On Monday, [492] the 27th Rabi`u-l-akhir, A.H. 1030 (10 March, 1621),
the sun that bestows bounty on the world lit up the abode of fortune
of Aries with his world-illuminating light, and gladdened the world
and its inhabitants. The sixteenth year of the reign of this suppliant
at the throne of Allah commenced with gladness and victory, and at the
auspicious hour and blessed time I sat on the throne of success in the
capital of Agra. On this joy-enhancing day my fortunate son Shahriyar
lifted up his head with the honour of the mansab of 8,000 and 4,000
horse. My revered father bestowed, for the first time, this mansab
[493] on my brothers. It is hoped that in the shadow of my education
and in carrying out my pleasure, he may reach the extreme of life
and prosperity. On this day Baqir K. arrayed his men and passed them
before me in order. The great Bakhshis recorded (the number as) 1,000
horse and 2,000 foot, and reported to me. Having promoted him to the
mansab of 2,000 personal and 1,000 horse, I entrusted the duties of
faujdar of Agra to him.
On Wednesday, together with the ladies seated in a boat, I went to the
Nur-afshan garden, and rested there at night. As the garden belongs to
the establishment of Nur Jahan B., on Thursday, the 4th, she held the
royal [494] entertainment and presented great offerings. Of jewels,
jewelled ornaments, and all sorts of precious goods, I selected
what I approved of, of the value of Rs. 100,000. During these days,
every day after midday I embarked in a boat, and went to Samonagar,
4 koss distant from the city, for sport, returning to the palace at
night. Sending Raja Sarang Deo to my prosperous son Shah Parwiz,
I sent with him a special dress of honour, with a jewelled belt,
which contained a sapphire [495] and several rubies. As I had
given Behar to that son in the place of Muqarrab K., I started off
a sazawul to conduct him from Allahabad to Behar. Mir Zahid, [496]
son-in-law of Muzaffar K., having come from Thatta, waited on me. As
Mir `Azudu-d-daula [497] had become very old and decrepit, he could
not carry out the duties of the camp and his jagir. I released him
from the trouble of service and active work. I ordered that he should
receive Rs. 4,000 every month out of the public treasury, and living
at ease and in comfort at Agra or Lahore, or wherever he wished,
should employ himself in prayers for my increased life and welfare.
On the 9th Farwardin the offering of I`tibar K. was laid before
me. Of jewels, cloths, etc., the value of Rs. 70,000, was accepted,
and I returned the remainder to him. Muhibb `Ali and Aqa Beg, envoys
of the ruler of Persia, presented twenty-four horses, two mules,
three camels, seven greyhounds (sag-i-tazi), twenty-seven pieces
(taq) of brocade, a shamama [498] of ambergris, two pairs of carpets,
and two namad takya [499] (woollen coverlets). Two mares with foals
that my brother had sent with them were also brought before me.
