CHAPTER LXXXIV.
THE ARRIVAL AT COURTS OF THE SONS OF ḤAKĪM M. AND OF THE
KABUL SOLDIERS.

The reports of the Shāhinshāh's justice, of his search for truth, and of his appreciativeness broke the chain which made lovers of their native land apprehensive of exile. Not a day passed without a set of remote foreigners gathering the bliss of homage (kornish), and of having their various wishes gratified. For this reason it was the wish of the high and low among the inhabitants of Kabul that they might come to court and obtain the desire of their souls from the everlasting dominion. But fidelity and loyalty held the fore­most place. When the Mīrzā died, there was some disturbance, and every one was trying to save himself. Farīdūn K. restrained the Mīrzā's sons, and the simple-minded Turks, from going to court. He was always saying that H.M. knew from the Kabulis of the sedi­tiousness of the Mīrzā, and would punish it. He considered his own bad behaviour, and so his idea was to ally himself with the ruler 473 of Tūrān. By his cajolery he misled many short-sighted persons, and the majority were nearly being persuaded to adopt this course. At this time holy firmans arrived, one after the other, and the projects of the wicked were broken up. Farīdūn was meditating to take the Mīrzā's children with him and to fly to Transoxiana. Far-sighted and right-thinking persons took to keeping a watch over him. At this time the sound of the approach of the victorious army rose high. Farīdūn too turned from his former thoughts, and had recourse to supplications. But, from shortsightedness and topsy-turvyness of ideas, he could not abide in one mind. At last Kuar Mān Singh arrived, and the thoughts of concord took posses­sion of him. Khwāja Shamsu-d-dīn and some brave men crossed the Indus, and marched forward, and Shah* Beg went from Pesha­war to Kabul. The peasantry submitted, and when the victorious army halted at Bikrām, Khwāja Shamsu-d-dīn, Muhammad 'Ālī, Hamza Beg and other brave men pushed forward. The Khaibar route, which had been closed by the turmoil of the Tārīkīs (the Rau­shānīs), was reopened, and the turbulent banditti crept into the corner of failure. The party reached Jalālābād, and produced tran­quillity by acting justly. 'Alī Muh. Asp and all the well-affected Kabulis became adherents. Bakht Nisā* Begam was there, and was delighted on hearing the news. The Mirzā had sent that chaste lady with his beloved son Afrāsīāb to court in order that she might make intercession and apologize for his deficiencies. He also sent with her Ḥasan* and Ḥusain the twin sons of Shahrukh M. Upon the unavoidable event (M. Ḥakīm's death) Afrāsīāb turned back as he was near at hand (had not gone far?). Farīdūn, in his evil thought, tried to turn back the Begam also. At this time the imperial officers arrived, and the picture of evil intentions was obliterated. On 29th Ābān Mān Singh hastened to Būtkhāk, and M. Kaiqubād, who was 15* years old and Afrasīāb who was 14, joined him with many of the soldiers. Their faces were illuminated by the hope of the Shāhinshah's graciousness. At dawn they came to Kabul, and by open-handedness and sweet words the hearts of men were won. On 4 Āẕar, Kuar Mān Singh made the charge of the country over to his son Jagat Singh and to Khwāja Shamsu-d-dīn. He himself proceeded with the Mīrza's belongings and the country-leaders to the sublime threshold. On the 25th he did homage at Rāwalpindī. The rewcomers were treated with suitable respect. First, Afrāsīab. Kaiqubād, and Walī,* the Mīrzā's sister's son, were admitted to an audience, and then Farīdūn, Āli Muḥ. Asp, Shāh Beg, Gadā Beg, Tāsh Beg Qūcīn, Takhta Beg, Qāsīm Parwāna, Moaffar Koka, Jānish Bahādur, Tātār Beg, Ghaiūr Beg, Ulugh Beg, Nūr Muḥ., Khwāja Khiẓrī, Dost Muḥ. Turnabi, Khākī Galabān 474 Atālīq, Qāsim Koka, Khwāja Yāqūt (an eunuch), Ātam Bahādur, Khwasham Bahādur, Ḥaīdar 'Alī 'Arab, Qāẓī 'Izzat Ullah, Farrukh* Beg Maṣawwir (painter) and others received suitable robes and horses, and trays of muhrs and rupīs. Various favours were con­ferred on them. Farīdūn, who was of an ungrateful nature, and whose trade was turbulence and disloyalty, was made over to Zain Koka in order that his disposition might be studied.

On 2 Dai H.M. encamped at Ḥasan Abdāl and near there held a qamar gāh hunt. Here Ḥakīm 'Alī and Bahāu-d-din arrived from Kashmīr. The ruler thereof, from pressure of flatterers, and the strength of his country, did not take the road of good service. Though after the manner of double-faced persons, he indulged in protestations, he neither showed an intention of coming to kiss the threshold nor of sending his son Y'aqūb. His ignorance increased. The royal wrath—never inappropriate—was aroused, and an order was issued that the victorious army should awake him from his slumbers.