Tārīḫ-i Sind - Ta-ri-h-i Sind The History of Sind Ta-ri-h-i Sind

When Jam Futteh Khan placed his side on the bed of sickness, from the sensations which he felt he saw the face of death. Therefore, three days before he died, he seated his brother Tughlug on the throne of the Sirdaree, placing in his hands the reigns of the government, and giving him the title of Jam Tughlug Shah. On ascending the throne of the Sultanut, Jam Tughlug Shah sent his brothers to rule over Sehwistan, and the fort of Bukkur. He himself spent much of his time in hunting and exercise. The Beloochees near Bukkur beginning to cause disturbances, the Jam, taking a large force with him, went there, and having given the Beloochee Sirdars severe punishment, he turned back. He placed Thanas in each Purguna, to prevent disturbances. The length of his reign was twenty-six years, when he died a natural death.

When he sat in the place of his father, he was a young man. The Hakeems of Sehwistan and Bukkur, becoming powerful in their respective districts, ceased placing the orders of government on their heads, and began to quarrel with each other. Jam Sekunder, leaving Tatta, went towards Bukkur. He had got as far as Nusurpoor, when one named Moobaruk, who in the time of Jam Tughlug was the commander of 2,000 men, started up, and arriving at Tatta, proclaimed himself Jam Moobaruk, and seated himself on the throne of the government. But he had not the concurrence of the people of the city; on this account his rule did not extend beyond three days, inasmuch as the nobles of Tatta turned him out, and sent to call Jam Sekunder. When this news reached him, he made peaceable arrangements with those Hakeems, and returned to Tatta.

One year and a half after this, he took the apparatus of his life from the ways of this perishable world, to the ample house of eternity.

On the 6th of Jumadee-ool-Awul, Hijree 858 (A. D. 1454), Jam Roydhun came forth.

In the time of Jam Tughlug, he lived in Kutch, with the men of which country he had become connected.

He placed near his person many of those men, such as were penetrating, whose hearts he pleased without limit, constantly making them presents of horses and things of value. These men, perceiving on the forehead of his acts the signs of rectitude, with all sincerity placed themselves in his hands.

When the news of the decease of Jam Sekunder reached him, taking many men, he went to Tatta, and collecting the men of that city, he said: “I have not come to take the country, but I have come to save the property of the Musulmans. I do not consider myself fit to be king; he whom you consider fit for the situation, make him king, and I will be the first of any to give him the hand of homage.” Amongst those men there was no one fit to be king, so all of them agreeing, placed him on the throne of the kingdom. In the course of one year and a half, he pulled beneath his rule the whole of Sind, from the ocean to Kajur, Mullee, and Khoondee, the boundaries of Matheluh, and Oobawruh. After reigning eight years, the wind (idea) of ruling over the Sultanut entered the head of one of his least esteemed friends, Jam Sunjur, and other slight acquaintances consenting, joined him.

Jam Roydhun was drinking wine in private, when Jam Sunjur, putting some poison in a bottle, gave it into the hands of one of his attendants, three days after drinking which Jam Roydhun died. It is also written by some, that a man, a Fakeer, one of judgment, who was considered in those times as a saint at Tatta, was in the habit of constantly coming to the Jam, who always treated him with great respect, seating him on his own seat; and whatever this Fakeer said the Jam agreed to it.

One day, at an assembly, the Wuzeers and nobles said to the Jam— “Ask that Fakeer, to whom you give so much honour, what God is like, and what is his description.” When the Jam heard this, he placed it in his heart. Four days afterwards, when this Durwish came to the assembly, the Jam did not pay him the usual attention. The Fakeer understood that there was something in this. The Jam then asked him: “What is God like, and what description does He bear?” The Fakeer replied: “The description of God is this, that three days hence He will destroy you by means of a horse 16 kos from this, and he will place Jam Sunjur on your seat.” The third day after this, the Jam went to hunt, not bearing in mind what the Fakeer had said. By chance he galloped his horse, when he fell, and his foot remaining in the stirrup, at the distance of 16 kos from Tatta his life was given to God.

Jam Sunjur was a handsome young man. Many people went mad from seeing his face, who did his service without receiving any yearly salary. Historians also write, that previous to ascending the throne, Jam Sunjur was on friendly terms with a Fakeer of deep counsel. One night Jam Sunjur went to him, and after the meeting he said: “It is my wish to reign over Tatta, if only for eight days.” This Fakeer replied— “You will be king for eight years.” When Roydhun journeyed to that other world, the nobles assembled, placing Jam Sunjur on the throne, placing in his hands the reins of the affairs of state. He, having been thus seated on the throne, through the prayers of the Fakeer, all the Hakeems on the borders obeyed his orders without fighting with him.

During his reign over Sind, such habits and customs were introduced as had never before been known in that country. The sepoys and Ryuts in his time lived in great happiness, spending their time confortably. Jam Sunjur was much attached to men of piety, and learning, and to all Fakeers. On Friday he distributed much in charity to Fakeers and the poor. He gave certain salaries to those having just claims.

Historians have written, that before the reign of Jam Sunjur, the Hakeems gave very little to the men holding office under government. When Sunjur obtained the sovereignty, there was a Kazee at Bukkur, named Kazee Munroof, who had been made Kazee in the time of the former Hakeem, and he received but little pay. On account of the smallness of his pay, he was in the habit of taking something from the people by intimidation. This reached the ears of Jam Sunjur, who gave orders for this Kazee to be present.

When he came, the Jam said: “I hear that you take something from those who quarrel with each other.” The Kazee said; “Yes, I do; and I also wish to take something from the witnesses, but these, having given their evidence, get away before I can ask them for anything.” Hearing this, the Jam laughed; when the Kazee said— “I sit the whole day in the hall of justice; I have passed my life in this business, and my children are hungry morning and evening.” Hearing this, the Jam gave him a valuable present, and settled his pay according to his expenses, giving orders throughout the kingdom, that the salaries of all the men in office were to be increased, that they might pass their time free from anxiety and care. When his reign had lasted eight years, his life went from this house full of sorrow.

On the 25th of Rubee-ool-Awul, 866 (A. D. 1461), after the death of Jam Sunjur, he sat on the throne of the Sultanut. When he was firm as king, he raised on high the standard of his strong predominance. It is said, that at the commencement of his manhood he sought after knowledge, spending much of his time in the college and cloister. His disposition was modest and happy; he was celebrated for his good, affectionate temper; he offered much prayer to God, doing great abstinence. His excellences are beyond what little I can write. At the commencement of the reign of Jam Nizam-ood-deen, he went with a large force to Bukkur, remaining there one year, taking out by the roots those who thieved and disturbed the country. He placed in the fort of Bukkur great stores of provision, and requisites of every kind, appointing over it the son of one of his slaves. The people on the border were so well under his authority, that travellers went along the roads without apprehension. Having made all these arrangements in the space of one year, he returned to Tatta with his heart at ease (about A. D. 1509). For a period of forty-eight years he reigned at Tatta with absolute power; in his kingdom, the men of piety and learning, and the Fakeers, spent their time in great happiness, and the sepoys and Ryuts were in comfortable circumstances.

Jam Nizam-ood-deen and Sultan Hoosain Lungah of Mooltan were contemporary friends. Between them there were many roads of esteem and friendship; they were always sending something to each other.

The Jam was in the habit of visiting the stable every week. He was in the habit of stroking the horses down the face with his hands, saying— “Oh my wealthy one! I do not want to mount you, unless to go against Kafirs, because on all sides the rulers are Musulmans; do you ask of God, that I may not go beyond the order of the laws of Mahomed, and that no one may come against me. God forbid that the blood of any Musulman should flow, so that I should have shame before God!”

