. Wali was promoted to the mansab of
2,000 personal and 1,000 horse. On the 24th, I gave 1,000 darbs
as a present to Sayyid Hasan, the ambassador, and an elephant to
`Abdu-llah K. Bahadur Firuz-jang. On Thursday, the 2nd of the Divine
month of Amurdad, a horse was presented to I`tibar K. `Aqil K. was
promoted to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 800 horse.
On the night of Saturday, the 4th of the Ilahi month of Amurdad,
corresponding with 15 Sha`ban, was the feast of the Shab-i-barat. By
order, they decorated and brought before me on the river, boats
with lamps and all kinds of fireworks. In truth, the lamps they
had arranged appeared very pretty, and for a long time I enjoyed
myself in going round and looking at them. On Tuesday, Miran, [215]
s. Nad `Ali Maidani, who was one of the well-brought-up khanazads,
was selected for the mansab of 700 personal and 500 horse, and
Khwaja Zainu-d-din for that of 700 personal and 300 horse, and
Khwaja Muhsin for that of 700 personal and 100 horse. On Thursday,
the 9th, I went to hunt at the village of Samunagar. Passing my time
pleasantly in going round and hunting on that pleasant plain until
Monday, I returned on the eve of Tuesday to the palace. On Thursday,
the 16th, Bishutan, grandson of Shaikh Abu-l-Fazl (the author), was
promoted to the mansab of 700 personal and 350 horse. On this day
I went round to see the garden of Gul-afshan, which is on the bank
of the Jumna. On the way rain fell heavily and filled the mead with
freshness and greenness. Pineapples had arrived at perfection, and I
made a thorough inspection. Of the buildings that overlooked the river
none [216] that I saw were without the charm of verdure and flowing
water. These verses of Anwari appeared appropriate to the place: