It was also ordered in these days, that tankas of gold and silver, ten and twenty times heavier than the current gold mohur and rupee, should be struck.* The legend on the face of the golden tanka was “Jahángír Sháh, A.H. 1027,” and on the reverse, “Struck at Khambáit, the 12th year of H. M. reign.” For the silver tanka, on one side, “Jahángír Sháh, A.H. 1027,” with a verse round it, the meaning of which is, “This coin was struck by Jahángír Sháh, the ray of victory.” On the other side was impressed, “Struck at Khambáit, the 12th year of H. M. reign,” with this verse round it, “After the conquest of the Dakhin, he came from Mándú to Gujarát.” In no reign before this had tankas been coined except of copper. The tankas of gold and silver were inventions of my own, and I called them Jahángírí tankas.*
Intelligence arrived from the eastern provinces that Mukarram Khán, son of Mu'azzam Khán, who had been appointed to the governorship of Orissa, had conquered the territory of Khúrda; and that its Rájá had sought protection at the Court of Rájá Mahendra. As a reward of this service, the Khán was favoured with a mansab of 3000 personal allowance and the command of 2000 horse. He was also honoured with a kettle-drum, a horse, and a khil'at. Between the province of Orissa and Golkonda, there were the territories of two zamíndárs, viz. the Rájá of Khúrda and the Rájá Mahendra. The territories of the former have been taken possession of by the servants of my Government, and it is hoped that through the influence of the Emperor's prosperous star, that of the latter will also be soon added to the protected countries.
When the royal tents were pitched on the banks of the Mahí, the zamíndár (called) Jám attended at Court. Having obtained the honour of kissing the ground, he presented fifty horses, 100 mohurs, and 100 rupees. His name was Jasá, and Jám was his title, which is held by every man who succeeds to the chiefship. He is one of the greatest zamíndárs of the province of Gujarát. His territory is bordered by the sea. He has always 5000 or 6000 horsemen; but in time of war he can collect 10,000 or 12,000. There are plenty of excellent horses in his territory, and a Kachí horse is sold at as high as 2000 or 3000 rupees. I bestowed a khil'at upon him.
On Sunday night, the 23rd of Rabí'u-l awwal, A.H. 1027 (10th March, 1618), at about two hours after sunset, that great luminary which benefits the world with its bounty entered Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac. This New Year's Day which gave light to the world, brought to a close the twelfth year of this humble servant of God, which had been passed in happiness, and now a new, auspicious and prosperous year began.
On Thursday, the 2nd of Farwardín, the festival of my being weighed against metals on the lunar anniversary of my birth occurred; and the happy fifty-first year of my age commenced. May the remaining days of my life be spent in occupations consistent with the will of God, and no moment pass without reflection upon his goodness! After the ceremony was over, a wine party was convened, and the most familiar servants of the throne, being favoured with draughts of wine, became merry.
The Tuesday night, 21st of the month, I marched on my return towards Ahmadábád. As the excess of heat and the oppressive atmosphere were very grievous to the camp followers, and a great distance had to be travelled before we could reach A'gra, it occurred to me that I had better remain at Mándú during this hot season. As I had heard much praise of the rainy season of Gujarát, and as there was no comparison between the city of Ahmadábád and that of Mándú, I at last determined to remain in the former. The Almighty God always and in all places has extended his assistance and protection to this his humble creature; and this is shown from the fact that at this very time it was reported to me that a pestilential disease (wabá) had broken out in A'gra, and numbers of men had perished. For this reason I was fully confirmed in my resolution of postponing my march towards A'gra, which had occurred to my mind by the divine inspiration.
Formerly it was customary to strike my name on one side of the coin, and that of the place, and the month, and the year of the reign, on the obverse. It now occurred to my mind that, instead of the name of the month, the figure of the sign of the Zodiac corresponding to the particular month should be stamped. For instance, in the month of Farwardín the figure of a Ram, in Urdíbihisht that of a Bull, and so on; that is, in every month in which a coin might be struck, the figure of the constellation in which the Sun might be at the time should be impressed on one side of it. This was my own innovation. It had never been done before.
On Thursday, 20,000 darabs were granted to Hakím Masíhu-z Zamán, and 100 gold mohurs and 1000 rupees to Hakím Rúhu-lla. As they well knew that the air of Gujarát was very uncongenial to my health, they told me that if I would diminish a little the usual quantity of wine and opium which I took, my complaint would be at once removed. Accordingly, on the very first day I derived great benefit from their advice.
On Saturday I had a severe headache, which was followed by fever. That night I did not take my usual quantity of wine. After midnight the effect of my abstinence became apparent, and aggravated the fever with which I was tossing about on my bed till morning. In the evening of Sunday the fever decreased; and by the advice of some physicians of Multán, I took my usual quantity of wine. They also repeatedly recommended me to take some gruel made of pulse and rice, but I could not manage to do so. From the time I arrived at years of discretion, I had never, so far as I recollect, drunk such broth, and I hope I may never be obliged to drink it again. When my meal was brought, I had no inclination to take it. In short, I fasted altogether three days and three nights. Although I had fever only one day and one night, yet I was as weak as if I had been for a long time laid up in my bed. I had no appetite at all.
I am at a loss to conceive what beauty and excellence the
founder of this city saw in this wretched land, that he was induced
to build a city here; and how after him others also should
spend the days of their precious life in this dirty place. Hot
wind always blows here, and there is very little water. I have
already mentioned that it is very sandy, and that the atmosphere
is loaded with dust. The water is exceedingly bad and disagreeable;
and the river which runs along the outskirts of the
city is always dry, except during the rains. The water of the
wells is bitter and brackish, and that of the tanks in the outskirts
becomes like buttermilk from the mixture of soap which the
washermen leave in it. Those people who are somewhat affluent
have reservoirs in their houses, which are filled with rain-water
during the rainy season, and they drink from this supply during
the whole year. It is manifestly very injurious to drink water
which is never fanned by a breeze, and stagnates in a place where
there is no passage for exhalation. Outside of the city, instead
of verdure and flowers, all the ground is covered with zakúm
(thorn-trees), and the effect of the air which blows over these
thorns is well known. I have previously called this city Gard-
It was reported in these days that Khán-khánán, the commander-in-chief and my preceptor, had composed a ghazal in imitation of the well-known verse—
“For one rose the pain of a hundred thorns must be suffered.”
And that Mírza Rustam Safawí and Mírza Murád his son had also tried their talents in the same manner. Instantly the following couplet occurred to my mind—
“A cup of wine should be quaffed in the presence of one's beloved.
The clouds too are thick, it is time to drink deep.”
Of my courtiers who were present, those who had a turn for poetry composed ghazals and repeated them before me. The first-mentioned verse is a very celebrated one, composed by Mauláná 'Abdu-r Rahmán Jámí. I have read the whole ghazal; but except that verse, which is, as it were, a proverb on the tongues of all people, the others are not of any great elegance. They are, indeed, very plain and homely.