On Thursday, at the request of Asaf K., I went to his house with the
ladies. Having prepared a grand entertainment, he submitted to me many
delicate gems and wonders in cloths, and rare gifts. Choosing out of
these to the value of Rs. 130,000, I gave the rest to him. Mukarram
K., governor of Orissa, sent by way of offering thirty-two elephants,
male and female, and these had the honour of being accepted. At
this time I saw a wild ass [500] (gur-khar), exceedingly strange in
appearance, exactly like a lion. From the tip of the nose to the end
of the tail, and from the point of the ear to the top of the hoof,
black markings, large or small, suitable to their position, were seen
on it. Round the eyes there was an exceedingly fine black line. One
might say the painter of fate, with a strange brush, had left it
on the page of the world. As it was strange, some people imagined
that it had been coloured. After minute inquiry into the truth, it
became known that the Lord of the world was the Creator thereof. As
it was a rarity, it was included among the royal gifts sent to my
brother Shah `Abbas. Bahadur K. Uzbeg had sent as an offering some
tipchaq horses and cloth stuffs from `Iraq, and they were produced
before me. Dresses of honour for the winter were sent for Ibrahim
K. Fath-jang and the Amirs of Bengal by Mumin Shirazi. On the 15th
the offering of Sadiq K. was produced. It was of all sorts. Having
taken what was worth Rs. 15,000, I gave the remainder to him. Fazil
K. on this day also gave an offering according to his condition. Of
this a trifle was taken. On Thursday (19th Farwardin) the feast of the
culmination was held, and when two watches and one ghari of the day
had passed, I took my seat on the throne. According to the request
of Madar-ul-mulk I`timadu-d-daula, the feast of the culmination was
held in his house. He presented a remarkable offering of rare and
choice things from all countries. Altogether I took the value of
Rs. 138,000. On this day I gave Zambil Beg, the ambassador, a muhar
[501] equal to 200 tolas in weight. At this time Ibrahim K. had sent
some eunuchs from Bengal. One of these was a hermaphrodite. Among
the offerings of the above-mentioned were two boats made in Bengal,
of a very pleasant shape, on the decoration of which a sum of
Rs. 10,000 had been expended. They were really kingly boats. Having
made Shaikh Qasim K. governor of Allahabad, I honoured him with the
title of Muhtashim K. and the mansab of 5,000, and gave an order
that the Diwans should give him an increase to his jagir out of the
unappropriated (mahall-i-ghair-i-`amali) estates. Raja Shyam Singh,
Zamindar of Srinagar (in Garhwal) was given a horse and an elephant.
At this time it was reported to me that Yusuf K., s. Husain K., [502]
had died in the victorious army of the Deccan a sudden death. The
report said that when he was at his jagir he had become so fat that he
got out of breath with the least exertion. One day when he was paying
his respects to Khurram, in coming and going his breathing [503]
became difficult. When a dress of honour was given him, in putting
it on and saluting he became helpless, and a trembling affected
all his limbs, and with a hundred labours and exertions he saluted
and stumbled out and fell under the shelter of the tent enclosure,
and became unconscious. His servants placed him in a palanquin,
and took him home, and as he arrived, the messenger of death came
also. He received his command, and left his heavy lump of earth in
the perishable dustbin. On 1st Urdibihisht, I gave a special dagger
to Zambil Beg, the ambassador. On the 4th of the same month the feast
of the kar-i-khair (consummation of marriage) of my son Shahriyar
increased the joy of my heart. The Hinna-bandi (putting on henna)
assembly took place in the palace of Maryamu-z-zamani. The feast of
the nikah (marriage) was held in the house of I`timadu-d-daula. I
myself went there with the ladies and adorned the feast of joy. After
seven gharis of night had passed, on Friday [504] the marriage took
place with rejoicings. I hope that it will be propitious to this
daily-increasing State. On Tuesday, the 19th, in the Nur-afshan garden,
I presented my son Shahriyar with a jewelled charqab (coat), with a
turban and waist-belt (kamar-band), and two horses, one an `Iraqi,
with a gold saddle, and the other a Turki, with an embroidered saddle.
In these days Shah Shuja` had an eruption so violent that water would
not go down his throat, and his life was despaired of. As it had been
recorded in his father's horoscope that his son would die this year,
all the astrologers were unanimous that he would not live, but Jotik
Ray said, on the contrary, that the dust of calamity would not settle
on the skirt of his life. I asked: "By what proof?" He said that
in the horoscope of my destiny it was recorded that in this year
no distress or trouble would find its way to the royal mind from
any road, and as I had a great affection for the child, it behoved
that no calamity should happen to him, and some other child would
die. It came to pass as he said, and he carried his life out of this
deadly place, and a son that he (Shah Jahan) had by the daughter of
Shah-nawaz K., died at Burhanpur. Besides this, many of Jotik Ray's
judgments (ahkam) turned out correct. This is not without strangeness,
and it is therefore recorded in these memoirs. I accordingly ordered
him (Jotik Ray) to be weighed against money and the weight came to
Rs. 6,500. This was given him as a reward.
