"You give me the poison of parting to taste, (and say) 'What
matters it?'
You shed my blood and expel me (and say), 'What matters it?'
O, heedless of what your dividing sword can do,
Sift my dust and then you'll know."
Talib (i.e., Baba Talib) is by family an Isfahani. In his early youth
he went to Kashmir clothed as an ascetic and calendar, and from the
beauty of the place and the pleasantness of the climate set his heart
on the country and settled there. After the conquest of Kashmir he
joined the service of the late king (Akbar), and became enrolled
among the servants of the Presence. His age is now nearly 100 years,
and he is now with his sons and dependants in Kashmir, engaged in
praying for the everlasting State.
As it was reported to me that in Lahore one Miyan Shaikh Muhammad
Mir by name, who was a Darvish, a Sindi by origin, very eloquent,
virtuous, austere, of auspicious temperament, a lord of ecstasy, had
seated himself in the corner of reliance upon God and retirement, and
was rich in his poverty and independent of the world, my truth-seeking
mind was not at rest without meeting him, and my desire to see him
increased. As it was impossible to go to Lahore, I wrote a note to
him, and explained to him the desire of my heart, and that saint,
notwithstanding his great age and weakness, took the trouble to come. I
sate with him for a long time alone, and enjoyed a thorough interview
with him. Truly he is a noble personage, and in this Age he is a great
gain and a delightful existence. This suppliant for Grace was taken
out of himself by companionship with him, [261] and heard from him
sublime words of truth and religious knowledge. Although I desired to
make him some gift, I found that his spirit was too high for this, and
so did not express my wish. I left him the skin of a white antelope to
pray upon, and he immediately bade me farewell and went back to Lahore.
On Wednesday, the 23rd, I pitched my camp at Daulatabad. A daughter
of a gardener was brought before me who had a moustache and a thick
beard as big as the hilt of a sword. Her appearance was like that of
a man. There was hair in the middle of her chest as well, but she had
no breasts. [262] I discovered by her appearance that she ought not to
have children. I told some women to take her aside and examine her,
as perhaps she might be a hermaphrodite. They found she was in no
way different from other women. I have recorded this in this volume
on account of its strangeness.
On Thursday, the 24th, Baqir K., having come from Multan, had the
good fortune to pay his respects. In the preceding pages it has
been recorded that Allah-dad, s. Jalala Tariki, had deserted from
the victorious army and taken the road to ruin. He now repented,
and through Baqir K. petitioned I`timadu-d-daula for pardon. At the
latter's request I ordered that if he repented of what he had done,
and turned his face in hope towards the Court, his crimes would be
forgiven. On this day Baqir K. brought him to Court, and at the
intercession of I`timadu-d-daula, the traces of disgrace and the
dust of sorrow were washed off his forehead with the pure water of
pardon. Sangram, Zamindar of Jammu, was honoured with the title of
Raja and the mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse, and was exalted
with the gift of an elephant and a dress of honour. Ghairat K.,
faujdar of the Du-ab, was promoted to the mansab of 800 personal
and 500 horse. Khwaja Qasim received the rank of 700 and 250 horse,
and Taham-tan Beg, s. Qasim Koka, received that of 500 personal and
300 horse. I gave Khan `Alam a private elephant with trappings. From
this stage, having given Baqir K. the mansab of 1,500 personal and
500 horse, I dismissed him again to his Subadarship.
On Monday, the 28th, I pitched in the pargana of Karohi, which is
on the bank of the Bihat (Jhelam). As this hilly country is one of
the established hunting-places, the huntsmen, according to order,
had come on in advance and prepared a jarga (ring in which game is
enclosed). On Wednesday, the 1st of the Divine month of Isfandarmuz,
they drove in the game from six koss. On Thursday, the 2nd, they
brought them into the enclosure, where 101 head of mountain sheep
and gazelles were taken. As Mahabat K. had been prevented from the
good fortune of coming before me for a long time, I ordered, at his
request, that if he was satisfied with the order of affairs, and was
not troubled with regard to any occurrence, he should leave his forces
at their posts (thanas), and come to Court unattended. On this day he
had the good fortune to kiss the threshold, and presented 100 muhars
as nazar. Khan `Alam was promoted to the mansab of 5,000 personal and
3,000 horse. About this time a written report came from Nuru-d-din
Quli that he had repaired the Punch road, and levelled the defiles
as far as possible, but that snow fell for some days and nights, and
lay on the kotals to the depth of three cubits. It was still falling,
and if I would delay outside the hills for a month, I could cross
by that route, otherwise it appeared difficult. As my intention in
this undertaking was to see the spring and the sprouting of bloom,
my chance of seeing this was lost by this delay, and I necessarily
turned my rein, and the royal standards proceeded by the way of Pakli
and Damtur. On Friday, the 3rd, I crossed the River Bihat (Jhelam),
although the water was waist-deep. As it was running very fast, and
men crossed with great trouble, I ordered them to take 200 elephants
to the fords, and cross the effects of the people over, and take
across as well those who were weak and feeble, so that there might
be no loss of life or goods.
