The commencement of the ninth year after my auspicious accession,
corresponding with the Hijra year 1023 (1614).
Two watches and one ghari had passed on the night of Friday, the 9th
Safar (21st March, 1614), when the world-warming sun shed his rays on
the constellation of Aries, which is his house of dignity and honour;
it was the first morning of the month of Farwardin. The assembly for
the New Year's festival took place in the pleasant regions of Ajmir,
and at the time of entry (of the sun into Aries), which was the
propitious hour, I seated myself on the throne of good fortune. They
had in the usual manner decorated the palace with rare cloth-stuffs and
jewels and gem-decked things. At this auspicious moment the elephant
`Alam-guman, [413] which was fit to be entered in the private stud,
with the seventeen other male and female elephants which my son Baba
Khurram had sent of the Rana's elephants, were presented before me,
and the hearts of the loyal rejoiced. On the 2nd day of the New Year,
knowing it to be propitious for a ride, I mounted it and scattered
about much money. On the 3rd I conferred on I`tiqad Khan a mansab
of 3,000 personal and 1,000 horse, increasing thus that which
he had already, which was of 2,000 personal and 500 horse, and I
distinguished him with the title of Asaf Khan, with which title two
of his family had been previously honoured. I also increased the
mansab of Dayanat Khan by 500 personal and 200 horse. At the same
time I promoted I`timadu-d-daulah to the mansab of 5,000 personal
and 2,000 horse. At the request of Baba Khurram I increased the
mansab of Saif Khan Barha by 500 personal and 200 horse, that of
Dilawar Khan by the same number, that of Kishan Singh by 500 horse,
and that of Sarfaraz Khan by 500 personal and 300 horse. On Sunday,
the 10th, the offering of Asaf Khan was produced before me, and on
the 14th I`timadu-d-daulah produced his own offering. From these two
offerings I took what pleased me and gave back the rest. Chin Qilij
Khan, with his brothers, relations, and the army and retinue of his
father, came from Kabul [414] and waited on me. Ibrahim Khan, who had
a mansab of 700 personal and 300 horse, having been promoted to that
of 1,500 personal and 600 horse, was appointed jointly with Khwaja
Abu-l-hasan to the exalted dignity of paymaster of the household. On
the 15th of this month Mahabat Khan, who had been appointed to bring
Khan A`zam and his son `Abdu-llah, came and waited on me. On the 19th
the assembly of honour was held. On that day the offering of Mahabat
Khan was laid before me, and I sent a private elephant called Rup
Sundar for my son Parwiz. When that day had passed I ordered them to
deliver Khan A`zam into the charge of Asaf Khan, that he might keep him
in the fort of Gwalior. As my object in sending him to the fort was
in case some disagreement and disturbance should occur in the matter
of the Rana in consequence of the attachment that he had to Khusrau,
I ordered him not to be kept in the fort like a prisoner, but that they
should provide everything necessary for his comfort and convenience in
the way of eating and clothing. On the same day I promoted Chin Qilij
Khan to a mansab of 2,500 personal and 700 horse. To the rank of Taj
Khan, who had been appointed to the charge of the province of Bhakar,
I added 500 personal and horse. On the 18th Urdibihisht I forbade
Khusrau to pay his respects. The reason was this, that through the
affection and fatherly love (I bore him) and the prayers of his mother
and sisters, I had ordered again that he should come every day to pay
his respects (kurnish). As his appearance showed no signs of openness
and happiness, and he was always mournful and dejected in mind, I
accordingly ordered that he should not come to pay his respects. In
the time of my revered father, Muzaffar Husain Mirza and Rustam Mirza,
sons of Sultan Husain Mirza, nephews of Shah Tahmasp Safawi, who had
in their possession Qandahar and Zamindawar and that neighbourhood,
sent petitions to the effect that in consequence of the nearness to
Khurasan and the coming of `Abdu-llah Khan Uzbeg to that country,
they could not leave the charge of looking after the country and come
(to pay their respects), but that if he (Akbar) would send one of
the servants of the palace they would hand over the country to him,
and themselves come to pay their respects. As they repeatedly made
this request, he sent Shah Beg Khan, who is now honoured with the
title of Khan Dauran, to the governorship of Qandahar and Zamindawar
and that neighbourhood, and wrote firmans full of favour to the Mirzas
summoning them to the Court. After their arrival favours appropriate to
