Chapter XV: Part 15

Three watches of day had passed on Thursday, the 19th, when I mounted with the ladies in order to go round and see the courts and buildings on the Shakkar tank, founded by former rulers of Malwa. As an elephant had not been conferred on I`timadu-d-daulah on account of his government of the Panjab, I gave him on the road one of my private elephants of the name of Jagjot. I remained in this enchanting place until the evening, and was much delighted with the pleasantness and greenness of the surrounding open spaces. After performing my evening prayer and counting my rosary, we returned to our fixed residence. On Friday an elephant named Ran-badal (cloud of war?), which Jahangir Quli Khan had sent as an offering, was brought before me. Having adopted for myself certain special cloths and cloth-stuffs, I gave an order that no one should wear the same but he on whom I might bestow them. One was a nadiri coat that they wear over the qaba (a kind of outer vest). Its length is from the waist down to below the thighs, and it has no sleeves. It is fastened in front with buttons, and the people of Persia call it kurdi (from the country of the Kurds). I gave it the name of nadiri. Another garment is a Tus shawl, which my revered father had adopted as a dress. The next was a coat (qaba) with a folded collar (batu giriban). The ends of the sleeves were embroidered. He had also appropriated this to himself. Another was a qaba with a border, from which the fringes of cloth were cut off and sewn round the skirt and collar and the ends of the sleeve. Another was a qaba of Gujarati satin, and another a chira and waistbelt woven with silk, in which were interwoven gold and silver threads.

As the monthly pay of some of Mahabat Khan's horsemen, according to the regulation of three and two horsed men, for the performance of duty in the Deccan, had become increased and the service [607] had not been performed, I gave an order that the civil officers (diwaniyan) should levy the difference from his jagir. In the end of Thursday, the 26th, corresponding with the 14th Sha`ban, which is the Shab-i-barat, I held a meeting in one of the houses of the palace of Nur-Jahan Begam, which was situated in the midst of large tanks, and summoning the Amirs and courtiers to the feast which had been prepared by the Begam, I ordered them to give the people cups and all kinds of intoxicating drinks according to the desire of each. Many asked for cups, and I ordered that whoever drank a cup should sit according to his mansab and condition. All sorts of roast meats, and fruits by way of relish, were ordered to be placed before everyone. It was a wonderful assembly. In the beginning of the evening they lighted lanterns and lamps all round the tanks and buildings, and a lighting up was carried out the like of which has perhaps never been arranged in any place. The lanterns and lamps cast their reflection on the water, and it appeared as if the whole surface of the tank was a plain of fire. A grand entertainment took place, and the drinkers of cups took more cups than they could carry.

"A feast was arranged that lighted up the heart,
It was of such beauty as the heart desired.
They flung over this verdant mead
A carpet broad as the field of genius.
From abundance of perfume the feast spread far,
The heavens were a musk-bag by reason of incense,
The delicate ones of the garden (the flowers) became glorious,
The face of each was lighted up like a lamp." [608]

After three of four gharis of night had passed, I dismissed the men and summoned the ladies, and till a watch of night (remained?) passed the time in this delightful place, and enjoyed myself. On this day of Thursday several special things had happened. One was that it was the day of my ascension of the throne; secondly, it was the Shab-i-barat, thirdly, it was the day of the rakhi, which has already been described, and with the Hindus is a special day. On account of these three pieces of good fortune I called the day Mubarak-shamba.

On the 27th, Sayyid Kasu was dignified with the title of Parwarish Khan. Wednesday in the same way that Mubarak-shamba had been a fortunate one for me had fallen out exactly the opposite. On this account I gave this evil day the name of Kam-shamba, in order that this day might always fail from the world (lessen). On the next day a jewelled dagger was conferred on Yadgar Qurchi, and I ordered that after this he should be styled Yadgar Beg. I had sent for Jay Singh, son of Raja Maha Singh. On this day he waited on me and presented an elephant as an offering. A watch and three gharis of Mubarak-shamba, the 2nd of Shahriyar, had passed, when I rode to look round the Nil-kund and its neighbourhood; thence I passed on to the plain of the `Id-gah on the top of a mound that was very green and pleasant. Champa flowers and other sweet wild herbs of that plain had bloomed to such a degree that on all sides on which the eye fell the world looked like a world of greenery and flowers. I entered the palace when a watch of night had passed.

As it had been several times mentioned to me that a kind of sweetmeat was obtained from the wild plantain such that dervishes and other poor people made it their food, I wished to enquire into the matter. What I found was that the fruit of the wild plantain was an exceedingly hard and tasteless thing. The real fact is that in the lower part (of the trunk) there is a thing shaped like a fir-cone from which the real fruit of the plantain comes out. On this a kind of sweetmeat forms which has exactly the juiciness and taste of paluda. It appears that men eat this and enjoy it. [609]

With regard to carrier pigeons (kabutar-i-nama-bar), it had been stated to me in the course of conversation that in the time of the Abbaside Caliphs they taught [610] the Baghdad pigeons who were styled 'letter-carriers' (nama-bar), and were one-half larger [611] than the wild pigeon. I bade the pigeon-fanciers to teach their pigeons, and they taught some of them in such a manner that we let them fly from Mandu in the early morning, and if there was much rain they reached Burhanpur by 2 1/2 pahars (watches) of the day, or even in 1 1/2 pahars. If the air was very clear most of them arrived by one pahar of the day and some by four gharis (hours) of the day.

