One day Shaikh Sa'du-lla, father of the writer of this book, who from infancy was attached to him, went to him unexpectedly, and saw papers before him which he tore one by one into pieces and gave to his slave, who steeped them in a basin of water. The Shaikh asked him what he was doing. The Míán replied that some great and noble persons had taken money from him which he did not give them with the intention of receiving back. They, however, had sent him the bonds. Now that he was without employment or means of subsistence, he thought that he might not be able to resist the temptation of knowing himself to be in possession of these bonds, which amounted in value to three lacs of tankas, and might wish to avail himself of them. Also that his sons after his death might come forward and claim the money, if he did not destroy these bonds during his lifetime.
His friends also had similar noble dispositions. My father, for instance (may God be merciful to him!), had a numerous family. When Zainu-d dín's expenses were reduced, my father's family and friends remonstrated with him for continuing on his establishment, observing that other persons holding offices of greater emoluments no longer remained in the service of the Míán, whereas he remained for two or three years. He replied that it was through the wise dispensation of God that he got his employment, that people who are compelled to work for their livelihood, if pay be withdrawn, will no longer serve, and that what he wished was moderate, and that his desires were satisfied. He had accumulated, he said, enough during his service to enable him to maintain himself and the Míán for two or three years. And upon his friends again remarking that they well knew he had nothing of his own, he said he would sell his houses and books, he would have no care as long as anything remained in his possession. So, without receiving any salary, he remained three years with Míán Zainu-d dín, and after his death, four years with his sons, serving the family altogether for a period of fifty-five years.
There was a Mughal by name Mámún. Having resigned his situation at some other place, he entered the service of Míán Zainu-d dín. Soon after Sultán Sikandar died, and the Míán became poor, the Mughal remained still faithfully attached to him, for he was a very good man. * * *
One day, his son was leading a mare to the river to water, and in the sand he felt something under his foot. The boy took it up, and saw that it was a scabbard of gold. He brought it immediately to his father, and showed it to him, saying that he had found it in the bed of the river. Mámún took the boy by the hand and brought the scabbard to Míán Zainu-d dín, requesting him to make it over to its owner. The Míán sent it to the wazír's office. In those days it was a rule that if any person found a thing lying in any place, he was to bring it to the police, and it was hung at the arch of the city gate. If an owner appeared, and on inquiry established his claim, it was delivered to him. It appeared, that a Hindu named Jugráj, was passing through the gate, when he recognized the scabbard, and informed the police that it belonged to him. They asked him if he remembered how much the gold on it weighed. He replied fifteen tolas. After inquiry the article was given over to him. * * On ascertaining who the discoverer was, Jugráj offered him two hundred tankas, but he would not accept them. His friends advised him to take the money, because it was offered to him as a free gift. But he strenuously declined to receive any remuneration.
On every Monday the Míán repeated the prayers khatam durúd 200,000 times; and gave boiled rice worth four hundred tankas in alms to the name of the Prophet, may peace be to him! On Thursdays he repeated the ikhlás 100,000 times, and prepared sweetmeats at the expense of four hundred tankas to be offered in the name of the Saint Ghausu-s Saklain. These oblations were made without any deviation twice every week. What a fortunate time it was when the King was so good, and the officers so worthy of him!
The second brother, whose name was Míán Zabaru-d dín, was also exceedingly pious. * * * He generally lived eight months in Dehlí, and four months in Ágra. As long as he was in the former place he every Monday invited to the Shams-i Hauz an assembly of learned and religious men, Súfís, poets, literary persons, singers, and musicians. He had a very large and liberal kitchen, from which victuals were freely distributed. On Wednesdays, an assembly of the same people was convened in the monastery of Sultánu-l Masháikh, on the banks of the Jumna. In the same manner the party assembled every Thursday at the place where the print of the Prophet's feet was preserved in one of the palaces in Fírozábád. On Fridays he attended the weekly prayers in the city. Again, on Saturdays a party was collected in a palace at the village of Múlcha, and there he amused himself with hunting for two days. He also took there his female establishment and tents with him; but if he went to any place for one night only, they never accompanied him.
Khawás Khán, who was the predecessor of Míán Bhúa, having been ordered by the Sultán to march towards Nagarkot, in order to bring the hill country under subjection, succeeded in conquering it, and having sacked the infidels' temple of Debí Shankar, brought away the stone which they worshipped, together with a copper umbrella, which was placed over it, and on which a date was engraved in Hindu characters, representing it to be two thousand years old. When the stone was sent to the King, it was given over to the butchers to make weights out of it for the purpose of weighing their meat. From the copper of the umbrella, several pots were made, in which water might be warmed, and which were placed in the masjids and the King's own palace, so that every one might wash his hands, feet, and face in them, and perform his purifications before prayers. Previous to the time when Khawás Khán was appointed, the jágírs of some people of that part of the country amounted to three lacs of tankas. He increased them to fifteen lacs. When he returned to the Court, being seized by a fatal sickness, he intimated that he had something to say to the King, and was asked whether he would send the message, or wished to speak himself. He replied he wished to speak personally. The King said if he had strength enough to come, he might, and if not he himself would go to him. Upon this, the Khán came to Court, seated in his pálkí, and informed the King that he had brought the díwán's and his own accounts, and requested that somebody might be ordered to examine them. His Majesty replied, “I had appointed you my Viceroy, invested with full power. What accounts have I to settle with you? What you did was just as if I had done it myself.” The Khán again said, “I have given some things to people without your royal orders; if you maintain the grants, it is good; if not, you may deduct their value from my pay.” There were some meritorious people who had very little maintenance, and some again were entirely destitute. Their provision formerly amounted only to three lacs of tankas, which he had increased to fifteen lacs. His Majesty said, “I have just told you that you were my Viceroy, and I know that whatever was done, was done for my advantage, and therefore I readily sanction it.” He then ordered the papers to be brought, and had them all steeped in water and obliterated.
Among the great nobles of Sultán Sikandar's time was Saif Khán Acha-khail. He had 6000 horse under him, and was deputy of 'Azam Humáyún, the jágírdár of Karra, who used to buy 2000 copies of the Kur'án every year, and had 45,000 horse under his command, and 700 elephants. There were also Daulat Khán-khání, who had 4000 cavalry; 'Alí Khán Ushí, who had 4000 also; Fíroz Khán Sarwání, who had 6000. Amongst other nobles there were 25,000 more distributed. Ahmad Khán also, the son of Jumál Khán Lodí Sárang-khání, when he was appointed to Jaunpúr, had 20,000 cavalry under him. Sultán Sikandar went twice against the infidels of Bhata, when the rájá fled, and placed the river between him and pursuit. But his country was ravaged before the Imperial troops returned.