During the time of his rule, Mahomedan rules attained so much life, that my understanding does not extend beyond them. The congregations of both great and small assembled in the Musjids; no one was willing to say his prayers alone. If any one was not present with the congregation, he repented, begging forgiveness for two or three days.

In the latter days of the reign of Jam Nizam-ood-deen, the forces of Shah Beg Urghoon, coming from Kandahar, fell upon many villages of Chundooha and Sideejuh. The Jam sent a large force to expel these Moguls, which arrived at Duruh-i-Kureeb, commonly known as Joolow Geer, where a battle was fought, in which the brother of Shah Beg was killed, and his forces being defeated, they turned the bridle of retreat towards Kandahar; and during the life of Jam Nizam-ood-deen they did not come back again.

The Jam spent much time in discoursing on knowledge, with the learned of those times.

In his time Moulana Julal-ood-deen Mahomed Dewanee, proposing to come from Shiraz to Sind, sent Meer Shums, and Meer Mooneen, both his disciples, to Tatta, to ask the Jam to give him a place to live in. The Jam fixed upon a very handsome residence for him, settling the requisites for his subsistence, sending by his two disciples much money for his road expenses. But before these came, Moulana had travelled to another world: Meer Shums and Meer Mooneen, recollecting the society of the Jam, returned back to Tatta.

Some time after this, Jam Nizam-ood-deen raised on high the banner of his departure to the world eternal.

After his death, much dissension arose in the condition of the people of Sind.

When Jam Nizam-ood-deen went along the road to the other world, his son Pheroz was of tender age.

The Jam Sulah-ood-deen, the son of the daughter of Jam Sunjur, and the relative of Jam Nizam-ood-deen, laid claim to the country, wishing that he might be placed on the king’s throne. Durya Khan and Sarung Khan, who were the slaves of consequence of Jam Nizam-ood-deen, having great power and dignity, would not agree to this; and collecting all the men of authority, and the nobles of Tatta, they placed Jam Pheroz on the throne of the Sultanut, and Jam Sulah-ood-deen, who had proposed fighting, being hopeless, went to Guzerat, and petitioned Sultan Moozuffur, of that country. Sultan Moozuffur was married to the daughter of the uncle of Jam Saluh-ood-deen; on this account his heart turned to what he said.

When Jam Pheroz, having ascended the throne, had attained manhood, he spread the carpet of pleasure, spending much of his time in the Harem, and when he came forth, he associated with jesters and loose characters. On this account, during his time, the people of the Summah tribe, and the Khasuh Khails, were in the habit of committing great oppression on the citizens, and when Durya Khan forbade this, they treated him with scorn, so taking his leave, he went to his Jageer, Kahan.

At that time, Moulana Mukhdoom Abdool Azeez Abhuree, a narrator of the traditional sayings of Mahomed, with Moulana Aseer-ood-deen, and Moulana Mahomed, his two sons, each of them being learned, came to Kahan, where they remained some time, exerting themselves to benefit the people, and to spread knowledge. They came from Herat because Shah Ismael had ascended the throne, in the year 918 (A. D. 1512).

Moulana Abdool Azeez was collecting knowledge of all the sciences, and of things related. He had composed very good books on all kinds of knowledge. Amongst them was a commentary on the Mishkat (a book of the traditional sayings of Mahomed), and he had written marginal notes to many difficult works. He went to the other world at Kahan. His tomb is in the burying ground there, and it is visited by those people.

When Jam Pheroz spent his time in pleasure, the nobles turned their heads to ruining the country. The chiefs of the intelligence department sent a letter by a man to Jam Sulah-ood-deen, giving him the news that Jam Pheroz was debauched, and without knowledge; that Durya Khan, the support of the kingdom, had gone to Kahan, with accession; and that now was the time for him quickly to convey himself there. Jam Sulah-ood-deen showed this letter to the Sultan, who placed a large force under his orders, giving him leave to go to Tatta, when, marching by forced marches, he crossed the river at Tatta, and arrived there. The men of Jam Pheroz, being all abroad, took him out by another road, and Jam Sulah-ood-deen mounted the throne in Tatta. He imprisoned all the slaves of Jam Pheroz, making them show his property.

The mother of Jam Pheroz took him to Durya Khan, at Kahan, when the Jam, weeping, said he had discontinued his former evil habits. Durya Khan, recollecting the former kindness of the Jam, collected a large body of men, and when the troops of Bukkur and Sehwistan had united, they came under the standard of Jam Pheroz. Many Beloochees, and men of other tribes, also joined him.

Durya Khan then turned his face towards Jam Sulah-ood-deen, to expel him. Jam Sulah-ood-deen proposed sending the fighting elephants and troops with Hajee Wuzeer, to fight, so he remained in the city, and sent forth the Hajee. When the troops of the two parties met, the fire of battle was set on light between them. Many men were killed. At length the troops of Durya Khan, being defeated, retreated, when, from the field of battle, the Hajee sent a letter to Jam Sulah-ood-deen, writing as follows: “The breeze of victory has struck your banner; make your mind easy.” When Durya Khan retreated, the time was not propitious for the Hajee to follow him.

By chance, that Kosid, who bore this letter of the Hajee, fell into the hands of some of Durya Khan’s men, who took him to their chief, who, quickly investigating the meaning, wrote another letter, as if from the Hajee, to the following effect: “Defeat has come upon our army; the enemy are very strong: do you take your family, and depart from Tatta. By no means make delay; our next meeting will be at Chachgan.” When this letter arrived, it was the 9th day of Rumzan (fast), in the evening, and Jam Sulah-ood-deen, without even breaking his fast, crossed the river. In short, his condition was that of defeat. He reigned eight months. When Jam Sulah-ood-deen was met by Hajee Wuzeer, the latter reproached him, saying— “Why did you run away?” Then the Jam showed him his letter. The Hajee said— “This is not my writing”; and they afterwards discovered that it was a trick of Durya Khan’s, so they became much dejected: but when a thing has passed from the hand, there is no use of repentence.

Durya Khan pursued the Jam for many marches, and bringing Jam Pheroz to Tatta on the day of the Eed Fitur, they said prayers. After this Jam Pheroz ruled for many years, until the year 926 (A. D. 1520), when Shah Beg Urghoon came to take Sind, the circumstances of whose battles I will relate in their place.

I have not seen any book in which the account of the Soomrahs and Summahs is well explained, therefore I have written their summary. If any one knows more, he must add it to this.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE REIGN OF THE URGHOONEEYUHS; OF THE TIMES OF THEIR GOVERNMENT; OF THEIR WARS; AND AN ABRIDGED HISTORY OF AMEER ZOONOON URGHOON.

Meer Zoonoon was the son of Meer Husun Busree. He was famed for his valour amongst his tribe. He was in the ranks of the servants of Meerza Aboo Suneed. During the time of battle, his gallantry was apparent to all. On this account, the eyes of the Meerza were always on him, and he received so many kinds of valuable presents from his master, that his fellows were filled with jealousy against him. In this manner, his rank rose above that of all his brethren. After the battle of Kura Bagh, he went to his father at Herat, where he remained some time in the service of Sultan Yadgar Meerza. From thence he went to Samarkand, where the light of the sun of the kindness of Sultan Ahmed Meerza struck the side of his condition, and he stayed there two or three years. After this, on account of the wars between the Ameers of Turkhanee and those of Urghoonee, he returned to Khorasan, when he came under the eye of kindness of Sultan Hoosain Meerza, who placed him over the countries of Ghore and Dawur. At this time the Huzarah and Nukduree tribes in those borders were very powerful. In the year 884 (A. D. 1479), Ameer Zoonoon, taking a small force, went there, where for three or four years he was constantly fighting with those people; but by the good fortune of the king, he was the conqueror in all these fights, and he brought that country under his authority. The men of Huzarah and Nukduree, seeing his valour, bent their heads beneath his orders, and they did not commit such acts again. Sultan Hoosain Meerza approved of his arrangements, and placed all the affairs of Kandahar, Furat, and Ghore in his hands. By this means Ameer Zoonoon became very powerful, and he took under his authority Shawl, Mustoong, and the countries adjacent to them.