the case of each were bestowed on them, and he gave them a territory
equal to two or three times the collections of Qandahar. In the end,
the management expected from them was not achieved, and by degrees the
territory deteriorated. Muzaffar Husain Mirza died during the lifetime
of my revered father, and he sent Mirza Rustam with the Khankhanan to
the Subah of the Deccan, where he had a small jagir. When the throne
was honoured by my succession, I sent for him from the Deccan with the
intention of showing him favour and sending him to one of the border
territories. About the time he came Mirza Ghazi Tarkhan, who held the
governorship of Thatta and Qandahar and that neighbourhood, died. It
occurred to me to send him to Thatta, so that he might show there
his natural good qualities and administer that country in an approved
manner. I promoted him to a mansab of 5,000 personal and horse, 200,000
rupees were given to him for expenses, and I despatched him to the
Subah of Thatta. My belief was that he would do good service [415]
on those borders. In opposition to my expectation he did no service,
and committed so much oppression that many people complained of his
wickedness. Such news of him was heard that it was considered necessary
to recall him. One of the servants of the Court was appointed to summon
him, and I sent for him to Court. On the 26th Urdibihisht they brought
him. As he had committed great oppression on the people of God, and
inquiry into this was due according to the requirements of justice,
I handed him over to Anira'i Singh-dalan that he might enquire into
the facts, and that if guilty he might receive prompt punishment and
be a warning to others. In those days the news also came of the defeat
of Ahdad, the Afghan. The facts are that Mu`taqid Khan came to Pulam
[416] Guzar (ferry?), in the district of Peshawar, with an army,
and Khan Dauran with another force in Afghanistan and blocked the
path of that rascal (lit. black-faced one). Meanwhile a letter came
to Mu`taqid Khan from Pish Bulagh that Ahdad had gone to Kot Tirah,
which is 8 kos from Jalalabad, with a large number of horse and foot,
and had killed a few of those who had chosen to be loyal and obey,
and made prisoners of others, and was about to send them to Tirah,
and intended to make a raid on Jalalabad and Pish Bulagh. Immediately
on hearing this news Mu`taqid Khan started in great haste with the
troops he had with him. When he arrived at Pish Bulagh he sent out
spies to ascertain about the enemy. On the morning of Wednesday, the
6th, news reached him that Ahdad was in the same place. Placing his
trust on the favour of God, which is on the side of this suppliant
at the throne of Allah, he divided the royal army into two, and
went towards the enemy, who, with 4,000 or 5,000 experienced men,
had seated themselves haughtily in complete carelessness, and did
not suspect that besides Khan Dauran's there was an army in the
neighbourhood that could oppose itself to them. When news came that
the royal forces were coming against that ill-fortuned man, and the
signs of an army were becoming manifest, in a state of bewilderment
he distributed his men into four bodies, and seating himself on an
eminence a gunshot away, to get to which was a difficult matter, he
sent his men to fight. The musketeers of the victorious army assailed
the rebel with bullets, and sent a large number to hell. Mu`taqid Khan
took the centre of his army to his advanced guard, and, not giving
the enemy more than time to shoot off their arrows two or three times,
swept them clean away, and pursuing them for 3 or 4 kos, killed nearly
1,500 of them, horse and foot. Those left of the sword took to flight,
most of them wounded and with their arms thrown away. The victorious
army remained for the night in the same place on the battlefield,
and in the morning proceeded with 600 decapitated heads [417]
towards Peshawar and made pillars of the heads there. Five hundred
horses and innumerable cattle and property and many weapons fell into
their hands. The prisoners of Tirah were released, and on this side
no well-known men were killed. On the night of Thursday, the 1st of
Khurdad, I proceeded towards Pushkar to shoot tigers, and on Friday
killed two of them with a gun. On the same day it was represented to
me that Naqib Khan had died. The aforesaid Khan was one of the Saifi
Sayyids, and was originally from Qazwin. The tomb of his father, Mir
`Abdu-l-Latif, is at Ajmir. Two months before his death his wife,
[418] between whom and her husband there was a great affection, and
who for twelve days was ill with fever, drank the unpleasant draught
of death. I ordered them to bury him by the side of his wife, whom
