Chapter X: Part 10

It had been made a rule that the events of the Subahs should be reported according to the boundaries of each, and news-writers from the Court had been appointed for this duty. This being the rule that my revered father had laid down, I also observe it, and much gain and great advantage are to be brought about by it and information is acquired about the world and its inhabitants. If the advantages of this were to be written down it would become a long affair. At this time the news-writer of Lahore reported that at the end of the month of Tir ten men had gone from the city to Amanabad, which lies at a distance of 12 kos. As the air was very hot, they took shelter under a tree. Soon afterwards wind and a dust-storm (chakri) sprang up, and when it blew on that band of men they trembled, and nine of them died under the tree, and only one remained alive; he was ill for a long time, and recovered with great difficulty. In that neighbourhood such bad air was created that numerous birds who had their nests in that tree all fell down and died, and that the wild beasts (beasts of the plain, perhaps cattle) came and threw themselves on to the cultivated fields, and, rolling about on the grass, gave up their lives. In short, many animals perished. On Thursday, the 13th Amurdad, having said my prayers (lit. counted my rosary), I embarked on board a boat for the purpose of hunting in the village of Samonagar, which is one of my fixed hunting-places. On the 3rd Shahriwar, Khan `Alam, whom I had sent for from the Deccan in order to despatch him to Iraq in company with the ambassador of the ruler of Iran, came and waited on me at this place. He offered 100 muhrs. As Samonagar was in Mahabat Khan's jagir, he had prepared a delightful halting-place there on the bank of the river, and it pleased me greatly. He presented offerings of an elephant and an emerald ring. The former was put into my private stud. Up to the 6th Shahriwar I was employed in hunting. In these few days 47 head of antelope, male and female, and other animals were killed. At this time Dilawar Khan sent as an offering a ruby, which was accepted. I sent a special sword for Islam Khan. I increased the mansab of Hasan `Ali Turkuman, which was 1,000 personal and 700 horse, by 500 personal and 100 horse. At the end of Thursday, the 20th of the same month, in the house of Maryam-zamani, my solar weighing took place. I weighed myself according to the usual custom against metals and other things. I had this year attained to the age of 44 solar years. On the same day Yadgar `Ali, ambassador of the ruler of Iran, and Khan `Alam, who had been nominated to accompany him from this side, received their leave to go. On Yadgar `Ali there were bestowed a horse with a jewelled saddle, a jewelled sword, a vest without sleeves with gold embroidery, an aigrette with feathers and a jigha (turban ornament), and 30,000 rupees in cash, altogether 40,000 rupees, and on Khan `Alam a jewelled khapwa or phul katara (a sort of dagger) with a pendant of royal pearls. On the 22nd of the same month I visited the venerated mausoleum of my revered father at Bihishtabad, riding on an elephant. On the way 5,000 rupees in small coin were scattered round, and I gave other 5,000 rupees to Khwaja Jahan to divide among the dervishes. Having said my evening prayers, I went back to the city in a boat. As the house of I`timadu-d-daulah was on the bank of the river Jumna, I alighted there until the end of the next day. Having accepted what pleased me of his offerings, I went towards the palace; I`tiqad Khan's house was also on the bank of the river Jumna; at his request I disembarked there with the ladies, and walked round the houses he had lately built there. This delightful place pleased me greatly. He had produced suitable offerings of cloth stuffs and jewels and other things; these were all laid before me and most of them were approved. When it was near evening I entered the auspicious palace. As the astrologers had fixed an hour in this night for starting for Ajmir, when seven gharis of the night of Monday, the 2nd Sha`ban, corresponding with the 24th Shahriwar, had passed, I started in happiness and prosperity with intent to go there from the capital of Agra. In this undertaking two things were agreeable to me, one a pilgrimage to the splendid mausoleum of Khwaja Mu`inu-d-din Chishti, from the blessing of whose illustrious soul great advantages had been derived by this dignified family, and whose venerable shrine I had not visited after my accession to the throne. The second was the defeat and beating back of the rebel Rana Amar Singh, who is one of the most considerable of the Zamindars and Rajas of Hindustan, and whose headship and leadership and those of his ancestors all the Rajas and Rays of this province agree to. The administration has for long been in the hands of this family, and they have long borne rule towards the East, that is the Purab. They became in that time well known under the title of Rajas. After this they fell on the Deccan [400] and took possession of many of the countries of that region. In the place of Raja they have taken the title of Rawal. After this they came into the hill country of Mewat, and by degrees got into their possession the fort of Chitor. From that date until this day, which is in the eighth year after my accession, 1,471 years have passed. [401]