It has been previously mentioned that the king looked upon Meer Zoonoon with the eye of kindness, giving him a Khilat and a standard, and placing him over Kandahar, Gurmsere, and Dawur. Three years afterwards, Meer Zoonoon collected together many of the men of Huzarah, Nukduree, Kubchag, and of the Moguls of Kandahar. When the news of this reached the ears of the king, he sent a royal Firman to call Meer Zoonoon, who without delay arrived at the foot of the throne, placing there offerings of great value. He also gave to the princes and men of consequence about court, according to their degree, various rarities. Therefore all the people loosened their tongues in praise of him, deeming him a wisher of happiness to the king. Yet, with all this, the king had not confidence in him. Meer Zoonoon was a wise man, and, following the track of knowledge, he determined in his own mind to effect his business through Budeen-ooz-Zuman Meerza, whom Meer Zoonoon was in the habit of visiting when he was alone, and he daily presented him with something fresh and new. One night, Meer Zoonoon said to him: “I perceive, from the manner of the king, that he will not now allow me to depart; it is therefore better that I give my people their leave, that they may go home.” The Meerza, hearing this, gave him great praise. After Meer Zoonoon had remained there a year or upwards, one night, at a private assembly, in the presence of the king, they were talking of various matters, when his royal highness himself said: “What do you think of Meer Zoonoon being a well-wisher of happiness towards me?” Upon this, the people at that party became thoughtful. Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman said: “No Ameer agrees to take the government of Kandahar; and if any go there, in the space of two or three years they die through some disease or some quarrel: it would be better to give Meer Zoonoon his dismissal, for this would not be in vain, for two reasons— for Meer Zoonoon, on going there, will be either obedient or rebellious; if he is rebellious, it will not be fruitless, for two reasons— for he will either die of the disease of that country, and, if he does not die, he will not escape from our hands.”

The king approved of this, saying: “The bridle of the choice of this matter is in your hands.” Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman took security from Meer Zoonoon.

The king then gave Meer Zoonoon a handsome Khilat, a horse with saddle and bridle, and all the requisites for a force, such as a Nugarah, and a standard, and he directed the officers of state to furnish him with a Firman, with the royal titles affixed.

Meer Zoonoon gave a written engagement to the Meerza, to the effect that “when the king’s Firman arrives, I will attend without delay.”

Meer Zoonoon, seeing the kindness of the Meerza, sent a man to Kandahar to call his son Shah Beg, who, with Abdoor Rahman Urghoon, Zeenuk Turkhan, Janfur Urghoon, and Meer Fazil Kookooltash, and 200 horsemen, quickly came to Khorasan. By the arrival of Shah Beg and these others, the king, the Meerza, and all the government officials, gained confidence.

On account of Meer Zoonoon’s going to Kandahar, Meer Zoonoon remained a long time with the king, when the princes, Ameers, and Wuzeer, exerting themselves in his favour, represented to his highness that the borders of Kandahar were much disturbed; that if it was so ordered, Meer Zoonoon would go there, and put matters right. The king ordered that Zoonoon himself should go to Kandahar, leaving his son and nobles there. On hearing this, Meer Zoonoon, abandoning all his property, horses, tents, &c. went quickly to Kandahar, taking with him his son and all his nobles. Two or three days after this event, the king issued orders for Meer Zoonoon to remain until the first days of spring, and that he might then depart for Kandahar. The attendants went to his house, and seeing that only his property was there, they came to his royal highness, telling him the circumstance of his departure. Hearing this, the king said: “Zoonoon having left in this manner, I shall not see him again.” The princes and Meers said: “Why should he not come? all his horses, camels, tents, and property are here.” His royal highness replied: “This is the stratagem of his cleverness: he has made game of me, and gone away.” And so it was.

The king then wrote a kind Firman, which he sent by a trusty attendant, named Sarban Ali, who, going with great speed, met Meer Zoonoon as he was marching out of Furat, when he delivered the Firman to him. Meer Zoonoon, advancing to the front, took this with great humility, and reading its contents, he was much pleased. He apologized to Sarban Ali, saying: “I am two marches from home, I will have a meeting with my children, and, having filled my stomach with everything, I will then accompany you to the king.” When he got to Kandahar, he did Sarban Ali much honour, givin ghim large sums of money. One day he was in a tent with his two sons Shah Beg and Mahomed Mokeem, and his brother Meer Sultan Ali, when he called Sarban Ali. After speaking on various subjects, Meer Zoonoon said to him: “I think that if I went to the king, he would not allow me to return again: tell me the truth.” Sarban Ali, who had experienced a great deal of kindness at his hands, replied as his heart desired. Then Meer Zoonoon, presenting him with a handsome Khilat, a horse with gold caparisons, and much money, he gave him his leave. When Sarban Ali reached the king, he told him all the circumstances, giving him the letter which he had brought from Meer Zoonoon. The king was distressed at this; but it is no use to be sorry for that which has left our hands.

By reason of the change of temper of the king, Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman becoming displeased, and being hopeless from his brothers, turned the bridle of his intention to go to Gurmsere and Kandahar. Before he arrived, Meer Zoonoon, and his son Shah Beg, went in front to meet him, being most humble and submissive. They endeavoured to meet his wishes as much as they could, saying they were ready to do all in their power for him. Then Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman was married to the innocent daughter of Meer Zoonoon. On this account he was happy, passing his time agreeably, and great friendship sprung up between him and Meer Zoonoon and his sons. At that time Ameer Shaikh Ali Tighaee, who was the private tutor of Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman, fell under suspicion, and was imprisoned. It was in this way:— One day Meer Zoonoon went to make the circuit of a certain tomb at Dawur, when a slave, coming in front of him, as if with a petition, struck him with a knife. The attendants immediately cut him to pieces, as they knew that he had done this at the instigation of Shaikh Ali, whom Meer Zoonoon and his sons intended to kill; but he fled to Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman, whose house was surrounded by the Urghooneeyuhs, asking for him to be given up to them. The Meerza told them to depart, saying he would send him to them; but they would not agree to this. At length, having sworn great oaths that they would not kill him, he delivered him up to them.

Meer Zoonoon was again satisfied with Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman, doing him service as before. Shaikh Ali Tighaee remained confined for a long time in the fort of Gurmsere: he was then liberated, and told to go where he pleased. He went to Sultan Hoosain, where he got service. In the days when Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman was at Dawur, he heard of his son Mahomed Momin having been killed.

Mahomed Momin was a prince of as great beauty as the sun. At the commencement of his manhood, the young tree of his life fell by the sharp breeze of death. This is an abstract of the statement.

When, being displeased with his father Sultan Hoosain, Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman turned the bridle of his intentions towards Kandahar, Mahomed Momin Meerza was at Asterabad. On his father departing for Kandahar, he sent word to his son, that he had better accompany him. The prince replied that “it is not proper in you to turn your face from the house of the Sultanut, and to go beneath the shade of servants.” Hearing this, Budeen-ooz-Zuman greatly praised his son’s wisdom, and sending to him some of his most trusty men, he warned him, that his uncles were seeking his death, that he must not be deceived by what they said; that if his grandfather called him, he should obey the summons, and go to him, but that if any came against him without the orders of his grandfather, he should oppose them.

