"Thy Time is happy in that thou hast made mine happy."
I invoked so many blessings on him that if one of them out of a
hundred obtain acceptance, it will suffice for his spiritual and
material well-being.
On this day Bahlim K., one of the chief servants of `Adil K. came and
waited on me. As he had chosen my service out of sincerity, I bestowed
on him unstinted favours, and presented him with a dress of honour, a
horse, a sword, and 10,000 darbs, with the mansab of 1,000 personal and
500 horse. At this time a petition came from Khan Dauran, stating that:
"Your Majesty, from the perfection of kindness and knowledge of his
worth, had appointed to the government of Thatta (Sind) an old slave,
notwithstanding his great age and weak sight. As this weak old man was
exceedingly bent and decrepit, and had not in him the ability to exert
himself or to ride, he prays that he may be excused military service,
and that he may be enrolled in the army of prayer." At his request,
I ordered the chief Diwans to confirm him in the pargana of Khushab,
[217] with a revenue of 3,000,000 of dams, and which he for a long
time had held as a tankhwah jagir, and which had become peopled and
cultivated, by way of providing for his expenses, so that he might
pass his time in easy circumstances. His eldest son, by name Shah
Muhammad, was promoted to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 600 horse,
his second son, Ya`qub Beg, obtaining that of 700 personal and 350
horse. The third son, Asad Beg, was promoted to the mansab of 300
personal and 50 horse.
On Saturday, the 1st of the Divine month of Shahriwar, I sent dresses
of honour for the rainy season to the Ataliq Commander-in-Chief
Khan-khanan Jan-sipar and the other great Amirs, who had been sent
on duty to the Deccan, by the hand of Yazdan. [218]
As the purpose of visiting the eternal spring of the rose-garden of
Kashmir was settled in my mind, I sent off Nuru-d-din Quli to hasten
on before, to repair as far as was possible the ups and downs of the
Punch [219] route to it, and to prepare it, so that the passage of
laden beasts over difficult hilltops might be accomplished with ease,
and that the men should not undergo labour and hardship. A large number
of artificers, such as stone-cutters, carpenters, spadesmen, etc., were
despatched with him, to whom an elephant was also given. On the eve of
Thursday, the 13th, having gone to the garden of Nur-manzil, I passed
the time in enjoyment in that rose-garden of delight until Sunday, the
16th. Raja Bikramajit Baghela came from the fort of Mandpur, which is
his native place, and had the good fortune to kiss the threshold, and
by way of offering presented an elephant and a jewelled plume. Maqsud
K. was honoured with the mansab of 1,000 personal and 130 horse. On
Thursday, the 20th, my son Shah Parwiz produced two elephants as an
offering, and they were ordered to be included in the private stud. On
the 24th of the aforesaid month the feast of the solar weighing took
place in the palace of Maryamu-z-zamani, and my 51st year according
to the solar months began in gladness and victory. It is hoped that
the period of my life may be passed in obedience to God (to whom be
glory!). To Sayyid Jalal, s. Sayyid Muhammad, the grandson (?) of Shah
`Alam Bukhari, an account of whom has been written among the events
of my Gujarat expedition, I gave leave to return. I gave him a female
elephant for his riding, as well as his expenses. On the eve of Sunday,
[220] the 30th, corresponding with the 14th Shawwal, when the disk of
the moon was perfect (at full moon) a moonlight feast was prepared
in the buildings of the garden which overlook the River Jumna, and
a very pleasant entertainment took place. On the 1st of the Divine
month, out of the veined (jauhar-dar) spotted tooth (walrus) which
my son Shah-Jahan had given me as an offering, I ordered to be cut
off sufficient for two dagger-hilts and a thumb-stall: [221] it came
out of a beautiful colour and was very choice. I ordered the Ustads
(masters) Puran and Kalyan, who had no rivals in the art of engraving,
[222] to make dagger-hilts of a shape that was approved at this time,
and has become known as the Jahangiri fashion. At the same time the
blade and the sheath and fastenings were given to skilful men, each of
whom was unique in his age in his art. Truly, it was all carried out
according to my wish. One hilt came out coloured in such a way as to
create astonishment. It turned out of all the seven colours, and some
of the flowers looked as if a skilful painter [223] had depicted them
in black lines round it with a wonder-working pencil. In short, it was
so delicate that I never wish it to be apart from me for a moment. Of
all the gems of great price that are in the treasury I consider it
the most precious. On Thursday I girded it auspiciously and with joy
round my waist, and the masters who in their completion had exercised
great skill and taken great pains were rewarded, Ustad Puran with the
gift of an elephant, a dress of honour, and a golden bracelet for the
wrist, which the people of India call Kara, [224] and Kalyan with the
title of `Aja'ib-dast (wondrous hand), and increased mansab, a dress
of honour, and a jewelled bracelet (pahunchi), and in the same way
every one according to his circumstances and skill received favours.
