The Emperor towards the end of the year nine hundred and
seventy-three (973), returned, and set his face towards the capital,
and on Friday the 7th of the month Ramzán*
of the aforesaid year
he came to Ágrah and spent his time in festivities. Thence he went
to his new palace Nagar-Chín, and occupied himself in Chougán-
And in this year died Muḥammad Yúsuf Khán, son of Atkah Khán, through continual wine-bibbing:—
“Three things are fatal to men,
And bring the healthy to sickness:(P. 85) Continual indulgence in wine and women,
And the cramming of food upon food.”
In this year the Emperor appointed Mahdí Qásim Khán, and some of the Amírs such as Ḥusain Khán, his relative, and Khálid Khán and others, with 3000, or 4000 horsemen to act against Áçaf Khán in the district of Gaṛha Katangah.* Then Áçaf Khán left the fortress of Chourágaṛh, and sent a petition to Court asking for the pardon of his offences. But, when this was not accepted, he wrote a letter to Khán Zamán, and in concert with Wazír Khán his own brother went to Jounpúr to the Khán Zamán. The Khán Zamán at the first meeting bore himself so haughtily towards him, that Áçaf Khán repented of having come:—
“Alas that he came out of the well,
And fell into the snare!”And Mahdí Qásim Khán, having got the district of Gaṛha into his power, gave it to the Jágírdárs, and then giving up his pursuit of Áçaf Khán went by way of Hindia towards the sacred Mekka, which he had the happiness to reach. And Ḥusain Khán with his own men went after him as far as the fortress of Satwás near the kingdom of Dekkan.
Then all of a sudden Ibráhím Ḥusain Mírzá and Sháh Mírzá and Muḥammad Ḥusain Mírzá, sons of Sulṭán Muḥammad Mírzá (who was descended on his father's side from Taimúr, the Fortunate,* and on his mother's side from Sulṭán Ḥusain Mírzá),* an old man and full of years, to whom the Emperor had given the Parganna of A'zampúr as his jágír, raised the standard of revolt in the district of Sambhal.* And, after the subjugation of the Khán Zamán, and the Emperor had turned towards the Panjáb against Mírzá Muḥam-
mad Ḥakím, they fleeing before Mun'im Khán, the Khán Khánán, plunged into the midst of the district and came to Dihlí, and eventually raised the standard of rebellion in the kingdom of Málwah, [P. 86]. From this place two of the brothers, Sháh Mírzá, and Muḥammad Ḥusain Mírzá, went and laid seige to Hindia. But Ibráhím Ḥusain Mírzá went towards Satwás, which was 10 cosses distant, and Ḥusain Khán together with one named Muqarrab Khán, a chief of the Amírs of the Dekkan, shut himself up in Satwás. Of stores there were none in the fort, so that they were reduced to eating the flesh of horses, camels, and cows, and the matter touched the life, and the knife reached the bone, and yet no assistance came from any side; still, however much Mírzá Ibráhím Ḥusain might bring forward proposals of peace, the garrison would not give in. Till, one morning, they put the head* of Qadam Khán (Muqarrab Khán's brother, who had been killed at Hindia), upon the point of a lance, and showed it to Muqarrab Khán, and let him know that Hindia was taken, and that his kith and kin and the inhabitants of the place were all prisoners. Moreover they brought his mother, and setting her where he could see her, said: “Since the family and dependants of Muqar- rab Khán are in this condition, with what confidence do you go on fighting?” Then Muqarrab Khán, being helpless, and rather a Muqarrab-ghulám* than a Muqarrab-Khán, went and saw the Mírzás. Then, having granted Ḥusain Khán quarter, and got him out under treaty, they at first tried to press him into their service, but when he did not seem to see it, they let him go unharmed.