Moozuffur Hoosain Meerza approached Asterabad, hearing of which Mahomed Momin wished to go and meet him, and, having made over the country to him, to depart himself for some other place. At that time a letter reached him from his father, filled in this way:— “On no account loosen the bridle of your strength from your hands. Collect your sepoys, and place your foot on the battle-field.” Upon this, Mahomed Momin, having assembled his forces, went forth from Asterabad, turning his horse’s bridle in the direction of battle. At that time Moozuffur, with a large army, also came to the plain of battle, where the beating of Nugarahs and the blowing of horns commenced on both sides. In the twinkling of an eye, arrows and bullets fell like rain, and brave men of both sides, mixing together, fought in such a manner, that it appeared as if the signs of the last day had arrived. Mahomed Momin threw many of the valiant men of the opposite side to the ground of death; but at that time, from the displeasure of heaven, the girths of the saddle of his horse broke, and he fell from the saddle to the earth. At that moment a sepoy, one of the enemy, ran to slay him, when Meerza Moozuffur Hoosain, seeing this, he himself reached the spot before him, and clasping his nephew in his arms, he kissed him, and taking him with him, he went to Asterabad, where he put silver chains upon him. After some days, Moozuffur Hoosain sent Mahomed Momin to Herat, in charge of the brother of his mother (maternal uncle), Ameer Mahomed Burnodug Burlas. In the month of Sufur 903 (A. D. 1497) he arrived there, and placing him in the fort as a prisoner, he turned his face towards the king, whom he found, or in whose presence he arrived, on the banks of the Ab Moorghan, when he made known to him the above circumstances. At that time Khodaijuh Begee Begum, the mother of Moozuffur Hoosain, was present, and it came into her mind that the destruction of Mahomed Momin would give immortality to her son; so the intent of her heart was in this way— to cast this young tree of the king’s garden to the ground by the hot wind of severity; so she associated herself with Khwaja Nizam-ool-Moolk, who at that time held in his hands all the king’s country and property. One night, when the king had been drinking deeply of wine, she got his order to kill the prince; and having obtained this, she quickly sent upon this errand Yar Ali Bukshee, and Abdool Wahid, a Chobdar, with ten other men of trust. The following day the king, recollecting his orders of the previous night, sent a swift courier after these, writing a Firman to them: “By no means cause harm to the cooler of my eyes!” But those bad men, by the direction of the Begum, had gone with great haste, arriving at the place where Mahomed Momin was confined. The prince, on their coming, arose, asking after their health; when those of bad fortune, not thinking of the future, killed this youth, who had not his equal in the whole kingdom. They went that night towards the banks of the Ab Moorghan, but had only proceeded a short way, when the courier, with the Firman which was to preserve the prince, overtook them. But fate had done its business; and except lamenting, there was nothing else to be done. In the morning, Ameer Sarban Joonaid, who was in the city, collected many men to place the winding-sheet, and to give him burial, placing him in the large college of Herat.

When the news of the martyrdom of his excellent son reached Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman, he was much grieved, and, with the intention of avenging him, he gave orders to collect troops.

When the news reached the Sultan that Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman, with Meer Zoonoon, and many troops, which he had collected, was coming to take revenge for Mahomed Momin on the field of battle, he unfurled the banner of his intention to march in the direction of Gurmsere and Kandahar. Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon, hearing of the king’s coming, issued orders to all the Ryuts of Furat, Dawur, and Kandahar, to convey all their grain and articles of subsistence to the forts, and when much produce of those countries was gathered together, they placed men of strength over it. Meer Zoonoon went and sat down in the fort of Pishing, which he had previously made so strong that an insect could not get into it. Budeen-ooz-Zuman, and Meer Sultan Ali (the brother of Zoonoon), occupied other forts. Shah Beg remained in the Hissar at Kandahar. Meerza Mahomed Mokeem went to the fort of Dawur. They made an agreement, that if the king fell upon Pishing, Budeen-ooz-Zuman was to attack him from the rear, and if he first fell upon the Meerza, Zoonoon was to act in this manner. The king, having passed through the country of Furat, entered that of Dawur, when his army was much distressed for want of grain, and his sepoys were on the point of going over to Meer Zoonoon. When the king heard that there was much grain in the fort of Beest, which was held by Abdoor Rahman Urghoon, and that it would fall to him without much trouble, therefore the king cast the shadow of his standard around that fort, when, great alarm entering the breast of Abdoor Rahman, before placing his hand on his weapons, he placed his head on the foot of the king. If Abdoor Rahman had performed the work of a Kiledar for two or three days, the king’s army must have dispersed from hunger; because, after this victory, they had but little grain, and their hunger was as before. The king, thinking it best to return from that place, he returned back towards Herat.

Sultan Hoosain Meerza was spending the early days of spring in pleasure at Alung Musheen, and his troops had gone to their homes, a few of the nobles of the army remaining near the king. Intelligence of this reached Budeen-ooz-Zuman, and Shah Beg the son of Meer Zoonoon, at Gurmsere. These, perceiving that their time had arrived, determined to march quickly against the king with three or four thousand horse, so that the news of their movement should not reach him. With this intention, they mounted their horses, and without an hour’s repose on the road, on the fifth or sixth day they arrived near Subzwar; when Fureedoon Hoosain Meerza, the son of Sultan Hoosain Meerza, hearing of this, strengthened the fort, and sent successive runners to the king, conveying the news of this matter to him. On this reaching Alung Musheen, the nobles fell into the ocean of agitation, for the want of soldiers. The Sultan sent one of the men of consequence about him to Herat, with orders to strengthen the fort, and to tell Ameer Ali Sher to prepare everything there, and that when he should receive the royal Firman to that effect, he was to send him troops. The king had ditches dug to save his sepoys, and threw out advanced parties, the men of which brought word that the enemy was not stationary, but that he was coming on like wind and water.

Without doubt, if Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Shah Beg had fallen on the royal troops that night, in the same manner in which they had hitherto advanced, they would have taken the ball of victory from before the king, and their affairs would have been according to their desires; but from the strength of the fortune of Sultan Hoosain, they were not able to arrive, and they went to sleep near Esfuraiyan. In the morning, when the royal forces began to appear like the stars, bodies joining the king’s camp, Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Shah Beg awoke, and, thinking as before, they advanced against the king’s army. When the two forces came in sight of each other, the Nugarahs were beaten, and the clamour of the troops began to arise on both sides. Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Shah Beg, with their men all in one body, came on, and set on light the fire of battle. They fought very well with the royal troops, when, at the latter end of the battle, the king himself came upon the field on his marching throne. At the time of the shining forth of the sun of the Sultan, the sepoys of Budeen-ooz-Zuman, as the stars set, so they turned their faces in flight. Budeen-ooz-Zuman went in the direction of Gore, Shah Beg towards Dawur.

The king, having conquered, was happy, and turning his face towards Herat, he gave praise to God.

This occurred in Shaban 903 (A. D. 1497).

When Budeen-ooz-Zuman left Kandahar with Shah Beg to go to Alung Musheen, Meer Zoonoon was in the Gore country. On this account Budeen-ooz-Zuman, not having effected his wishes against the king’s troops, turned the bridle of his horse in that direction, when, Zoonoon going in front to meet him, gave thanks to God that he had arrived alive. To take revenge for this calamity, he sent men to collect the troops at Kandahar, Dawur, and Gore. In a short time, a large force of the Urghoon tribe of the Huzarahs, the Tukdurees, the Kubchags, &c. had assembled under the shadow of the standards of Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon, and they were fully prepared for war. When this news reached the king, in the opinion that he would again twist the ears of Budeen-ooz-Zuman, he left Alung Musheen, going towards Herat. At that time Shaikh Julal-ood-deen, Aboo Suneed Pooranee, and Moulana Mahomed Soorkh, came to the king from Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon, to make the strong roots of peace. The king was outwardly not willing to make peace, but inwardly he placed the happiness of his son before his mind.

