On the night of Tuesday, Zi-l-qa`da 11th, A.H. 1014 (March 11th or
12th, 1606), in the morning, which is the time of the blessing of
light, his Eminence the Great Luminary passed from the constellation of
the Fish to the House of Honour in the constellation of the Ram. As
this was the first New Year's Day after my auspicious accession
I ordered them to decorate the porticoes of the private and public
halls of the palace, as in the time of my revered father, with delicate
stuffs, and to adorn them handsomely. From the first day of the Nauruz
to the 19th degree of the Ram (Aries), which is the day of culmination,
the people gave themselves over to enjoyment and happiness. Players
and singers of all bands and castes were gathered together. Dancing
lulis and charmers of India whose caresses would captivate the hearts
of angels kept up the excitement of the assemblies. I gave orders
that whoever might wish for intoxicating drinks and exhilarating
drugs should not be debarred from using them.
"Cupbearer! brighten my cup with the light of wine;
Sing, minstrel, for the world has ordered itself as I desire." [103]
In my father's time it had become established that one of the great
nobles should prepare an entertainment on each of the 17 or 18 days
of the festival, and should present His Majesty the king with choice
gifts of all kinds of jewels and jewelled things, precious stuffs,
and elephants and horses, and should invite him to take the trouble
to come to his assembly. By way of exalting his servants, he would
deign to be present, and having looked at the presents would take
what he approved of and bestow the remainder on the giver of the
entertainment. As my mind was inclined to the comfort and ease of
the army and subjects, I this year let them off their gifts with the
exception of a few from my immediate retainers, which I accepted
in order to gratify them. In those same days many servants of the
State obtained higher rank. Amongst them I raised Dilawar Khan Afghan
to 1,500, and I raised Raja Baso, who was a landholder of the hill
country of the Panjab, and who from the time I was prince till now
has kept the way of service and sincerity towards me and held the
rank of 1,500, to 3,500. Shah Beg Khan, the governor of Qandahar,
I promoted to 5,000, and Ray Ray Singh, a Rajput noble, obtained the
same rank. I gave 12,000 rupees for expenses to Rana Shankar.
At the beginning of my reign, a son of that Muzaffar Gujarati who
claimed to be descended from the rulers of that country lifted up
the head of disturbance and attacked and plundered the environs of
the city of Ahmadabad. Some sardars such as Pim [104] Bahadur Uzbeg
and Ray `Ali Bhati, who were amongst the distinguished and brave men
there, became martyrs in that outbreak. At length Raja Bikramajit
and many mansabdars were provided by me with 6,000 or 7,000 horse,
and appointed to assist the army of Gujarat. It was decided that when
things had quieted down, by the driving off of those seditious people,
Raja Bikramajit should be Subahdar of Gujarat. Qilij Khan, who had
been previously nominated to this office, should come to Court. After
the arrival of the royal troops the thread of the rebels' union was
severed; they took refuge in different jungles, and the country was
reduced to order. The news of this victory reached the ear of my
state and dignity in the most acceptable of hours (New Year time).
About this time there came a representation from my son Parwiz that
the Rana had left thana Mandal, which is about 30 [105] or 40 kos
from Ajmir, and had run away, and that a force had been appointed to
pursue him; and that it was to be hoped the good fortune of Jahangir
would cause him to become non-existent.
On the last day of the feast of the New Year, many servants of
the State were honoured with favours and increase of rank. Pishrau
Khan was an old retainer and had come from Persia (wilayat) with
Humayun; indeed, he was one of the men whom Shah Tahmasp had sent
with Humayun. His name was Mihtar Sa`adat. As under my father he
was superintendent (darogha) and head (mihtar) of the farrash-khana
(store department), and had no equal in this service, he had given
him the title of Pishrau Khan (the active Khan). Though he was a
subordinate(?) servant and had an artificer's disposition (qalaqchi
mashrab), I looked to his claims of service and gave him the rank of
2,000. [106]