Muhammad Husain Jabiri was appointed Bakhshi and newswriter of the
Subah of Orissa. The mansab of Lachin Munajjim (astrologer) Qaqshal,
at the request of Mahabat K., was fixed, original and increased,
at 1,000 personal and 500 horse. Muhammad Husain, brother of Khwaja
Jahan, came from Kangra and waited on me. Having presented an elephant
to Bahadur K. Uzbeg, I sent it with his Vakil. Hurmuz and Hushang,
grandsons of the asylum of pardon Mirza Muhammad Hakim, by reason
of the caution that is fitting to rulers, had been imprisoned in the
fort of Gwalior. At this time, having summoned them into my presence,
I ordered them to remain in Agra, and a daily allowance sufficient for
their expenses was allowed for them. At this time a brahman of the
name of Rudar Bhattacharaj, who was one of the learned ones of this
caste, and was engaged at Benares in teaching, had the good fortune
to pay his respects to me. In truth, he has studied well, both in
the rational and traditional sciences, and is perfect in his own line.
One of the strange events of this time [505] was that on 30 Farwardin
(about 10 April, 1621) in the present year, in a certain village of the
pargana of Jalandhar, in the morning, a terrible noise arose from the
East, such that its inhabitants, from fright at that terror-increasing
sound, nearly deserted their bodies. Whilst this noise and disturbance
were going on, a light fell from above on the ground, and the people
thought that fire was raining down from heaven. After a moment, when
that noise ceased, and their troubled hearts recovered from their
bewilderment and terror, they sent a quick runner to the collector
(`amil) Muhammad Sa`id, and informed him of what had occurred. He
immediately rode there himself, and went to look at the spot. For ten
or twelve yards in length and breadth the land was so burnt that no
trace of any grass or green was left, and there were still signs of
heat and burning. He ordered them to dig up the soil, and the more
they dug the greater the heat appeared to be till they came to a place
where a piece of heated iron appeared. It was as hot as if it had been
taken out of a furnace. After a while it became cold, and taking it
up, he conveyed it to his house, and placing it in a kharita (cover),
which he sealed, he sent it to Court. I ordered them to weigh it in
my presence, and it came to 160 tolas. I ordered Master (Ustad) Da'ud
[506] to make a sword, a dagger, and a knife of it, and bring them to
me. He represented that it would not stand below the hammer, and fell
to pieces. I told him in that case to mix it with other iron and make
use of it. As I had told him, he mixed three parts of lightning-iron
and one of other iron, and having made two swords, one dagger, and
one knife, brought them to me. From the mixing of other iron he had
brought out its quality (watering). According to the manner of the
excellent swords of Yaman [507] and the South, it could be bent, and
became straight again. I ordered them to test it in my presence. It
cut very well, equal to true swords. I called one the Shamshir-i-qati`
(keen sword) and the other Barq-sirisht (lightning-natured). Bi-badal
K. composed a quatrain which demonstrated [508] these particulars,
and recited it:
By Shah Jahangir the world acquired order.
There fell in his reign raw iron from lightning.
From that iron were made by his world-taking command,
A dagger, a knife, and two scimitars.
And "Spark of royal lightning" gave the date (A.H. 1030).
At this time Raja Sarang Deo, who had gone to my fortunate son Shah
Parwiz, came and waited on me. Parwiz represented that he, according
to order, had proceeded from Allahabad to Behar. I hope he will be
prosperous (there). Qasim K. was dignified with the gift of drums. On
this day one `Alimu-d-din, a servant of Khurram, brought a report
from him containing the good news of the victory, with a jewelled
thumbstall (shast, perhaps a ring), which he had sent as nazar. I gave
him leave, sending by him a dress of honour. Amir Beg, brother of Fazil
Beg. K., was appointed Diwan to my son Shahriyar and Muhammad Husain,
brother of Khwaja Jahan, was made Bakhshi, and Ma`sum was appointed
Mir-Saman. Sayyid Haji obtained leave to go as an auxiliary to the
army of the Deccan, and I gave him a horse. Muzaffar K., was also
promoted to the post of Bakhshi.
