In the month Muḥarram* of the year nine hundred and (P. 364) ninety-six (996) Mán Singh was appointed to the government of the districts of Bahár, Hájípúr, and Patnah. And on the night of the tenth of this month having offered to him, together with the Khán Khánán, the cup of friendship, His Majesty brought up the subjects of “Discipleship,” and proceeded to test Mán Singh. He said without any ceremony: “If Discipleship means willingness to sacrifice one's life, I have already carried my life in my hand: what need is there of further proof? If, however, the term has another meaning and refers to Faith, I certainly am a Hindú. If you order me to do so, I will become a Musalmán, but I know not of the existence of any other religion than these two.” At this point the matter stopped, and the Emperor did not question him any further, but sent him to Bengál.

At this time he gave the government of Kashmír to Yúsuf Khán Razawí of Mashhad, and sent for Muḥammad Qásim Khán from that place.

On the twelfth of Çafar* of the year nine hundred and ninety-six (996) he sent Muḥammad Çádiq Khán to expel Yúsuf Záí from Sawád-u-Bajór,* and he gave the jágír of Mán Singh, consisting of Sawálikát* &c. to him. And he sent for Isma'íl Qulí Khán from Sawád-u-Bajór, and appointed him to supersede Qulíj in Gujrát.

In this month Mírzá Fúlád Beg Barlás managed to get Mullá Aḥmad the Shi'ah, on some pretext, out of his house at midnight and killed him, because he had reviled the Companions of the Pro­phet, and “Bravo! the dagger of Steel”* gives the date, and another suggested “Hell-fire Pig.”* And verily when he was at his last breath I saw his face look actually like that of a pig,* and other persons also observed this phenomenon, God preserve us from the wickedness of our souls! They bound Mírzá Fúlád to the foot of an elephant and dragged him through the streets of Láhor, until at last he attained the grade of martyrdom. When the Emperor sent by Ḥakím Abu-l-Fatḥ and asked him: “Can zeal for the faith have been the motive of your killing Mullá Aḥmad?” (P. 365) He answered, “If zeal for religion had been my motive, I should have turned my hand against a greater one than he.” He brought back this answer to the Emperor, and said, “This fellow is a regular scoundrel, he ought not to be allowed to live.” So the Emperor ordered him to be put to death; although on account of his bravery, and the intercession of the people of the harem he wished to spare his life. The murdered man went to his own place three or four days after his murderer. The Shi'ahs at the time of washing the corpse, are said to have, according to the rules of their sect, put a nail into his arms, and plunged him several times into the river.* After his burial Shaikh Faizí and Shaikh Abu-l-Fazl set guards over his grave, bnt in spite of all precaution in the year when His Majesty went to Kashmír the people of Láhor one night took up his gross carcass, and burnt it.

On the twenty-second of Rabí-us-sání of the year nine hundred and ninety-six the New Year's day of the thirty-third, or thirty-fourth, year from the Accession took place. The Emperor, in order to beguile the common people, had the public audience-hall which consists of one hundred and fourteen porticos, decorated with all sorts of ornamentations, such as valuable stuffs and embroidered cur­tains. And all sorts of edicts contrary to the Law were issued, and “Publication of Heresy”* gives the date.

At this time Qulíj Khán came from Gujrát to pay homage, and brought all sorts of presents. And a command was issued, that he in conjunction with Rájah Todar Mall (who had become a very imbecile old man, and whom one night about this time a rival had lain in wait for, and wounded with his sword, and grazed his skin) should conduct the administrative and financial concerns of the Empire. In this year the Rájah of Kamáún, who had never, nor his father or grandfather before him, (God's curse be on them!) seen an Emperor even in imagination, came from the Sawálik hills to pay his homage to the Emperor at Láhor. He brought all sorts of rare presents, amongst which were a Yak, and a Musk-deer, which through (P. 366) the heat of the atmosphere died on the way. I saw it, and it was in form like a fox, and two small tusks prejected in front, and instead of horns it had an elevation, but since the lower half was wrapped up, it could not be seen. They said also that there were men in that country, who had wings and feathers, and could fly; and also in that kingdom a mango-tree which gives fruit all the year round. They told the tale, but God knows if it is true!

In these days Ḥakím Ayn-ul-mulk arrived with the ambassadors of Mírzá Jání,* and brought all sorts of presents, and became the recipient of His Majesty's kindness.