| First Capture | pp. | 1- 64 |
| Second Capture | pp. | 64-110 |
| Third Capture | pp. | 111-152 |
| Fourth Capture | pp. | 153-176 |
| Fifth Capture | pp. | 177-201 |
| Sixth Capture | pp. | 202-220 |
SIZE.—Duodecimo, with 11 lines to a page.
It appears therefore that the first is the longest, and the translation of it is given below. Absurd as it may read, it gives but a faint idea of the extravagances of the original. Then follow the beginnings of the other five, in order to show the nature of the different narratives which have been attempted.
[The translation was apparently made by a munshí, but has been revised by Sir H. M. Elliot.]
Before the agents of the illustrious court of the Supreme Ruler could visit the provinces of the kingdom of creation, and before the recorders of fate could paint anything in the gallery of beginnings; when time and place were not defined, when all things which we now see around us were screened in his designs, like life in bodies, or meaning in words; and when there was a state of perfect solitude, and all things, from the highest heavens to the lowest regions of water and earth, had their forms only in his imagination, the universal physician who has existed from all eternity, that is, the Almighty God, according to His wise dispensation, and with a view to preserve regularity and system, predestined that great and arduous works should be performed by the hands of man, and for this purpose endowed him with exalted intellect. Certain men He made to surmount certain difficulties, and for each work appointed a time for its accomplishment. When that time comes, all obstacles and difficulties in the way of success are removed, and the key of its easy elucidation is soon found. When the individual whom fortune has made great, is born in this world, all circumstances become subservient to his purposes. That which gives pain to others, affords him delight, and dust produces the effect of collyrium in his eyes. All difficulties vanish of themselves; the dark rust turns for him into a glass, through which he is able to see the world. Through his good fortune the star of prosperity shines over a nation, and the hand of his generosity relieves people from their wants. From his perfection in the knowledge of the doctrine of jurisprudence, with which the Almighty enlightens his mind, he can effect the satisfactory management of his government, can awake people from the slumbers of idleness, and settle all disturbances by his judicious plans. He can rule over the seven climates of the earth, as the soul governs the body; and by his superior wisdom is able even to alter the effect of the revolutions of the heavens upon the affairs of mankind. His pleasure and displeasure, as shown in the government of people, has a much better effect towards perfecting their morals, than the heat of the sun has upon ripening fruit. His justice, severity, liberality, and frugality are more advantageous to the people than the sweet and bitter medicines or the plaister of a physician, or the bleeding instruments of a surgeon to his patients. His anger is as beneficial to the people as the animal heat to the body; and his dissatisfaction, like the bitter precepts of philosophers, gives men the fruits of precaution. The description of his virtues is worthy of forming a preamble to the book of holiness and justice, and the account of his generosity fit to introduce the history of sovereigns. Kings should make his morals their example, and his mode of administration their rule. This may be illustrated by the following brief account.
When under the influence of the fortunate star of Sháh Jahán, a victory was achieved over the Ráná, and the tribes of Jám and Bhárá* were subdued in Gujarát by the royal army, the Emperor Jahángír, who knew every person's worth by only looking at his face, was exceedingly happy to find the Prince possessed of every good and excellent quality, and, from the achievements he had performed, the Emperor had every reason to believe that he would become the most powerful prince of his age. From his excellent manners and good disposition, he found him quite worthy of being his successor; and it was a matter of great satisfaction to him that he had such an accomplished prince for his son. Hence it was that His Majesty, who was equally kind to all, nobles and plebeians, was often heard to speak in public of the high qualities of the Prince. His Majesty always took advice and assistance on all points which seemed difficult and doubtful, a fact which showed to all that there are things in the world which every man is not able to do, and that one key cannot fit every lock. To overcome particular difficulties, men are specially raised up; for every great work is destined to be performed by the exertions of one particular chief.
Since the shaking of the chain of prosperity produces all that is
necessary for the accomplishment of any purpose, the Almighty God
determined to reveal a wonder from the hidden chambers of secrecy,
and effect a miracle by his beneficence in behalf of the Prince, who
justly sustains the weight of the successorship of God. This was
exemplified in the revolt of Súraj Mal, son of Rájá Bású, who,
overcome by excessive pride, and through vain ideas, having lost all
his senses, and becoming delirious through the fire of his madness,
which burnt up the storehouse of his wits, had altogether eradicated
the tree of allegiance by the fingers of insubordination, and having,
by his ridiculous fantasies and vile thoughts, made a breach in the
fabric of obedience (as Magog in the wall of Alexander), and by
the scratching of his bad fortune deformed with his own hand the
face of his prosperity, the malignity of his dark fate, owing to the
drunkenness of his neglect, made him break the bowl of his good
faith. Through his folly he relied upon the precarious shelter of
his forts, and exulted in having the hills for his defence, not knowing
that the warriors of the royal army were so powerful that, even
if he were to flee from water and fire, and to conceal himself under
stones, they would easily destroy him with their blazing spears and
blades of good water, as a short-lived spark vanishes to nothing, or
a little drop becomes absorbed by the earth. In short, when the
Emperor, who by his generosity and kindness had confirmed him in
the paternal dominions after the death of his father, had been informed
of Súraj Mal's revolt, and that from the excessive bile of his
pride he had soured the taste of the honey of his obedience, and
through his shortsightedness having thrust his foot beyond his
blanket, deserting the highway of loyalty, and entering on the plain
of rebellion, had laid his rapacious hands upon some of the par-
Súraj Mal,* on receiving the intelligence of his motion towards him, was so overwhelmed with fear that he dared not lay his rapacious hands upon the rich province of Panjáb, which he had intended to plunder. He ran with precipitation towards Pathánkot, and took shelter in the fort of Mau,* which is surrounded by hills and forests, and is reckoned one of the loftiest and strongest forts in the country. From ancient times it had been the capital of the chiefs of that territory, and several times siege was laid to it, but no enemy was ever able to take it. Rájá Bikramájít, at the head of a royal army, soon reached the place, and laid siege to the fort. The refugees offered opposition, but they were soon defeated. About 700 persons on their side, male and female, were killed, many men were taken prisoners, and Súraj Mal himself, with a few others, fled to the fort of Núrpúr, which had been raised by Rájá Bású. This town, before the fort was built, was called Dhamrí, and subsequent to its conquest it was called Núrpúr, after the illustrious name of the Emperor Núru-d dín Jahángír. Bikramájít, having taken possession of the fort of Mau, and having collected his munitions of war, was bent on the destruction of Súraj Mal, and the conquest of Kángrá. With this intention he pursued Súraj Mal without delay; but the fugitive chief, not finding himself able to stand before the mighty torrents of the royal army, and being quite confounded, dared not stop there for a moment, but, before its arrival, fled away at midnight towards the mountains; and having entered the dominions of the Rájá of Chamba, concealed himself in the fort of Tárágarh,* which is very ancient, lofty, and strong, and is hemmed in by thick forests and mountains. He was, however, soon besieged there by the royal army. For three days the Rájá led successive attacks upon the fort, and on the fourth day stormed it with all his warriors, who, though they sustained a great loss in killed and wounded, yet bravely, and by the force of their arms, carried everything before them, took possession of the fort, and obliged Súraj Mal to flee. After he had lost more than one thousand men on his side, and a great number had fallen into the hands of the besiegers, he fled from Tárágarh to the Rájá of Chamba, and took refuge in a fort in which the Rájá and his family resided, and here he considered himself fortunate in obtaining a respite of two or three days.