On the 3rd a letter came from Baba Khurram, announcing the coming of Afzal Khan and Ray Rayan and the arrival of the ambassadors of `Adil Khan, and their bringing suitable offerings of jewels, jewelled things, elephants, and horses, offerings such as had never come in any reign or time, and expressing much gratitude for the services and loyalty of the aforesaid Khan, and his faithfulness to his word and duty. He asked for a gracious royal firman bestowing on him the title of farzand (son) and for other favours, which had never yet been vouchsafed in his honour. Since it was very gratifying to me to please my son, and his request was reasonable, I ordered that the Munshis of the mercurial pen should write a farman in the name of `Adil Khan, conveying every kind of affection and favour, and exceeding in his praise ten or twelve times what had been previously written. They were ordered in these farmans to address him as farzand. In the body of the farman I wrote this couplet with my own hand--

"Thou'st become, at Shah Khurram's request,
Renowned in the world as my son" (farzandi).

On the 4th day this farman was sent off with its copy, so that my son Shah Khurram might see the copy and send off the original. On Mubarak-shamba, the 9th, I went with the ladies to the house of Asaf Khan. His house was situated in the valley, and was exceedingly pleasant and bright. It had several valleys round it; in some places there were flowing waterfalls, and mango and other trees exceedingly green and pleasant and shady. Nearly 200 or 300 keora shrubs (gul-i-keora, Pandanus odoratissimus) grew in one valley. In fine that day passed in great enjoyment. A wine party was held and cups were presented to the Amirs and intimates, and an offering from Asaf Khan was laid before me. There were many rare things. I took whatever I approved, and the remainder was given to him. On the same day Khwaja Mir, son of Sultan Khwaja, who had come on a summons from Bangash, waited on me, and presented as an offering a ruby, two pearls, and an elephant. Raja Bhim Narayan, a zamindar of the province of Gadeha, was promoted to the mansab of 1,000 personal and 500 horse. An order was given that a jagir should be provided him out of his native country. On the 12th a letter came from my son Khurram that Raja Suraj Mal, son of Raja Baso, whose territory is near the fort of Kangra, had promised that in the course of a year he would bring that fort into the possession of the servants of the victorious State. He also sent his letter which covenanted for this. I ordered that after comprehending his desires and wishes, and satisfying himself with regard to them, he should send off the Raja to wait on me, so that he might set about the said duty. On the same day, which was Monday, the 11th, corresponding with the 1st Ramazan (2nd September, 1617), after four gharis and seven pals had passed, a daughter was born to my son by the mother of his other children, who was the daughter of Asaf Khan. This child was named Rushanara Begam. As the Zamindar of Jaitpur, which is in the jurisdiction [612] of Mandu, in consequence of wickedness had not had the felicity of kissing the threshold I ordered Fida'i Khan to proceed against him with some mansabdars and 400 or 500 musketeers and plunder his country. On the 13th one elephant was given to Fida'i Khan and one to Mir Qasim, son of Sayyid Murad. On the 16th Jay Singh, son of Raja Maha Singh, who was 12 years old, was promoted to the mansab of 1,000 personal and horse. To Mir Miran, son of Mir Khalilu-llah, I gave an elephant which I had myself approved, and another to Mulla `Abdu-s-Sattar. [613] Bhoj, son of Raja Bikramajit Bhadauriya, after his father's death, came from the Deccan and waited on me, and presented 100 muhrs as an offering. On the 17th it was represented that Raja Kalyan had come from the province of Orissa, and proposed to kiss my threshold. As some unpleasant stories had been told with regard to him, an order was given that they should hand him over with his son to Asaf Khan to enquire into the truth of what had been said about him. On the 19th an elephant was given to Jay Singh. On the 20th 200 horses were added to the mansab of Kesho Das Maru, so that it came, original and increase, to 2,000 personal and 1,200 horse. On the 23rd, having distinguished Allah-dad, the Afghan, with the title of Rashid Khan, I gave him a parm-narm (shawl). The offering of Raja Kalyan Singh, consisting of eighteen elephants, was brought before me; sixteen elephants were included in my private elephant stud, and I presented him with two. As the news had arrived from Iraq of the death of the mother of Mir Miran, daughter of Shah Isma`il II, of the race of the Safawi kings, I sent him a dress of honour and brought him out of the robes of mourning. On the 25th Fida'i Khan received a dress of honour, and, in company with his brother Ruhu-llah and other mansabdars, obtained leave to go to punish the Zamindar of Jaitpur. On the 28th, having come down from the fort with the intention of seeing the Narbada and to hunt in its neighbourhood, I took the ladies with me and halted two stages down on the bank of the river. As there were many mosquitoes and fleas, I did not stay more than one night. Having come the next day to Tarapur I returned on Friday, the 31st. On the 1st of the month of Mihr, Muhsin Khwaja, who at this time had come from Transoxiana, received a dress of honour and 5,000 rupees. On the 2nd, after enquiry into the matters of Raja Kalyan, with regard to which a report had been received, and which Asaf Khan had been appointed to investigate, as he appeared innocent, he enjoyed the good fortune to kiss the threshold, and presented as an offering 100 muhrs and 1,000 rupees. His offering of a string of pearls, consisting of eighty pearls and two rubies with a bracelet with a ruby and two pearls, and the golden figure of a horse studded with jewels, was laid before me. A petition from Fida'i Khan arrived stating that when the victorious army entered the province of Jaitpur the zamindar had elected to run away. He could not oppose Fida'i, and his country was ravaged. He now repented of what he had done, and intended to come to the Court, which was the asylum of the world, and proffer service and obedience. A force with Ruhu-llah was sent in pursuit of him to capture and bring him to Court, or to lay waste and ruin his domain and imprison his women and dependants, who had gone into the country of the neighbouring zamindars. On the 8th Khwaja Nizam came and laid before me fourteen pomegranates from the port of Mukha (Mocha), which they had brought to Surat in the space of fourteen days, and in eight days more to Mandu. The size of these was the same as that of the Thatta pomegranates. Though the pomegranates of Thatta are seedless and these have seeds, [614] yet they are delicate, and in freshness excel those of Thatta. On the 9th news came that while Ruhu-llah was passing through the villages, he came to know that the women and dependants of the Jaitpuri zamindar were in a certain village. He remained outside, and sent men into the village to make enquiries and to bring out the persons who were there. Whilst he was making enquiries, one of the devoted servants of the zamindar came along with the villagers. Whilst his men were scattered here and there, and Ruhu-llah with some servants had brought out his furniture and was sitting on a carpet, that devoted servant came behind him and struck him with a spear; the blow was fatal and the spearhead came out at his breast. The pulling out of the spear and the reverting [615] to his original (dying) of Ruhu-llah took place together. Those who were present sent that wretch to hell. All the men who had been scattered about put on their armour and attacked the village. Those doomed men (khun-giriftaha) had the disgrace of harbouring [616] rebels and sedition-mongers, and were killed in the course of an astronomical hour. They brought into captivity their wives and daughters, and, setting fire to the village, made it so that nothing was seen but heaps of ashes. They then lifted up the body of Ruhu-llah and went and joined Fida'i Khan. With regard to the bravery and zeal of Ruhu-llah, there was no dispute; at the most, his carelessness brought about this turn of fortune. No traces of habitation remained in that region; the zamindar of that place went into the hills and jungles and concealed and obliterated himself. He then sent someone to Fida'i Khan and begged for pardon for his offences. An order was given that he should be allowed quarter and brought to Court.

