EXTRACTS.

* When Sháh Jahán mounted the throne at Ágra, all the officers of State came to pay their respects to him, but Khán-Jahán Lodí, who was one of the greatest officers under the late Emperor Núru-d dín Muhammad Jahángír, did not attend the Court on the plea of illness. This was very displeasing to His Majesty, and when at last he did attend the Court, he spoke in a very disrespectful tone, which greatly excited His Majesty's anger. As a punishment for his insolence, an order was given to level his house with the ground. Being informed of it, he fled imme­diately with his whole family and property, and attempted to cross the Chambal, but was pursued by Rájá Bahádur with a large force. Ismat Khán, the son of Khán-Jahán Lodí, a boy only twelve years of age, came to an engagement with this officer and killed him with his own hand. The royalists, on the death of their general, made a vigorous attack upon the enemy. Ismat Khán was slain, but Khán-Jahán himself escaped and crossed the river.

In A.H. 1040 (1630 A.D.) the Emperor proceeded to the Dakhin, and conquered many places there. The fort of Daulatábád, which was the capital of the neighbouring territory, was taken by Khán-khánán Muhammad Khán.

Such a magnificent and beautiful fort of red stone was built on the banks of the Jumná, that no building like it was ever constructed by any of the kings who had ruled in India. Besides other magnificent works, the Peacock throne was made by this monarch, which was set with all kinds of precious stones. It was prepared at the expense of nine krors nine lacs and one thousand rupees.

Sa'du-lla Khán and Mudabbir Khán, who were both good scholars, were deservedly appointed ministers to the throne.

Prince Dárá Shukoh was married to the grand-daughter of Sultán Parwez, and the nuptial ceremonies were performed with such pomp and splendour as was never witnessed before.

The Mosque of Jáma' Jahán-numá was built near the fort under the superintendence of Sa'du-lla Khán, at the expense of ten lacs of rupees.

Prince Muhammad Murád Bakhsh was appointed to the Governorship of Ahmadábád in Gujarát, with the grant of an honorary dress and some jewels to the value of five lacs of rupees; and Prince Aurangzeb Bahádur to that of the Province of the Dakhin, and a khil'at with a sarpech, a horse, and jewels to the value of five lacs of rupees, was granted to him. They were all ordered to go to their respective provinces, and the Emperor himself came to Ágra, where he remained nine months, and then returned to Dehlí. As he proceeded on his journey, he amused himself on the way with all kinds of sports.

His Majesty had been pleased to assure his mother-in-law, the wife of Ásaf Khán, in the days of her pregnancy, that if she brought forth a son, he would make him a mansabdár of 5000 horse; and accordingly, when a son was born to her, the rank was conferred on the child under the title of Sháyista Khán Bahádur.

About the same time Muhammad Dárá Shukoh was declared to be the successor to the throne, and the entire management of the Government was placed in his hands. The charge was accordingly undertaken by the Prince, but Providence had deter­mined otherwise. The country was destined to be ruled by a juster and better prince, and every circumstance which occurred in those days combined to assist him in obtaining the throne.

On the 7th Zí-l hijja, 1067 A.H. (Sept. 1657 A.D.), the Emperor Sháh Jahán, who shall henceforth be called 'Álá Hazrat, fell sick in Dehlí, and was unable to attend the duties of the State. Dárá Shukoh, the eldest Prince, intending to avail himself of the circum­stance, so managed that no news regarding the public affairs could transpire. This gave rise to great disturbances in the country. Murád Bakhsh, the fourth son of the Emperor, who was the Governor of Gujarát, seated himself on the throne and declared himself independent. Sháh Shujá', the second Prince, also followed the same course in Bengal and prepared an army. Dárá Shukoh, being afraid of his brother Aurangzeb, prevailed upon the Emperor during his sickness to recall the forces which were with that Prince. His object in taking this measure was first to despatch the two rebel princes, Shujá' and Murád Bakhsh, out of his way, and then to proceed to the Dakhin against Aurangzeb. He took His Majesty to Ágra in the very height of his illness, and sent Rájá Jai Singh with a royal army, and his own force under the command of his eldest son Sulaimán Shukoh, against Sháh Shujá'. He also ordered Rájá Jaswant Singh to march with a large army towards Málwá, the threshold of the Dakhin, to prevent the enemy from advancing. This Hindí chief was one of the greatest Rájás of Hindústán, and as he was very nearly related to the Emperor, he had gained his confidence in a considerable degree, and had obtained a few days before the title of Mahárájá. ^{* * *}

Towards the end of the year 1067 A.H., when, in consequence of the Emperor's sickness, disturbances arose in all parts of the country, Bím Narain, Zamíndár of Kúch Bihár, took possession of the territory of Kámrúp, which belonged to the empire of Dehlí. It was also at the same time encroached upon by Jai Bijai Singh, Rájá of Ásám, who always considered his dominions secure from the depredations of the royal army. To protect Kámrúp, a large army was despatched by land under the command of Khán-khánán, who, considering the service very important, obtained leave of the Emperor to depart immediately, and left Khizrpúr on the 13th of Rabí'u-l awwal, in the 4th year after His Majesty's accession to the throne, and conquered the city of Kúch Bihár on the 27th of the same month. After the conquest he changed the name of the city to 'Álamgírnagar, and on the 28th proceeded to invade Ásám by way of Ghorá-ghát. After five months' exertions, the city of Karkálu, which the chief residence of the ruler of Ásám, was taken on the 6th of Sha'bán. An account of the immense booty, both in pro­perty and cash, which fell into the hands of the victors, as also of the number of men killed on both sides in these battles, and of the rarities and wonders of Kúch Bihár and Ásám, together with a description of the vegetable and mineral products of the country, the manners and customs of the people, and their forts and buildings, is fully given in the 'A'lamgír-náma. When the Emperor received the report of these important conquests from the Khán-khánán, the general of the royal army, he showed great favour to his son, Muhammad Amín Khán, and honoured him with the grant of a khil'at in his own presence. The Khán also received a farmán in approbation of his services, and was rewarded with an honorary dress, one kror of dáms, and the insignia of the farmán and tugh.