Before the arrival of the news of the disaffection of M. Sulaimān and of his designs upon Kabul, H.M. the Shāhinshāh had directed that the veil of chastity Miriam-Makānī, and the other secluded ladies of the holy Harem should come to India, and a reference to this order has already been made. But on account of the Mīrzā's disturbance the coming of the ladies was suspended. A cautious order was sent to Mun'im K., that when M. Sulaimān's sedition had been suppressed, the ladies should set out for the capital. After the disturbance caused by the Mīrzā had, by God's help, been put down, and the minds of the imperial servants were at ease on that score, as has already been narrated, the chaste ladies proceeded to arrange for moving to India, partly to fulfil their vows,* and partly to carry out the directions of H.M. the Shāhinshāh. The families of many of the soldiers who were serving in the army also joined the cortège. But as the disturbance of Hemū was known to the evil-disposed in those regions, the sacred journey did not come into effect. But when the news of victory placed a stain on the darkened brows of the disaffected, and the head of Hemū was brought and hung up on the iron gate of Kabul, the drums of joy beat high, and after thanksgiving and rejoicing, the expedition set out in a propitious hour. Mun'im Khān, who was in charge of Kabul, also accompanied the ladies in order that he might be their guide, and also might do good work in India, and thereby make himself illustrious. Kabul was made over to Muḥammad Qulī Khān Birlās, who had come from the Court as an auxiliary, and in accordance with the instructions of H.M. the Shāhinshāh, Muḥammad Ḥakīm and his mother and sisters remained in Kabul. Ghaznīn was made over to Khwāja Jalālu-d-dīn Maḥmūd Bujūq (cut-nose). When the caravan reached Jalālābād it stopped there for some days on account of supplies, etc. While there, the news of the supremacy of Bairām Khān, and of the putting to death of Tardī Beg Khān arrived from the Court-reporters, and on this account Mun'im Khān saw it proper to give up his intention of proceeding to India. He conducted the ladies as far as Kotal Sitāra and there took leave and came back to Kabul. Shamsu-d-dīn Muḥammad Khān Atka and his brethren, Khwāja 'Ambar Nāir and Mullā Maqṣūd Bangālī, and a number of other servants were in charge of the ladies. When Mun'im Khān came to Kabul, he gave Muḥammad Qulī Khān leave to go to India, and after that, the officers and the rest of the devoted servants of the Court proceeded with the cortége of H.M. Miriam-Makānī and others to the capital. Among the occurrences that happened on this journey were the deaths of two full sisters of H.M. the Shāhinshāh. One died in Jalālābād, and the other at Kotal Sitāra near the Indus. H.M. Miriam Makānī and the other ladies spent some days in grief for the departure of these heart-delights, and then resigned themselves to the Divine will. The joy of seeing the Shāhinshāh overcame all sorrow, and after the last rites had been paid, the expedition proceeded on. When the news of the chaste ladies reached the royal ears, H.M. the Shāhinshāh was delighted and sent that cupola of chastity, Māham Anaga, the mother of Adham Khān, who, on account of her abundant sense and loyalty, held a high place in the esteem of the Shāhinshāh, and who had been in his service from the time of the cradle till his adornment of the throne, and who trod the path of good service with the acme of affection, to welcome the cortége of H.M. Miriam-Makānī and the other chaste ladies. That cupola of chastity entered on the auspicious service of the ladies in Lahore, and after informing them of H.M. the Shāhinshāh's eagerness to see them, proceeded with them towards the camp of fortune. H.M. the Shāhinshāh made over the charge of the siege to the Khān-Khānān and went forward to meet them. The auspicious conjunction took place at one stage from the Fort (Mānkot), and H.M. Miriam-Makānī's wishful eyes were gratified by the world-adorning beauty of H.M. the Shāhinshāh. There were mutual rejoicings, and next morning H.H. M. Makānī, Ḥājī Begum, Gulbadan Begum, Gulcahra Begum, Salīma Sulān Begum and a number more of the relations and connections of the noble family, and of the soldiery, arrived at the camp. The army which had become straitened by the long siege were greatly rejoiced at the arrival of their highnesses, and of many loyal soldiers, and recognising their arrival as a means of victory they increased their efforts.