On this day news arrived of the death of Khwaja Jahan. He was one of
the old servants, and from the time when I was prince. Although at
last he left my service, and was for some time in that of my father,
yet as he had not gone to any strange place, this did not weigh heavily
on my mind. Accordingly, after my accession, I did him such kindness
as he had never conceived possible, and gave him the mansab of 5,000
personal and 3,000 horse. I take this opportunity to record in this
volume an account of his idiosyncrasy. He became practised in great
affairs and acquired a wonderful skill in business. His capabilities
were the result of labour, and he was void of natural ability, and
of the other qualities which are the adornment of men's nature. On
this journey he suffered from heart-failure, but for some days, in
spite of illness and breakdown, he kept up with the march. When his
weakness increased, he was allowed to go back at Kalanaur, and went
to Lahore, and there died a natural death. [263]
On Saturday, the 4th of the aforesaid month, the camp was pitched at
the Fort of Rohtas (in the Panjab). I favoured Qasim K. with a horse,
a sword, and a special shawl (parm-narm, literally very soft, and
Akbar's name for a shawl, see Blochmann, 90). I gave him leave to go
to Lahore. There was a small garden by the roadside, and I inspected
the blossoms.
At this stage tihu [264] were obtained. The flesh of the tihu is
better than that of the partridge (kabak).
On Sunday, the 5th, M. Hasan s. Mirza Rustam, was promoted to the
rank of 1,000 with 400 horse, and was appointed to the Deccan. Khwaja
`Abdu-l-Latif, the chief fowler, also received the rank of 1,000
with 400 horse. At this place I saw a flower, white inside, and red
outside, while some of them were red inside and yellow outside. In
Persian they call it La`la-i-bigana, and in Hindi thal kanal. Thal
means land, and as the lotus (kanal) is an aquatic plant, they have
called this land-lotus. [265]
On Thursday, the 9th, a report came from Dilawar K., Governor of
Kashmir, containing the good news of the conquest of Kishtwar. Details
will be recorded by the pen of the newswriter after he (Dilawar)
comes to the foot of the throne. I sent him a gracious farman with a
special dress of honour and a jewelled dagger, and granted him the
revenue of the conquered province for a year, as a reward for this
acceptable service. On Tuesday, the 14th, I halted at Hasan Abdal. As
the occurrences on this road and particulars of the stages have been
related in detail in the account of the expedition to Kabul, I shall
not repeat them. From this place as far as Kashmir, they will be
written stage by stage, please Almighty God. From the date on which,
disembarking from a boat, I reached Akbarpur in safety and prosperity,
up to Hasan Abdal, a distance of 178 koss, I took 69 days in 48 marches
and 21 halts. [266] As at this place there is a spring full of water,
and a cascade, and a very beautiful reservoir, I halted here two
days, and on Thursday, the 16th (Isfandarmuz), the feast of my lunar
weighing took place. The 53rd year, according to lunar calculation,
of this suppliant at the throne commenced auspiciously. As beyond
this stage, hills, passes, and many ups and downs were before us, the
passage of the camp appeared a difficult matter, and it was settled
that H. M. Maryamu-z-zamani and the other Begams should delay for
some days, and come on at leisure. Madaru-l-mulk I`timadu-d-daula
al-Khaqani, Sadiq K. Bakhshi, and Iradat K. Mir-Saman, with the
directors of the buildings and other offices, should attend to
their transit. At the same time Rustam Mirza Safawi, Khan-A`zam,
and a number of other servants, obtained leave to go by the Punch
road, while the royal retinue went on with some privileged courtiers
(manzuran-i-bisat-i-qarb) and the necessary servants. On Friday,
the 17th, we marched 3 1/2 koss, and halted at the village of
Sultanpur. [267] On this day came the news of the death of Rana Amar
Singh, who had died a natural death at Udaipur (become a traveller on
the road of non-existence). Jagat Singh, his grandson, and Bhim, [268]
his son, who were in attendance on me, were presented with dresses
of honour, and an order was given that Raja Kishan Das should proceed
with a gracious farman conferring the title of Rana, a dress of honour,
a horse, and a private elephant for Kunar Karan, to perform the dues
of condolence and congratulation. I heard [269] from people of this
country that when it is not the rainy season, and there is no sign
of a cloud or lightning, a noise like the voice of the clouds comes
from this hill, which they called Garj (thunder). This noise is heard