The mansab of Muruwwat Khan was fixed, original and increase, at 2,000 personal and 1,500 horse, on condition that he should destroy Harbhan, [617] Zamindar of Chandra-kota, from whom travellers endured great annoyance. On the 13th Raja Suraj Mal, together with Taqi, the bakhshi who was in attendance on Baba Khurram, came and waited on me. He represented all his requirements. His engagement to perform the work was approved, and at the request of my son he was honoured with a standard and drums. To Taqi, who had been appointed with him, a jewelled khapwa (dagger) was given, and it was arranged that he should finish his own affairs and start off quickly. The mansab of Khwaja `Ali Beg Mirza, who had been appointed to the defence and administration of Ahmadnagar, was fixed at 5,000 personal and horse. An elephant apiece was given to Nuru-d-din Quli, Khwajagi Tahir, Sayyid Khan Muhammad, Murtaza Khan, and Wali Beg. On the 17th the mansab of Hakim Beg was fixed, original and increase, at 1,000 personal and 200 horse. On the same day, after presenting Raja Suraj Mal with a dress of honour, an elephant, and a jewelled khapwa, and Taqi with a dress of honour, I gave them leave to proceed on duty to Kangra. When those who had been sent by my son of lofty fortune, Shah Khurram, with the ambassadors of `Adil Khan and his offerings, arrived at Burhanpur, and my son's mind was completely satisfied with regard to the affairs of the Deccan, he prayed for the Subahdarship of Berar, Khandesh, and Ahmadnagar for the Commander-in-Chief, the Khankhanan, and sent his son Shah-nawaz Khan, who is really Khankhanan junior, with 12,000 cavalry to hold possession of the conquered provinces. Every place and estate were put as jagirs into the hands of reliable men, and fitting arrangements were made for the government of the province. He left, out of the troops that were with him, 30,000 horse and 7,000 musketeer infantry, and took with him the remainder, amounting to 25,000 horse and 2,000 gunners, and set off to wait on me. On Thursday (Mubarak-shamba), the 20th [618] of the month of Mihr (Divine month), in the twelfth year from my accession, corresponding with the 11th Shawwal, 1026 Hijra (12th October, 1617), after three watches and one ghari had passed, he entered the fort of Mandu auspiciously and joyfully, and had the honour of waiting on me. The duration of our separation was 11 [619] months and 11 days. After he had performed the dues of salutation and kissing the ground, I called him up into the jharokha, and with exceeding kindness and uncontrolled delight rose from my place and held him in the embrace of affection. In proportion as he strove to be humble and polite, I increased my favours and kindness to him and made him sit near me. He presented 1,000 ashrafis and 1,000 rupees as nazar and the same amount by way of alms. As the time did not allow of his presenting all his offerings, he now brought before me the elephant Sarnak (?) (snake-head?), that was the chief of the elephants of `Adil Khan's offering, with a casket of precious stones. After this the bakhshis were ordered to arrange according to their mansabs the Amirs who had come with my son to pay their respects. The first who had the honour of audience was Khan Jahan. Sending for him above, I selected him for the honour of kissing my feet. He presented 1,000 muhrs and 1,000 rupees as nazr, and a casket filled with jewels and jewelled things as an offering (pish-kash). What was accepted of his offering was worth 45,000 rupees. After this `Abdu-llah Khan kissed the threshold, and presented 100 muhrs as nazr. Then Mahabat Khan had the honour of kissing the ground, and presented an offering of 100 muhrs and 1,000 rupees, with a parcel (gathri) [620] of precious stones and jewelled vessels, the value of which was 124,000 rupees. Of these one ruby weighed 11 miskals; an European brought it last year to sell at Ajmir, and priced it at 200,000 rupees, but the jewellers valued it at 80,000 rupees. Consequently the bargain did not come off, and it was returned to him and he took it away. When he came to Burhanpur, Mahabat Khan bought it from him for 100,000 rupees. After this Raja Bhao Singh waited on me, presenting 1,000 rupees as nazr and some jewels and jewelled things as a pish-kash. In the same manner Darab Khan, son of the Khankhanan, Sardar Khan, brother of `Abdu-llah Khan, Shaja`at Khan the Arab, Dayanat Khan, Shah-baz Khan, Mu`tamad Khan bakhshi, Uda Ram, [621] who was one of the chief Amirs of Nizamu-l-mulk, and who came on the promise of my