As it had been represented to me that Amanu-llah, s. Mahabat K.,
having fought with the rebel Ahdad, had defeated his army, and had
made many of the Afghans--who are black-faced and black-hearted--the
harvest of his blood-drinking sword, I sent him a special sword in
order to dignify him.
On Saturday the 5th, news came of the death of Raja Suraj Singh,
who had died a natural death in the Deccan. He was the descendant
of Maldeo, who was one of the principal Zamindars of Hindustan,
and had a zamindari which equalled that of the Rana, and he had even
overcome him in one battle. There is a full account of him (Maldeo)
in the Akbar-nama. Raja Suraj Singh, through the advantage of his being
brought up by the late king (Akbar), and this suppliant at the throne
of God, reached high rank and great dignities. His territory surpassed
that of his father or grandfather. [225] He had a son called Gaj Singh,
[226] whom he entrusted with all his administrative affairs. As I knew
him to be capable and worthy of favour, I promoted him to the mansab
of 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse, with a standard and the title of
Raja, and his younger brother to that of 500 personal and 250 horse,
and gave him a jagir in his native country.
On Thursday, the 10th of Mihr, at the request of Asaf K., I went to
his house built on the bank of the Jumna. He has erected a very fine
bath-house (hammam), with which I was much delighted. After bathing,
a feast of cups was held, and my private servants were made happy with
cups of delight. Having chosen out of his offerings what I approved,
I gave the remainder to him. What I took of his offering might be of
the value of Rs. 30,000. Baqir K., faujdar of Multan, was honoured
with a standard.
Previously to this, according to order, they had planted trees on
both sides from Agra as far as the River of Attock (the Indus), and
had made an avenue, and in the same way from Agra to Bengal. I now
ordered that from Agra to Lahore they should put up a pillar [227]
(mil) at every koss, to be the sign of a koss, and at every three koss
make a well, so that wayfarers might travel in ease and contentment,
and not endure hardships from thirst or the heat of the sun.
On Thursday, the 24th of Mihr, the festival of the Dasahra was
held. After the custom of India, they decorated the horses and produced
them before me. After I had seen the horses they brought some of the
elephants. As Mu`tamid K. on last New Year's Day had not made any
offering, at this festival he presented a golden tablet (takht), a
ruby ring, a piece of coral (bussad), and other items. The tablet was
beautifully made. The total value of the offering was Rs. 16,000. As
he had brought the things from pure sincerity and loyalty, they were
accepted. On this day Zabar-dast K. was promoted to the mansab of 1,000
personal and 400 horse. As the day of the Dasahra had been fixed as
the time of starting, I embarked on a boat with all happy omens and
pleasure in the evening, and went on to my goal. I halted for eight
days at the first stage that the men might come on, after making all
preparations at leisure. Mahabat K. had sent apples from Bangash by
runners (dak-choki). They arrived very fresh, and were of excellent
flavour. I was greatly pleased in eating them. They cannot be compared
with the sib-i-khub ("the good [228] apples"?) of Kabul which I ate
there, or with the Samarkand apples that they bring every year. For
sweetness and delicacy of flavour they cannot be compared with either
of the latter (i.e., the Bangash apples were far better). I had until
now never seen such delicate and delicious apples. They say that in
Upper Bangash, near Lashkar-dara, [229] there is a village called Siv
Ram, in which there are three trees of this apple, and although they
have made many trials, they have never found so good ones in any other
place. I gave Sayyid Hasan, ambassador of my brother Shah `Abbas, a
dish of these apples in order that he might tell me if there were any
better apples in `Iraq. He said: "In the whole of Persia the apples
of Isfahan are preferred, and they are of the same quality as these."