they had placed in the Khwaja's venerated mausoleum. As Mu`taqid Khan
had done approved service in the fight with Ahdad, in reward he was
exalted with the title of Lashkar Khan. Dayanat Khan, who had been
sent to Udaipur in the service of Baba Khurram and to convey certain
orders, came on the 7th Khurdad and gave good account of the rules
and regulations made by Baba Khurram. Fida'i Khan, who in the days
of my princehood was my servant, and whom after my accession I had
made bakhshi in this army, and who had obtained favour, gave up the
deposit of his life on the 12th of the same month. Mirza Rustam,
as he showed signs of repentance and regret for his misdeeds, and
generosity demanded that his faults should be pardoned, was, in the
end of the month, summoned to my presence, and I satisfied his mind,
and having given him a dress of honour, ordered him to pay his respects
to me. On the night of Sunday, the 11th of the month of Tir, a female
elephant in the private elephant stud gave birth to a young one in my
presence. I had repeatedly ordered them to ascertain the period of
their gestation; at last it became evident that for a female young
one it was 18 months and for a male 19 months. In opposition to the
birth of a human being, which is in most cases by a head delivery,
young elephants are born with their feet first. When the young one was
born, the mother scattered dust upon it with her foot, and began to
be kind and to pet it. The young one for an instant remained fallen,
and then rising, made towards its mother's breasts. On the 14th the
assembly of Gulab-pashi (sprinkling of rose-water) took place; from
former times this has been known as ab-pashi (water-sprinkling),
and has become established from amongst customs of former days. On
the 5th Amurdad (middle July, 1614) came news of the death of Raja
Man Singh. [419] The aforesaid Raja was one of the chief officers of
my revered father. As I had sent many servants of the State to serve
in the Deccan, I also appointed him. After his death in that service,
I sent for Mirza Bhao Singh, who was his legitimate heir. As from the
time when I was prince he had done much service with me, although the
chiefship and headship of their family, according to the Hindu custom,
should go to Maha Singh, son [420] of Jagat Singh, the Raja's eldest
son, who had died in the latter's lifetime, I did not accept him,
but I dignified Bhao Singh with the title of Mirza Raja, and raised
him to the mansab of 4,000 personal and 3,000 horse. I also gave
him Amber, the native place of his ancestors, and, soothing and
consoling the mind of Maha Singh, increased his former mansab by
500, and gave him as an in`am the territory of Garha. [421] I also
sent him a jewelled dagger belt, a horse, and dress of honour. On
the 8th of this month of Amurdad I found a change in my health,
and by degrees was seized with fever and headache. For fear that
some injury might occur to the country and the servants of God,
I kept this secret from most of those familiar with and near to me,
and did not inform the physicians and hakims. A few days passed in
this manner, and I only imparted this to Nur-Jahan Begam than whom I
did not think anyone was fonder of me; I abstained from eating heavy
foods, and, contenting myself with a little light food, went every day,
according to my rule, to the public Diwan-khana (hall of audience),
and entered the Jharokha and ghusal-khana (parlour) in my usual manner,
until signs of weakness showed themselves in my skin. [422] Some of
the nobles [423] became aware of this, and informed one or two of my
physicians who were trustworthy, such as Hakim Masihu-z-zaman, Hakim
Abu-l-qasim, and Hakim `Abdu-sh-Shakur. As the fever did not change,
and for three nights I took my usual wine, it brought on greater
weakness. In the time of disquietude, and when weakness prevailed
over me, I went to the mausoleum of the revered Khwaja, and in that
blessed abode prayed to God Almighty for recovery, and agreed to give
alms and charity. God Almighty, in His pure grace and mercy, bestowed
on me the robe of honour of health, and by degrees I recovered. The
headache, which had been very severe, subsided under the remedies
of Hakim `Abdu-sh-Shakur, and in the space of twenty-two days my
state returned to what it was before. The servants of the palace,
and indeed the whole of the people, made offerings for this great
bounty. I accepted the alms of no one, and ordered that everyone in
his own house should distribute what he wished among the poor. On the
10th Shahriwar news came that Taj Khan, the Afghan, governor of Thatta,
[424] had died; he was one of the old nobles of the State.
