On Sunday, the 5th, M. Ḥasan s. Mīrzā Rustam, was promoted to the rank of 1,000 with 400 horse, and was appointed to the Deccan. Khwāja ‘Abdu-l-Laīf, the chief fowler, also received the rank of 1,000 with 400 horse. At this place I saw a flower, white inside, and red outside, while some of them were red inside and yellow outside. In Persian they call it La‘la-i-bīgāna, and in Hindī thal kanal. Thal means land, and as the lotus (kanal) is an aquatic plant, they have called this land-lotus.*
On Thursday, the 9th, a report came from Dilāwar K.,
Governor of Kashmir, containing the good news of the conquest
of Kishtwār. Details will be recorded by the pen of
the newswriter after he (Dilāwar) comes to the foot of the
throne. I sent him a gracious farman with a special dress
of honour and a jewelled dagger, and granted him the revenue
of the conquered province for a year, as a reward for this
acceptable service. On Tuesday, the 14th, I halted at
Ḥasan Abdāl. As the occurrences on this road and particulars
of the stages have been related in detail in the account of the
expedition to Kabul, I shall not repeat them. From this
place as far as Kashmir, they will be written stage by stage,
please Almighty God. From the date on which, disembarking
from a boat, I reached Akbarpur in safety and prosperity,
up to Ḥasan Abdāl, a distance of 178 koss, I took 69 days
in 48 marches and 21 halts.*
As at this place there is a
spring full of water, and a cascade, and a very beautiful
reservoir, I halted here two days, and on Thursday, the 16th
(Isfandārmuz), the feast of my lunar weighing took place.
The 53rd year, according to lunar calculation, of this suppliant
at the throne commenced auspiciously. As beyond this
stage, hills, passes, and many ups and downs were before us,
the passage of the camp appeared a difficult matter, and it
was settled that H. M. Maryamu-z-zamānī and the other
Begams should delay for some days, and come on at leisure.
Madāru-l-mulk I‘timādu-d-daula al-Khāqānī, Ṣādiq K.
Bakhshī, and Irādat K. Mīr-Sāmān, with the directors of the
buildings and other offices, should attend to their transit.
At the same time Rustam Mīrzā Ṣafawī, Khān-A‘am, and
a number of other servants, obtained leave to go by the
Pūnch road, while the royal retinue went on with some
privileged courtiers (manūrān-i-bisā-i-qarb) and the necessary
servants. On Friday, the 17th, we marched 3 1/2 koss,
and halted at the village of Sultanpur.*
On this day came
the news of the death of Rānā Amar Singh, who had died
a natural death at Udaipur (become a traveller on the road
of non-existence). Jagat Singh, his grandson, and Bhīm,*
his son, who were in attendance on me, were presented with
dresses of honour, and an order was given that Rāja Kishan
Dās should proceed with a gracious farman conferring the
title of Rānā, a dress of honour, a horse, and a private elephant
for Kunār Karan, to perform the dues of condolence and
congratulation. I heard*
from people of this country that
when it is not the rainy season, and there is no sign of a
cloud or lightning, a noise like the voice of the clouds comes
from this hill, which they called Garj (thunder). This noise
is heard every year or at least every two years. I had
repeatedly heard of this also when I was in attendance on
the late king. I have written this as it is not devoid of
strangeness,*
but wisdom is from Allah. On Saturday, the
18th, marching 4 1/2 koss, I halted at the village of Sanjī.
From this stage I entered the pargana of Hazāra Qārlugh.*
On Sunday, the 19th, marching 3 3/4 koss, I halted at the
village of Naushahra.*
From this place we entered Dhantūr.
As far as the eye could reach there were green meadows*
interspersed with the thal-kanwal (hibiscus) and other flowers
in bloom. It was a very beautiful sight. On Monday, the
20th, marching 3 1/2 koss, the camp was pitched at the village
of Salhar.*
Mahābat K. presented as offerings jewels and
inlaid vessels to the value of Rs. 60,000. In this country
I saw a flower of the redness of fire, of the shape of gul-i-