TheHistoryofIndia-VolVII.doc

The History of India

CONTENTS OF VOL. VII.
PAGE.
Table of Contents
Preface v
Errata in Vol. VII viii
LXI. Pádsháh-náma, of Muhammad Amín Kazwíní 1
LXII. Bádsháh-náma, of ‘Abdu-l Hamíd Láhorí 3
LXIII. Sháh Jahán-náma, of ‘Ináyat Khán 73
LXIV. Bádsháh-náma, of Muhammad Wáris 121
LXV. ‘Amal-i Sálih, of Muhammad Sálih Kambú 123
LXVI. Sháh Jahán-náma, of Muhammad Sádik Khán 133
LXVII. Majálisu-s Salátín, of Muhammad Sharíf Hanafí 134
LXVIII. Táríkh-i Mufazzalí, of Mufazzal Khán 141
LXIX. Mir-át-i ‘Álam, Mir-át-i Jahán-numá, of Bakhtáwar Khán 145
LXX. Zínatu-t Tawáríkh, of ‘Azízu-llah 166
LXXI. Lubbu-t Tawáríkh-i Hind, of Ráí Bhárá Mal 168
LXXII. ‘Álamgír-náma, of Muhammad Kázim 174
LXXIII. Ma-ásir-i ‘Álamgírí, of Muhammad Sákí Musta’idd Khán 181
LXXIV. Futuhát-i ‘Álamgírí, of Muhammad Ma’súm 198
LXXV. Táríkh-i Mulk-i Áshám, of Shahábu-d dín Tálásh 199
LXXVI. Wakái’, of Ni’amat Khán 200
LXXVII. Jang-náma, of Ni’amat Khán 202
LXXVIII. Ruka’át-i ‘Álamgírí, of the Emperor Aurangzeb 203
LXXIX. Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán 207
LXXX. Táríkh, of Irádat Khán 534
LXXXI. Táríkh-i Bahádur Sháhí 565
LXXXII. Táríkh-i Sháh ‘Álam Bahádur Sháhí 568
LXXXIII. ‘Ibrat-náma, of Muhammad Kásim 569

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PREFACE.
THE present Volume contains the history of the reigns of Sháh-Jahán, Aurangzeb, Bahádur Sháh, Jahándár Sháh, and Farrukh-Siyar, of the little brief authority of Rafí’u-d Daula and Rafí’u-d Daraját, and of the early years of the reign of Muhammad Sháh.
Several works hitherto unknown to the European reader are here brought to notice. The history of the reign of Sháh Jahán is derived from the Bádsháh-náma of ‘Abdu-l Hamíd and from other Bádsháh-námas and Sháh-Jahán-námas. The special works relating to the reign of Aurangzeb have been examined and the most interesting passages translated; but the history of his long rule, and of the subsequent times which appear in this Volume, has been derived from the great work of Kháfí Khán, a contemporary history of high and well-deserved repute. This important history is well known at second-hand. All European historians of the period which it covers have been greatly indebted, directly or indirectly, to its pages. Elphinstone and Grant Duff used it, and they refer to a MS. trans­lation by “Major Gordon, of the Madras Army.” It is not known what has become of this MS. trans­lation, for the inquiries made after it have met with no success. Not a line of translation had been pro­vided by Sir H. M. Elliot; so this heavy labour has fallen upon the Editor, who has provided the 330 pages of print which the work occupies, as well as the long translation from the Bádsháh-náma.
Ample and very diversified matter remains for the concluding volume.
The following is a list of the articles in this volume, with the names of their respective writers:—
LXI. Pádsháh-náma of Muhammad Kazwíní—Editor.
LXII. Bádsháh-náma of ‘Abdu-l Hamíd—Editor.
LXIII. Sháh Jahán-náma of ‘Ináyat Khán—Major Fuller.
LXIV. Bádsháh-náma of Muhammad Wáris—Editor.
LXV. ‘Amal-i Sálih—Editor.
LXVI. Sháh Jahán-náma of Muhammad Sádik—Editor.
LXVII. Majálisu-s Salátín—Sir H. M. Elliot and munshís.
LXVIII. Táríkh-i Mufazzalí—Sir H. M. Elliot and munshís.
LXIX. Mir-át-i ‘Álam—Sir H. M. Elliot and munshís.
LXX. Zínatu-t Tawáríkh—Sir H. M. Elliot.
LXXI. Lubbu-t Tawáríkh-i Hind—Sir H. M. Elliot.
LXXII. ‘Álamgír-náma—Sir H. M. Elliot and Editor.
LXXIII. Ma-ásir-i ‘Álamgírí—Sir H. M. Elliot and “Lt. Perkins.”
LXXIV. Futuhát-i ‘Álamgírí—Sir H. M. Elliot and Editor.
LXXV. Táríkh-i Mulk-i Áshám—Sir H. M. Elliot and Editor.
LXXVI. Wakái’ of Ni’amat Khán—Sir H. M. Elliot and Editor.
LXXVII. Jang-náma of Ni’amat Khán—Sir H. M. Elliot and Editor.
LXXVIII. Ruka’át-i ‘Álamgírí—Sir H. M. Elliot.
LXXIX. Muntakhabu-l Lubáb of Kháfí Khán—Article by Sir H. M. Elliot—all the translation by the Editor.
LXXX. Táríkh of Irádat Khán—Captain Jonathan Scott.
LXXXI. Táríkh-i Bahádur Sháh—“Lieutenant Anderson.”
LXXXII. Táríkh-i Sháh ‘Álam Bahádur Sháh—Editor.
LXXXIII. ‘Ibrat-náma—Editor.

