On Thursday, the 4th of the Ilahi month of Tir, the Feast of
buriya-kubi [383] took place. On this day the Kashmir cherries came
to an end. From the four trees of the Nur-afza garden, 1,500, and from
other trees 500 had been plucked. I strictly ordered the officials of
Kashmir to plant shah-alu (cherry) trees in all the gardens. On this
day Bhim, s. Rana Amar Singh, was honoured with the title of Raja,
and Dilir K., brother of the brave `Izzat K., was promoted to the
mansab of 1,000 personal and 800 horse, Muhammad Sa`id, s. Ahmad
Beg K., to that of 600 personal and 400 horse, and Mukhlis-ullah,
his brother, to that of 500 personal and 250 horse. On Sayyid Ahmad
Sadr the mansab of 1,000, and on Mirza Husain, s. Mirza Rustam Safawi,
that of 1,000 personal and 500 horse, were bestowed, and the last-named
was despatched for duty to the Deccan. On Sunday, the 14th of the
Divine month of Tir, Hasan `Ali Turkman was made Governor of Orissa,
and his personal and horse mansab was raised to 3,000. On this day
Bahadur K., Governor of Qandahar, sent offerings of nine Iraq horses,
some nine pieces of gold brocade, some brocaded satin, and some marten
[384] skins, and other things; these were laid before me.
On Monday, the 15th, I rode to see the summer quarters of Tusi-marg
[385] (?). Arriving in two matches at the foot of the kotal, on
Wednesday, the 17th, I reached the top of the pass. For a distance
of 2 koss very elevated ground was crossed with difficulty. From the
top of the kotal to the Ilaq (summer quarters) was another koss of
high and low land. Although here and there flowers of various colours
had bloomed, yet I did not see so many as they had represented to me,
and as I had expected. I heard that in this neighbourhood there was
a very beautiful valley, and on Thursday, the 18th, I went to see
it. Undoubtedly, whatever praise they might use in speaking of that
flowery land would be permissible. As far as the eye reached flowers of
all colours were blooming. There were picked fifty kinds of flowers in
my presence. Probably there were others that I did not see. At the end
of the day I turned my reins in order to return. That night an account
was given in my presence of the siege of Ahmadnagar. Khan-Jahan told
a strange tale, which I had also heard before, and it is written on
account of its strangeness. At the time when my brother Daniyal was
besieging the fort of Ahmadnagar, one day the garrison laid the gun
Malik-maidan [386] (king of the plain) against the Prince's camp,
and fired it. The ball reached nearly to the Prince's tent; from that
place it bounded (ricocheted), and went to the lodging of Qazi Bayazid,
who was one of the Prince's companions, and fell there. They had tied
up the Qazi's horse at a distance of 3 or 4 gaz. As the ball touched
the ground, the horse's tongue [387] was torn out by the root and fell
on the ground. The ball was of stone, weighing 10 maunds as current
in Hindustan, or 80 Khurasar maunds. The said gun is so large that
a man can sit comfortably in it.
On this day I promoted Abu-l-Hasan, the chief Bakshi, to the mansab of
5,000 personal and 2,000 horse, Mubariz K. to that of 2,000 personal
and 1,700 horse. Bizan (or Bizhan) s. Nad `Ali, to that of 1,000
personal and 500 horse, and Amanat K. to that of 2,000 personal
and 400 horse. On Thursday, the 25th, I gave Nawazish K., s. Sa`id
K., the mansab of 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse, Himmat K. that
of 2,000 personal and 1,500 horse, and Sayyid Ya`qub K., s. Sayyid
Kamal Bukhari, that of 800 personal and 500 horse. Mir `Ali `Askar,
[388] s. Mir `Ali Akbar Musawi, was dignified with the title of Musawi
K. As I had repeatedly heard praise of the Ilaq of Kuri-marg, [389]
I felt much disposed to visit it at this time, and on Tuesday, the
7th Amurdad, rode in that direction. How shall I write its praise? As
far as the eye could reach flowers of various hue were blooming, and
in the midst of the flowers and verdure beautiful streams of water
were flowing: one might say it was a page that the painter of destiny
had drawn with the pencil of creation. The buds of hearts break into
flower from beholding it. Undoubtedly there is no comparison between
this and other Ilaqs, and it may be said to be the place most worth
seeing in Kashmir.
In Hindustan (i.e., Upper India) there is a bird called Papiha,
[390] of a sweet voice, which in the rainy season utters soul-piercing
(jan-suz, lit. soul-burning) laments. As the koyal lays its egg in the
nest of the crow, and the latter brings up its young, so I have seen
in Kashmir that the papiha lays its egg in the nest of the ghaugha'i
[391] (ring-dove?) and the ghaugha'i brings up its young.
On Thursday, the 17th, Fida'i K. was promoted to the mansab of 1,500
personal and 700 horse. On this day the ambassador of `Izzat [392]
K., ruler of Urganj, by name Muhammad Zahid, came to the Court,
and presented a petition, accompanied with some trifling presents,
and recalled the existence of hereditary relations (lit., shook the
chain of hereditary connection). I distinguished him with the eye of
kindness, and on the spur of the moment gave the ambassador 10,000
darbs (Rs. 5,000) as a present, and ordered the officials of the
buyutat (household) to prepare and send (by him) such things as he
might ask for.
