CHAPTER CXI.
H.M. PROCEEDS TO KASHMĪR.

For a long time he was inclined to go to that country. Most men were averse to his going on account of the difficulty of the journey. Those who had hearts bent on the enjoyment of their master regarded the difficulties of the ravines as slight, but they represented that it could not be proper for H.M.—whose empire it took a year to traverse—to go off to a corner thereof, and to enter that mountainous country. Some farsighted men were convinced from H.M.'s knowledge of mysteries, that there was a secret involved 617 in his intention, and that this expedition would result in glory. On 12 Amardād,* 22nd July 1592, in spite of clouds of rain and the opposition of men, he set out. Several ladies accompanied him. On the 17th he advanced from Rāmbārī,* but from the abundance of water there was no place found for his advance-tent (peshkhāna). He left the camp and the soldiers under the charge of Prince Sul­ān Selīm in order that he might bring them on slowly, and went off on elephants with some chosen courtiers. At Shāham* 'Alī, Qulīj K. and Khwāja Shamsu-d-dīn were sent back to the city. Near this place a woman brought her son and represented that every year his head was growing larger, and his neck becoming weak. No benefit had come from physicians. H.M. bade her to put a leathern cap tightly on the child's head. She did so and the thing was remedied. The skilful were astonished at this cure. On the 28th near Khaima* Chatha (?) the Kashmīr insurrection became known, and the veil fell from the holy purpose. A world had collyrium applied to its eyes. More extraordinary still, when he was crossing the Rāvī, he asked “of whom is this verse said?”

Verse.*

Alas, Alas! how have the Cyrus-cap and Shāh's tiara
Become the portion of a bald man?

When the confidant* of M. Yūsuf K. represented the increase of the revenue of Kashmīr, Qāī Nūru-llah and Qāẓī 'Alī were sent to make inquiries. When the Mīrzā's agents lost hope of getting bribes they adopted evil thoughts. Qāẓī Nūrullah came to court and reported the disorganization of the men and their evil intentions. On this information, some of the evil disposed were summoned, and Ḥusain Beg S. 'Umarī was sent to encourage (the loyal). When the condition of the evil disposed became known in some measure, Dar­vesh 'Alī, 'Ādil Beg, Y'aqūb Beg Turkamān, Imām Qulī Cūlāq, Qiyā Beg and other servants of M. Yūsuf Beg plotted together to stir up strife. First, they went to Kamālu-d-dīn Ḥusain Asko,* who was one of the Aḥadīs, in order to get him to become their leader and to raise a rebellion. He had the auspiciousness not to accept their proposals, and then they made Yādgār* the cousin of M. Yūsuf K. their instrument. Every day he took into his head thoughts of sedition and developed mischievousness. One day furious men poured a shower of arrows into the house of Ḥusain Beg S. 'Umarī. One of his servants had contracted a marriage with a member of that set, but at the instigation of wicked people it was broken* off. They made this an opportunity and suddenly attacked the house (of Ḥusain B.). His men had gone away, but he closed the door and stood firm. Qāẓī 'Alī and S. Bābā intervened and quelled the tumult. Then they got up a disturbance at the Koh i-Mārān.* Ḥusain Beg collected his men and fought with them. There was a slight engagement, and then peace was made. Some surrendered upon promises and were put to death. Their evil thoughts were nearly 618 being realized in action. Ḥusain Beg and Qāẓī 'Alī were obliged to leave the city and to take up their quarters at the fort of Nāgar­nagar* (Akbar's fort). They became somewhat supine and careless. On 12 Amardād, 22nd July 1592, they (the Kashmīrīs) closed the routes and proceeded to rebel. The extraordinary thing was that on this very day H.M. the mystery-knower came out from Lahore. Some people gathered together on the pretext of visiting the melon-beds and made a league. Ḥusain Beg and Qāẓī' Alī had not the energy to put down this disturbance with vigour and alacrity.*

On receiving this information H.M. went on the faster. On 1 Shahriyūr his tents were pitched on the bank of the Cināb, and though there was a storm, and it was raining, he sate on the bank and superintended the crossing. At dawn he crossed in a boat at the Caugān ferry. On the 4th it appeared that the whole of the Mīrzā's troops had joined the Kāshmīrīs, and that Qāẓī 'Alī had offered up his life in good service, and that Ḥusain Beg had with difficulty saved himself. When Yādgār came out of the city, and they threw away power and opportunity, he came to Kāmrāj, and the success of the rebels increased. At this time they awoke from the heavy slumber of carelessness, and hastened after him. But they returned without effecting anything. Though the Mīrzā's sons did not join him (Yādgār), and the imperial servants did not assist him, that worth­less madman returned to the city. Near the Ilāhī garden he was victorious after a slight contest. They were compelled to cross the river and come to the city. Both parties broke down the bridges— the rebels for fear that their comrades would desert them, and the other party for fear that the rebels would pursue them. Qāẓī 'Alī wished to take shelter with Fatḥ K. Jangalī (?), and to wait for rein­forcements. Ḥusain Beg said, “M. Yūsuf K.'s men have all joined the revolt, and it would be very difficult to get there.” They were compelled to go rapidly to India. Near Hīrapūr some one from ignorance beat a kettledrum, and the guardians of the roads (rāh­bānān ) got news by this and broke down the bridges. They were obliged to throw themselves into the water. Some were drowned, and some were captured. Ḥusain Beg and Qāẓī 'Alī and some Badakhshīs escaped and went on. As the Pīr Panjal road had been closed, they went by the defile of Hastī Watar.* By strenuous exertions, and by much shooting they escaped. Qāẓī 'Alī became exhausted by the heights and hollows, and was caught and killed. When Ḥusain and some others emerged from the hills, the land­owner of the place plundered them, and sought to kill them. Bahabū (?) the chief of Rajaurī came and rescued them.

On this news H.M. proceeded more rapidly to that quarter, and an order was given that Zain K. Koka should proceed thither with his men by the route of Swād; that Ṣādiq K. should march by the way of Pūnc,* and that the landowners of the northern mountains 619 should start from Jammū, and that the fiefholders and collectors of the Panjāb should encourage some brave peasants and send them off. On 5 Shahrīyūr* S. Farīd Bakhshī Begī was sent off together with Mīr Murād * * * (six lines of names). On account of the nearness of the fall of snow, the soldiers were sent from every quar­ter in order that there might be no delay in inflicting retribution. On that day the writer of the noble volume took an omen from the diwān of Ḥāfi. These four lines gave the news of victory.

Verse.

Where is the harbinger which tells of victory
That I may shed my life at his feet, like silver and gold.
The stage is en fête on account of the return of the Shāh.
'Tis time for his antagonists to depart to the screen of annihi­lation.

On this day M. Yūsuf K. was, on account of foresight, made over to the charge of the writer of the book of fortune. When his family came out of Kashmīr he was released. Near Gujrāt (in the Panjāb) the Prince Royal and the great camp joined H.M., and there was rejoicing. On the 16th, Ṣādiq K. took leave to go forward. When he had gone some stages he made unsuitable requests. H.M.* was displeased and recalled him in the middle of his march.