During my illness it had occurred to me that when I completely
recovered, inasmuch as I was inwardly an ear-bored slave of the
Khwaja (Mu`inu-d-din) and was indebted to him for my existence,
I should openly make holes in my ears and be enrolled among his
ear-marked slaves. On Thursday, 12th Shahriwar, [425] corresponding
to the month of Rajab, I made holes in my ears and drew into each a
shining pearl. When the servants of the palace and my loyal friends
saw this, both those who were in the presence and some who were in
the distant borders diligently and eagerly made holes in their ears,
and adorned the beauty of sincerity with pearls and rubies which were
in the private treasury, and were bestowed on them, until by degrees
the infection caught the Ahadis and others. At the end of the day
of Thursday, the 22nd of the said month, corresponding with the 10th
Sha`ban, the meeting for my solar weighing was arranged in my private
audience hall, and the usual observances were carried out. On the
same day Mirza Raja Bhao Singh, gratified and prosperous, returned to
his native country with the promise that he would not delay (there)
more than two or three months. On the 27th of the month of Mihr news
came that Faridun Khan Barlas had died at Udaipur. In the clan of
Barlas no leader remained but he. As his tribe had many claims on
this State and endless connection with it, I patronised his son Mihr
`Ali, and raised him to the mansab of 1,000 personal and horse. On
account of the approved services of Khan Dauran, I increased by 1,000
his mansab, which became 6,000 personal and 5,000 horse, original and
increase. On the 6th Aban the qarawuls (shikaris) reported that three
tigers had been met at a distance of 6 kos. Starting after midday,
I killed all three of them with a gun. On the 8th of the month the
festival of the Dewali came on. I ordered the attendants of the
palace to have games with each other for two or three nights in my
presence; winnings and losings took place. On the 8th of this month
they brought to Ajmir the body of Sikandar Mu`in Qarawul (Shikari),
who was one of my old attendants and had done much service for me when
I was prince, from Udaipur, which was the place where my son Sultan
Khurram was staying. I ordered the qarawuls and his fellow-tribesmen
to take his body and bury it on the bank of Rana Shankar's tank. He
was a good servant to me. On the 12th Azar two daughters whom Islam
Khan in his lifetime had taken from the Zamindar of Kuch (Behar),
whose country is on the boundary of the eastern provinces, together
with his son and 94 elephants, were brought before me. Some of the
elephants were placed in my private stud. On the same day, Hushang,
Islam Khan's son, came from Bengal, and had the good fortune to kiss
the threshold, and presented as offerings two elephants, 100 muhrs,
and 100 rupees. On one particular night in Day I dreamt that the late
king (Akbar) said to me: "Baba, forgive for my sake the fault of
`Aziz Khan, who is the Khan A`zam." After this dream, I decided to
summon him from the fort (of Gwalior).