As at this time the mother [509] of Imam-quli K., the ruler of Turan,
had sent to Nur Jahan Begam a letter containing expressions of good
will and the dues of acquaintanceship, and sent some rarities from
that country. Khwaja Nasir, who was one of the old servants and
one of my attendants from the time when I was a prince, was sent by
way of embassy on the part of Nur Jahan Begam with a letter, with
choice gifts from this country. At the time when the ladies were
staying in the Nur-afshan garden, a rang (ibex) fawn eight days old,
jumped down from the terrace of the palace, which is 8 gaz in height,
on to the ground, and began to leap about, no sign of injury or pain
being perceptible in it.
On the 4th of the Divine month [510] of Khurdad, Afzal K., Khurram's
Diwan brought a letter from him containing the good news of his
victory, and kissed the threshold. The details are as follows:
When the victorious army reached Ujain, a band of the servants of
the Court, who were in the fort of Mandu, sent a report that an army
of the rebels, putting forward the foot of audacity, had crossed the
Narbada, and burning several villages that were under [511] the fort,
were busy with rapine and plunder. Madaru-l-mahamm Khwaja Abu-l-Hasan,
with 5,000 cavalry, were appointed to go in all haste and inflict
punishment on that vain lot of people. The Khwaja made a night march,
and at the dawn of day reached the bank of the Narbada. When the
enemy learnt this, they in one moment threw themselves into the
river and reached the bank of safety. The brave cavalry galloped
after them, and pursued them for nearly 4 koss, [512] and with the
sword of vengeance, made many of them travellers on the road of
non-existence. The ill-fated rebels did not turn back the reins of
haste till they reached Burhanpur. Khurram wrote to Abu-l-Hasan to
remain on that (the South) side of the river till he came. Soon he,
with his army, joined this advanced force, and hastened on, march by
march, till he reached Burhanpur. The graceless rebels were still
keeping [513] their ground, and were encamped round the city. As
the imperial servants had been contending with the rebels for two
years, they had suffered much hardship from want of land (bi-jagiri,
[514] non-possession of fiefs, landlessness) and scarcity of corn,
and their horses were worn out by continued service. Accordingly,
they had to delay nine days in order to recruit. During this period,
thirty lakhs of rupees and many cuirasses [515] were distributed
among the soldiers, and sazawuls had been sent out and had brought
many men out of the city (Burhanpur). The gallant troops had not
yet put their hands to the work, when the black-fated rebels felt
that they could not resist, and scattered like "the daughters of
the Bier" (the stars of the constellation of the Great Bear, which
are dispersed over the heavens, instead of being clustered like the
Pleiades). The brave and swift cavaliers followed them, and with the
sword of vengeance cast many of them upon the earth of perdition. They
gave them no rest, but smiting and slaying them, pursued them as
far as Khirki, which was the residence of the Nizamu-l-mulk and the
other rebels. One day before this the ill-starred one (Malik `Ambar)
had got information of the approach of the imperialists, and had
removed the Nizamu-l-mulk and his family and effects to the fort
of Daulatabad. There he had encamped, with his back resting on the
fort, while in front of him there were marshes and quagmires. [516]
Most of his men became scattered in all directions. The leaders of
the victorious army, with their vengeance-seeking soldiers, halted
three days in the town of Khirki, and so destroyed a city which had
taken twenty years to build, that it is not known if it will regain
its splendour in other twenty years. In fine, after throwing down
its buildings, all agreed in opinion that as an army of rebels was
still besieging Ahmadnagar, they must at once go there, and inflict
condign punishment on the originators of the disturbance, renew the
supplies (of the Ahmadnagar garrison), and leave assistance there,
and then return. With this view they set out, and came as far as the
town of Patan (in Berar, Jarrett II. 233). Meanwhile, the crafty `Ambar
[517] sent agents and officers, and said: "After this I will not drop
the thread of service and loyalty from my hand, nor put out my foot
beyond orders, and will regard whatever tribute and fine be commanded
as a favour, and will send it to the government." It happened that
just then there was great scarcity in the camp in consequence of
the dearness of provisions, and also that news came that the rebel
force which was besieging Ahmadnagar had withdrawn on hearing of the
approach of the imperialists. Accordingly, a force was sent to help
Khanjar K. (the governor of Fort Ahmadnagar), and a sum of money
for his charges. Thereupon the imperialists were relieved from all
anxiety and returned (across the Narbada?). After much entreaty and
lamentation (on the part of `Ambar) it was settled that in addition
to the territory which of old had belonged to the empire, the rebels
should surrender 14 koss of the adjoining country, and should pay
into the public treasury fifty lakhs of rupees as tribute.