One of the occurrences that happened during the siege owing to the abundance of good fortune was that Khān Zamān, who had gone to Sambhal, obtained great victories although he did not possess real truthfulness and loyalty. Alas! Alas! loyalty was a thousand leagues away from him. He did not know the meaning of service and mastership. Nay, he had not even come to know the ways of worldly tradesmen which every ignorant one requires to be acquainted with. Accordingly a brief account of his disastrous end will be given in its proper place in this noble volume. One of the good services which were performed by him at this time owing to his outward connection with bliss was the battle with Rukn Khān, Lohānī* who was a great officer of Mubāriz Khān. Khān Zamān defeated him and subdued many rebels of Sambhal, etc., as* far as Lucknow. Another of his famous deeds of this time was the defeating Ḥasan Khān Backotī.
The brief account of this wonderful occurrence is that the said Ḥasan Khān was one of the famous landholders of India, and distinguished for the number of his brethren and other relations and of his servants. When the Shāhinshāh's army was engaged in besieging Mānkot, this short-sighted, arrogant one thought he had an opportunity and collected a large army and proceeded to ravage the Sarkār of Sambhal. He took with him Jalāl Khān Sūr, who was one of the great Afghan leaders. When his evil designs became known to the Khān Zamān, he joined with the royal officers who were there and advanced to join battle near Lucknow. The heroes distinguished themselves and gained a victory. The hostile army consisted of more than 20,000 cavalry while the army of fortune was not more than 4,000 strong. By the aid of God-given fortune and in spite of the character of the leader, to which a brief reference has been made, his connection with eternal fortune gave him the victory. An incalculable amount of booty fell into his hands; also many elephants. Of the noted elephants there were two called Sabdilīa, and Dilsankār which were of supreme excellence. They were approved of by the fastidious glance (of Akbar), and included among the special elephants of the Shāhinshāh. As the Khān Zamān's career ended in destruction and disgrace, and his essential baseness came out, and he became a ringleader among the disloyal, the loyal heart does not permit of his deeds being detailed at length. It is best to turn the reins of the courser of the pen from this plain.* happened during the siege of Mānkot was the victory of Qīyā Khān. The brief account of this joyful event is this: The fort of Gwālīār which is one of the famous fortresses of India, and has few like it for strength, was in the possession of Mubāriz Khān 'Adalī. It was governed on his behalf by* Bhīl Khān who was one of the slaves of Selīm Khān the son of Sher Khān. Rajah Rām Sāh, whose ancestors had been the masters of the fort, besieged it with a host of Rajputs and had brought the garrison into straits. Qīyā Khān marched from Agra to Gwālīār, and Rām Sāh left the fort and came to give him battle. He fought bravely, but Qīyā Khān stood firm, and as he sought victory from the world-conquering genius of the Shāhinshāh, he defeated the enemy and sent many to the world of annihilation. Thereafter he undertook the siege of Gwālīār.* excellent events which occurred during the siege of Mānkot was that the fortunate-starred daughter of M. 'Abdullah Khān Moghul who was distinguished for his lineage, entered into the bond of matrimony with the unique jewel of the Caliphate. Bairām Khān did not approve of this connection, for 'Abdullah Moghul's sister was married to M. Kāmrān, and so he regarded 'Abdullah as a partizan of Kāmrān (az kāmrānī). So he opposed the match until Nāṣir-al-Mulk gave him to understand that opposition in such matters was very unacceptable, and by taking charge of the affair brought this happy event by his prudence to a termination. An order was issued to him (Nāṣir-al-Mulk) for arranging an assemblage of pleasure and banquet of joy, and a royal feast was provided. Leaving this matter I return to my narrative and proceed to detail the subsequent adventures of the besieged in Mānkot.