The country of Mewāt lies not far from Delhi, and yields a revenue of three or four krors.* Hassan Khan Mewāti had received the government of that country from his ancestors, who had governed it, in uninterrupted succession, for nearly two hundred* years. They had yielded an imperfect kind of submission to the Sultans of Delhi. The Sultans of Hind, whether from the extent of their territories, from want of opportunity, or from obstacles opposed by the mountainous nature of the country, had never subdued Mewāt.* They had never been able to reduce it to order, and were content to receive such a degree of obedience as was tendered to them. After my conquest of Hind, following the example of former Sultans, I also had shown Hassan Khan distinguished marks of favour. Yet this ungrateful man, whose affections lay all on the side of the pagans, this infidel,* regardless of my favours, and without any sense of the kindness and distinction with which he had been treated, was the grand promoter and leader of all the commotions and rebellions that ensued, as has been related. The plan for marching into the country of the pagans having been abandoned, I resolved on the reduction of Mewāt. I advanced four marches, and, after the fifth, encamped six kos from the fort of Alwar, which was the seat of government, on the banks of the river Mānasni.* Hassan Khan’s ancestors had made their capital at Tijārah. In the year in which I invaded Hindustān, defeated Pahār Khan,* and took Lahore and Debālpūr,* being even then apprehensive of the progress of my arms, he had set about building this fort. A person named Karmchand, one of Hassan Khan’s head men, who had come to visit Hassan Khan’s son while he was a prisoner in Agra, now arrived from the son, commissioned to ask a pardon. I sent him back accompanied by Abdal Rahīm Shaghāwel, with letters to quiet his apprehensions, and promising him personal safety*; and they returned along with Nāhir Khan, Hassan Khan’s son. I again received him into favour, and bestowed on him a perganna of several laks for his support. I had bestowed on Khosrou* an allowance and establishment of fifty laks,* and nominated him to the government of Alwar, from a supposition that, during the battle, he had performed a certain very important piece of service. As his ill luck would have it, he put on airs and refused the boon. I afterwards discovered that the service had not been performed by him, but by Chīn Taimūr Sultan. I bestowed on Sultan* the city of Tijārah,* which was the capital of Mewāt, granting him at the same time a settled provision of fifty laks.* To Tardīkeh, who, in the battle with Rāna Sanka, commanded the tulughmeh (or flanking division) on the right, and had distinguished himself more than any other, I gave an appointment of fifteen laks,* with the charge of the fort of Alwar. I bestowed the treasures of Alwar, with everything* in the fort, on Humāiūn.
Sends backI marched from this station on Wednesday the first of Rajeb, and, having come within two kos of Alwar, went and examined the fort, where I stayed all night, and returned back to the camp in the morning. Before engaging Rāna Sanka in the Holy War, as has been mentioned, when all, small and great, took the oath, I had told them, that after conquering this enemy, I had no objection to any one’s returning home, and would give leave to as many as asked it. Most of Humāiūn’s servants were from Badakhshān and the neighbouring countries, and had never served in an army on any expedition that lasted more than a month, or two months at a time. Before the battle, they had been seized with a longing for home.* I had made with them the agreement which has been mentioned. Besides, Kābul was very imperfectly defended. On these accounts, I finally resolved to send off Humāiūn to Kābul. Having come to this resolution, I marched from Alwar on April 11. Thursday the ninth of Rajeb, and having moved four or five kos, encamped on the banks of the Mānasni. Mahdi Khwājeh appearing also to be very uncomfortable, I gave him liberty to return to Kābul. The shikdāri of Biāna I conferred on Dost Ishek-Agha. As Mahdi Khwājeh held the nominal government of Etāwa, I* now bestowed it on Jaafer Khwājeh, the son of Kutb Khan, who had fled from Etāwa and joined me.* I halted three or four days in this ground, previous to taking leave of Humāiūn.* From this station, I despatched Mūmin Ali Tewāchi to Kābul, with letters giving an account of the victory.
Visits the I had heard much of the fountain of Firozpūr,*
and of the
great tank of Kotilah.*
On Sunday, I mounted and rode
out from the camp, for the double purpose of seeing the
country,*
and of conducting Humāiūn for some distance
on his way. That day I went to visit Firozpūr and its
fountain, and took a maajūn. In the valley from which the
water of the fountain flows, the kanīr*
flowers were all in
full bloom. It is very beautiful, though it will not support
the high praises lavished upon it. Within this valley, where
the stream widens, I directed a reservoir to be made of
hewn stone, ten by ten. We halted that night in the valley,
April 15.
and next morning rode to visit the tank of Kotilah. One
of its banks is formed by the side of a hill,*
and the river
Mānasni flows into it.*
It is a very large tank, but does
not look well from either of its sides.*
In the midst of the
tank is a rising ground, around it are a number of small
boats. The inhabitants of the towns on the banks of the
tank, when any alarm or confusion occurs, embark in their
boats, and make their escape. When I arrived there, a
number of people got into their boats, and rowed into the
middle of the lake. After riding to the tank, I returned to
Humāiūn’s camp, where I rested and dined, after which I
invested the Mirza and his Begs with dresses of honour, and
Humāiūn
takes leave.
April 16.
towards bed-time prayers, took leave of Humāiūn, mounted,
and slept at a place on the road. I afterwards mounted
again, and, towards dawn, passed the perganna of Kuhri,*
where I took a little more rest, after which I continued
my journey and reached the camp, which I found at Tudeh.*
Having marched from Tudeh, when we alighted at Somgīr, Hassan Khan’s son, Nāhir Khan, who had been delivered into the custody of Abdal-rahīm, made his escape. Leaving this place, the second march brought us to the fountain which is on the face* of the hill, between Busāwer and Jhūseh, where we halted. I here erected an awning, and had a maajūn. When the camp passed this way, Terdi Beg Khāksār had praised this fountain. We now went and visited it on horseback.* It is a very beautiful fountain. In Hindustān there are scarcely any artificial water-courses, so that fountains for confining and conducting the water* are not to be looked for. What few fountains there are ooze out, as if distilling from the ground; but do not burst forth like the springs in our countries. The water of this fountain might be about half large enough to drive a mill, and it issues bursting from the skirt of the hill. The ground all about it is meadow pasture, and is very pleasant. I gave orders that an octagonal reservoir of cut-stone should be built, where this spring issues out. While we were sitting by the fountain, under the influence of our maajūn, Terdi Beg repeatedly proposed, with some appearance of vanity, that, as we were pleased with the place,* we ought to give it a name. Abdallah proposed that it should be called the Royal Fountain, Terdi Beg’s delight.* This proposal furnished us with great subject for merriment. Dost Ishek-Agha, who came from Biāna, waited on me at this fountain.
Proceeds to