In the morning we reached the top of the pass; and as it was then getting warm, the King dismounted on the bank of the river, performed his ablutions, and washed his wound; but as there was no carpet for prayer to be found, the humble servant, Jauhar, brought the cover of a stool of scarlet cloth, and spread it for His Majesty, who knelt thereon, and performed his devotions, and sat down facing the kibla (Mecca). * * *
The King again mounted, and rode on to Parwán, where he alighted. At this place the only tent that could be procured was a small shamiyána (canopy), sufficient only to screen one person; under this His Majesty lay down and slept. In the morning the author of these pages awoke His Majesty, and told him it was the hour of morning prayer. He said, “My boy, as I am so severely wounded, I cannot bear to purify myself with cold water.” I represented that I had got some warm water ready for him; he then arose, performed his ablutions, and said his prayers. He afterwards mounted his horse, but had not ridden far when he complained that the clotted blood on his clothes hurt him, and asked of the servants if they had no jáma (coat) they could lend him. Bahádur Khán replied, he “had a jáma, but it was one His Majesty had discarded and given to him, and he had worn it.” The King said, “Never mind that, bring it.” He then put it on, and gave the dress which was stained with blood to this humble servant, Jauhar, the áftábchi, and said, “Take care of this dress, and only wear it on holy days.”
From Parwán we proceeded to Kahamrúd, where Táhir Muhammad had the honour of paying his respects. He had pitched an old tent for the King, and had prepared an entertainment for him; but the blockhead did not bring any present, not even a spare dress. His Majesty ordered his followers to partake of the dinner, but went himself to the edge of a fountain, where they pitched an old tent, grimed with smoke and soot, for him; but as there was no necessary tent, the humble servant went and procured two hurdles, which he fixed up as a privy. At this time an old woman came and offered His Majesty a pair of silk trousers. He said, “Although these are not proper for a man to wear, yet, as my own are defiled with blood, I will put them on.” He then inquired what the woman had for her support; and on being informed, wrote an order to the collector not to demand any tribute from her in future.
When His Majesty left Kábul, he bestowed the government on Kásim 'Alí, who had formerly been a servant of Kámrán's; but notwithstanding this circumstance, he for some time refused to give up the fortress, till assured by Kámrán that the King was dead, who in proof thereof produced the jabba or quilted coat; in consequence of which the Prince was allowed to enter the fort, and again took possession of the young Akbar. * * After remaining a month and twenty days at Andaráb, * * the King determined on marching to oppose the rebels; but he first assembled all his chiefs, and proposed to them to take the oath of allegiance. Hájí Muhammad Khán said, “It was also incumbent on His Majesty to take the oath of confederacy.” The Prince Hindál said, “Such a proceeding was highly improper.” But the King said, “If the chiefs wished it, he would take the oath to satisfy them.” In short, the oaths were ratified on both sides; and, to give the ceremony more solemnity, the King fasted all that day.
The King received letters from Sultán Ádam, chief of the Gakhars, stating that “the Prince Kámrán was now in his territory, and that if His Majesty would take the trouble of coming there, he would give him up.” * * * The Prince arrived, and advanced with great humility. The King, however, received him graciously, and pointed to him to sit down on the bed on his right hand. His Majesty then sat down on the bed also, having the young Prince Akbar on his left hand. Sultán Ádam, 'Abdu-l Ma'álí, and the other chiefs were also seated in due order. After some time, His Majesty called for a water-melon, one-third of which he took and divided with his brother. * * * Preparations having been made for an entertainment, the whole night was passed in jollity and carousing. * * * [Four days after], the business of Mirzá Kámrán was taken into consideration, and it was resolved, in the first place, to remove all his servants from him. Then the King ordered five of his own people [names], and his humble servant Jauhar, to attend upon the Prince, and he said to me, “My boy (ghulám), do you know where you are sent?” I said, “Yes, and I know Your Majesty's (wishes).” He replied, “Your business is to take care of the interior of the tent, you are desired not to sleep for a moment.” * * *
Early in the morning the King marched towards Hindústán, but before his departure determined that the Prince should be blinded, and gave orders accordingly; but the attendants on the Prince disputed among themselves who was to perform the cruel act. Sultán 'Alí, the paymaster, ordered 'Alí Dost to do it. The other replied, “You will not pay a Sháh-Rukhí (3s. 6d.) to any person without the King's directions; therefore, why should I commit this deed without a personal order from His Majesty? Perhaps to-morrow the King may say, ‘Why did you put out the eyes of my brother?’ What answer could I give? Depend upon it I will not do it by your order.” Thus they continued to quarrel for some time. At length, I said, “I will go and inform the King.” On which I with two others galloped after His Majesty. When we came up with him, 'Alí Dost said, in the Chaghatáí Turkí language, “No one will perform the business.” The King replied in the same language, abused him, and said, “Why don't you do it yourself?”
After receiving this command, we returned to the Prince, and Ghulám 'Alí represented to him, in a respectful and condoling manner, that he had received positive orders to blind him. The Prince replied, “I would rather you would at once kill me.” Ghulám 'Alí said, “We dare not exceed our orders.” He then twisted a handkerchief up as a ball for thrusting into the mouth, and he with the farásh seizing the Prince by the hands, pulled him out of the tent, laid him down, and thrust a lancet into his eyes (such was the will of God). This they repeated at least fifty times; but he bore the torture in a manly manner, and did not utter a single groan, except when one of the men who was sitting on his knees pressed him. He then said, “Why do you sit upon my knees? What is the use of adding to my pain?” This was all he said, and he acted with great courage, till they squeezed some (lemon) juice and salt into the sockets of his eyes. He then could not forbear, and called out, “O Lord, O Lord, my God, whatever sins I may have committed have been amply punished in this world, have compassion upon me in the next.” * * * The author of these pages, seeing the Prince in such pain and distress, could no longer remain with him. I therefore went to my own tent, and sat down in a very melancholy mood. The King having seen me, sent Ján Muhammad, the librarian, to ask me, “If the business I had been employed on was finished, and why I had returned without orders?” The humble servant represented that “the business I had been sent on was quite completed.” His Majesty then said, “He need not go back, let him get the water ready for me to bathe.”]