There are twenty-six others of this caste who have ruled for 1,010 years. They have the title of Rawal, and from the Rawal who was first known as Rawal down to Rana Amar Singh, the present Rana, there are twenty-six individuals who have ruled for the space of 461 years. During this long time they have never bent their necks in obedience to any of the kings of the country of Hindustan, and have for most of the time been rebellious and troublesome, so much so that in the reign of the late king Babar, Rana Sanga collected together all the Rajas, Rays, and Zamindars of this province, and fought a battle in the neighbourhood of Biyana with 180,000 horse and several lakhs of foot-soldiers. By the aid of Almighty God and the assistance of fortune the victorious army of Islam prevailed against the infidel forces, and a great defeat happened to them. The details of this battle have been given in the Memoirs of King Babar. My revered father (may his bright tomb be the abode of unending Grace) exerted himself greatly to put down these rebels, and several times sent armies against them. In the twelfth year after his accession he set himself to capture the fort of Chitor, which is one of the strongest forts of the inhabited world, and to overthrow the kingdom of the Rana, and after four months and ten days of siege took it by force from the men of Amar Singh's father, after much fighting, and returned after destroying the fort. Every time the victorious forces pressed him hard in order to capture him or make him a fugitive, but it so happened that this was not effected. In the end of his reign, on the same day and hour that he proceeded to the conquest of the Deccan, he sent me with a large army and reliable Sardars against the Rana. By chance these two affairs, for reasons which it would take too long to recount, did not succeed. At last I came to the throne, and as this matter was only half done, the first army I sent to the borders was this one. Making my son Parwiz its leader, the leading nobles who were at the capital were appointed to this duty. I sent abundant treasure and artillery with him. As every matter depends on its own season, at this juncture the unhappy affair of Khusrau occurred, and I had to pursue him to the Panjab. The province and the capital of Agra remained void. I had necessarily to write that Parwiz should return with some of the Amirs and take charge of Agra and the neighbourhood. In short, this time again the matter of the Rana did not go off as it should. When by the favour of Allah my mind was at rest from Khusrau's disturbance, and Agra became again the alighting place of the royal standards, a victorious army was appointed under the leadership of Mahabat Khan, `Abdu-llah Khan, and other leaders, and from that date up to the time when the royal standards started for Ajmir his country was trodden under foot by the victorious forces. As finally the affair did not assume an approved form, it occurred to me that, as I had nothing to do at Agra, and I was convinced that until I myself went there the affair would not be set to rights, I left the fort of Agra and alighted at the Dahrah garden. On the next day the festival of the Dasahra took place. According to the usual custom they decorated the elephants and horses, and I had them before me. As the mothers and sisters of Khusrau repeatedly represented to me that he was very repentant of his deeds, the feelings (lit. sweat) of fatherly affection having come into movement, I sent for him and determined that he should come every day to pay his respects to me. I remained for eight days in that garden. On the 28th news arrived that Raja Ram Das, who was doing service in Bangash and the neighbourhood of Kabul with Qilij Khan, had died. On the 1st of the month of Mihr I marched from the garden, and dismissed Khwaja Jahan to look after the capital of Agra and guard the treasure and the palace, and gave him an elephant and a special robe (fargul). On the 2nd Mihr news arrived that Raja Baso had died in the thanah of Shahabad, [402] which is on the border of the territory of Amar. On the 10th of the same month I halted at Rup Bas, which has now been named Amanabad. Formerly this district had been given as jagir to Rup Khawass. Afterwards, bestowing it on Amanu-llah, son of Mahabat Khan, I ordered it to be called by his name. Eleven days were passed at this halting-place. As it is a fixed hunting-place, I every day mounted to go hunting, and in these few days 158 antelopes, male and female, and other animals were killed. On the 25th of the month I marched from Amanabad. On the 31st, corresponding with the 8th Ramazan, Khwaja Abu-l-hasan, whom I had sent for from Burhanpur, came and waited on me, and presented as offerings 50 muhrs, 15 jewelled vessels, and an elephant, which I placed in my private stud. On the 2nd Aban, corresponding with the 10th Ramazan, news came of the death of Qilij Khan. He was one of the ancient servants of the State, and obtained the mercy of God in the 80th year of his age. He was employed at Peshawar in the duty of keeping in order the Afghans full of darkness. [403] His rank was 6,000 personal and 5,000 horse. Murtaza Khan Dakhani was unrivalled in the art of pulta-bazi, which in the language of the Dakhanis they call yaganagi, and the Moguls shamshir-bazi, 'sword-play' (fencing). For some time I studied it with him. At this time I exalted him with the title of Warzish Khan (Exercise-Khan). I had established a custom that deserving people and dervishes should be brought before me every night, so that I might bestow on them, after personal enquiry into their condition, land, or gold, or clothes. Amongst these was a man who represented to me that the name Jahangir, according to the science of abjad (numerals reckoned by letters), corresponded to the great name "Allah Akbar." [404] Considering this a good omen, I gave him who discovered (this coincidence) land, a horse, cash, and clothing. On Monday, the 5th Shawwal, corresponding to the 26th Aban, the hour for entering Ajmir was fixed. On the morning of the said day I went towards it. When the fort and the buildings of the shrine of the revered Khwaja appeared in sight, I traversed on foot the remainder of the road, about a kos. I placed trustworthy men on both sides of the road, who went along giving money to fakirs and the necessitous. When four gharis of day had passed, I entered the city and its inhabited portion, and in the fifth ghari had the honour of visiting the venerated mausoleum. After visiting it I proceeded to the auspicious palace, and the next day ordered all those present in this honoured resting-place, both small and great, belonging to the city, and travellers, to be brought before me, that they might be made happy with numerous gifts according to their real circumstances. On the 7th Azar I went to see and shoot on the tank of Pushkar, which is one of the established praying-places of the Hindus, with regard to the perfection of which they give (excellent) accounts that are incredible to any intelligence, and which is situated at a distance of three kos from Ajmir. For two or three days I shot water-fowl on that tank, and returned to Ajmir. Old and new temples which, in the language of the infidels, they call Deohara [405] are to be seen around this tank. Among them Rana Shankar, who is the uncle of the rebel Amar, and in my kingdom is among the high nobles, had built a Deohara of great magnificence, on which 100,000 rupees had been spent. I went to see that temple. I found a form cut out of black stone, which from the neck above was in the shape of a pig's head, and the rest of the body was like that of a man. The worthless religion of the Hindus is this, that once on a time for some particular object the Supreme Ruler thought it necessary to show himself in this shape; on this account they hold it dear and worship it. [406] I ordered them to break that hideous form and throw it into the tank. After looking at this building there appeared a white dome on the top of a hill, to which men were coming from all quarters. When I asked about this they said that a Jogi lived there, and when the simpletons come to see him he places in their hands a handful [407] of flour, which they put into their mouths and imitate the cry of an animal which these fools have at some time injured, in order that by this act their sins may be blotted out. I ordered them to break down that place and turn the Jogi out of it, as well as to destroy the form of an idol there was in the dome. Another belief they have is that there is no bottom to this tank. After enquiry it appeared that it is nowhere deeper than 12 cubits. I also measured it round and it was about 1 1/2 kos.