On Thursday, the 1st of the Divine month of Aban, I went on pilgrimage
to the mausoleum of the late king (Akbar) (may the lights of Allah be
his testimony!), and rubbed the head of supplication on the threshold,
the abode of angels, and presented 100 muhars as nazar. All the
Begams and other ladies, having sought the blessing of circulating
round that shrine, which is the circling-place of angels, presented
offerings. On the eve of Friday a lofty assembly was held of the
holy men (Masha'ikh), the turbaned people (arbab-i-`ama'im--i.e.,
ecclesiastics, etc.), Huffaz (those who recite the Qoran), and
singing people, assembled in numbers, and practised ecstasies and
religious dancing (wajd and sama`), to each of whom, according to
the circumstances of his merit and skill, I gave a dress of honour,
a farji, and a shawl. The buildings of this blessed mausoleum have
been made very lofty. At this time the money expended satisfied me,
and was far more than it had previously been. (The MS. [230] here is
clear, and the printed words wrong.)
On the 3rd, after four gharis of day had passed, I marched on from
that stage, and having traversed 5 1/2 koss by the river at four
gharis of the day, arrived at the next stage. After midday I left
the boat and caught seven partridges (durraj). At the end of the day
I gave Rs. 20,000 to Sayyid Hasan, the ambassador (of Persia), as a
present, and a dress of honour of gold brocade with a jewelled jigha
(turban-ornament), and an elephant, and gave him leave to return,
and sent for my brother with him a jewelled jug made in the shape
of a cock, which could hold my usual stint of wine. It is hoped that
it may reach its destination in safety. I gave leave to Lashkar K.,
who had been appointed to the defence and government of Agra, with a
gift of a dress of honour, a horse, an elephant, drums, and a jewelled
dagger. Ikram K. was promoted to the mansab of 2,000 personal and
1,500 horse, and to the duty of faujdar of the Sarkar of Mewat. He is
s. Islam K., who was the grandson of the venerable asylum of pardon
Shaikh Salim, whose excellency of person and approved disposition
and connection in blessing with this illustrious family have been
described in these pages with the pen of sincerity.
At this time I heard from a certain person whose words are adorned with
the light of truth that at the time when I was sick and weak at Ajmir,
before this evil news arrived in the province of Bengal, one day Islam
K. was sitting in private, when he suddenly became unconscious. When
he came to himself he said to one of his confidants, of the name of
Bhikan, that it had been shown him from the world of mysteries that
the holy person of the Emperor had been attacked by sickness, and
that the remedy for it was to sacrifice for him something that was
exceedingly dear and precious to himself. It at first occurred to him
to sacrifice for the head of the revered one his own son Hushang, but
as he was young in years and as yet had derived no profit from life,
and not attained to the desire of his heart, he had compassion on him,
and would sacrifice himself for his lord and master. He hoped that as
this was from the bottom of his heart, and the sincerity of his being,
it would be accepted at the throne of Allah. The arrow of prayer
at once reached the target of acceptance, and he perceived himself
afflicted with weakness and disease. Verily, verily, the disease
increased till he reached the neighbourhood of the compassion of God
(he died). The Great Physician bestowed from the hidden dispensary
complete recovery on this suppliant. Although the late king (the lights
of Allah be his testimony!), was much attached to the children and
grandchildren of the Shaikhu-l-Islam, and bestowed favours on them all
according to the capacity and aptitude of each, yet when the turn of
rule came to this suppliant, they received great kindnesses in order
to perform what was due to that revered one (Salim Chishti), and many
of them attained to the high nobility, and were advanced to the posts
of head of Subahs, as has been brought to record each in its own place.
As in this village the eunuch Hilal K., [231] who was one of my
attendants from the time when I was prince, had built a saray, and made
a garden, he made an offering to me. In order to dignify him I took a
trifle from him. After marching four stages from this halting-place,
the army of prosperity encamped outside Mathura. On Thursday, the 8th,
I went to see Bindraban and the idol temples of that place. Although
[232] in the time of the late king the Rajput nobles had built temples
after their fashion, and ornamented them highly on the outside, inside
them bats and owls (ababil) had made their abode to such an extent,
that on account of the malodours one could not breathe.