[p. 62.] In the course of years many valuable gems had come into the Imperial jewel-house, each one of which might serve as an ear-drop for Venus, or would adorn the girdle of the Sun. Upon the accession of the Emperor, it occurred to his mind that, in the opinion of far-seeing men, the acquisition of such rare jewels and the keeping of such wonderful brilliants can only render one service, that of adorning the throne of empire. They ought therefore, to be put to such a use, that beholders might share in and benefit by their splendour, and that Majesty might shine with increased brilliancy. It was accordingly ordered that, in addition to the jewels in the Imperial jewel-house, rubies, garnets, diamonds, rich pearls and emeralds, to the value of 200 lacs of rupees, should be brought for the inspection of the Emperor, and that they, with some exquisite jewels of great weight, exceeding 50,000 miskáls, and worth eighty-six lacs of rupees, having been carefully selected, should be handed over to Be-badal Khán, the superintendent of the goldsmith's depart­ment. There was also to be given to him one lac of tolas of pure gold, equal to 250,000 miskáls in weight and fourteen lacs of rupees in value. The throne was to be three gaz in length, two and a half in breadth, and five in height, and was to be set with the above-mentioned jewels. The outside of the canopy was to be of enamel work with occasional gems, the inside was to be thickly set with rubies, garnets, and other jewels, and it was to be supported by twelve emerald columns. On the top of each pillar there were to be two peacocks thick set with gems, and between each two peacocks a tree set with rubies and diamonds, emeralds and pearls. The ascent was to consist of three steps set with jewels of fine water. This throne was completed in the course of seven years at a cost of 100 lacs of rupees. Of the eleven jewelled recesses (takhta) formed around it for cushions, the middle one, intended for the seat of the Emperor, cost ten lacs of rupees. Among the jewels set in this recess was a ruby worth a lac of rupees, which Sháh 'Abbás, the King of Írán, had presented to the late Emperor Jahángír, who sent it to his present Majesty, the Sáhib Kirán-i sání, when he accomplished the conquest of the Dakhin. On it were engraved the names of Sáhib-kirán (Tímúr), Mír Sháh Rukh, and Mirzá Ulugh Beg. When in course of time it came into the possession of Sháh 'Abbás, his name was added; and when Jahángir obtained it, he added the name of himself and of his father.* Now it received the addition of the name of his most gracious Majesty Sháh Jahán. By command of the Emperor, the following masnawí, by Hájí Muhammad Ján, the final verse of which contains the date, was placed upon the inside of the canopy in letters of green enamel. ^{* * *}

On his return to Ágra, the Emperor held a court, and sat for the first time on his throne. ^{* *} Yamínu-d daula Ásaf Khán was promoted to the dignity of Khán-khánán. [Conquest by Najábat Khán of several forts belonging to the zamíndárs of Srinagar, and his subsequent enforced retreat.]

Rebellion of Jajhár Singh Bundela and his son Bikramájít.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 94.] His Majesty in the second year of his reign pardoned the misdeeds of this turbulent man, and sent him on service to the Dakhin. After a while he took leave of Mahábat Khán Khán-khánán, the ruler of the Dakhin, and retired to his own country, leaving behind him his son Bikramájít, entitled Jag-ráj, and his contingent of men. On reaching home, he attacked Bím Naráín, Zamíndár of Garha, and induced him by a treaty and promise to surrender the fort of Chaurágarh.* Afterwards, in viola­tion of his engagement, he put Bím Naráín and a number of his followers to death, and took possession of the fort, with all the money and valuables it contained. Bím Naráín's son accompanied Khán-daurán to Court from Málwa, taking with him an offering, and he made known to the Emperor what had happened. A farmán was then sent to Jajhár Singh, charging him with having killed Bím Naráín, and taking possession of Garha, without the authority of the Emperor, and directing him to surrender the territory to the officers of the Crown, or else to give up the jágírs he held in his own country, and to send to Court ten lacs of rupees in cash out of the money which had belonged to Bím Naráín. He got notice of this farmán from his wakíls before it arrived, and being resolved to resist, he directed his son Bikramájít to escape with his troops from the Bálághát, whither he had gone with Khán-daurán, and to make the best of his way home. The son acted accordingly, ^{* *} but he was attacked at Ashta* in Málwa by Khán-zamán, Názim of the Páyín-ghát, when many of his men were killed, and he himself was wounded, and narrowly escaped; ^{* *} but he made his way by difficult and unknown roads through the jungles and hills, and joined his father in the pargana of Dhámúní.* [20,000 men sent against the rebel under the nominal command of Prince Aurangzeb.]

The different divisions of the Imperial army united at Bhander, and prepared for the reduction of the fortress of Úndcha. On arriving within three kos of Úndcha, where the forest territory of Jajhár commences, the forces were constantly occupied in cutting down trees and forming roads. Every day they made a little advance. Jajhár had with him in Úndcha nearly 5000 horse and 10,000 foot, and was resolved to contest the passage through the woods. Every day he sent out cavalry and infantry to keep under the cover of the trees, and to annoy the royal forces with muskets and arrows. But the Imperial army killed some of them every day, and forced its way to the neighbourhood of Kahmar-wálí, one kos from Úndcha, where the rebels were determined to fight.

