CHAPTER CXXXVII.
BEGINNING OF THE 44TH DIVINE YEAR FROM THE ACCESSION, VIZ.
THE YEAR ĀBĀN OF THE 4TH CYCLE.

On Sunday, 23rd Shābān 1007, 11th March, 1599, after the passing of 3 hours, 13 minutes, the world-lighting sun cast his rays on Aries. Now, Divine bounty took possession of the old world, and the withered-up earth assumed a new countenance. H.M. adorned the throne with thanksgiving, and sate on the summit of justice and liberality.

Verse.

The old world became young again.
It assumed violet tresses and tulip-cheek.
The ground seemed from the abundance of flowers and verdure
Such that it might be called a sky full of stars.

There was joy upon joy till the day of the culmination (sharaf). The hearts of high and low expanded. On the New Year's day Prince Sulān Daniel had an audience, and glorified his brow by performing the prostration. He civilised the province of Allahabad by justice and activity, and in accordance with the Shāhinshāh's orders he abandoned drinking, in which he had exceeded. When Fort Bāndhū had been assigned to that nursling of fortune, and he had gone there to see it, and had come from there to Hājīpūr, Dal­pat Ujjainiya—who had become rebellious on account of the strength of his place and of his abundant equipment—came forward and paid his respects to him. He presented choice elephants. Then out of smallness of wisdom he took the resolution to fly, but was arrested and brought to court. After this landowner had been put straight, he (Daniel) went on some way to hunt and to put down the rebels. When he heard of the stories fabricated by interested persons, he left off everything and returned and came to court. On 27th Isfandār­maẕ he sent a petition from the other side of the Jumna and did not obtain leave to have an audience. On the beginning of the august feast he was summoned and treated with favour. Among the choice presents were 206 noted elephants, nine of which obtained the spe­cial rank. H.M. was delighted to see his son and the praters and strife-mongers withdrew their heads into the pocket of shame. Kīcak Khwājah, Iftikhār Beg, Ḥasan Qulī, Walī Beg, and many companions, performed the kornish. On this day Lāla, the son of Rajah Bīrbar, came from Bengal. He had been sent to advise some officers and to bring elephants if he found any remarkable ones. He presented 16 choice elephants. On the 6th Rām Singh, the son of Madhkar, glorified his brow by doing homage. He had long been uproarious, but on the arrival of the august standards he awoke and took the path of service, and was treated with favour. On the 751 11th Āṣaf K. was exalted by performing the prostration. In com­pliance with the august orders he arrived within eight* days from Kashmīr and was exalted by princely favours. On this day Rajah Rāj Singh had an audience. He was in the Deccan army. He was sent for, and he obeyed. Also Catar Bhūj obtained this favour. His father Jagman was one of the proprietors of Mālwa. When he died, Catar Bhūj applied to the court and obtained the rajahship in his room.

At this time Kherlah* was taken. It is one of the renowned forts of Berār, and is on the border between it and Gondwāna. Prince Sulān Murād sent some people under the charge of S. Ibrā­hīm, and it was invested. There were great fights. When provi­sions became somewhat scarce, Saiyid Ḥusain, Biswās Rai, and others of the garrison, awoke from the slumber of presumptuousness. On the 13th (Farwardīn) they capitulated and surrendered the keys. In return they received dignities and estates. On the 14th Samānjī K., Mīr Sharīf Āmulī, and 'Abdu-r-Raḥīm, came from their fiefs. On the 19th Jagat Singh came to court from Nāgor, and was received with favour. On the 23rd Qāsim Beg Tabrīzī died. He had undergone great suffer­ings in spiritual contemplation, and many delightful Ṣūfic expressions fell from his lips. On the 25th the Badakhshān ambassador arrived. When Transoxiana became held by provincial kings, a base fellow of that hill country gave out that he was Muḥammad Ẕamān, a son of M. Shāhrukh, while another called himself Humāyūn, the son of M. Sulaimān. They interviewed one another and divīded the terri­tory. The first sent a supplicatory letter to court by N'iamat Ullah. He struck Shahinshāh coins from Kabul* gold and sent them with some horses as a present. He explained how he had escaped from the tumult in Kabul and expressed his ashamedness for the catas­trophe of Qāsim K. Though many did not believe him and regarded him as an impostor, he was received with favours. On 8th Ardībi­hisht Nūrāī (?) Aḥadī was executed. He drank wine with an Arme­nian* (?) in the portico of Sharīf. They quarrelled and he went to his house and killed him. He met with his deserts.

One of the occurrences was the taking of Nāsik, which belongs to Aḥmadnagar. Two months previously Prince Sulān Murād appointed Baharjeo and some Khāndesh soldiers to that quarter. Amat K. was appointed the Amīn of the force. He knit together the hearts of the leaders. There were great combats and on the 10th the troops prevailed. On the 11th the writer arrived near Burhān­pūr. Bahādur K., the ruler of Khāndesh, received him four kos from 752 Āsīr.* He received as a servant the holy firmān and the khil'at, and performed the prostration. Though he showed a desire that I should stay some days with him I did not agree. Next day I left Burhānpūr and halted after crossing the Taptī.* At the end of the day it blew hard, and there was much rain. Next day I was com­pelled to halt. Bahādur K. came and spent the day with me. When I* had spoken many bitter-seeming but sweetly intended words of guidance about the Deccan expedition, he from self-indul­gence proceeded to offer excuses (for not personally taking part in it), and sent off Kabīr K., his son, with 2,000 horse. He wished to take me to his house, and to show me hospitality. I replied that I would accept it if he accompanied me. When he saw that this avenue was closed, he sent me some presents. I represented that I had made a vow to God that I would not take anything from any one unless four conditions were fulfilled: “1st, Friendship; 2nd, That I should not over-value the gift; 3rd, That I should not have been anxious to get a present; 4th, That I should be in need of it. I grant that three conditions have been fulfilled. But how can we get over the fourth? The Shāhinshāh's kindness has erased the figure of wish. In* the market of enlightened action, silver and gold have become a burden.” He was astonished at the nobleness of the language.