While I was at Kabul, no qamargāh hunt had taken
place. As the time for returning to Hindustan had come
near, and I was very desirous of hunting red deer,
I ordered them to go forward as soon as possible and
surround the hill Faraq,*
which is seven kos from Kabul.
On Tuesday, the 4th Jumādā-l-awwal, I went to hunt.
Nearly 100 deer had come into the enclosure (qamargah).
About a half of these were taken, and a very hot hunt
took place. I gave 5,000 rupees in rewards to the ryots
who were present at the hunt. On the same day an
increase of 500 horse was ordered to the rank of Shaikh
‘Abdu-r-Raḥmān, son of Shaikh Abū-l-faẓl, so as to bring
it to 2,000 personal and (2,000) horse. On Thursday, the
6th, I went to the throne-place of the late king Bābar.
As I was to leave Kabul on the next day I looked on that
day as a feast day, and ordered them to arrange a wine-
Although Khusrau had repeatedly done evil actions and deserved a thousand kinds of punishment, my fatherly affection did not permit me to take his life. Although in the laws of government and the ways of empire one should take notice of such disapproved deeds, I averted my eyes from his faults, and kept him in excessive comfort and ease. It became known that he was in the habit of sending men to scoundrels who did not consider consequences, and of inciting them to give trouble and attempt my life, and making them hopeful with promises. A band of these ill-fated ones of little foresight having joined together, desired to attack me in the hunts that took place in Kabul and those parts. As the grace and protection of God Almighty are the guardians and keepers of this sublime dynasty, they did not attain to their end. On the day when the halt was at the Surkhāb, one of that band went at the risk of his life to Khwāja Waisī, the Dīwān of my son Khurram, and revealed that nearly 500 men at Khusrau's instigation had conspired with Fatḥu-llah, son of Ḥakīm Abū-l-fatḥ, Nūru-d-dīn, son of Ghiyāu-ddīn ‘Alī Āṣaf-khān, and Sharīf, son of I‘timādu-d-daulah (Nūr-Jahān's father), and were awaiting an opportunity to carry out the designs of the enemies and evil-wishers of the king. Khwāja Waisī told this to Khurram, and he in great perturbation immediately told me. I gave Khurram the blessing of felicity, and prepared to get hold of the whole set of those short-sighted ones and punish them with various kinds of punishment. Again, it came to my mind, as I was on the march, and the seizure of these people would create a disturbance and confusion in the camp,* to order the leaders of the disturbance and mischief to be apprehended. I handed over Fatḥu-llah in confinement to certain trusty men, and ordered capital punishment for the other two wretches, with three or four of the chief among the black-faced (conspirators). I had dignified Qāsim ‘Alī, who was one of the servants of the late king Akbar, after my accession with the title of Dayānat Khān. He always accused Fatḥu-llah of a want of loyalty, and said things about him. One day he said to Fatḥu-llah: “At the time when Khusrau fled and the king pursued him, you said to me: ‘The Panjab should be given to Khusrau and this quarrel cut short.’” Fatḥu-llah denied this, and both resorted to oaths and curses (on themselves). Ten or fifteen days had not passed after this altercation when that hypocritical wretch was arrested, and his false oath did its business.
On Saturday, the 22nd Jumādā-l-awwal, the news came of the death of the Ḥakīm Jalālu-d-dīn Muaffar Ardistānī, who was of a family of skill and medicine and claimed to be a descendant of Galen. At all events he was an unequalled healer. His experience added to his knowledge.* As he was very handsome and well-made in the days of his youth (sāda-rū'īhā)* he frequented the assemblies of Shāh ahmāsp, and the king recited this hemistich about him:—
“We have a pleasant physician: come, let us all be ill.”
Ḥakīm ‘Alī, who was his contemporary, exceeded him
in skill. In short, in medical skill and auspiciousness
and rectitude and purity of method and disposition he
was perfect. Other physicians of the age could not
compare with him. In addition to his medical skill he
had many excellencies. He had perfect loyalty towards
me. He built at Lahore a house of great pleasantness
and purity, and repeatedly asked me to honour it (with
my presence). As I was very fond of pleasing him
I consented. In short, the aforesaid Ḥakīm, from his
connection with me and being my physician, had great
skill in the management of affairs and business of the
world, so that for some time at Allahabad I made him
Diwan of my establishment. On account of his great
honesty he was very exacting in important business, and
people were vexed at this method of proceeding. For
about twenty years he had ulcerated lungs, and by his
wisdom preserved in some measure his health. When
he was talking he mostly coughed so much that his
cheek and eyes became red, and by degrees his colour
became blue. I often said to him: “Thou art a learned
physician: why dost thou not cure thy own wounds?”
He represented that wounds in the lungs were not of
such a nature that they could be cured. During his
illness one of his confidential servants put poison into
some medicine he was in the habit of taking every day
and gave it to him. When he perceived this he took
remedies for it. He objected very much to be bled,
although this was necessary. It happened that he was
going to the privy when his cough overcame him and
opened the wounds in his lungs. So much blood poured
out of his mouth and brain that he became insensible
and fell, and made a fearful cry. An āftābachī (ewer-