There is a ravine in the neighbourhood of Ajmir that is very
beautiful. At the end of this ravine a spring appears which
is collected in a long and broad tank, and is the best water in
Ajmir. This valley and spring are well known as Hafiz Jamal. When I
crossed over to this place I ordered a suitable building to be made
there, as the place was good and fit for developing. In the course of
a year a house and grounds were made there, the like of which those
[426] who travel round the world cannot point out. They made a basin
40 gaz by 40, and made the water of the spring rise up in the basin
by a fountain. The fountain leaps up 10 or 12 gaz. Buildings are laid
on the edge of this basin, and in the same way above, where the tank
and fountain are, they have made agreeable places and enchanting
halls and resting-rooms pleasant to the senses. These have been
constructed and finished off in a masterly style by skilled painters
and clever artists. As I desired that it should be called by a name
connected with my august name, I gave it the name of Chashma-i-Nur,
or 'the fountain of light.' In short, the one fault it has is this,
that it ought to have been in a large city, or at a place by which
men frequently pass. From the day on which it was completed I have
often passed Thursdays and Fridays there. I ordered that they should
think out a chronogram for its completion. Sa`ida Gilani, the head
of the goldsmiths, discovered it in this clever hemistich:--
"The palace [427] of Shah Nuru-d-din Jahangir" (1024).
I ordered them to put a stone with this carved upon it on the top of
the portico of the building.
In the beginning of the month of Day, merchants came from Persia
and brought pomegranates of Yazd and melons from Kariz, which are
the best of Khurasan melons, so many that all the servants of the
Court and the Amirs of the frontiers obtained a portion of them and
were very grateful to the True Giver (God) for them. I had never
had such melons and pomegranates. It seemed as if I had never had
a pomegranate or a melon before. Every year I had had melons from
Badakhshan and pomegranates from Kabul, but they bore no comparison
with the Yazd pomegranates and the Kariz melons. As my revered father
(may God's light be his witness!) had a great liking for fruit, I was
very grieved that such fruits had not come to Hindustan from Persia in
his victorious time, that he might have enjoyed and profited by them. I
have the same regret for the Jahangiri `itr (so-called otto of roses),
that his nostrils were not gratified with such essences. This `itr
is a discovery which was made during my reign through the efforts of
the mother of Nur-Jahan Begam. When she was making rose-water a scum
formed on the surface of the dishes into which the hot rose-water
was poured from the jugs. She collected this scum little by little;
when much rose-water was obtained a sensible portion of the scum
was collected. It is of such strength in perfume that if one drop
be rubbed on the palm of the hand it scents a whole assembly, and
it appears as if many red rosebuds had bloomed at once. There is no
other scent of equal excellence to it. It restores hearts that have
gone and brings back withered souls. In reward for that invention I
presented a string of pearls to the inventress. Salima [428] Sultan
Begam (may the lights of God be on her tomb) was present, and she
gave this oil the name of '`itr-i-Jahangiri.'
Great difference appeared in the climates of India. In this
month of Day, in Lahore, which is between Persia and Hindustan,
the mulberry-tree bore fruit of as much sweetness and fine flavour
as in its ordinary season. For some days people were delighted by
eating it. The news-writers of that place wrote this. In the same
days Bakhtar Khan Kalawant, who was closely connected with `Adil
Khan, inasmuch as he (`Adil) married his own brother's daughter to
him, and made him his preceptor in singing and durpat [429] guftan,
appeared in the habit of a dervish. Summoning him and enquiring into
his circumstances, I endeavoured to honour him. In the first assembly I
gave him 10,000 rupees in cash and 50 pieces of cloth of all sorts and
a string of pearls, and having made him a guest of Asaf Khan, ordered
him to enquire into his circumstances. It did not appear whether he
had come without `Adil Khan's permission, or the latter had sent him
in this guise in order that he might find out the designs of this
Court and bring him news about them. Considering his relationship to
`Adil Khan, it is most probable that he has not come without `Adil
Khan's knowledge. A report by Mir Jamalu-d-din Husain, who at this
time was (our) ambassador at Bijapur, corroborates this idea, for
he writes that `Adil Khan has, on account of the kindness which has
been shown by H.M. (Jahangir) to Bakhtar Khan, been very gracious
to him (Jamalu-d-din). Every day he has shown him more and more
favour, keeps him beside him at nights, and recites to him durpats,
which he (`Adil Khan) has composed, and which he calls nauras [430]
(Juvenilia). "The remainder of the facts will be written on the day
when I get my dismissal."
