Alas, a hundred times for the love passing thought!
"By the arrival of your loving letter apologizing for the 'spectacle
and shooting' (sair u shikar) of Qandahar, which came with the
honourable Haidar Beg and Wali Beg, I became apprised of the bodily
health of your angelic personality, and the flowers of joy were
scattered over the world. Let it not be hidden from the world-adorning
mind of my exalted and prosperous brother that until the arrival of
the letter and messages brought by Zambil Beg no mention had been made
by you in letters or verbal messages of your wish for Qandahar. At the
time when we were engaged in visiting the delightful land of Kashmir,
the Deccan lords, in their shortsightedness, extended their feet beyond
the limits of obedience, and trod the path of rebellion. Accordingly
it became necessary for me to chastise them. I moved my standards
to Lahore, and appointed my worthy [592] son Shah Jahan to proceed
against them with a victorious army. I myself was proceeding to Agra
when Zambil Beg arrived, and produced your loving letter. I took it
as a good omen, and went off to Agra to put down the enemies and the
rebels. In the jewelled and pearl-dropping letter there was no mention
of a wish for Qandahar. It was mentioned verbally by Zambil Beg. In
reply, I said to him that I made no difficulty with regard to anything
that my brother wished. Please God, after settling the Deccan affair,
I would send him back in a manner suitable to my sovereignty. I also
said that as he had made long marches he should repose for some days
in Lahore, and that I would afterwards send for him. After coming to
Agra, I sent for him and gave him leave to depart. As the favour of
God attaches to this suppliant, I withdrew my mind from victories and
proceeded to the Panjab. My intention was to send him away, but after
disposing of some necessary matters I went to Kashmir on account of
the hot weather. After coming there I sent for Zambil Beg in order
to give him his leave. I also wished to show him something of that
delightful country. Meanwhile news came that my prosperous brother
had come to take Qandahar. This idea had never entered my mind, and I
was entirely astonished. What could there be in a petty village that
he should set out to take it, and that he should shut his eyes to so
much friendship and brotherly feeling? Though truthful reporters sent
the news, I could not credit it! When it became certain I immediately
gave orders to `Abdu-l-`Aziz K. not to transgress in any way the good
pleasure of that prosperous brother. Up to now the relationship of
brotherhood stands firm, and I do not value the world in comparison
therewith, nor do I consider any gift equal to it. But it would have
been right and brotherly that he should have waited till the arrival
of the ambassador. Perhaps he would be successful in the object [593]
and claim for which he had come. When he (`Abbas) takes such steps
before the return of the ambassador, to whom will mankind ascribe the
merit of keeping compacts and of preserving the capital of humanity
and liberality! May God preserve you at all times!"
After I had given leave to the ambassadors, I devoted all my energy
to urging on the Qandahar force, and presented my son Khan Jahan,
who had been sent for for certain matters, with an elephant, a special
horse, a jewelled sword and dagger, and a dress of honour. I sent him
on as an advance guard, and directed him to remain in Multan until the
arrival of Prince Shahriyar with the victorious army. Baqir K., who was
faujdar of Multan, was summoned to Court, and I appointed `Ali-quli
Beg Darman to assist him (Khan Jahan), and raised him to the mansab
of 1,500. In the same manner, having raised M. Rustam to the mansab
of 5,000, I appointed him to the duty of assisting that son with the
(Qandahar) army. Lashkar K. came from the Deccan, and waited on me, and
was also attached to that army. Allah-dad K. Afghan, M. `Isa Tarkhan,
Mukarram K., Ikram K., and other Amirs, who had come from the Deccan
and from their fiefs, after being presented with horses and dresses
of honour, were sent with Khan Jahan. `Umdatu-s-saltana Asaf K. was
sent to Agra to bring to Court the whole of the treasure in muhrs
and rupees which had accumulated from the beginning of the reign of
my father. Asalat K., s. Khan Jahan, was promoted to the mansab of
2,000 and 1,000 horse. Muhammad Shafi`a, Bakhshi of Multan, had the
title of Khan conferred on him. I gave leave to Sharif, Vakil of my
fortunate son Shah Parwiz, to go with all possible haste, and bring
my son to wait on me with the army of Behar, and writing a gracious
farman with my own hand I urged him to come.
On this day Mir Miran, the grandson of Shah Ni`matu-llah, died
suddenly. I hope that he will be among the pardoned. A raging elephant
threw down the huntsman Mirza Beg and killed him: I assigned his
duties to Imam-wirdi.
As in consequence of the weakness that came over me two years ago
and still continues, heart and brain do not accord. I cannot [594]
make notes of events and occurrences. Now that Mu`tamid K. has come
from the Deccan, and has had the good fortune to kiss the threshold,
as he is a servant who knows my temperament and understands my words,
and was also formerly entrusted with this duty, I gave an order that
from the date which I have written he shall hereafter write them with
his own hand, and attach them to my Memoranda. Whatever events may
occur hereafter he should note after the manner of a diary, and submit
them for my verification, and then they should be copied into a book.