He was a learned man and a clever writer. He traced his origin, on his mother's side, to the renowned logician Muhaqqiq i Dawwání. The Historian Badáoní was a friend of his. Akbar also liked him very much. In the 9th year, he was sent as ambassador to Chingiz Khán of Gujrát. In the 17th year, he brought I'timád Khán (No. 67) and Mír Abú Turáb to the emperor. He also accompanied Akbar on his march to the eastern provinces of the empire. Afterwards, in 983, he was sent to 'A´dil Khán of Bíjápúr, from where, in 985, he returned to court (Badáoní, II., 250). He was then made Faujdár of Sambhal. In the 26th year, when 'Arab Bahádur and other Bengal rebels created disturbances, he fortified Barelí, and refusing all offers, held out till the arrival of an Imperial corps, when he defeated the rebels. In the same year, he was made Çadr of Bengal, and in the 31st year, Bakhshí of the Çúbah of A´grah. He was then attached to the Dak'hin corps of 'Azíz Kokah (No. 21), and received Handiah as jágír. When 'Azíz, for some reason, cancelled his jágír, he went without permission to court (35th year), but was at first refused audience. On enquiry, however, Akbar reinstated him.

He died at Handiah on the 27th Zí Hajjah, 1003 (Badáoní II., 403).

The Mírzáí Masjid, also called Pádisháhí Masjid, in Old Barelí, Mírzáí Mahallah, was built by him. The inscription on it bears the date 987 (24th year), when the Hakím was Faujdár of Sambhal.

He was also a poet, and wrote under the takhalluç of Dawáí.

235. Ja´nish Baha´dur.

Jánish Bahádur was mentioned on p. 345. He was at first in the service of Mírzá Mubammad Hakím, king of Kábul. After the death, in the 30th year, of his master, he came with his sons to India. Soon after, he served under Zain Kokah (No. 34) against the Yúsufzaís, and saved Zain's life in the Khaibar catastrophe. In the 35th year, he served under the Khánkhánán in T'hat'hah, and returned with him, in the 38th year, to court. Later, he served in the Dak'hin. He died in the 46th year (1009). He was an excellent soldier.

His son, Shujá'at Khán Shádí Beg. He was made, in the 7th year of Sháh­jahán's reign, a commander of 1000, and received the title of Shád Khán. In the 12th year, he was sent as ambassador to Nazr Muhammad Khán of Balkh. On his return, in the 14th year, he was made a commander of 1500, and was appointed governor of Bhakkar, vide Sháh Qulí Khán. Afterwards, on the death of Ghairat Khán, he was made governor of T'hat'hah, and a commander of 2000. In the 19th year, he was with Prince Murád Bakhsh in Balkh and Badakhshán. In the 21sth year, he was appointed governor of Kábul, vice Síwá Rám, and held, in the following year, an important command under Aurangzíb in the Qandahár expedition and the conquest of Bust. In the 23rd year, he was made a commander of 3000, 2500 horse, and received the coveted distinction of a flag and a drum. Two years later, in the 25th year, he served again before Qandahár, and was made, on Sháhjahán's arrival in Kábul, a commander of 3500, 3000 horse, with the title of Shujá'at Khán. In the 26th year, he served under Dárá Shikoh before Qandahár, and with Rustam Khán Bahádur at Bust. He died soon after. He had a son of the name of Muhammad Sa'íd.

236. Mi´r Ta´hir i Músawí.

He is not to be confounded with Nos. 94, 111, and 201. According to the Ṭabaqát, Mír Ṭáhir is ‘the brother of Mírzá Yúsuf Razawí (No. 37), and was distinguished for his bravery.” It would thus appear that Abulfazl makes no difference between the terms Razawí and Músawí (vide p. 381, under No. 61).

237. Mi´rza´ 'Ali´ Beg 'Alamsháhí.

He is mentioned in the Akbarnámah among the grandees who accompanied Mun­'im to Bengal and Oṛísá, and took part in the battle of Takaroí (p. 375). After the outbreak of the Bengal Military revolt, he joined a conspiracy made by Mír Zakí, 'Abdí Kor, Shiháb i Badakhshí, and Kújak Yasáwul, to go over to the rebels. The plot, however, was discovered; they were all imprisoned, but Mír Zakí alone was executed. Akbarnámah, III., 262.