son Shah Khurram and joined the ranks of the loyal, waited on me in the order of their mansabs. After this the Wakils of `Adil Khan had the honour of kissing the ground, and presented a letter from him. Before this, as a reward for the conquest of the Rana, a mansab of 20,000 personal and 10,000 horse was conferred on my son of lofty fortune. When he had hastened to the capture of the Deccan he had obtained the title of Shah, and now, in reward for this distinguished service, I gave him a mansab of 30,000 personal and 20,000 horse and bestowed on him the title of Shah Jahan. An order was given that henceforth they should place a chair in the paradise-resembling assemblies near my throne for my son to sit upon. This was a special favour for my son, as it had never been the custom heretofore. A special dress of honour with a gold-embroidered charqab, with collar, the end of the sleeves and the skirt decorated with pearls, worth 50,000 rupees, a jewelled sword with a jewelled pardala (belt), and a jewelled dagger were bestowed upon him. In his honour I myself came down from the jharokha and poured over his head a small tray of jewels and a tray of gold (coins). [622] Having called Sarnak elephant to me, I saw without doubt that what had been heard in its praise and of its beauty was real. It stood all the tests in size, form, and beauty. Few elephants are to be seen of such beauty. As it appeared acceptable to me, I myself mounted (i.e. drove it) and took it into my private palace, and scattered a quantity of gold coins on its head, and ordered them to tie it up inside the royal palace. With regard to this I gave it the name of Nur-bakht [623] (light of fortune). On Friday, the 24th, Raja Bharjiv, Zamindar of Baglana, came and waited on me. His name is Partap; every Raja there has been of that place they call Bharjiv. He has about 1,500 horse in his pay (mawajib-khwar), and in time of need he can bring into the field 3,000 horse. The province of Baglana lies between Gujarat, Khandesh, and the Deccan. It has two strong forts, Saler and Maler (Muler), and as Maler is in the midst of a populous country he lives there himself. The country of Baglana has pleasant springs and running waters. The mangoes of that region are very sweet and large, and are gathered for nine months from the beginning of immaturity [624] until the end. It has many grapes, but not of the best kinds. The aforesaid Raja does not drop the thread of caution and prudence in dealing with the rulers of Gujarat, the Deccan, and Khandesh. He has never gone himself to see any of them, and if any of them has wished to stretch out his hand to possess his kingdom, he has remained undisturbed through the support of the others. After the provinces of Gujarat, the Deccan, and Khandesh came into the possession of the late king (Akbar), Bharjiv came to Burhanpur and had the honour of kissing his feet, and after being enrolled among his servants was raised to the mansab of 3,000. At this time, when Shah Jahan went to Burhanpur, he brought eleven elephants as an offering. He came to Court in attendance on my son, and in accordance with his friendship and service was dignified with royal favours, and had presented to him a jewelled sword, an elephant, a horse, and dress of honour. After some days I conferred on him three rings of jacinth (yaqut), diamond, and ruby. On Mubarak-shamba (Thursday), the 27th, Nur-Jahan Begam prepared a feast of victory for my son Shah Jahan, and conferred on him dresses of honour of great price, with a nadiri with embroidered flowers, adorned with rare pearls, a sarpich (turban ornament) decorated with rare gems, a turban with a fringe of pearls, a waistbelt studded with pearls, a sword with jewelled pardala (belt), a phul katara (dagger), a sada (?) of pearls, with two horses, one of which had a jewelled saddle, and a special elephant with two females. In the same way she gave his children and his ladies dresses of honour, tuquz (nine pieces) of cloth with all sorts of gold ornaments, and to his chief servants as presents a horse, a dress of honour, and a jewelled dagger. The cost of this entertainment was about 300,000 rupees. Presenting on the same day a horse and dress of honour to `Abdu-llah Khan and Sardar Khan, his brother, I gave them leave to go to the Sarkar of Kalpi, which had been given them in jagir, and also dismissed Shaja`at Khan to his jagir, which was in the Subah of Gujarat, with a dress of honour and an elephant. I dismissed Sayyid Haji, who was a jagirdar of Behar, with a gift of a horse.