I gave Afzal K. (Shah Jahan's diwan) leave to return, and sent with
him, for Khurram, the ruby plume (kalgi-i-la`li) which the King
of Persia had sent to me, and which has been already described,
and I gave to the aforesaid (Afzal) a dress of honour, an elephant,
an inkpot, and a jewelled pen. Khanjar K., who, when besieged in the
Fort of Ahmadnagar, had performed approved services, and shown proper
activity, was promoted to the mansab of 4,000 personal and 1,000 horse.
Mukarram K., having come by order from Orissa, had, with his
brothers, the good fortune to wait upon me. He presented a string
of pearls by way of offering. Muzaffaru-l-mulk, s. Bahaduru-l-mulk,
was honoured with the title of Nusrat K. A standard was conferred
on Uda Ram, Dakhani, and to `Azizu-llah, s. Yusuf K., was given
the mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse. On Thursday, the 21st,
Muqarrab K. arrived from Behar, and had the good fortune to wait upon
me. At this time Aqa `Ali, Muhibb `Ali Beg, Haji Beg, and Fazil Beg,
the envoys of the ruler of Persia, who had come at different times,
were allowed to depart. To Aqa Beg I made a present of a dress of
honour, a jewelled dagger, and Rs. 40,000 in cash; to Muhibb `Ali
Beg a dress of honour and Rs. 30,000; and to the others in the same
way I presented gifts according to their positions. I also sent a
suitable souvenir by them to my brother. On this day Mukarram K. was
appointed Subahdar of Delhi, and faujdar of Mewat. Shaja`at K. `Arab
was dignified with the mansab of 3,000 personal and 2,500 horse,
original and increased; Sharza K. with that of 2,000 and 1,000 horse;
Girdhar, s. Ray Sal Kachhwaha, with that of 1,200 and 900 horse.
On the 29th, Qasim Beg, an envoy of the ruler of Persia, came and
waited on me, bringing a letter from that brother of lofty dignity,
containing expressions of sincerity and friendship. What he had
sent by way of royal gifts was laid before me. On the 1st of Tir,
I sent a special elephant called Gaj Ratan, for my son (farzand)
Khan Jahan. Nazar Beg, a servant of Khurram, laid before me a letter
from him asking for the gift of horses. I ordered Raja Kishan Das,
the mushrif (accountant) to prepare within fifteen days 1,000 horses
from the royal stables, and to send them off with him. I sent to
Khurram as a present a horse of the name of Rum-ratan [518] ("the
jewel of Turkey"), which the ruler of Persia had sent me out of the
spoils of the Turkish camp.
