These letters took effect on the Amír's heart, and produced a deep impression. He ordered my instructor, Bú Nasr, to keep the matter secret, and let no one be informed of it. Bearers of good tidings also soon arrived, and brought letters from Ahmad Níáltigín, Governor of Hindustán and general of the army, reporting the news of the conquest of Benares, which was a very great achievement, and by which the army had become rich. Immense wealth had been obtained, and tribute had been exacted from the Thákurs. Several elephants had also been taken. His Majesty's servants wrote these letters from Indar-dar-bandí,* and were returning towards Lahore very happy: what had passed they had reported.*
One day the Amír went to the garden of Sadhazára with the
intention of staying there a week, and all necessary furniture was
taken. In this interval letters were constantly arriving with the
information of Ahmad Níáltigín having reached Lahore with the
Turkománs, and that numerous turbulent fellows of Lahore, from
all classes of people, had flocked around him, and that if his proceedings
were not soon taken notice of, the affair would reach an
awkward length, for his power and dignity were increasing every
day. The Amír, in the garden of Sadhazára, convened a
private council of the commander-in-chief and the generals and
officers of the army,*
and asked their opinions as to what ought
to be done in order to extinguish the fire of this rebellious general
so that their hearts might be relieved of all concern on his account.
The commander-in-chief said, “When one runs away
from Ahmad there cannot be much honour left, but whatever
general is sent against him, he will have enough to do, for there
is a strong force at Lahore. If my lord orders me to go, I can
set out in a week, although the weather is very hot.” The Amír
observed, “It is wrong and impossible for you to go on such an
insignificant duty, because there are disturbances in Khurásán,
and insurrections have also broken out in Khatlán and Tukhá-
This man (Tilak) was the cause of the death of Ahmad Níálti-
This Tilak was the son of a barber, but he was handsome in face and appearance, and had an eloquent tongue. He wrote an excellent hand, both in Hindí and Persian. He had lived a long time in Kashmír, where he studied and acquired some proficiency in dissimulation, amours, and witchcraft. From thence he came to Kází Shíraz Bú-l Hasan, who was captivated by him, for every great man who saw him was enamoured of him. * * * * The Kází restrained him from going anywhere else; but Tilak contrived by stratagem to have his case, and the iniquity of which the Kází was capable, reported to the great Khwája Ahmad Hasan (May God be pleased with him). There was ill-feeling between the Khwája and the Kází. The Khwája sent royal orders with three peons, and to the great disgust of the Kází they brought Tilak to the court. Khwája Ahmad Hasan heard what he had to say, saw the way clear before him, and took measures to have the matter brought to the notice of Amír Mahmúd in such a manner that he did not know the Khwája had contrived the means. The Amír ordered the Khwája to hear Tilak's complaint, and the Kází fell into great difficulty.
After this event Tilak became one of the great confidants of the Khwája. He was made his secretary and interpreter between him and the Hindús.* Thus he acquired great influence in the minister's court, where I, says Bú-l Fazl, used to see him standing before the Khwája, doing the duties of a secretary and interpreter, and carrying and bringing messages, and managing difficult affairs. When that trouble fell on the Khwája, which I have before mentioned, Amír Mahmúd called together his servants and secretaries, in order that he might appoint the most clever to offices in his court. Tilak met with his approval, and was associated as interpreter with Bahrám. He was a young man and a clever speaker. Amír Mahmúd wanted such persons. His fortune thus improved. Secretly he rendered valuable services to Sultán Mas'úd, that is, he brought all the Hindú Kators and many outsiders under his rule,* and he obtained honour from such a great king as Mahmúd.