Rájá Debi Singh, with the advanced guard of Khán-daurán, pressed forward and took the little hill of Kahmar-wálí from Jajhár's men. Notwithstanding the density and strength of his forests, Jajhár was alarmed at the advance of the Imperial forces, and removed his family, his cattle and money, from Úndcha to the fort of Dhámúní, which his father had built. On the east, north and south of this fort there are deep ravines, which prevent the digging of mines or the running of zigzags. On the west side a deep ditch had been dug twenty imperial yards wide, stretching from ravine to ravine. Leaving a force to garrison Úndcha, he himself, with Bikramájít, and all their connexions, went off to Dhámúní. This flight encouraged the royal forces, and on the 2nd Jumáda-s sání [they took Úndcha by escalade], and the garrison fled.

After resting one day at Úndcha, the royal army crossed the river Satdhára, on which the town stands, and went in pursuit of the rebels. On the 14th it was three kos from Dhámúní, when intelligence came in that Jajhár had fled with his family and property to the fort of Chaurágarh, on the security of which he had great reliance. ^{* *} Before leaving he blew up the buildings round the fort of Dhámúní, and left one of his officers and a body of faithful adherents to garrison the fort. ^{* *} The Imperial army was engaged two days in felling trees and clearing a passage, and then reached the fortress. They pushed their trenches to the edge of the ditch, and pressed the garrison hard. The fort kept up a heavy fire till midnight, when, alarmed at the progress of the besiegers, they sent to propose a capitulation. Favoured by the darkness, the men of the garrison made their way out, and hid in the jungles. ^{* *} The Imperial forces then entered the place, and began to sack it. ^{* *} A cry arose that a party of the enemy still held possession of a bastion. ^{* *} 'Alí Asghar and the men under him carried the tower; but while they were engaged in plundering, a spark from a torch fell upon a heap of gunpowder, which blew up the bastion with eighty yards of the wall on both sides, although it was ten yards thick. 'Alí Asghar and his followers all perished. ^{* *} Nearly 300 men and 200 horses who were near the entrance of the fort were killed. ^{* *}

Jajhár, on hearing of the approach of the Imperial forces, destroyed the guns of the fortress (of Chaurágarh), burnt all the property he had there, blew up the dwellings which Bím Naráín had built within the fort, and then went off with his family and such goods as he could carry to the Dakhin. ^{* *} The Imperial army then took possession of the fortress. A chaudharí brought in information that Jajhár had with him nearly 2000 horse and 4000 foot. He had also sixty elephants, some of which were loaded with gold and silver money and gold and silver vessels, others carried the members of his family. He travelled at the rate of four Gondi kos, that is, nearly eight ordinary kos per diem. Although he had got fifteen days' start, the Imperial army set out in pursuit, and for fear the rebel should escape with his family and wealth, the pursuers hurried on at the rate of ten Gondi kos a day. [Long and exciting chase.] When pressed hard by the pursuers, Jajhár and Bikramájít put to death several women whose horses were worn out, and then turned upon their pursuers. ^{* *} Although they fought desperately, they were beaten, and fled into the woods. ^{* *} Intelligence afterwards was brought that Jajhár had sent off his family and treasure towards Golkonda, intending to follow them himself. ^{* *} The royal forces consequently steadily pursued their course to Golkonda. ^{* *}

At length the pursuers came in sight of the rebels. Khán-daurán then sent his eldest son, Saiyid Muhammad, and some other officers with 500 horse, to advance with all speed against them. The hot pursuit allowed the rebels no time to perform the rite of Jauhar, which is one of the benighted practices of Hindústán. In their despair they inflicted two wounds with a dagger on Rání Párbatí, the chief wife of Rájá Nar Singh Deo, and having stabbed the other women and children with swords and daggers, they were about to make off, when the pursuers came up and put many of them to the sword. Khán-daurán then arrived, and slew many who were endeavouring to escape. Durgbahán, son of Jajhár, and Durjan Sál, son of Bikramájít, were made prisoners. Udbahán, and his brother Siyám Dawá, sons of Jajhár, who had fled towards Golkonda, were soon after­wards taken. Under the direction of Khán-daurán, Rání Párbatí and the other wounded women were raised from the ground and carried to Fíroz Jang. The royal army then encamped on the edge of a tank. ^{* *} While they rested there, information was brought that Jajhár and Bikramájít, ^{* *} after escaping from the bloody conflict, had fled to hide themselves in the wilds, where they were killed with great cruelty by the Gonds who inhabit that country. ^{* *} Khán-daurán rode forth to seek their bodies, and having found them, cut off their heads and sent them to Court. ^{* *} When they arrived, the Emperor ordered them to be hung up over the gate of Sehúr.

On arriving at Chándá, the Imperial commanders resolved to take tribute from Kípá, chief zamíndár of Gondwáná, ^{* *} and he consented to pay five lacs of rupees as tribute to the govern­ment, and one lac of rupees in cash and goods to the Imperial commanders. ^{* *}

On the 13th Jumáda-s sání the Emperor proceeded on his journey to Úndcha, and on the 21st intelligence arrived of the capture of the fort of Jhánsí, one of the strongest in the Bundela country.