On this day a servant of Iradat K., of the name of Ghiyasu-d-din,
laid before me a report from him containing the good news of his
victory. In the preceding pages there has been written with the pen of
demonstration an account of the rebellion of the Zamindars of Kishtwar
and of the despatch of Jalal, s. Dilawar K. As this important matter
had not been properly managed by him, an order was given to Iradat
K. to hasten to take up that duty, and to inflict severe punishment
on the rebels, and make such arrangements in the hill-country that the
dust of dispersion and calamity might not settle on its frontiers. He,
as ordered, hastened there and did approved service, and the people of
sedition and disturbance, having turned their heads towards the desert
of exile, escaped half dead. Thus once more was the thorn of calamity
and mischief rooted out of that country, and having established the
officials and established posts, he returned to Kashmir. As a reward
for this service I added 500 horse to his mansab.
As Khwaja Abu-l-Hasan had done good service and shown proper
activity in the affair of the Deccan, I increased his mansab by 1,000
horse. Ahmad Beg, nephew of Ibrahim K. Fath-jang, being exalted to
the Subahdarship of Orissa, was dignified with the title of Khan,
and had given him a standard and drums. His mansab also was raised
to 2,000 with 500 horse.
As I had often heard of the virtues and good qualities of Qazi Nasir
of Burhanpur, my truth-seeking mind had a desire for his society. At
this time he came, according to summons, to the Court. Doing honour to
his learning, I paid him great regard. The Qazi is one of the unique of
the age for rational and traditional sciences, and there are few books
that he has not read, but his exterior did not agree with his interior,
and I could not be delighted with his company. As I found him much
devoted to being a dervish and seclusion, I respected his feelings,
and did not give him the trouble of serving me. I gave him Rs. 5,000,
and dismissed him to his native country to pass his days in ease.
On the 1st of the Divine month of Amurdad Baqir K. was promoted
to the mansab of 2,000 personal and 1,200 horse, and of the Amirs
and royal servants who had distinguished themselves in the conquest
of the Deccan, thirty-two individuals were exalted by having their
mansabs raised. `Abdu-l-`Aziz K. Naqshbandi, who had been appointed
to the governorship of Qandahar at the request of my son Khan Jahan,
was promoted to that of 3,000 personal and 2,000 horse. On the 1st
Shahriwar I gave the ambassador Zambil Beg a jewelled sword, and also
presented him with a village under the jurisdiction of the capital,
the revenue of which was Rs. 16,000.
At this time, knowing that he was unfit for duty on account of his
bad temper and want of knowledge, I dismissed Hakim Rukna, [519]
and told him he might go wherever he wished. As it was reported to
me that Hushang, the brother's son of Khan `Alam, had committed an
unjust murder, having summoned him to my presence, I investigated
the charge, and after it was established, gave an order for his
execution. God forbid that in such affairs I should consider princes,
and far less that I should consider Amirs. I hope that the grace of God
may support me in this. On 1st Shahriwar, at the request of Asaf K.,
I went to his house and bathed in the bath-house that he has lately
built. It is beautifully finished. After I had done bathing he laid
before me offerings fit for a nazar. I took what I approved of and
gave him the rest. The Wazifa (pension) of Khizr Khan (late ruler)
of Khandesh, was fixed at Rs. 30,000, [520] original and increased.
At this time it was reported to me that a blacksmith of the name of
Kalyan was much in love with a woman of his own caste, and was always
laying his head at her feet, and showing symptoms of infatuation. The
woman, though she was a widow, would in no way consent to accept him,
and the love of this wretch who had given his heart to her made no
impression on her. Having summoned both of them into my presence, I
cross-examined them, and however much I advised her to unite herself
to him, she did not agree. At this time the blacksmith said that if
he could make sure that I would [521] give her to him, he would throw
himself down from the Shah-burj of the fort. I said by way of jest:
"Never mind the Shah-burj; if your love be genuine, fling yourself
from the roof of this house, and I'll make her submit herself to
you." I had not ended before he ran like lightning and threw himself
down. When he fell, blood began to flow from his eyes and mouth. I
repented myself greatly of that jest, and was grieved in my mind,
and bade Asaf Khan take him to his house and look after him. As the
cup of his life was brimming over, he died from the injury.