The explanation of this abstract is this:— One or two days prior to the former battle, this excellent king had sent Shaikh-ool-Islam, Sail-ood-deen, Ahmed Tuftazanee, Shaikh Julal-ood-deen, Aboo Suneed Pooranee, and Syud Ghuyas-ood-deen Mahomed Sudur, towards Gurmsere, to give advice to Budeen-ooz-Zuman, and to bring him from the jungle of enmity to the road of peace. When these three arrived near Furat, they heard that Budeen-ooz-Zuman was coming quickly with a force against his father’s head; then Shaikh Julal-ood-deen and Syud Ghuyas-ood-deen had an interview with Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Meer Zoonoon, when Shaikh Julal-ood-deen spoke on the subject of peace to the prince, who replied, that if the king in his kindness would give him sufficient country for the subsistence of himself and his followers, he would follow the road of obedience to his orders, and place the saddle of submission upon his shoulders; but that otherwise he would not do so. The Shaikh and the Syud, receiving their dismissal, came to the king, telling him what his son had said. Again, after the battle, these two men, with Ameer Shaikh Ali Tighaee, went to Budeen-ooz-Zuman, and having conferred with him on the matter of peace, they returned to the king, representing to him that Meerza Budeen-ooz-Zuman wished to hold, as formerly, the government of Seestan and Tumachee, and that then he would not again be at enmity. The king did not agree to this, and leaving Alung Musheen, he marched towards Herat. After this, the people knew that the Sultan was going to fight against Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon. At that time Ameer Ali Sher came to the king from Herat, and as he made his Salaam he received honour from his highness, whom he urged to be pleased with Budeen-ooz-Zuman, speaking in favour of reconciliation; when the Firman was written, placing Seestan and Furat in the hands of Budeen-ooz-Zuman, and Shaikh Ali Tighaee took this Firman to him at Gore, when he proceeded from Gore to Seestan. This occurred in the latter days of Sufur 903 (A. D. 1497).

When Sultan Hoosain Shah turned the bridle of his intention towards Asterabad, Budeen-ooz-Zuman came from Seestan, and Meer Zoonoon from Dawur, to the Sailaf of Gore; and intending to attack Khorasan, they collected the men of Huzarah, the Nukdurees, and the Kubchags. After consultation, with an innumerable host, they marched against Herat. All the Sultan’s nobles’ cattle that they found in the grazing district they took, and pushed on towards Herat. This news, preceding them, reached Herat, when Ameer Nizam-ood-deen, Ali Sher, and the other nobles in that renowned city, fell into the ocean of anxiety: they strengthened the towers and parapets, and bringing the men of Bulookat into the fort, appointed them to remain there. When Budeen-ooz-Zuman came to the town of Admeeyah, Meer Zoonoon marched in advance. Some of the men of Bulookat had remained at Baghat, who, seeing Meer Zoonoon with his large force, those who had the power, from consideration, brought presents before him, saying they did not advise his advancing any further, because Mahomed Moosoom Meerza had come from Chichuktoo, Mahomed Walee from Aundghas, Meerza Abdoola, the son-in-law of Abdool Bayee Meerza, Meer Baba Ali, and the sons of Khwaja Ufzul, with numerous and well appointed bodies of horse; that they were assembled near Baghat, looking for his approach. Hearing this, Meer Zoonoon retreated a little, and wrote word of the circumstance to Budeen-ooz-Zuman, who came up and joined him at Bukluk. Both of them were sitting in one tent when some from the advanced parties came in, saying that many men appeared coming from Baghat. Meer Zoonoon, upon this, mounted with his Urghoons, and turned his face to fight. The forces met near Alung Musheen, when the brave men of either side, drawing their swords, fell upon each other, fighting in such a manner that the dust from the field of the battle ascended to the heavens. At that time, the light of the predominance of the crescent of the victorious banner of Budeen-ooz-Zuman Meerza fell upon the scene of action. The men of Herat, seeing this, their hands stopped from their work, their hearts left their places. First of all, Abdoola Meerza and Ameer Baba Ali fled; after these Mahomed Moosoom Meerza and Mahomed Walee. Budeen-ooz-Zuman did not approve of entering the city, and turned his face in the direction of the royal army. Those who fled from the battle ran to the fort, the gates of which they shut, giving into the hands of trusty men the towers and defences. Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon, with victory, returned to, and encamped at, Alung Musheen. Some days after, they went to Pooli Malan. They did not wish to fight against the city of Herat; their desire was that the men of that place should give it up to them of their own accord. On this account, Ameer Ali Sher spoke with great kindness, and gave encouragement to the people of the town, ordering his troops not to fight. In this way forty days went, when news arrived that the king had left Asterabad, and that he was approaching. Upon this, Ameer Ali Sher sent many successive letters to the prince, forbidding his fighting against his father, and requesting him to leave Pooli Malan, and go to some other place, so that he might not meet him, and that the fire of battle should not be again ignited.

The prince, approving of this advice, marched from Pooli Malan to Pooli Salan; from thence he returned the bridle of his intention to go to Ab Moorghan.

When Budeen-ooz-Zuman, leaving the vicinity of Herat, went to Ab Moorghan, many of the men of Badghees and Chichuktoo went beneath the shadow of his standard, and Shah Beg, coming from Kandahar, joined him. In short, a very large force was collected. The prince sent some men to Purindah Beg Bukshee, the Governor of Muru, desiring him to evacuate the fort; but he would not listen to this. So Shah Beg, taking the Tukdurees, and the Huzarahs, marched against it, and with such arms as they had, they went against this fort. Purindah fought from morning till midday, when, his strength failing, Shah Beg took the fort of Muru, and making prisoner of the Bukshee, sent him to the prince, who, forgiving his fault, liberated him. At that time the king arrived at Herat, when he heard the prince had a very large and duly prepared army, at which his highness was much agitated, because at that time, from the constant harassing work at Asterabad, his men and horses had become thin and weakly, and without some rest they could not fight against Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Meer Zoonoon. The king asked counsel from Moogurub-ool-Huzrutee Sultan (the minister with his titles), and they determined to conciliate the prince. They sent Moolana Fuseeh-ood-deen Asterabadee to Ab Moorghan, to arrange this matter. Moulana Saheb, meeting Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon, communicated to them what he had to say, inviting the prince towards the kindness of his father. The prince, looking at the rights of his parent, agreed to make peace, and after many men had come and gone between them, it was settled to give to Budeen-ooz-Zuman the Sultanut of Balkh, and its dependencies; and that in that country the name of the prince should follow that of the king. The prince, after this, left to go to Balkh. On the road, Khwaja Shuhab-ood-deen Abdoola Murwareed overtaking him, delivered the Firman of the Sultanut of Balkh to him. After his arrival there, Budeen-ooz-Zuman bestowed great honour and distinction upoor Meer Zoonoon and Shah Beg, and then gave them leave to depart for Kandahar. He gave Seestan to Ameer Sultan Ali, the brother of Meer Zoonoon.

In short, Meer Zoonoon and Shah Beg, raising the banner of government, arrived at Kandahar.

