Return of the King to Kabul, and of his granting permission to the Prince Kamran to proceed on a pilgrimage to Mecca, &c. A. H. 961.—A. D. 1553.
Sultan Adam having represented to his Majesty that the inhabitants of that part of the country were suffering much from the presence of his army, requested that he would issue orders for them to march immediately to the westward. In consequence of this representation, the public crier* was sent round to proclaim the orders, and we accordingly marched to the banks of the Nilab. At this place the king gave permission for the Prince Kamran to proceed (by way of Tattah) to the pilgrimage of Mecca:* after which we crossed the river, and having reached Pyshavur, the king gave orders for erecting a fortress at that place; and although the chiefs grumbled at keeping the army longer in the field, his Majesty persevered, and the foundation of the fortress having been marked out that very day, it was finished in a week; and as the grain was still standing in the fields, he ordered it to be cut down, and stored in the fort. The Khutbeh was then read in due form, and the command of the place was given to Sekunder Khan, an Uzbeg, and a dress of honour conferred on him.
After the second prayers the army again marched, and his Majesty soon after happily arrived at Kabul: he took up his residence in the upper fort, and passed the new year’s day in great festivity and rejoicing.
Some time after this the king marched to Candahar, and remained there for three months; he then returned towards Kabul; Byram Khan accompanied him as far as the river Turung, which is half way between Ghizneh and Candahar, and then returned to his garrison; but previous to his departure it was settled that, as soon as the winter should be over, he would come to Kabul, and from thence attend his Majesty on the invasion of India.
About this period Hajy Muhammed (the foster brother) who commanded in Ghizneh was dissatisfied; and, although the king took measures to reconcile him he was not contented, and a coldness continued between them; but when his Majesty made an excursion through the Lungham district, the Hajy broke the kettle-drums, standards, and other insignia of nobility which had been conferred on him, as a proof of his disrespect. On hearing this, the king sent and confined the Hajy and his brother, Shah Muhammed, and said to them, with great temper, “do you write out a list of all your merits, and I will write your demerits, and let us see which preponderate; if your claims on me are more weighty than your transgressions against me, I will forgive you; but, if the contrary, I will not only dismiss you from my service, but put you to death.” In short, they made out a list of their claims on the king, and he wrote an account of their faults; and, as the latter predominated, he ordered them both first to be confined, and afterwards to be slain.
His Majesty then returned to Kabul, but frequently went to amuse himself in hawking and fishing on the river Baran and in other places with his companions. During this period he sent letters to Samerkund, Bokhara, and other towns, inviting the chiefs and warriors to accompany him on his invasion of Hindustan: to some of the chiefs he sent presents, and letters explanatory of his intentions, with prayers for their combined success.