On the 16th Azar news came that the watchmen had marked down a tigress. I immediately went there and killed it with a gun and returned. After a few days a nilgaw (blue bull) was killed, of which I ordered them to take off the skin in my presence and cook it as food for the poor. Over 200 people assembled and ate it, and I gave money with my own hand to each of them. In the same month news came that the Franks of Goa had, contrary to treaty, plundered four cargo vessels [408] that frequented the port of Surat in the neighbourhood of that port: and, making prisoners a large number of Musulmans, had taken possession of the goods and chattels that were in those ships. This being very disagreeable to my mind, I despatched Muqarrab Khan, who is in charge of the port, on the 18th Azar, giving him a horse and elephant and a dress of honour, to obtain compensation for this affair. On account of the great activity and good services of Yusuf Khan and Bahaduru-l-mulk in the Subah of the Deccan, I sent standards for them.

It has been written that my chief object, after my visit to the Khwaja, was to put a stop to the affair of the rebel Rana. On this account I determined to remain myself at Ajmir and send on Baba Khurram, my fortunate son. This idea was a very good one, and on this account, on the 6th of Day, at the hour fixed upon, I despatched him in happiness and triumph. I presented him with a qaba (outer coat) of gold brocade with jewelled flowers and pearls round the flowers, a brocaded turban with strings of pearls, a gold woven sash with chains of pearls, one of my private elephants called Fath Gaj, with trappings, a special horse, a jewelled sword, and a jewelled khapwa, with a phul katara. In addition to the men first appointed to this duty under the leadership of Khan A`zam, I sent 12,000 more horse with my son, and honoured their leaders, each according to his condition, with special horses and elephants and robes of honour, and dismissed them. Fida'i Khan was nominated to the paymastership of this army. At the same time Safdar Khan was despatched to the government of Kashmir in place of Hashim Khan. He received a horse and robe of honour. On Wednesday, the 11th, Khwaja Abu-l-hasan was made general paymaster (bakhshi-kul), and received a dress of honour. I had ordered them to make a large caldron [409] at Agra for the revered mausoleum of the Khwaja. On this day it was brought, and I ordered them to cook food for the poor in that pot, and collect together the poor of Ajmir to feed them whilst I was there. Five thousand people assembled, and all ate of this food to their fill. After the food I gave money to each of the dervishes with my own hand. At this time Islam Khan, governor of Bengal, was promoted to the mansab of 6,000 personal and horse, and a flag was given to Mukarram Khan, son of Mu`azzam Khan.