His epithet 'Alamsháhí is not clear to me.

He must not be confounded with the more illustrious

[Mi´rza´ 'Ali´ Beg i Akbarsháhí].*

He was born in Badakhshán, and is said to have been a highly educated man. When he came to India, he received the title of Akbarsháhí. In the 30th year, he commanded the Ahadís on Sháhrukh's expedition to Kashmír (p. 479).

Later, he served under Prince Murád in the Dak'hin. When the prince, after making peace, returned from Ahmadnagar, Çádiq Khán (No. 43) occupied Mahkar. But new disturbances broke out under the Dak'hin leaders Azhdar Khán and 'Ain Khán, against whom Çádiq sent a corps under M. 'Alí Beg. He suddenly fell over them, and routed them, carrying off much plunder and many dancing girls (zanán i ak'háṛah). In consequence of this defeat, Khudáwand Khán and other Amírs of the Nizámsháh marched against the imperialists with 10,000 horse, but Çádiq and M. A. B. defeated them. In the 43rd year, M. A. B. took Fort Ráhútarah (<Arabic>) near Daulatábád, after a siege of one month, occupied, in the same year, Paṭan on the Godávarí, and took Fort Lohgaḍh. “Both forts,” says the author of the Maásir, “have, from want of water, become uninhabitable (mismár shudah), and are so to this day.” Later, M. A. B. served under Abulfazl, and distinguished himself in the conquest of Ahmadnagar. In the 46th year, he received a drum and a flag, and continued to serve, under the Khánkhánán, in the Dak'hin.

In the beginning of Jahángír's reign, he was made a commander of 4000, jágírdár of Sambhal, and governor of Kashmír. He served in the pursuit of Khusrau (Tuzuk, p. 30). Later, he received a tuyúl in Audh. When Jahángír went to Ajmír, he went to court. One day, he paid a visit to the tomb of Mu'ínuddín i Chishtí. On seeing the tomb of Shahbáz Khán (p. 401), he stooped down, and embracing it, exclaimed, “Oh! he was an old friend of mine.” The same moment, he fell forward a corpse, and was buried at the same spot (22nd Rabí' I., 1025).

It is said that he kept few soldiers and servants, but paid them well. In his habits he was an epicurean. He was looked upon as a great patron of the learned. He died childless, at the age of seventy-five (Tuzuk, p. 163).

238. Ra´m Da´s, the Kachwáhah.

His father was a poor man of the name of Ordat (<Arabic>), and lived at Lúní (or Bauṉlí, vide p. 398). Rám Dás was at first in the service of Rái Sál Darbárí (No. 106), and was recommended by him to the emperor. His faithfulness was almost proverbial. In the 17th year, when Todar Mall was ordered to assist Mun'im in Bihár, he was made his náib in the Financial Department, and gained Akbar's favour by his regularity and diligence. He amassed a fortune, and though he had a palace in A´grah near Hatiá­pul, he lived in the guard house, ‘always watching with his 200 Rájpúts, spear in hand.’

Immediately before Akbar's death, he put his men over the treasures of the palace with a view to preserve them for the lawful heir. Jahángír, with whom he stood in high favour, sent him, in the 6th year, with 'Abdullah Khán to Gujrát and the Dak'hin, and gave him the title of Rájah and a flag, Rantanbhúr being assigned to him as jágír (Tuzuk, p. 98). It seems that he received the title of Rájah Karan. After the defeat of the Imperialists, Jahángír wished to make an example of the Amírs who had brought disgrace on the imperial arms. He ordered their pictures to be drawn, and taking the portraits one after the other into his hand, abused each Amír right royally. Looking at Rám Dás's portrait, he said, “Now, when thou wert in Rái Sál's service, thou hadst a tankah per diem; but my father took an interest in thee, and made thee an Amír. Do not Rájpúts think flight a disgraceful thing? Alas! thy title, Rájah Karan, ought to have taught thee better. Mayest thou die without the comforts of thy faith.” Rám Dás was immediately sent to Bangash, where, in the same year, he died (1022). When Jahángír heard of his death, he said, “My curse has come true; for the Hindús believe that a man who dies beyond the Indus, will go straight to hell.”