every year or at least every two years. I had repeatedly heard of this
also when I was in attendance on the late king. I have written this as
it is not devoid of strangeness, [270] but wisdom is from Allah. On
Saturday, the 18th, marching 4 1/2 koss, I halted at the village of
Sanji. From this stage I entered the pargana of Hazara Qarlugh. [271]
On Sunday, the 19th, marching 3 3/4 koss, I halted at the village
of Naushahra. [272] From this place we entered Dhantur. As far as
the eye could reach there were green meadows [273] interspersed with
the thal-kanwal (hibiscus) and other flowers in bloom. It was a very
beautiful sight. On Monday, the 20th, marching 3 1/2 koss, the camp
was pitched at the village of Salhar. [274] Mahabat K. presented as
offerings jewels and inlaid vessels to the value of Rs. 60,000. In
this country I saw a flower of the redness of fire, of the shape of
gul-i-khatmi, [275] but smaller, and several flowers blooming together
in one place, looked from a distance as if they were one flower. Its
stem is of the size of the apricot-tree. On the hill-slopes here there
are many wild violets, [276] with a very sweet scent, but paler than
the violet. On Tuesday, the 21st, marching 3 koss, I halted at the
village of Malgalli. [277] On this day I dismissed Mahabat K. to his
duty in Bangash, and conferred on him a special elephant and dress of
honour with a pustin (sheepskin coat). This day there was a drizzling
rain till the end of the march. On the eve of Wednesday, the 22nd,
also there was rain. In the morning snow fell, and as most of the roads
had become very slippery, the weak animals fell in every place, and
could not rise again, and 25 of my own elephants were lent to assist
[278] them. I halted for two days on account of the snow. On Thursday,
the 23rd, Sultan Husain, Zamindar of Pakli, had the good fortune to
pay his respects: this is the entrance to the Pakli country. It is a
strange thing that when H. M. Akbar came here it snowed at this stage,
and it has now snowed as well. For many years no snow has fallen, and
there has even been little rain. On Friday, the 24th, I marched 4 koss
and pitched at the village of Sawadnagar. [279] On this road, too there
was much mud. [280] Apricot and peach trees were blooming on all sides,
and fir-trees like cypresses rejoiced the eye. On Saturday, the 25th,
having marched nearly 3 1/2 koss, the camp was pitched near Pakli. On
Sunday, the 26th, I rode out to hunt partridges (kabak), and at the
end of the day, at the request of Sultan Husain, went to his house, and
increased his dignity among his equals and neighbours. H. M. Akbar had
also gone to his house. He offered several kinds of horses, daggers,
hawks, and falcons. I presented him with the horses and daggers. I
ordered the hawks and falcons to be got ready [281] (kamar bar basta),
and shown everything that might fly up. The Sarkar of Pakli is 35 koss
in length and 25 in breadth. On the east, on two sides, is the hill
country of Kashmir; on the west, Atak Benares (Atak); on the north,
Kator; and on the south, the Gakkar country. At the time when Timur,
after conquering Hindustan, turned his rein backwards towards the
capital of Turan, they say that he placed in these regions this body
of people, who were in attendance on the victorious stirrup. They
say themselves that they are Qarlughs, but do not know for certain
who was their leader at that time. In fact, they are pure Lahauris,
and speak the same language. The people of Dhantur think the same
thing. In the time of my father, one of the name of Shahrukh was
Zamindar of Dhantur; now it is Bahadur, his son. Although they are
all related to one another, there are always disputes, as is usual
with Zamindars, about boundaries. They have always been loyal. Sultan
Mahmud, the father of Sultan Husain and Shahrukh, both came to wait
on me when I was prince. Although Sultan Husain is seventy years old,
to all outward appearance there is no diminution in his powers, and
he can still ride and be as active as possible. In this country they
make buza (a beverage) from bread and rice, which they call sar. [282]
It is much stronger than buza, and the older it is the better. This
sar is their chief sustenance. They put this sar into a jar, and
fastening it up, keep it for two or three years in the house. Then
they take off the scum and call the liquor achhi. The achhi can be
kept for ten years, and according to them, the older it is the better,
and the shortest time in which they use it is a year. Sultan Mahmud
used to take cup after cup of this sar; nay! he would drink a jar
of it. Sultan Husain is also addicted to it, and brought me some