It was frequently reported to me that Khan Dauran had become old and weak, so as to be unfit for active duty, and the Subahs of Kabul and Bangash is a land of disturbance, and to subdue the Afghans required riding and active movement. Inasmuch as caution is the condition of rule, I appointed Mahabat Khan, Subahdar of Kabul and Bangash, giving him a dress of honour, and promoted Khan Dauran to the governorship of the province of Thatta. Ibrahim Khan Fath-jang had sent as an offering from Behar forty-nine elephants; these were submitted to me. On this day they brought some sona-kela (golden plantains, bananas) for me. I had never eaten such plantains before. In size they are one finger, and are very sweet and of good flavour; they have no resemblance to plantains of other descriptions, but are somewhat indigestible, so that from the two that I ate I experienced heaviness, whilst others say they can eat as many as seven or eight. Though plantains are really unfit to eat, yet of all the kinds this is the one fit to eat. This year, up to the 23rd of the month of Mihr, Muqarrab Khan sent Gujarat mangoes by post (dak-chauki).

On this date I heard that Muhammad Riza, ambassador of my brother Shah `Abbas, gave up the deposit of his life at Agra through the disease of ishal (diarrhoea). I made the merchant Muhammad Qasim, who had come from my brother, his executor, and ordered that according to the will he should convey his goods and chattels to the Shah, so that he might grant them in his own presence to the heirs of the deceased. Elephants and dresses of honour were conferred on Sayyid Kabir and Bakhtar Khan, Wakils of `Adil Khan. On Mubarak-shamba, the 13th Aban, Jahangir Quli Beg, Turkman, who is dignified with the title of Jan-sipar Khan, came from the Deccan and waited on me. His father was included among the Amirs of Iran. He had come from Persia in the time of the late king Akbar, and having a mansab conferred on him was sent to the Deccan. He was brought up in that Subah. Although he had been appointed to a duty, yet as my son Shah Jahan came at this time to pay his respects and represented his sincerity and devotion, I ordered that he should come post to Court and have the good fortune to wait upon me and then return. On this day I promoted Uda Ram [625] to the rank of 3,000 personal and 1,500 horse. He is a brahmin by caste, and was much relied on by `Ambar. At the time when Shah-nawaz Khan went against `Ambar, Adam Khan Habshi, Jadu Ray, Babu Ray Kayath, Uda Ram, and some other Sardars of Nizamu-l-mulk left him and came to Shah-nawaz Khan. After `Ambar's defeat they, by the persuasions of `Adil Khan and the deceit of `Ambar, left the right road again and gave up their loyalty and service. `Ambar took an oath on the Koran to Adam Khan and put him off his guard, and, capturing him deceitfully, imprisoned him in the fort of Daulatabad, and at last killed him. Babu Ray Kayath and Uda Ram came away and went to the borders of `Adil Khan's dominions, but he would not admit them into his territory. About that time Babu Ray Kayath lost his life (lit. played away the coin of existence) by the deceit of his intimates, and `Ambar sent a force against Uda Ram. He fought well and defeated `Ambar's army. But afterwards, as he could not remain in that country, he threw himself on to the borders of the royal dominions, and, having got a promise, came with his family and dependants and entered the service of my son Shah Jahan. That son distinguished him with favours and kindnesses of all sorts, and made him hopeful by giving him a mansab of 3,000 personal and 1,000 horse, and brought him to Court. As he was a useful servant, I increased this by 500 horse. I also increased the mansab of Shah-baz Khan, who had one of 2,000 personal and 1,500 horse, by 500 more horse, and gave him the faujdarship of the Sarkar of Sarangpur and a part of the Subah of Malwa. A special horse and elephant were given to Khan Jahan. On Mubarak-shamba (Thursday), the 10th of the month, my son Shah Jahan produced his own offerings--jewels and jewelled things and fine cloths and other rare things. These were all laid out in the courtyard of the jharokha, and arranged together with the horses and elephants adorned with gold and silver trappings. In order to please him I came down from the jharokha and looked through them in detail. Among all these there was a fine ruby they had bought for my son at the port of Goa for 200,000 rupees; its weight was 19 1/2 tanks, or 17 miskals, and 5 1/2 surkhs. There was no ruby in my establishment over 12 tanks, and the jewellers agreed to this valuation. Another was a sapphire, among the offerings of `Adil Khan; it weighed 6 tanks and 7 surkhs and was valued at 100,000 rupees. I never before saw a sapphire of such a size and good colour. Another was the Chamkora diamond, also of `Adil Khan's; its weight was 1 tank and 6 surkhs, which they valued at 40,000 rupees. The name of Chamkora is derived from this, that there is in the Deccan a plant called sag-i-chamkora. [626] At the time when Murtaza Nizamu-l-mulk conquered Berar he had gone one day with his ladies round to look at the garden, when one of the women found the diamond in a chamkora vegetable, and took it to Nizamu-l-mulk. From that day it became known as the Chamkora diamond, and came into the possession of the present Ibrahim `Adil Khan during the interregnum (fatarat) of Ahmadnagar. Another was an emerald, also among `Adil Khan's offerings. Although it is from a new mine, it is of such a beautiful colour and delicacy as I have never before seen. Again, there were two pearls, one of the weight of 64 surkhs, or 2 miskals and 11 surkhs, and it was valued at 25,000 rupees. The other weighed 16 surkhs, and was of exceeding roundness and fineness. It was valued at 12,000 rupees. Another was a diamond from the offerings of Qutbu-l-mull, in weight 1 tank, and valued at 30,000 rupees. There were 150 elephants, out of which three had gold trappings, chains, etc., and nine had silver trappings. Though twenty [627] elephants were put into my private stud, five were very large and celebrated. The first, Nur-bakht, which my son presented on the day of meeting, was worth 125,000 rupees. The second, Mahipati, [628] from the offerings of `Adil Khan, was valued at 100,000 rupees; I gave it the name of Durjansal. Another, also from his offerings, was Bakht-buland, and valued at 100,000 rupees; I called it Giran-bar. Another was Qaddus Khan, and the fifth was Imam Riza. They were from the offerings of Qutbu-l-mulk. Each of the two was valued at 100,000 rupees. Again, there were 100 Arab and Iraq horses, most of which were good horses. Of these, three had jewelled saddles. If the private offerings of my son and those of the rulers of the Deccan were to be written down in detail, it would be too long a business. What I accepted of his presents was worth 2,000,000 rupees. In addition to this he gave his (step-)mother, [629] Nur-Jahan Begam, offerings worth 200,000 rupees, and 60,000 rupees to his other mothers and the Begams. Altogether my son's offerings came to 2,260,000 rupees, or 75,000 tumans of the currency of Iran or 6,780,000 current Turan-khanis. Such offerings had never been made during this dynasty. I showed him much attention and favour; in fact, he is a son who is worth grace and kindness. I am very pleased and satisfied with him. May God Almighty allow him to enjoy long life and prosperity!

