On his father’s death Mírzá Ghází Beg was confirmed
Changes in the political
establishments.
There were several persons who were dissatisfied with
The rebellion of Abul
Kásim Sultán.
Having made necessary preparations Mírzá Ghází Beg
Mírzá Ghází Beg marches
against Abul Kásim Sultán.
Mírzá Ghází Beg thence proceeded to Sháhgarh, where he fixed his camp and made a halt. Here it is said that Abul Kásim out of vanity once came up to the tower, and from that place spoke to his troops, saying “I shall give Mírzá Jání’s mother to my father, and the daughters of Mírzá Muhammad Bákí and other Tarkháns I shall distribute among you.” But poor man, he did not know what bad consequences disloyalty always brought.
Abul Kásim’s father was a very wise man. He could
They make peace.
Though Mírzá Ghází Beg had sworn to spare Abul
Abul Kásim is blinded
with a burning iron wire.
About this time Jám Hálah son of Jám Desar, the
Fight with Jám Hálah of
Kakrálah.
While Mírzá Ghází Beg was carrying on warfare with
Mírzá Ghází Beg prepares
to go to visit the Emperor.
Abul Kásím Sultán, had remained a prisoner in the
Escape and recapture of
Abul Kásim Sultán.
It is said that Jaafaralí had a faithful dog, which, for two days, continually was sitting at the foot of the pole on which Jaafaralí’s head was fixed in the midst of the market. When, on the third day the head was buried, the dog remained at the tomb for several days and then slowly left the place.
When Ghází Beg heard of Abul Kásim’s recapture he sent a horse and a robe of honour as a present to Arab Kúkah and increased the allowances of Daryá Khán.
Mírzá Ghází Beg had his mind at ease now and so be
Mírzá Ghází’s visit to
Emperor Akbar and after
the latter’s death, to Emperor
Jahángír.
The Emperor received Mírzá Ghází Beg with marked distinction. He conferred his father’s honours on him and made him the governor of the Súbah of Sind. After the next few months, in the next year, Akbar died and was succeeded by his son Jahángír.* Being advised by some evil counsellors the Mírzá left Ágrah for Tattá clandestinely. He had hardly arrived at his capital, when he received Jahángír’s orders to present himself before him. At the same time, Mír Abdurrazák was appointed to be in charge of Sehwán, Lóhrí port and Tattá. Ghází Beg lost no time in going to the Emperor in response to his call, and notwithstanding the backbiting of some men, he was received very well by the Emperor, who kept him in his court for some time as a wise counsellor.
It is said on one of those days the Emperor Jahángír was in consultation with his courtiers with regard to the revolt made by prince Khusró. The Emperor wished to call Mírzá Ghází Beg in order to see what advice he gave. The others told him that the Mírzá was a young inexperienced person and that his council would not be very sound, but the Emperor said Ghází Beg had been a ruler and as such must know well how to solve political difficulties. And so he was called and asked as to what he had to say in the matter. Ghází Beg said “whatever your imperial majesty is inclined to do, is the best.” Being further pressed to give his opinion freely, he replied “when you have put one foot in your stirrup I shall say what I have to say.” The Emperor understood what he meant and was much pleased with it, for he had already made up his mind to march against the prince and to quell the rebellion by forces. This was done and the whole affair ended in success.
When Mírzá Ghází Beg was about to start on his
Rebellion of Khusró
Khán Charkas.
Sháh Beg Khán was the governor of Kandhár on
Mírzá Ghází Beg is sent
to Kandhár.
As Ghází Beg had now received letters about Khusró Khán’s rebellion, he was allowed by the Emperor to leave straight for Bakhar in order to take necessary steps for mending the affairs of Sind. But soon after that he was called back from Bakhar as some of his ill-wishers had represented to the Emperor that Mírzá Ghází Beg wanted to be an independent ruler. Ghází Beg came to the Emperor, when the latter was on his way from Kábul to Láhór. The Emperor was so much pleased with him that he appointed him the governor of the Súbah of Kandhár, and increased his titles and Jágírs.