In the year 908 (A. D. 1502), Hajun Boordee, and Khoda Kolee, Kotwal of the fort of Lush, became rebellious to Meer Sultan Ali Urghoon; and wishing the happiness of the king, they sent a petition to his highness, to the effect that if one of the princes threw the preponderance of his shadow over that country, as a matter of course Seestan would be conquered without difficulty. The king then sent Ibn-i-Hoosain with 10,000 horse, and he arriving at, looted the borders, raising the standard of his residence at Oog. When this news reached Meer Zoonoon, he, on hearing it, marched with his son Shah Beg against him, and he got over the road very quickly. One morning, when Ibn-i-Hoosain was asleep, and his troops here and there, Meer Zoonoon drew near Oog. The Meerza, hearing of this, with 300 horsemen who were ready, went to meet him. Meer Fazil Kookooltash, and his uncle Magil Atkuh, were the leaders of the advance of the Urghoons. They formed their line in front of Ibn-i-Hoosain. The men of both sides quickly took in their hands their swords, bows and arrows, and spears. Things were in this state, when Meer Zoonoon, with many men of Turkhan and Urghoon, came up on one side, and Shah Beg, with the Yukkuhs, Tukdurees, and Huzarahs, on the other; and in rear of these Bagur Urghoon, and Beg Ali the son of Meer Sultan Ali Urghoon. These quickly came on the field of action; thus Ibn-i-Hoosain became surrounded. In this condition the Meerza fought for one hour, when, receiving a spear wound from Meer Fazil Kookooltash, he turned the bridle of flight towards Herat, and Meer Zoonoon forbad pursuit of him. After this victory, Meer Zoonoon went to Seestan, and met his brother Meer Sultan Ali. In 909 (A. D. 1503) he returned to Kandahar.

Stability and perpetuity are peculiar to the inscrutable essence of God!— To make migration from this bad world belongs to men, who are the inhahitants of one quarter of it!

In the year 907 (A. D. 1501), Meerza Ulug Beg, the son of Sultan Aboo Suneed Meerza, found the mercy of God in Kabool. His son Meerza Abd-oo-Ruzag became ruler there, and sat on the throne of his father; but on account of the youth of this prince, enmity arose amongst the Ameers, and Shere Ruzm Zukkuh took into his hands all the affairs, large and small. At that time Ameer Yoosoob, and Mahomed Kasim Beg, Ameer Yoonoos Ali, and some other nobles, having left the city, were watching a favourable time. In short, on the day of the Eed-i-Koorban, in the morning, when Shere Ruzm was drinking conjee, these entered Kabool with 300 armed men, and drawing their swords of enmity, they cut the roots of his life.

On this account, much destruction came upon the men of Kabool. Intelligence of this reached Mahomed Mokeem, the younger son of Meer Zoonoon, at Gurmsere, who, in the last day of 907 (A. D. 1501), collecting the Huzarahs and the Nukdurees, placed the intention of taking Kabool before his mind, and he went in that direction. Meerza Abd-oo-Ruzag, being unable to fight, fled; and Mahomed Mokeem, taking the country, married the daughter of Meerza Ulug Beg. News of this reached Budeen-ooz-Zuman and Zoonoon, when they were on the banks of Ab Umweeyuh. They were pleased at it, but their anxiety exceeded their joy; and Meer Zoonoon from thence wrote a letter to his son to terrify him, saying: “This business of yours is not good; it is not good, because you have done that which you ought not to have done: now it is necessary that you are not careless of yourself, and do not place the Ameers of Kabool near you.” Then Mahomed Mokeem dismissed from Kabool many of the people who had always been connected with the state, placing near himself his own people; and he ruled Kabool.

After this, at the commencement of 910 (A. D. 1504), Huzrut Zaheer-oos-Sultanut Wulkhitafut Mahomed Babur Badshah, returning from Samarkand, took the road to Kabool, and passing very quickly over the intervening space, he shed honour around this city, fortunate by the sacredness of his “blessed feet.” Mahomed Mokeem, not having strength to go out to fight the army of Mahomed Babur Badshah, sat down in the fort. After Kabool had been surrounded some time, the men of Ooloos and Eemag were inclined to make their Salaam to the victorious Babur, and the men of the city were also well wishers to the king. Mahomed Mokeem, being unable to remain, wrote to him for quarter, requesting leave to come to him to deliver up the keys of the fort. Huzrut Badshah Mahomed Bahadoor consented to this, and he took oath that when Mokeem opened the gates he would show him such kindness as he might merit.

Then Mahomed Mokeem, being an expectant of the kindness of the king, came forth from Kabool, and found the virtue of kissing the royal carpet; and he made suitable offerings to the king.

Huzrut Babur, agreeably to his promise, showered upon him royal kindness, and then gave him leave to go to his country.

The moon of the month Mohurrum 913 (A. D. 1507) had appeared, when Mahomed Khan Shaibanee Oozbuk, with forces out of number, like ants or locusts, crossing the Goorg, turned his intention towards taking Khorasan. At this the royal family of Sultan Hoosain Meerza became greatly alarmed. Budeen-ooz-Zuman sent a courier to Meer Zoonoon, showing the circumstance to him. Meer Zoonoon consulted with those of his family who were near him, all of whom had different opinions. At length, Zoonoon said: “It is necessary that I should go, for my manhood does not give me leave to sit quiet. I do not expect that I shall return, because the army of the Oozbuks is very formidable and strong, and it appears that the rule of the family of Sultan Hoosain turns its face towards declination.” In short, Meer Zoonoon, taking with him the troops of Urghoon, departed to join Budeen-ooz-Zuman. He had only gone two or three marches, when he received the news that his daughter Chochuk Begum had given her life to God at Herat. Although deeply distressed at this, he opened the tongue of thanks to God, that on the approach of these troublesome times he had become free from anxiety on that side.

At that time he sent a messenger to Shah Beg, telling him to proceed to the seat of government, Herat, taking with him the innocent ladies of the family, to give to those their food, and to remove their garments of affliction; adding that after this he was to return quickly to Kandahar. He ordered Mahomed Mokeem to hold Dawur, Ameer Sultan Ali to stay in Seestan, and Ameer Janfur Urghoon, Abdool Ali Turkhan, and others, to remain at Kandahar. He impressed upon all these to place great care and watchfulness before their minds, and not to be careless. Meer Zoonoon then quickly marching on, joined Budeen-ooz-Zuman, whose hand he had the honour to kiss. All the princes and nobles took council with Zoonoon; but they were aware that the deliberations of man could not be a shield to the arrow of the fate of God, when it should be the desire of the perpetual Master of the earth that the kingdom of Khorasan should go into the hands of Mahomed Khan Shaibanee, and that the end of the reign of the family of Sultan Hoosain should arrive; that there would be no avail in assembling the troops of the cities, and that there was no advantage in asking the aid of the deliberations of the nobles. At that time the sepoys of the Oozbuks and Mawuranunhur, had passed the waters of Umweeyuh, when the princes and nobles of Khorasan fell into the sea of care, and again commenced consulting with each other. Meer Zoonoon, from his natural valour, thought it best to fight; Ameer Mahomed Burnodug Burlas deemed it best that they should remain in the fort at Herat. Before the minds of all were united upon one of these two opinions, one morning, the signs of the close approach of the army of Mahomed Khan became as apparent as the misfortunes of heaven, and the royal troops of Mahomed Khan, the Burangurs and the Juwangurs, all prepared, came upon the field of battle.

