The canal that Sultán Fíroz Sháh Khiljí, during the time he reigned at Dehlí, had made to branch off from the river Jumna, in the vicinity of pargana Khizrábád, whence he brought it in a channel 30 Imperial kos long to the confines of pargana Safídún, which was his hunting-seat, and had only a scanty supply of water, had, after the Sultán's death, become in the course of time ruinous. Whilst Shahábu-d dín Ahmad Khán held the government of Dehlí, during the reign of the Emperor Akbar, he put it in repair and set it flowing again, with a view to fertilize the places in his jágír, and hence it was called Nahr-i Shaháb; but for want of repairs, however, it again stopped flowing. At the time when the sublime attention was turned to the building of this fort and palace, it was commanded that the aforesaid canal from Khizrábád to Safídún should be repaired, and a new channel excavated from the latter spot to the regal residence, which also is a distance of 30 Imperial kos. After it was thus prolonged, it was designated the Nahr-i Bihisht.
On the 22nd of the month of Ramazán, when the standards of
prosperity, after their return from Safídún, were planted at His
Majesty's private hunting-seat, it reached the ear of royalty,
through the representations of Daulat Khán, ruler of Kandahár,
and Purdil Khán, governor of fort Bust,*
that Sháh 'Abbás the
Second, having come to the sacred city of Tús*
(Mashhad-i
Mukaddas), with intent to rescue the kingdom of Kandahár, had
proceeded towards the confines of Khurásán, with all his match-
His Majesty, after hearing this intelligence, having summoned 'Allámí Sa'du-lla Khán from the metropolis, commanded him to write farmáns to all the nobles and mansabdárs who were at their respective estates, jágírs, and homes, directing them to set out with all speed for Court. It was likewise ordered that the astrologers should determine the proper moment for the departure of the world-traversing camp from the metropolis to the capitals Lahore and Kábul.
As soon as it reached the royal ear, through Daulat Khán's representations, that on the 10th of Zí-l hijja, the Sháh had arrived outside the fortress of Kandahár, and besieged it, the ever-successful Prince Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahádur was appointed to proceed thither with 'Allámí Sa'du-lla Khán, and some of the chief officers of State, such as Bahádur Khán, Mirzá Rájá Jai Singh, Rustam Khán, Rájá Bithaldás, and Kalích Khán. Besides these, there were upwards of fifty individuals from amongst the nobles, and a vast number of mansabdárs, ahadí archers, and matchlockmen—the whole number of whom, under the regulation requiring them to bring one-fifth of their respective tallies of fighting men into the field, would amount to 50,000 horsemen, and according to the rule enforcing a fourth, to 60,000— as well as 10,000 infantry, matchlock and rocket men, etc. It was ordered that subsidiary grants of money out of the State exchequer should be made to the nobles and mansabdárs holding jágírs, who were appointed to serve in this expedition, at the rate of 100 rupees for every individual horseman, which would be a lac for every hundred; that to those who drew pecuniary stipends in place of holding jágírs, three months' pay in advance should be disbursed; and in like manner also to the ahadís and matchlockmen, who numbered 5000 horse, should a similar advance be made; so that they might not suffer any privations during the campaign from want of funds to meet their current expenses.
On the 18th of the month of Muharram, it being a fortunate moment, 'Allámí was dismissed along with the nobles who were present in His Majesty's fortunate train, and farmáns were issued to those who were staying in the province of Kábul and other places, to join the royal forces at once. Various marks of favour and regard were manifested towards 'Allámí and his associates, on their taking leave, by the bestowal of khil'ats, jewelled daggers, and swords, horses, and elephants on them, according to their different grades of rank. He also forwarded by the hands of 'Allámí for the gallant Prince—to whom an order had been issued previous to this, directing him to start instantly from Multán and overtake the royal forces at Bhimbhar—a handsome khil'at. * * * It was further commanded that the ever-victorious army should hasten to Kábul viâ Bangash-i bálá and Bangash-i páyín, as they were the shortest routes, and thence proceed by way of Ghazní towards Kandahár.
On the 8th of Rabí'u-l awwal, when the victorious camp
started from Jahángírábád, intelligence reached the Court that
the servants of the crown had lost possession of the fortresses
of Kandahár and Bust, and all the rest in that country; a detailed
account of which events is here given. When Sháh 'Abbás
came from Tús to Hirát, he proceeded from thence to Faráh;
where, having halted some days, he marched upon Kandahár,
having, however, first despatched Mihráb Khán with some of
his nobles, and an additional number of matchlockmen, etc.,
amounting altogether to about 8000 horsemen, to besiege the
fortress of Bust, and Sáz Khán Baligh with five or six thousand
composed of Kazalbáshís and the troops of Karkí and
Naksarí,*
to subdue Zamíndáwar. On reaching that place, he
fixed his head-quarters in the garden of Ganj Kulí Khán,
whilst Daulat Khán, who had shut himself up in the fortress,
having committed the interior of the stronghold to the charge
of trusty persons, appointed a party of the royal matchlock-