As I had never in my life had any elephant-hunting, and had a great desire to see the province of Gujarat and to look on the salt sea, and my huntsmen had often gone and seen wild elephants and fixed on hunting-places, it occurred to me to travel through Ahmadabad and look on the sea, and having hunted elephants on my return, when it was hot and the season for hunting them to go back to Agra. With this intention I despatched to Agra Hazrat Maryamu-z-zaman (his mother) and the other Begams and people of the harem with the baggage and extra establishments, and betook myself to a tour in the Subah of Gujarat to hunt, with such as were indispensable with me. On the eve of Friday in the month of Aban (precise date not given, but apparently the 10th), I marched auspiciously and happily from Mandu, and pitched on the bank of the tank of Nalchha. In the morning I went out to hunt and killed a blue bull with my gun. On the eve of Saturday, Mahabat Khan was presented with a special horse and an elephant, and obtained leave to go to his Subah of Kabul and Bangash. At his request I conferred on Rashid Khan a robe of honour, a horse, an elephant, and a jewelled dagger, and appointed him to assist him. I promoted Ibrahim Husain to the post of bakhshi in the Deccan, and Mirak Husain to that of news-writer in the same Subah. Raja Kalyan, [630] son of Raja Todar Mal, had come from the Subah of Orissa; on account of some faults which had been attributed to him he had for some days been forbidden the honour of paying his respects. After enquiry his innocence appeared clear, and having given him a dress of honour and a horse, I appointed him to do duty together with Mahabat Khan in Bangash. On Monday I gave the Wakils of `Adil Khan jewelled turban fringes after the fashion of the Deccan, one of the value of 5,000 rupees and the other worth 4,000 rupees. As Afzal Khan and Ray Rayan had performed the duties of Wakils to my son Shah Jahan in a becoming manner, I raised them both in mansab and honoured Ray Rayan with the title of Bikramajit, which among Hindus is the highest title. In truth he is a servant worthy of patronage. On Saturday, the 12th, I went to hunt and shot two female nilgaw. As the hunting-ground was a long way from this halting-place, I on Monday marched 4 1/2 kos [631] and pitched at the village of Kaid Hasan. On Tuesday, the 15th, I killed three blue bulls, the larger one of which weighed 12 maunds. On this day Mirza Rustam escaped a great danger. [632] It seems that he had taken aim at a mark and fired his gun. Then he reloaded, and as his bullet was very flexible, he rested the gun on his chest and put the bullet between his teeth in order that he might contract it and put it right. By chance the match reached the pan, and his chest at the place where the gun was resting was burnt to the extent of the palm of the hand, and the grains of powder got into his skin and flesh and a wound was made, and he suffered much pain. [633]

