AN ACCOUNT OF MEERZA EESA, THE SON OF MEER ABDOOL ALI TURKHAN.

In his youth he found instruction from Meerza Shah Beg, being in the rank of his nobles. When Meerza Eesa was with Meerza Shah Hoosain in Mooltan, Ameer Amranee came to Tatta, looting the people. The nobles then wrote to Meerza Shah Hoosain, acquainting him of this. Meerza Eesa, placing the foot of bravery in front, asked for leave to go and punish the intruders. He arrived with great speed near Tatta, where he fought well, slaying many of them. The survivors dispersed.

After the return of Meerza Shah Hoosain, Ameer Amranee, with 40,000 men, came, and putting in order a field of battle, an action was fought, in which 10,000 of his men were slain. After the death of Meerza Shah Hoosain, in Jumadee-ool-Awul 962 (A. D. 1554), Meerza Eesa sat on the throne of the government. The Urghoons and Tur­khans approved of him as their ruler, placing in his hands the power of tying and loosening, of gathering and distributing.

Meerza Eesa was a good man in every sense of the word, always being indulgent to the Ryuts and sepoys. One year after he had sat on the throne, at the instigation of the Urghoons, he became at enmity with Sultan Mahomed Khan, marching on Bukkur with a large force, intent on war. In the month Rubee-oos-Sanee 963 (A. D. 1555), he encamped opposite to it, but Sultan Mahomed Khan was inside the fort. There were two fights between them.

At that time a body of Furinghees, whom Meerza Eesa had called to his assistance, came to Tatta, which they looted and burned, seizing some of the people, whom they carried away. The day previous to their looting Tatta these Furinghees threw some spirits into the river, when the water of it became ignited.

When this news reached Meerza Eesa, he went there with haste, being followed as far as Sehwistan by Sultan Mahomed, who destroyed all the Rubee (spring crops) of that country. Syud Meer Kutan, coming between, a treaty was made, and Sultan Mahomed returned to Bukkur. Some time after this, in the year 967 (A. D. 1559), Meerza Mahomed Saleh and Meerza Mahomed Bagee, the two sons of Meerza Eesa Turkhan, were fighting between themselves. The father gave his countenance to the former. The latter, being defeated, went to Wungub, where the Sodahs are. Those Urghoons who had accompanied him, agreeing to remain with him, they went to Omurkote. Thence, by the way of Jaisulmere, they came to Bukkur, where they had an interview with Sultan Mahomed, who took them into the armpit of his kindness, placing them at Sukkur. Meerza Eesa sent the children of Mahomed Bagee to Sukkur, to please Mahomed Saleh. Meerza Mahomed Bagee wished much to go to Hindoostan, but Sultan Mahomed Khan would not allow this, because he thought that if he got there, he would return with a large force, which would have to go through his country, by which much damage and annoyance would fall upon his people.

In 970 (A. D. 1562), Sultan Mahomed begged of Meerza Eesa forgiveness for the faults of Mahomed Bagee, agreeing to which, he sent a mission to Sultan Mahomed to make arrangements, saying how happy he was that he (Sultan Mahomed) had received and interceded for his son. Sultan Mahomed then sent Meerza Mahomed Bagee to his father, presenting him with all things befitting the son of a king.

Mahomed Bagee, arriving at Tatta, had an interview with his father, who gave him Sehwistan in Jageer, allowing him to depart. After this, the Urghoons quarrelled with Meerza Eesa’s people. Peace was made between them, but as the Urghoons were crossing the river, they opened fire upon, and slew many of them. On this account, they reached Bukkur in a bad state, showing their circumstances to Sultan Mahomed, who seized and confined the whole of them. After some time, on the intercession of his mother, he liberated them, and giving to each a horse and Khilat, he sent them with his other people against Sehwistan, the fort of which they surrounded, attacking it two or three times, but they could do nothing.

When the river was very full, Meerza Eesa came with many troops. A fight took place at the Rufyan ferry, when many of Sultan Mahomed’s men fell. Meerza Eesa encamped opposite the town of Dunbeluh, where Sultan Mahomed sent his forces. They were preparing for action when Shaikh Abdool Wuhab Pooranee, and Mah Begum, the well-wishers of both parties, made peace between them. Meerza Eesa then returned to Tatta, and the forces of Sultan Mahomed went back to Bukkur. In 974 (A. D. 1566), when Meerza Eesa drew near death, he proposed to seat in his place his youngest son Meerza Jan Baba; but Mah Begum said: “Meerza Mahomed Bagee is the elder, it is proper to place him on the throne.” Meerza Eesa, shaking his head at this, replied: “He has violence in his heart, giving oppression to the Ryuts, and the families of others of God’s creation, and you will come to your death at his hands.”

When Meerza Eesa died a natural death, the event was concealed, to prevent discord, until Meerza Mahomed Bagee had come to Tatta from Sehwistan. On the morning of that day, the body of Meerza Eesa was placed in the tomb.