of his choicest quality. I took some in order to try it. I had also
drunk it before. Its intoxicating effects are aphrodisiac, but its
taste is harsh. It appeared that they mix some bhang (bang) with it,
which increases its intoxicating power. If there were no wine, it
could in case of necessity be used as a substitute. The fruits are
apricots, peaches, and pears (?) (amrud). As they do not cultivate
them, but they spring up of themselves, they are harsh-flavoured and
unpleasant. Their blossoms are a joy. Their houses are of wood, and
are built after the Kashmiri fashion. They have hawks, and horses,
camels, cattle, and buffaloes, and many goats and fowls. Their mules
are small and are not fit for heavy loads. As it was represented
to me that some stages farther on the cultivation was not such as
to provide sufficient grain for the royal camp, I gave an order
that they should only take a small advanced camp, sufficient for
our needs and the necessary establishments, and diminish the number
of elephants, and take with them provisions for three or four days;
that they should take with them only some of the immediate attendants
on the royal stirrup, and that the rest of the men should come on some
stages behind under the command of Khwaja Abu-l-Hasan, the Bakhshi. In
spite of precautions and injunctions, it was found necessary to have
700 elephants for the advanced camp and the establishments.
The mansab of Sultan Husain was 400 personal and 300 horse; I now
promoted him to 600 personal and 350 horse, and conferred on him a
robe of honour, a jewelled dagger, and an elephant. Bahadur Dhanturi
was an auxiliary of the army of Bangash. An order was given that
he should hold the mansab, original and increased, of 200 personal
and 100 horse. On Wednesday, the 27th, having marched 5 1/4 koss, and
crossing by bridges the Nainsukh, [283] I chose a halting-place. This
Nainsukh (repose of the eyes) flows from the North, and comes down
from the hills of Dard [284] (?), which is between the country of
Badakhshan and Tibet. As at this place it forms two branches, they had,
according to order, prepared two wooden bridges for the crossing of
the victorious army, one 18 cubits and the other 14 cubits in length,
with a breadth each of 5 cubits. The way in which they make bridges in
this country is to throw pine-trees [285] on the surface of the water,
and fasten the two ends strongly to rocks, and having thrown on to
these thick planks of wood, make them firm with pegs and ropes,
and these, with a little repair, last for years. Briefly, they
made the elephants ford, whilst the horsemen and foot passed over
by the bridge. Sultan Mahmud called this river Nainsukh--that is,
"Repose of the eye." On Thursday, the 30th, having marched about 3
1/2 koss, a halt was made on the bank of the Kishan Ganga. On this
road there is a kotal of great height, the ascent being 1 koss, and
the descent 1 1/2 koss, which they call Pim darang. The reason for
this name is that in the language of Kashmir they call cotton (pamba)
pim. As the rulers of Kashmir had placed a superintendent there, who
took duties from loads of cotton, and delay takes place here for the
collection of the duty, it has become known as the Pim darang [286]
(cotton delay). After traversing the pass, there is a very fine
and clear waterfall. Having drunk my usual cups on the edge of the
water in the shade of the trees, I went on to my halting-place in the
evening. There was an old bridge over this river, 54 yards long and 1
1/2 yards wide, which footmen crossed by. According to orders, another
bridge was prepared parallel to this, in length 53 yards and breadth 3
yards. As the water was deep and swift, they took the elephants across
without loads, and the footmen and horses crossed by the bridge. By
order of my father, a very strong saray of stone and lime was erected
on the top of the ridge overlooking the river. One day before New
Year's Day we had sent Mu`tamid K. forward to select a spot for the
placing of the throne and preparing the New Year's entertainment. This
had to be lofty and choice. By chance, as he crossed the bridge,
there was a ridge overlooking the water, green and pleasant. On the
top of this was a flat place of 50 cubits which one might say the
rulers of fate had specially prepared for such a day. The aforesaid
officer had made ready everything necessary for the New Year's feast
on the top of that ridge, which was much approved. Mu`tamid K. was
much applauded for this. The river Kishan Ganga comes from the south
[287] and flows northwards. The Bihat (Jhelam) comes from the East,
and joining the Kishan Ganga, flows to the North.