On the 1st of Isfandarmuz, corresponding with the 10th Muharram, 1023 (20th February, 1614), I left Ajmir to hunt nilgaw, and returned on the 9th. I halted at the fountain of Hafiz Jamal, [410] two kos from the city, and passed the night of Friday [411] there. At the end of the day I entered the city. In these twenty days ten nilgaw had been killed. As the good service of Khwaja Jahan and the smallness of his force for the defence and government of Agra and that neighbourhood were brought to my notice, I increased his mansab by 500 personal and 100 horse. On the same day Abu-l-fath Dakhani came from his jagir and waited on me. On the 3rd of the same month news came of the death of Islam Khan; he had died on Thursday, the 5th Rajab, in the year 1022 (21st August, 1613). In one day, without any previous illness, this inevitable event occurred. He was one of those born and brought up in the house (house-born). The naturally good disposition and knowledge of affairs that showed themselves in him were seen in no one else. He ruled Bengal with entire authority, and brought within the civil jurisdiction of the province countries that had never previously come under the sway of any of the jagirdars or into the possession of any of the Chiefs of the State. If death had not overtaken him he would have done perfect service.

The Khan A`zam had himself prayed that the illustrious prince should be appointed to the campaign against the Rana, yet, notwithstanding all kinds of encouragement and gratification on the part of my son (Shah Jahan), he would not apply himself to the task, but proceeded to act in his own unworthy manner. When this was heard by me, I sent Ibrahim Husain, who was one of my most trusty attendants, to him, and sent affectionate messages to him to say that when he was at Burhanpur he had daily begged this duty of me, as he considered it equivalent to the happiness of both worlds, and had said in meetings and assemblies that if he should be killed in this enterprise he would be a martyr, and if he prevailed, a ghazi. I had given him whatever support and assistance of artillery he had asked for. After this he had written that without the movement of the royal standards to those regions the completion of the affair was not free of difficulty. By his counsel I had come to Ajmir, and this neighbourhood had been thus honoured and dignified. Now that he had himself prayed for the prince, and everything had been carried out according to his counsel, why did he withdraw his foot from the field of battle and enter the place of disagreement? To Baba Khurram, from whom up till now I had never parted, and whom I sent in pure reliance on his (Khan A`zam's) knowledge of affairs, he should show loyalty and approved good-will, and never be neglectful day or night of his duty to my son. If, contrariwise, he should draw back his foot from what he had agreed to, he must know that there would be mischief. Ibrahim Husain went, and impressed these words on his mind in the same detailed way. It was of no avail, as he would not go back from his folly and determination. When Baba Khurram saw that his being in the affair was a cause of disturbance, he kept him under observation and represented that his being there was in no way fitting, and he was acting thus and spoiling matters simply on account of the connection he had with Khusrau. [412] I then ordered Mahabat Khan to go and bring him from Udaipur, and told Muhammad Taqi, the diwan of buildings, to go to Mandesur and bring his children and dependants to Ajmir.

On the 11th of the month news came that Dulip, son of Ray Singh, who was of a seditious and rebellious disposition, had been heavily defeated by his younger brother, Rao Suraj Singh, who had been sent against him, and that he was making disturbance in one of the districts of the Sarkar of Hissar. About this time Hashim of Khost, the faujdar, and the jagirdars of that neighbourhood seized him, and sent him as a prisoner to Court. As he had misbehaved repeatedly, he was capitally punished, and this was a warning to many of the seditious. In reward for this service an increase of 500 personal and 200 horse was made to the mansab of Rao Suraj Singh. On the 14th of the month a representation came from my son Baba Khurram that the elephant `Alam-guman, of which the Rana was very fond, together with seventeen other elephants, had fallen into the hands of the warriors of the victorious army, and that his master would also soon be captured.

THE NINTH NEW YEAR'S FEAST AFTER MY AUSPICIOUS ACCESSION.

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.