In these days they brought a bird from the country of Zirbad (Sumatra,
etc., Blochmann, p. 616) which was coloured like a parrot, but had
a smaller body. One of its peculiarities is that it lays hold with
its feet of the branch or perch on which they may have placed it and
then makes a somersault, and remains in this position all night and
whispers to itself. When day comes it seats itself on the top of the
branch. Though they say that animals also have worship, yet it is most
likely that this practice is instinctive. It never drinks water, and
water acts like poison upon it, though other birds subsist on water.
In the month [431] of Bahman there came pieces of good news one
after the other. The first was that the Rana Amar Singh had elected
for obedience and service to the Court. The circumstances of this
affair are these. My son of lofty fortune, Sultan Khurram, by dint
of placing a great many posts, especially in some places where
most people said it was impossible to place them on account of the
badness of the air and water and the wild nature of the localities,
and by dint of moving the royal forces one after another in pursuit,
without regard to the heat or excessive rain, and making prisoners
of the families of the inhabitants of that region, brought matters
with the Rana to such a pass that it became clear to him that if this
should happen to him again he must either fly the country or be made
prisoner. Being without remedy, he chose obedience and loyalty, and
sent to my fortunate son his maternal uncle, Subh Karan, with Haridas
Jhala, who was one of the men in his confidence, and petitioned that
if that fortunate son would ask forgiveness for his offences and
tranquillise his mind, and obtain for him the auspicious sign-manual,
[432] he would himself come and wait on my son, and would send his son
and successor Karan to Court, or he, after the manner of other Rajas,
would be enrolled amongst the servants of the Court and do service. He
also begged that he himself might be excused from coming to Court on
account of his old age. Accordingly my son sent them in company with
his own Diwan Mulla Shukru-llah, whom after the conclusion of this
business I dignified with the title of Afzal Khan, and Sundar Das,
his major-domo, who, after this matter was settled, was honoured with
the title of Ray Rayan, to the exalted Court, and represented the
circumstances. My lofty mind was always desirous, as far as possible,
not to destroy the old families. The real point was that as Rana Amar
Singh and his fathers, proud in the strength of their hilly country and
their abodes, had never seen or obeyed any of the kings of Hindustan,
this should be brought about in my reign. At the request of my son I
forgave the Rana's offences, and gave a gracious farman that should
satisfy him, and impressed on it the mark of my auspicious palm. [433]
I also wrote a farman of kindness to my son that if he could arrange
to settle the matter I should be much pleased. My son also sent them
[434] with Mulla Shukru-llah and Sundar Das to the Rana to console
him and make him hopeful of the royal favour. They gave him the
gracious farman with the sign-manual of the auspicious hand, and it
was settled that on Sunday, the 26th of the month of Bahman, he and
his sons should come and pay their respects to my son. The second
piece of good news was the death of Bahadur, who was descended from
the rulers of Gujarat, and was the leaven of disturbance and mischief
(there). Almighty God had annihilated him in His mercy: he died of a
natural illness. The third piece of news was the defeat of the Warza
(Portuguese Viceroy), who had done his best to take the castle and
port of Surat. In the roadstead [435] of the port of Surat a fight
took place between the English, who had taken shelter there, and
the Viceroy. Most of his ships were burnt by the English fire. Being
helpless he had not the power to fight any more, and took to flight. He
sent some one to Muqarrab Khan, who was the governor of the ports of
Gujarat, and knocked at the door of peace, and said that he had come
to make peace and not to make war. It was the English who had stirred
up the war. Another piece of news was that some of the Rajputs, who