Thus, getting the province of Kandhár in addition to the districts of Tattá, Sehwán and part of Multán, Mírzá Ghází Beg came from Láhór to Multán. From here he wanted to send an agent to Kandhár before he was able to go thither himself. He first nominated Mírzá Muhammad Amán Tarkhán but as the latter had first to go on some business to Tattá, he appointed Ahmad Beg Sultán to the post, giving him the title of Iatimád Khán. This nobleman hastened to Kandhár and with a wise policy and kind behaviour put the affairs of that division, that had been so long in confusion, into proper order.
Mírzá Ghází Beg thus got an opportunity of coming to Bakhar and settling the public and private affairs of that side that badly required his presence and interference. He then came to Kandhár through Siwí and Ganjábah. Taking some rest there, he deputed Bháí Khán son of Khusró Khán and another, to fight against the Afgháns, and appointed Rái Mánikchand son of Rái Khóriah to march against Haidar, Sháh Beg’s refractory servant. He sent Mír Abdulláh Sultán, titled Mír Khán, as an ambassador to Sháh Abbás the king of Persia,* with rich presents to secure his good will. And now he began to rule quietly at Kandhár.
On receiving complaints, to the effect that Khusró Khán
Khusró Khán Charkas
captured by Hindú Khán.
It is said that Khusró Khán Charkas, having found himself in power and being away from the real owner of the place, began to abuse his power. He put his grandsons in power. One of them, Muhammad Beg son of Rustam Beg, who was the governor of Nerún Kót, dealt very cruelly with the Arghúns and Tarkháns. Another had carried away by force a Hindú girl of haberdashers’ caste, which deed had caused some rioting and bloodshed. These doings of his, together with his criminal misappropriation of the public money, were fully brought to the notice of Mírzá Ghází Beg, who became very angry. He determined to punish Khusró Khán and his relations and to degrade them to a very low position in society. With this object in view he had sent Sáíndinah Hindú Khán with Ráná Mánikchand and Shahbáz Khán to bring Khusró Khán Charkas with all his relations, young and old.
Hindú Khán came to Nasarpúr and wanted first to settle the affairs outside and then to enter the city. Mukím Sultán with all his brothers, at the instigation of Khusró Khán, laid siege to him at that place, and Abul Kásim Sultán, who had been set at liberty at the intercession of Khusró Khán incited his relations to stop supplies to the besieged. Ráná Mánikchand, happening to come out of the fort in order to bring about reconciliation, was cut down by an Arghún. Hearing this, Mánikchand’s son Ráising issued from the fort with a party of soldiers and vowed to be revenged on the murderors of his father, before cremating the latter’s body. He fought with the Arghúns, killed their chief, Sherbeg, a son-in-law of Sháh Kásim Arghún with many picked warriors, secured their animals and property, and then went to burn the body of his father. He now returned successful to Mírzá Ghází Beg, who honoured him more than his father.
After all Hindú Khán succeeded in taking every thing out of Khusró Khan’s charge, though the latter had tried his best to turn the chief landowners against him. Khusró Khán with all his relations was brought to Hálah Kandí to be taken by Hindù Khán to Mírzá Ghází Beg at Kandhár, when he got the news of the Mírzá’s death.
Seeing Mírzá Ghází Beg rising to power more and
Mírzá Ghází Beg’s death.
Mírzá Ghází Beg was a brave soldier and a generous
His character.
He was a man of learning and composed poetry too, taking Karí (reader) as his nom-de-plume. It is said that there was another poet with the same nom-de-plume at Kandhár in his time. He called him, gave him rich presents, and requested him to leave that nom-de-plume for him and take another. Both Ghází Beg and his father were very good musicians and were fond of singing. Their love for that fine art may be imagined from the general belief of the public that anyone, not having any children, who would sing and play on musical instruments for some days in their mausoleums, would be blessed with children.
As Mírzá Ghází Beg had no issue and as Hindú Khán
Concluding remarks.
Thus ended the rule of Tarkháns. About the close of Jahángír’s reign, Mírzá Ísá Tarkhán was appointed a governor for some days, as will be seen in the next chapter, but no other Tarkhán ever afterwards held the reins of government.