The princes, turning their attention to drawing up their troops, formed them in a line upon the places for fighting. On both sides the clamour of the brave, the beating Nugarahs, and the shouts of the horsemen, reached above the planet in the seventh heaven. Meer Zoonoon, with the tigers of the jungle of battle, fell upon the enemy, and by the striking of the swords of the design of the crocodile, numbers of the enemy who trod the path of valour were thrown into the waters of mortality. In this manner he several times fell upon them. But the forces of the Oozbuks were double those of Khorasan; they followed each other like the waves of the ocean: therefore the two could not be won in fight. In short, the princes lost all heart in fighting with them, and they turned the bridles of their intention towards the jungles of flight; and all the bodies of their troops, with great dispersion, fled towards Khorasan. Zoonoon fixed his foot on the battle-field, assaulted the enemy on the right and left; from the strokes of his sword the dust on the plain of battle had become red from the blood of the bravest of the enemy. He behaved with the greatest courage, till at length the Oozbuks, coming on all sides of that noble ruler on the field of battle, he, receiving many wounds, fell from his horse. The enemy wished to take him alive, to convey him to Mahomed Khan, but Meer Zoonoon did not give his body up to inactivity, but remained fighting until he died.

After the death of Meer Zoonoon, these two brothers united at Kandahar, performing properly all the forms of lamentation. At this assembly Mahomed Mokeem, with all the Sirdars and troops, agreed to accept Shah Beg for the Sirdaree. On that day, in the afternoon, Shah Beg ordered the Nobuts and Nugarahs to be beaten as formerly, and he confirmed in their situations all who held office under Meer Zoonoon. He did not oppose any, therefore all were happy to remain in his service. Shah Beg had given the ornaments of knowledge and respect to the commencement of his manhood. He found a great share of wisdom, always associating with men of learning. When Mahomed Khan had taken Khorasan, he went to Furat. From thence, proposing to take Kandahar, he turned the bridle of his intention that way. When he reached Gurmsere, Shah Beg and Mahomed Mokeem sent ambassadors to him, saying they would obey his orders; the sermon and coinage were altered to the name of Mahomed Khan Shaibanee; and they proposed receiving the honour of making their Salaam to him.

Mahomed Khan, being pleased with them, returned to Khorasan, sending three horses, a handsome Khilat, and a tent, in charge of Abool Hadee and Khwaja Taimoor Tash. Shah Beg hearing of the approach of these, thought, by two coming, that it would be for two matters: either that they were to make a treaty, or else that they wished to see the extent of the city and his troops. At that time he sent men in all directions to collect his people, and taking many men, he went forth in front to meet them. He remained with them three days outside the city, and having pleased them, gave them their leave.

During 913 (A. D. 1507), Mahomed Babur Badshah, raising on high the standard of departure to take Kandahar and Dawur, left Kabool and Ghuznee with many victorious troops. Shah Beg and Mahomed Mokeem went out to meet, and fought with him on a field of battle. After many men had been slain, the breeze of victory struck the tassels of the banners of Mahomed Babur, and Shah Beg and his brother fled. All the countries of Kandahar and Dawur came into the hands of Babur, who took all the treasure which Zoonoon had collected with so much labour, dividing it amongst his soldiery. Appointing his brother Sultan Nasir-ood-deen Meerza Governor of Kandahar, he himself returned to Kabool, taking with him Mah Begum, the daughter of Mahomed Mokeem. Some months after this, Shah Beg and his brother, with a numerous force, full of bravery, came upon Kandahar, freeing that country from Nasir-ood-deen, who retreated to Kabool. Shah Beg and Mahomed Mokeem turned their hearts to putting to rights the arrangements of the country.

At that time the angel of death came upon Mahomed Mokeem, who passed from this to that world. Afterwards Mahomed Babur married Mah Begum to Kasim Kokuh, agreeably to the rules and forms of Mahomed. After a space of time, she bore a daughter, to whom was given the name of Naheed Begum. Kasim Kokuh was afterwards killed, fighting against the Oozbuks.

When Shah Beg came to Shawul from Kandahar (Kunudhar), Meer Fazil Kookooltash and Abdool Ali Turkhan went to meet him, taking and showing to him for service many tribes of the neighbourhood, to the Sirdars of which Shah Beg gave encouragement, and they became expectants of his kindness; but the tribes were afraid of the army, not knowing where it was going. At length, they discovered it was going against Seebee, and by degrees this news reached the descendants of Sultan Peer Wullee, who governed in that country, upon which they sent some of their confidential men with presents to Shah Beg, assuring him that they were his most sincere well-wishers. After some time they were allowed to return, Shah Beg remaining at Shawul, to make arrangements. He spread the carpet of consultation before his nobles, all of whom were of opinion that it was best to go against Seebee; and Shah Beg thought so too, because in the year 915 (A. D. 1509), Shah Ismael had taken Khorasan, and Sultan Babur was at Kabool, and between these the door of warfare was constantly open; and if in this dissension Kandahar should pass from their hands, where should they go to? So Shah Beg sent a body of troops from Shawul towards Seebee, and following these, he by successive marches arrived there, and took the fort. Of the men who were in it, some made their Salaam, others, who had houses there, fled to Futehpoor. After this, Shah Beg sent Meer Fureed Urghoon and others to Kandahar; he himself went towards Futehpoor, 50 kos from Seebee, in the direction of Sind, now deserted, but the fort and houses still remain. When the descendants of Peer Wullee heard of this, they advanced to give him battle with 1,000 horse and two or three thousand men of the Dowlutshaees, the Burgudaees, the Koozpaees, the Noorghaees, Beloochees, and other castes. In the battle, Shah Beg was victorious. Some of the enemy were slain, the rest fled to Sind. Shah Beg, after making the needful arrangements, returned to Seebee, where he stayed some time, giving orders to build a house and to make gardens. He built another fort, placing in it some of his veterans, and he himself then returned to Kandahar. After his return, he went to take exercise in Dawur, and towards Gurmsere, giving encouragement to the inhabitants of all the places he visited. On arriving at Dawur, the mother of Mah Begum, named Beebee Zureefuh, placing a coarse black woollen cloth round her neck, stood before the door of his house, and on Shah Beg’s arrival, she placed her hands on the hem of his garment, saying: “Mah Begum is the memorial of your brother; it is necessary that by some means or other you bring her back.” On hearing this, a fresh burn of the affliction of separation fell upon the heart of Shah Beg, who, towards the recovery of Mah Begum, consulted secretly with those behind the curtain. Fatima Sultan Begum and Khanuzud Begum, the two wives of Shah Beg, advised that Dowlut Kutuh, who was a slave girl in the Harem of Mahomed Mokeem, should be sent to Kabool, and that by some device she should meet Mah Begum, and bring the news; that after this, a party of their trusty near relations should go, and secretly taking her out of Kabool, and proceeding by the road through the Huzarah country, bring her to Kandahar. Shah Beg, approving of this advice, married Dowlut Kutuh to Dowlut Khan, and sent her to Kabool. By great ingenuity she got into Mah Begum’s house, passing herself off as one unknown; but when there was no one else present, she spoke that which was in her heart. But Mah Begum would not agree, fearing for her life, because she had been taken away by Babur Shah, saying: “God forbid!— but after my arrival at Kandahar, my relations, for the sake of their reputations, may destroy me.” To remove this dread, Dowlut Kutuh was constantly taking oaths of weight before her, when she at last agreed to escape secretly.