had determined to attack and kill `Ambar (misprinted Ghir), had made
an ambush, and finding a good opportunity had gained access to him,
when a slight wound had been inflicted on him by one of them. The men
who were round `Ambar (again misprinted Ghir) had killed the Rajputs
and taken `Ambar to his quarters. A very little [436] more would have
made an end of him. In the end of this month, when I was employed in
hunting in the environs of Ajmir, Muhammad Beg, [437] an attendant
on my fortunate son Sultan Khurram, came and brought a report from
that son, and stated that the Rana had come with his sons and paid
his respects to the prince; "the details would be made known by the
report." I immediately turned the face of supplication to the Divine
Court, and prostrated myself in thanksgiving. I presented a horse,
an elephant, and a jewelled dagger to the aforesaid Muhammad Beg, and
honoured him with the title of Zu-l-faqar Khan.2 From the report it
appeared that on Sunday, the 26th Bahman, the Rana paid his respects
to my fortunate son with the politeness and ritual that servants pay
their respects, and produced as offerings a famous large ruby that
was in his house, with some decorated articles and seven elephants,
some of them fit for the private stud, and which had not fallen into
our hands and were the only ones left him, and nine horses.
My son also behaved to him with perfect kindness. When the Rana
clasped his feet and asked forgiveness for his faults, he took his
head and placed it on his breast, and consoled him in such a manner
as to comfort him. He presented him with a superb dress of honour,
a jewelled sword, a horse with a jewelled saddle, and a private
elephant with silver housings, and, as there were not more than 100
men with him who were worthy of complete robes of honour (sar u pa),
he gave 100 sarupa and 50 horses and 12 jewelled khapwa (daggers). As
it is the custom of the Zamindars that the son who is the heir-apparent
should not go with his father to pay his respects to a king or prince,
the Rana observed this custom, and did not bring with him Karan,
the son who had received the tika. As the hour (fixed by astrology)
of the departure of that son of lofty fortune from that place was
the end of that same day, he gave him leave, so that, having himself
gone, he might send Karan to pay his respects. After he had gone,
Karan also came and did so. To him also he gave a superb dress of
honour, a jewelled sword and dagger, a horse with a gold saddle, and
a special elephant, and on the same day, taking Karan in attendance,
he proceeded towards the illustrious Court. On the 3rd Isfandarmuz my
return to Ajmir from hunting took place. From the 17th Bahman up to
that date, during which I was hunting, one tigress with three cubs
and thirteen nilgaw had been killed. The fortunate prince encamped
on Saturday, the 10th of the same month, at the village of Devrani,
which is near the city of Ajmir, and an order was given that all the
Amirs should go to meet him, and that each should present an offering
according to his standing and condition, and on the next day, Sunday,
the 11th he should have the good fortune to wait upon me. The next
day the prince, with great magnificence, with all the victorious
forces that had been appointed to accompany him on that service,
entered the public palace. The hour for him to wait on me was when
two watches and two gharis of the day had passed, and he had the
good fortune to pay his respects, and performed his prostrations and
salutations. He presented 1,000 ashrafis and 1,000 rupees by way of
offering, 1,000 muhrs and 1,000 rupees by way of charity. I called
that son forward and embraced him, and having kissed his head and
face, favoured him with special kindnesses and greetings. When he
had finished the dues of service and had presented his offerings and
charities, he petitioned that Karan might be exalted with the good
fortune of prostrating himself and paying his respects. I ordered them
to bring him, and the Bakhshis with the usual ceremonies of respect
produced him. After prostration and salutation were completed, at
the request of my son Khurram, I ordered them to place him in front
on the right hand of the circle. After this I ordered Khurram to