On Sunday (?), the 16th, [634] four nilgaw were killed, three females and one bukra [635] nilgaw. On Mubarak-shamba (Thursday) I went to look round a hill valley in which there was a waterfall near the camp. At this season it had but little water, but as for two or three days they had dammed the watercourse and, about the time of my reaching the place, let it loose, it flowed over very well. Its height might be 20 gaz. It separates at the top of the hill and flows down. In this way it is a great boon (ghanimat) on the road. Having enjoyed the usual cups on the edge of the stream and the shade of the hill, I came back to the camp at night. On this day the Zamindar of Jaitpur, whose offences I had forgiven at the request of my son Shah Jahan, had the good fortune of kissing the threshold. On Friday, the 18th, a large blue bull and a bukra, and on Saturday, the 19th, two females, were killed. As my huntsmen represented that there was much game in the parganah of Hasilpur, I left my large camp at this halting-place, and on Sunday, the 20th, and with some of my close attendants, hastened to Hasilpur, a distance of 3 kos. Mir Husamu-d-din, son of Mir Jamalu-d-din Husain Inju, who has the title of `Azudu-d-daulah, was promoted to the mansab, original and increase, of 1,000 personal and 400 horse. I presented Yadgar Husain Qush-begi and Yadgar Qurchi, who had been appointed to do duty in Bangash, with an elephant each. On this day some Husaini grapes without seeds arrived from Kabul; they were very fresh. The tongue of this suppliant at the throne of God fails in gratitude for the favours by which, notwithstanding a distance of three months, grapes from Kabul arrive quite fresh in the Deccan. On Monday, the 21st, three small blue bulls, on Tuesday, the 22nd, one blue bull and three cows, and on Kam-shamba (Wednesday), the 23rd, one cow, were killed. On Mubarak-shamba, the 24th, a feast of cups was held on the bank of the tank of Hasilpur. Cups were presented to my son Shah Jahan and some of the great Amirs and private servants. On Yusuf Khan, son of Husain Khan (Tukriyah), who was of the houseborn ones worthy of patronage, was bestowed the mansab of 3,000 personal and 1,500 horse, original and increase, and he was dismissed to the faujdarship of Gondwana, dignifying him with a gift of a dress of honour and an elephant. Ray Bihari Das, the diwan of the Subah of the Deccan, had the good fortune to kiss the threshold. On Friday Jan-sipar Khan was exalted with a standard, presented with a horse and a dress of honour, and despatched to the Deccan. This day I made a remarkable shot with a gun. By chance there was inside the palace a khirni tree (Mimusops Kauki). A qurisha [636] (?) came and sat on a high branch, and I saw its breast in the midst of it. I fired at it and struck it in the middle of its breast; from where I stood to the top of the branch was 22 gaz. On Saturday, the 26th, marching about 2 kos, I pitched at the village of Kamalpur. On this day I shot a blue bull. [637] Rustam Khan, who was one of the principal attendants of my son Shah Jahan, and who had been appointed from Burhanpur with a body of the royal servants against the zamindars of Gondwana, having taken a tribute of 110 elephants and 120,000 rupees, came this day to wait upon me. Zahid, son of Shaja`at Khan, was given the mansab of 1,000 personal and 400 horse, original and increase. On Sunday, the 27th, I hunted with hawks and falcons. On Monday I killed a large blue bull and a bukra; the bull weighed 12 1/2 maunds. On Tuesday, the 29th, a blue bull was killed. Bahlul Miyana and Allah-yar came from service in Gondwana, and had the good fortune to wait upon me. Bahlul Khan is the son of Hasan Miyana, and Miyana is an Afghan tribe. In the commencement of his career Hasan was a servant of Sadiq Khan, but a servant who recognized the king (worthy of a king's service), and was at last included among the royal servants and died on service in the Deccan. After his death his sons were granted mansabs. He had eight sons, and two of them became famous as swordsmen. The elder brother in his youth gave up the deposit of his life. Bahlul by degrees was promoted to the mansab of 1,000. At this time my son Shah Jahan arrived at Burhanpur, and, finding him worthy of patronage, made him hopeful with a mansab of 1,500 personal and 1,000 horse. As he had not yet waited on me and was very desirous to kiss the threshold, I summoned him to Court. He is in truth a good Khana-zada (household-born one), inasmuch as his heart is adorned with the perfection of bravery and his exterior is not wanting in good appearance. The mansab my son Shah Jahan had bespoken for him was granted at his request, and he was honoured with the title of Sar-buland Khan. Allah-yar Koka was also a brave youth and a servant worthy of patronage. Finding him fit and suitable for service in my presence, I sent for him to Court. On Kam-shamba (Wednesday), the 1st of the month of Azar, I went out to hunt and shot a blue bull. On this day the Kashmir [638] reports were laid before me. One was that in the house of a certain silk-seller two girls were born with teeth, and with their backs as far as the waist joined together, but the heads, arms, and legs were separate; they lived a short time and died. On Mubarak-shamba, the 2nd, on the bank of a tank where my tents were, a feast of cups was held. Presenting Lashkar Khan with a dress of honour and an elephant, I promoted him to the duty of diwan of the Subah of the Deccan, and gave him the mansab of 2,500 personal and 1,500 horse, original and increase. To each of the Wakils of `Adil Khan two [639] kaukab-i-tali` (horoscope star) muhrs, the weight of each of which was 500 ordinary muhrs, were given. I gave a horse and robe of honour to Sar-buland Khan. As fitting service and approved activity were manifest in Allah-yar Koka, I honoured him with the title of Himmat Khan and gave him a dress of honour. On Friday, the 3rd, I marched 4 1/4 kos and halted the royal standards in the parganah of Dikhtan. [640] On Saturday also I marched 4 1/4 kos and halted at the township of Dhar.

Dhar is one of the old cities, and Raja Bhoj, who was one of the great Rajas of Hindustan, lived in it. From his time 1,000 [641] years have passed, and in the time of the Sultans of Malwa it was for a long time the capital. At the time when Sultan Muhammad Tughluq was proceeding to the conquest of the Deccan, he built a fort of cut stone on the top of a ridge. Outside it is very showy and handsome, but inside the fort is devoid of buildings. I ordered them to measure its length, breadth, and height. The length inside the fort was 12 tanab, 7 gaz; the breadth, 17 tanab, 13 gaz, and the breadth of the fort wall 19 1/2 gaz. Its height up to the battlements appeared to be 17 1/2 gaz. The length of the outer circuit (?) of the fort was 55 tanabs. `Amid Shah Ghori, who was called Dilawar Khan, and who in the time of Sultan Muhammad, son of Sultan Firuz, king of Delhi, had complete authority over the province of Malwa, built the Jami` mosque in the inhabitable part outside the fort, and opposite the gate of the mosque fixed a quadrangular iron column. When Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat took the province of Malwa into his own possession, he wished to transfer this column to Gujarat. The artificers did not take proper precautions when they lowered it, and it fell and broke into two pieces, one of them of 7 1/2 gaz and the other of 4 1/4 gaz. The column was 1 1/4 gaz round. As it was lying there useless, I ordered them to take the larger piece to Agra and put [642] it up in the courtyard of the mausoleum of H.M. Akbar, and to burn a lamp on the top of it at night. The aforesaid mosque has two gates. In front of the arch of one gate some sentences in prose have been carved on a stone tablet; their purport is that Amid Shah Ghori founded this mosque in the year 870, [643] and on the arch of the other gate a qasida has been written, and these few couplets are from it--