Dowlut Kutuh conveyed this news to Shah Beg, who, on hearing it, was very happy. He sent Baba Meerkai Sarban, Dowlut Khan, and others to Kabool. These, going through Huzarah, took more men from thence, and arriving at Kabool, they put up outside the town. In two or three days, having rested their cattle, and having shod their horses with reversed shoes, they were all ready to depart. One day Mah Begum went to the bath in the afternoon; at sunset she left it, and with Dowlut Kutuh she joined her friends. But she did not bring her daughter Naheed Begum, then a year and a half old. After joining her friends, she remembered her child, and was much afflicted; but these thought it a great blessing that she herself had come, and at once mounted, taking her with them. They marched that entire night, halting in the afternoon of the following day to eat food. After going another night and day, they got over the path of fear, and arrived in the Huzarah country. Here they stopped some days to refresh, and then proceeded to Kandahar. Shah Beg came to the door to meet her, showing great kindness to her, and taking her in his arms, he carried her into the house. He gave horses and Khilats to those who attended her, making them all happy. One year after the death of Kasim Kokuh, Mah Begum was married to Shah Hoosain.

When Shah Ismael in 917 (A. D. 1511), took Khorasan, the star of his sovereignty shone forth brightly. He killed Mahomed Khan Shaibanee Oozbuk, after which he attained great strength. Those who were near, and those who were far away, when they heard of his army, they all feared. At that time Dermish Khan, coming towards Furat and Seestan, raised the standard of his authority on high. Shah Beg, on hearing this, was alarmed, and took counsel with his friends, saying: “I am fallen between two kings such as fire and water: on one side is Shah Ismael, on the other Babur Shah.” His friends in their wisdom settled that he should go to Shah Ismael, through the introduction of Dermish Khan; and that it was necessary to make friends with Babur Badshah. So he sent Kazee Abool Hoosain with many presents to Kabool, declaring that he was the very great friend of the king, and he himself, through Dermish Khan, went to Shah Ismael, who was very kind to him, excusing him from bowing his head, and ordering him to make his Salaam in the manner of Chughtiyuh, bending the knees.

Shah Beg remained in attendance a long time, the king promising that he should have leave to depart on the first day of spring. Dermish Khan was sent to the fort of Ekhtiyar-ood-deen, when the flatterers turned the temper of the king from Shah Beg by evil words. As the spring drew near, on the plea of some pretended business, Ismael withdrew his face from Shah Beg, and confined him in the fort of Zufur. His attendants, being helpless, some remained secretly there, others went to Kandahar. When Shah Ismael went to remain at Irag, Mehtur Soonbool, a slave of Shah Beg’s, went to Zufur, setting up a sweetmeat shop underneath where his master was confined. Through his sweetmeats he became acquainted with all the prisoners, and sometimes he ventured inside, when by signs he understood what Shah Beg wanted, and it was arranged between them, that twelve of his trusty men should come, and taking him from thence, convey him to Kandahar. Mehtur Soonbool told these men to come, and then he cooked some sweetmeat, with which he mixed intoxicating things, which he gave according to custom to the door-keepers, who, after eating it, loosened the bridle of alertness from their hands. After this, the twelve men came to the slave’s shop, and he, taking two of them, went to the to wer where Shah Beg was kept, and with a rope they lowered him down; but the rope being short, he let go, and fell to the earth, when, on account of the irons on his legs, he fell on his face instead of on his feet, breaking one of his teeth. He then mounted a horse, and after marching all that night and the next day, he by some means got another horse. In this manner he arrived where there was no fear. The keepers of the prison, on coming to their senses, made great search, but not being successful, with great vexation they returned back again.

When Babur Badshah heard of the imprisonment of Shah Beg, he determined to take Kandahar; but from many impediments which existed in the direction of the towns of Mawrauh, Unur, and Budukshan, he could not bring forth that which was on his breast. But when he had put his heart at ease with respect to those, with a very large force, he raised on high the standard of march against Kandahar. Shah Beg collected in the fort all the necessary articles of subsistence that he could find, and making up his mind to hold and fight the city, he repaired the towers and defences, placing men of trust over these. He sent spies into the royal army, to discover and let him know daily fresh news as to their condition, strength, &c. When these arrived there, and saw the army, they sent word that the king, with a large force, and great munitions of war, had turned his face that way. Shah Beg, with much valour, declared it as his opinion that they ought to go out to fight on the plain; and he consulted with his friends on this, all of whom decided that it was necessary for them once to try their strength on the battle-field, where, if God showed the face of victory in the looking-glass of their desire, it would be as they wished; if not, they could return to the fort and fight there. But, as Babur Badshah drew near, he became indisposed, so much so that his sepoys’ hearts left their places, and their hands let go their work. Shah Beg, hearing of this, sent a valuable present to the king by influential men of the city, laying the foundation of peace between them. Babur sent a horse and a Khilat to him, and then, turning his face, he took his army back to Kabool.

Shah Beg went to Seebee, remaining in that country some time, telling his nobles that “Babur Badshah had come this time to see the road to Kandahar: it is probable that he will again raise on high the banner of march against it next year; for until he has turned me out of my place, he will not find repose.” To confirm this, he advanced two proofs, one of which was, that “Mahomed Mokeem having done that which he ought not to have done, that thorn rankled in his (Babur’s) heart. On this account he took away Mokeem’s daughter: he also thinks that if he does not take Kandahar, the Urghoons (God forbid!) may again do as Mokeem did. The other proof is, that the king has many princes, who have not strength to fight the Oozbuks and Kuzulbashees, but they are strong enough to war against me: on this account, some day they will take Kandahar; so it is necessary for me to be alert, and careful on all sides.”

In the early days of the cold season, he sent 1,000 horsemen from Seebee towards Sind. These looted the villages of Kahan and Baghbanan in the month Zilkut 921 (A. D. 1515). Mukhdoom Janfur, who was one of the well known men of learning of Sind, says that he heard from Meerza Eesa Turkhan, that in this expedition 1,000 camels belonging to the wells of the gardens fell into the hands of that force. From this the produce and cultivation of that country may be understood. This force remained a week in the vicinity of those places.

During that year, as Shah Beg had foretold, Babur Badshah came upon, and surrounded Kandahar. He commenced digging mines, on account of a famine that season. This siege caused very great distress to the citizens. In short, peace was made. In the early days of the month Peer, on account of fever attacking his troops, Babur was forced to return to Kabool. During this year, Shah Hoosain, being displeased with his father, left Kandahar, going to Babur Badshah, who received him with the eye of kindness. He stayed two years near the king, during which period Babur was constantly saying that he had not come for service, but to learn the customs of kings from him.

In 922 (A. D. 1516), before the collections of tribute in grain were made, the standard of march of Babur Badshah arrived at Kandahar, when he encircled it. By his coming at that time, Shah Beg became much distressed, so he sent Shaikh Aboo Suneed Pooranee to make terms of peace, upon which Khwaja Abdool Uzeen came into the city, when a treaty was written, to the effect that in the following year Shah Beg should deliver up the city to Babur Badshah, who returned to Kabool after this was settled.

Shah Beg then strengthened Shawul, and he remained there and at Seebee. In 923 (A. D. 1517), agreeably to the treaty, he sent the keys of the royal palace and fort of Kandahar to the king, who much approved of this conduct. Shah Beg passed the next two years in Shawul and Seebee, with great difficulty: one season his sepoys had nothing to eat but carrots and turnips. At length, being helpless, he turned his face towards looting Sind, and a second time his troops came to the fort of Machee, and to the country of Chandooka. During that year, Durya Khan, who was called the son of Jam Nindah, the ruler of Tatta, taking a large force, arrived near Seebee. At this time Shah Beg was not present, having gone on an expedition against Seestan. There was much fighting between the Moguls (of Seebee) and the Sindees, in which Aboo Mahomed Meerza drank the sherbet of martyrdom. Rozee Beg, and the few men of the Urghoons and Huzarahs who were there, did very good service, and the Sindees went back to Tatta again.

In that year Jam Nindah, taking the articles of his being, went to the world of everlasting life, and Jam Pheroz sat in his place; and this I have mentioned before.