go and wait on his mothers, and gave him a special dress of honour,
consisting of a jewelled charqab (sleeveless vest), a coat of gold
brocade, and a rosary of pearls. After he had made his salutation,
there were presented to him a special dress of honour, a special horse
with a jewelled saddle, and a special elephant. I also honoured Karan
with a superb robe of honour and a jewelled sword, and the Amirs and
mansabdars had the honour of prostrating themselves and paying their
respects, and presented their offerings. Each of these, according to
his service and rank, was honoured with favours. As it was necessary
to win the heart of Karan, who was of a wild nature and had never seen
assemblies and had lived among the hills, I every day showed him some
fresh favour, so that on the second day of his attendance a jewelled
dagger, and on the next day a special Iraqi horse with jewelled saddle,
were given to him. On the day when he went to the darbar in the
female apartments, there were given to him on the part of Nur-Jahan
Begam a rich dress of honour, a jewelled sword, a horse and saddle,
and an elephant. After this I presented him with a rosary of pearls
of great value. On the next day a special elephant with trappings
(talayir) were given. As it was in my mind to give him something
of every kind, I presented him with three hawks and three falcons,
a special sword, a coat of mail, a special cuirass, and two rings,
one with a ruby and one with an emerald. At the end of the month I
ordered that all sorts of cloth stuffs, with carpets and cushions
(named takiya) and all kinds of perfumes, with vessels of gold, two
Gujrati carts, and cloths, should be placed in a hundred trays. The
Ahadis carried them in their arms and on their shoulders to the public
audience hall, where they were bestowed on him.
Sabit Khan [438] at the paradise-resembling assemblies was always
addressing unbecoming speeches and making palpable allusions to
I`timadu-d-daulah and his son Asaf Khan. Once or twice, showing
my dislike of this, I had forbidden him to do so, but this was not
enough for him. As I held very dear I`timadu-d-daulah's good-will
towards me, and was very closely connected with his family, this
matter became very irksome to me. As one night without reason and
without motive he began to speak unpleasant words to him, and said
them to such an extent that signs of vexation and annoyance became
evident in I`timadu-d-daulah's face, I sent him next morning, in the
custody of a servant of the Court, to Asaf Khan to say that as on the
previous evening he had spoken unpleasant words to his father I handed
him over to him, and he might shut him up either there or in the fort
of Gwalior, as he pleased; until he made amends to his father I would
never forgive his fault. According to the order Asaf Khan sent him to
Gwalior fort. In the same month Jahangir Quli Khan was promoted to
an increased mansab, and was given that of 2,500 personal and 2,000
horse. Ahmad Beg Khan, who is one of the old retainers of the State,
committed some faults on the journey to the Subah of Kabul, and Qilij
Khan, who was the commander of the army, had repeatedly complained of
his making himself disagreeable. Necessarily I summoned him to Court,
and in order to punish him handed him over to Mahabat Khan to confine
him in the fort of Rantambhor. Qasim Khan, governor of Bengal, had
sent two rubies as an offering, and they were laid before me. As I
had made a rule that they should bring before me after two watches
of the night had passed the dervishes and necessitous people who had
collected in the illustrious palace, this year also after the same
manner I bestowed on the dervishes with my own hand and in my own
presence 55,000 rupees and 190,000 bighas of land, with fourteen
entire villages, and twenty-six ploughs, [439] and 11,000 kharwar
[440] (ass-loads) of rice; I presented as well 732 pearls, of the
value of 36,000 rupees, to the servants who by way of loyalty had
bored their ears.
At the end of the aforesaid month news came that when four and a
half gharis of night had passed on Sunday the 11th of the month, in
the city of Burhanpur, God Almighty had bestowed on Sultan Parwiz a
son by the daughter of Prince Murad. I gave him the name of Sultan
Dur-andish [441] (long-thoughted).