At this time a strange act of grace occurred to my son [393] Khan-Jahan
(Lodi). He had become very ill from the madness of wine, and from the
overpowering of this man-destroying intoxication things had come to
such a pass that it threatened his precious life. Suddenly he reformed,
and God directed him, and he made a vow that thereafter he would not
defile the fringe of his lip with wine. Although I warned him that
it was not good to give it up all at once, and that he should leave
it off gradually, he would not consent, but gave it up manfully.
On the 25th of Amurdad Bahadur K., Governor of Qandahar, was promoted
to the mansab of 5,000 personal and 4,000 horse, and on the 2nd of
the Divine month of Shahriwar, Man Singh, s. Rawat Shankar, to that of
1,500 and 800 horse, Mir Husamu-d-din to that of 1,500 and 500 horse,
and Karamu-llah, s. `Ali Mardan K. [394] to that of 600 with 300 horse.
As at this time I was much inclined to parti-coloured [395] veined
teeth, the great Amirs exerted themselves greatly in looking out for
them. Of these, `Abdu-l-`Aziz K. Naqshbandi sent a servant of the name
of `Abdu-llah with a letter to Khwaja Hasan and Khwaja `Abdu-r-Rahim,
ss. Khwaja Kalan Juybari, who are to-day the leading holy men of
Transoxiana, containing a request for these things. By chance, Khwaja
Hasan had a perfect tooth, exceedingly delicate, and immediately
sent it with the aforesaid (servant) to the Court, which it reached
this day. I was greatly pleased, and ordered them to send the value
of Rs. 30,000 in choice goods to the Khwajas, a service for which
Mir Baraka Bukhari was fixed upon. On Thursday, the 12th Shahriwar,
Mir Miran obtained leave to take up the faujdarship of Mewat, and
his mansab, original and increased, was fixed at 2,000 with 1,500
horse. I gave him a special horse, with a dress of honour and a sword.
At this time it was made clear from a report of Sundar [396] that
Jauhar Mal, the rebel, had delivered his soul to the lords of hell
(had died). It was also reported that a force sent against one of the
Zamindars had abandoned the path of caution, and without fortifying
the way of entrance and exit, or taking possession of the hill-tops,
had entered into the fastnesses of the hills, and had fought without
any good result. As the day drew towards its close, they had turned
their reins with their object unaccomplished, and in turning back,
had made every haste. Many people had been killed, especially those
who would not put up with the disgrace of flight. They purchased
martyrdom with their lives. Out of them Shah-baz K. Dalumani [397]
(?), which is a tribe of Lodi Afghans, sacrificed his life with a
band of his servants and tribesmen. In truth he was a good servant,
and had intelligence combined with modesty. Another report was that
Jamal Afghan, Rustam, his brother, Sayyid Nasib Barha, and some
others had come in wounded. It was also reported that the siege (of
Kangra) had become a close one, and the affair was going hard with
the besieged. They had sent (literally thrown out) men as mediators,
and had asked for quarter. It was hoped that by the blessing of
increasing fortune the fort would be subdued.
On Wednesday, the 18th of the same month (Shahriwar), Dilawar
K. Kakar died a natural death. Beyond all the other Amirs of high
rank, he combined valour with leadership and knowledge of affairs,
and from the time when I was a prince carried away from all the ball
of superiority in my service. He acted constantly with the perfection
of sincerity and the jewel of doing right, and had thus arrived at
the dignity of Amirship. In the end of his life God Almighty bestowed
grace upon him, and the conquest of Kishtwar, which was an exemplary
service, was accomplished by his courage. It is hoped he may be one
of the pardoned. His sons and the others that he left behind him I
exalted with all kinds of favours and patronage, and enrolled those
of his people who were fit for mansabs amongst the servants of the
Court. I ordered the rest, to remain as usual with his sons, so that
his company might not be split up.
On this day Qur Yasawul came with a diamond that Ibrahim K. Fath-jang
had obtained from the Bengal mine, and waited on me. Wazir K., diwan
of Bengal, who was an old servant of the Court, died a natural death.
On the night of Thursday, the 19th, the Kashmiris had lined with lamps
both sides of the Bihat. It is an ancient custom that every year on
this day everyone, whether rich or poor, whoever has a house on the
bank of the river, should light lamps as on the Shab-i-barat. I asked
the brahmans the reason of this, and they said that on this day the
fountain-head of the Jhelam was disclosed, and the custom had come
down from old days that on this date must take place the feast of Veth
tarwah. [398] Veth means the Jhelam, and they call thirteen tarwah;
as this day is the 13th of Shawwal, they light lamps. In this way they
call it the Veth tarwah. Undoubtedly the lamp-lighting was good. I
sate in a boat and went round to see it. On this day the feast of
my solar weighing took place, and according to the usual custom,
I weighed myself against gold and other things, which I distributed
among deserving people. The 51st year of the age of this suppliant
at the throne of Allah came to an end; the 52nd year lit up the face
of expectation. It is hoped that the period of my life will be spent
in pleasing God. The entertainment of Thursday, the 26th, was held
in the lodging of Asaf K. (Nur-Jahan's brother), and that pillar
of the Sultanate fulfilled the duties of homage, and of offerings,
and thereby acquired eternal bliss.
On 1 Shahriwar (about 11 August) ducks (murghabi) appeared on the Wular
lake, and on the 24th of that month they appeared on the Dal lake. The
following is the list of birds which are not met with in Kashmir: