When on the 19th Jamādi-ul-Sāni 1014 A.H., Nuru-d-dīn Muḥammad Jahāngir Bādshāh, in the fort of Agra, ascended the Imperial throne, inasmuch as from official despatches, news-letters, and the correspondence of officers, news of the insurrection of ‘Osmān Khān was continually received, on the very day of his accession, the Emperor, bestowing rich khill‘at with charqal, and a sword set in jewel, and a splendid horse, appointed Rajah Mān Singh to the Nizāmat of the Ṣubaḥ of Bengal, whilst Wazīr Khān was exalted to the office of Dīwān and Auditor of this Province.* After their arrival in this country, the refractory ‘Osmān advanced to fight, and a battle ensued. ‘Osmān with great shrewdness opened secret negotiations. As the war was protracted, and the extirpa­tion of the Afghāns was not accomplished, in that very year of accession, Rājah Mān Sing* was recalled from office, and Qutbu-d-dīn Khān Kokaltāsh was exalted to his place, being the recipient at the same time of khil’ats with a belt set in jewels, and of a horse with gold-mounted saddle. The Viceroyalty of Rajah Mān Singh lasted eight months and a few days.

When Qutbu-d-dīn Kokaltāsh,* on the 9th Ṣafar, 1015 A.H., was honoured with the khil’at of the Nizāmat of Bengal, he was raised to the rank of a Panjhazārī, with 5,000 soldiers and troopers; and 2 lacs of rupees was given him for his allowance, and 3 lacs of rupees was given for the expenses of his contingent. After taking leave of the Emperor, he arrived in Bengal. As yet some months had not passed, when he was killed at the hands of ‘Ali Qulī Beg Astajlū, styled Sher Afghan Khān.* And the detail of this incident is this. ‘Alī Qulī Beg Astajlū was a butler of Shāh Ismā‘il,* son of Shāh Tahmasp Ṣafavi.* On the death of Shāh Ismā‘il, coming to India viâ Qandahār, at Multan he entered the service of ‘Abdur Rahīm Khān, Khān Khānān,* who was then employed on the conquest of Thatah and Sindh. The Khān Khānān informally enlisted him in the ranks of Imperial officers, and in that expedition, ‘Alī Qulī shewed bravery and rendered valuable services. When the Khān Khānān from that expedition returned triumphant to the Imperial presence, at his request, ‘Alī Qulī was honoured with an appropriate Manṣab, and at the same time, a daughter of Mirzā Ghiyās Beg Tehrāni,* named Mehrunnisa,* was wedded to him. And at the time when Emperor Akbar proceeded from Akbarabad (Agra) to the conquest of the Dakhīn, and the Crown-Prince (Prince Salīm, afterwards Emperor Jahāngir), was ordered to undertake the subjugation of the Rāna of Udaipur, ‘Alī Qulī Beg was appointed as an auxiliary to the Prince. The Prince, shewing every attention to him, gave him the title of Sher Afghan, and on accession to the throne, bestowing on him a Jagir at Bardwan in the Ṣūbaḥ of Bengal, he sent him there. Afterwards, when the crookedness of his conduct, his wickedness and ill-temper became known to the Emperor, the latter, whilst sending Qutb Khān to Bengal, gave the latter a hint that if he found Sher Afghan well-behaved and loyal, well and good, but if otherwise, he should send him to the Imperial presence, and that in coming if he made excuses, he should punish him. When Qutbu-d-dīn Khān reached Bengal, he was dissatisfied with Sher Afghan’s action and conduct. Although he summoned the latter to his presence, putting forward idle excuses, he did not attend. Qutbu-d-dīn Khān communicated the matter to the Emperor, who ordered that agreeably to the injunctions conveyed at the time of his departure, he should punish Sher Afghan. The above Khān, on receipt of the Imperial order, instantly marched swiftly to Bardwan. Sher Afghan on getting news of the arrival of the above Khān, advanced forward with two grooms to receive him. At the time of meeting, the soldiers of Qutbu-d-dīn Khān crowding in stood at a distance, like a ring. Sher Afghan said: “What is this treatment, and what does it mean?” The Khān told his soldiers to disperse, moved alone in Sher Afghan’s company, and commenced conversation. Sher Afghan read signs of treachery in the aspect of affairs, and forestalling the other, he thought it prudent to apply the remedy before the disease appeared, and with great agility hit Qutbu-d-dīn on the abdomen with a sword, so that the latter’s entrails came out. The Khān* seizing his abdomen with both hands, shouted out: “Don’t spare him, don’t let this wretch escape.” A Kashmirian, named Aina Khān,* who was one of Qutb’s principal officers, spurring his horse, struck Sher Afghan with a sword on the head. In that plight, Sher Afghan with another blow finished Aina Khān’s work. At this moment, the soldiers of Qutbu-d-dīn Khān collecting from all sides, killed Sher Afghan also, by inflicting successive cuts. Sher Afghan Khān is that person, whose widow, Nūr Jahān,* as Consort of Emperor Jahāngir, is so renowned. A poet says:—

After Qutbu-d-dīn Khān was slain, the office of Governor of the Ṣūbah of Bengal was bestowed on Jahāngir Qulī Khān, who was Governor of the Ṣubah of Behar; and Islām Khān was appointed Governor of Behar in the latter’s place.

Towards the end of the year 1015 A.H., which was the second year of Emperor Jahāngir’s accession, Jahāngir Qulī Khān, who was Governor of the Ṣubaḥ of Behar, was appointed to be Governor of Bengal. And his name was Lālah Beg, and he was a slave-boy of Mirzā Ḥakīm. After the Mirzā’s death, he entered the service of Emperor Akbar, who bestowed him on Prince Nūru-d-dīn Muḥam­mad Jahāngir. He was a strong-built man, and he had rendered useful services. In religious matters and in regard for justice, he was very firm. After reaching Bengal, as yet he had not fully set his hand to the work of administration, when death claimed him. His rule lasted one month and some days. When news of his death reached the Emperor, Islām Khān,* son of Shaikh Badru­d-dīn Fateḥpurī, who held the office of Governor of Behar, was appointed Governor of Bengal. And the Governorship of Ṣubāh Behar and Patna was conferred on Afẓal Khān,* son of Shaikh Abul Faẓl ‘Allāmī.*