"The lord of the age the star of the sphere of glory,
Centre of the people of the earth, sun of the zenith of perfection,
Asylum and support of religious law, `Amid Shah Da'ud, [644]
In whose excellent qualities Ghor glories,
Helper and protector of the Faith of the Prophet, Dilawar Khan,
Who has been chosen by the most mighty Lord (God),
Founded the Jami` mosque in the city of Dhar,
At a fortunate, auspicious time, on a day of happy omen.
The date of eight hundred and seven [645] had passed
When the Court of hopes was completed by Fortune."

When Dilawar Khan gave up the deposit of his life there was no king with full dominion over Hindustan, and it was a time of confusion. Hushang, son of Dilawar Khan, who was just and possessed of courage, seeing his opportunity, sat on the throne of sovereignty in Malwa. After his death through destiny the rule was transferred [646] to Mahmud Khalji, son of Khan Jahan, who had been Vizier to Hushang and passed from him to his son Ghiyasu-d-din, and after him to Nasiru-d-din, son of Ghiyasu-d-din, who gave his father poison and sat on the throne of infamy. From him it passed to his son Mahmud. Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat took from Mahmud the province of Malwa. The succession of kings of Malwa ended with the aforesaid Mahmud.

On Monday, the 6th, I went to hunt and shot a female nilgaw. Presenting an elephant to Mirza Sharafu-d-din Husain Kashghari, I dismissed him to duty in the Subah of Bangash. A present of a jewelled dagger, a muhr of 100 tolas, and 20,000 darbs was made to Uda Ram. On Tuesday, the 7th, I shot an alligator in the tank at Dhar. Though only the top of his snout was visible and the rest of his body was hidden in the water, I fired at a guess and hit him in his lungs and killed him with a single shot. An alligator is of the crocodile species and exists in most of the rivers of Hindustan, and grows very large. This one was not so very big. An alligator has been seen (by me) 8 gaz long and 1 gaz in breadth. On Sunday, marching 4 1/2 kos, I halted at Sa`dalpur. In this village there is a stream over which Nasiru-d-din Khalji built a bridge and erected buildings. It is a place like Kaliyada, and both are his works. Although his building is not worthy of praise, yet as it has been built in the river-bed and they have made rivulets and reservoirs, it is somewhat remarkable. At night I ordered them to place lamps all round the canals and streams. On Mubarak-shamba (Thursday), the 9th, a feast of cups was held. On this day I made a present to my son Shah Jahan of a ruby of one colour, weighing 9 tanks and 5 surkh, of the value of 125,000 rupees, with two pearls. This is the ruby which had been given to my father at the time of my birth by Hazrat Maryam-makani, mother of H.M. Akbar, by way of present when my face was shown, and was for many years in his sarpich (turban ornament). After him I also happily wore it in my sarpich. Apart from its value and delicacy, as it had come down as of auspicious augury to the everlasting State, it was bestowed on my son. Having raised Mubariz Khan to a mansab of 1,500 personal and horse, I appointed him to the faujdarship of the province of Mewat, distinguishing him with the present of a dress of honour, a sword, and an elephant. A sword was given to Himmat Khan, son of Rustam Khan. I gave Kamal Khan, the huntsman, who is one of the old servants and is always present with me on hunting expeditions, the title of Shikar Khan (hunting-Khan). Appointing Uda Ram to service in the Subah of the Deccan, I conferred on him a dress of honour, an elephant, and Iraq horses (lit. wind-footed ones), and sent with him for the Commander-in-Chief, Khankhanan, the Ataliq, a special gilt dagger (zar-nishan). On Friday, the 10th, I halted. On Saturday, the 11th, I marched 3 3/4 kos and halted at the village of Halwat. [647] On Sunday, the 12th, marching 5 kos, I halted in the parganah [648] of Badnor. This parganah from the time of my father had been in the jagir of Kesho Das Maru, [649] and in fact had become a kind of watan (native country) to him. He had constructed gardens and buildings. Out of these one was a well (baoli) (step-well probably) on the road, which appeared exceedingly pleasant and well made. It occurred to me that if a well had to be made anywhere on a roadside it should be built like this one. At least two such ought to be made.

On Monday, the 13th, I went to hunt and shot a blue bull. From the day on which the elephant Nur-bakht was put into the special elephant stables, there was an order that he should be tied up in the public palace (court). Among animals elephants have the greatest liking for water; they delight to go into the water, notwithstanding the winter and the coldness of the air, and if there should be no water into which they can go, they will take it from a water-bag (mashk) with their trunks and pour it over their bodies. It occurred to me that however much an elephant delights in water, and it is suited to their temperament, yet in the winter the cold water must affect them. I accordingly ordered the water to be made lukewarm (as warm as milk) before they (the elephants) poured it into their trunks. On other days when they poured cold water over themselves they evidently shivered, but with warm water, on the contrary they were delighted. This usage is entirely my own.