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ERRATA IN VOL. VII.
Page 31, for “1241 A.H.” read “1041 A.H.”
Page 32, for “1240 A.H.” read “1040 A.H.”
Page 33, for “1241 A.H.” read “1041 A.H.”
Page 463, for “Muhakkim Singh,” read “Mohkam Singh.”

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HISTORIANS OF INDIA.
LXI.
PÁDSHÁH-NÁMA.
OF
MUHAMMAD AMÍN KAZWÍNÍ.
[THE author of this work in his preface gives it the title of Pádsháh-náma, but, like several other histories of the reign of Sháh Jahán, it is often called Sháh-Jahán-náma, and sometimes more specifically Táríkh-i Sháh-Jahání Dah-sála. The full name of the author is Muhammad Amín bin Abú-l Hasan Kazwíní, but he is familiarly known as Amínáí Kazwíní, Amínáí Munshí, or Mirzá Amíná. He was the first who received orders to write a history of the reign of Sháh Jahán. The orders were given, as he tells us, in the eighth year of Sháh Jahán, and he com­pleted this work, comprising the history of the first ten years of the reign, and dedicated it to Sháh Jahán in the twentieth year of that Emperor’s reign.
The author in his preface says that he has divided his work into an Introduction, containing on account of the Emperor’s life from his birth to his accession; a Discourse (makála), comprising the history of the first ten years of his reign; and an Appendix, containing notices of holy and learned men, physicians and poets. He also mentions his intention of writing a second volume, bringing down the history to the twentieth year of Sháh Jahán’s reign. But he does not appear to have carried out his design, having probably been prevented by his appoint­ment to a busy office, for Muhammad Sálih, in a short biography of the author, says that he was transferred to the Intelligence Department.
This history of Amínáí Kazwíní has been the model upon which most of the histories of Sháh Jahán have been formed. ‘Abdu-l Hamíd, the author of the Bádsháh-náma, follows its arrangement, and although he makes no acknowledgment of the fact, his work comprises the same matter, and differs from it only in style.
Sir H. M. Elliot’s MS. is a small folio of 297 pages of twenty-one lines each. It is fairly written, but all the rubrics are omitted. There is a copy in the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society, and three copies in the British Museum.]*

LXII.
BÁDSHÁH-NÁMA
OF
‘ABDU-L HAMÍD LÁHORÍ.
[THIS is a history of the first twenty years of the reign of Sháh Jahán, composed by ‘Abdu-l Hamíd Láhorí. Little is known of the author, but Muhammad Sálih, in his ‘Amal-i Sálih (No. LXIV.), informs us that ‘Abdu-l Hamíd was celebrated for the beauty of his style, and that he died in 1065 A.H. (1654 A.D.). ‘Abdu-l Hamíd himself says in his preface, that the Emperor desired to find an author who could write the memoirs of his reign in the style of Abú-l Fazl’s Akbar-náma; and that he, ‘Abdu-l Hamíd, had studied and greatly admired Abú-l Fazl’s style. He was recommended to the Emperor for the work, and was called from Patna, where he was living in retirement, to undertake the composition. His patron was the excellent minister ‘Allámí Sa’du-lla Khán.
The contents of the work are: A Preface, in which the author dedicates his work to Sháh Jahán. A description of the Emperor’s horoscope. A concise account of his ancestors, com­mencing with Tímúr. A brief review of the proceedings of Sháh Jahán before his accession to the throne. A detailed history of the first twenty years of the reign divided into two cycles of ten years each. The work comprises, also, an enumera­tion of the princes of the blood royal; of the nobles of the Court, arranged according to their respective ranks, from those commanding 9000 to those of 500 horse; and an account of the shaikhs, learned men, physicians and poets who flourished during the period embraced by the history.
The Bádsháh-náma is the great authority for the reign of Sháh Jahán. Muhammad Sálih, a younger and rival writer, speaks of the author in the highest terms, and “Kháfí Khán, the author of the Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, has based his history of the first twenty years of Sháh Jahán’s reign almost entirely on this work. The greatest objection to the work is the author’s style, which is of that adulterated kind introduced into India apparently by the brothers Abú-l Fazl and Faizí.”* ‘Abdu-l Hamíd was, as he himself states, a professed admirer and imitator of Abú-l Fazl’s style; and when he is dealing with a subject demanding his eloquence, his style is as verbose, turgid and fulsome as that of his master. Happily, however, he is not always in a magniloquent vein, but narrates simple facts in simple language, blurred only by occasional outbreaks of his laboured rhetoric.
The work is most voluminous, and forms two bulky volumes of the Bibliotheca Indica, containing 1662 pages. It enters into most minute details of all the transactions in which the Emperor was engaged, the pensions and dignities conferred upon the various members of the royal family, the titles granted to the nobles, their changes of office, the augmentations of their mansabs, and it gives lists of all the various presents given and received on public occasions, such as the vernal equinox, the royal birthday, the royal accession, etc. Thus the work contains a great amount of matter of no interest to any one but the nobles and courtiers of the time. But it would not be fair to say that it is filled with these trifles; there is far too much of them: but still there is a solid substratum of historical matter, from which the history of this reign has been drawn by later writers.
MSS. of the Bádsháh-náma are common, and some fine copies are extant. Mr. Morley describes one belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society as “a most excellent specimen of the Oriental art of caligraphy,” and Col. Lees says: “The copy of the second part of the Bádsháh-náma which has been used for this edition (Bibliotheca Indica) is the finest MS. I have ever seen. It is written by Muhammad Sálih Kambú, the author of the ‘Amal-i Sálih, and bears on the margin the autograph of the Emperor Sháh Jahán.” The following Extracts have all been selected and translated by the Editor from the printed text.]*

EXTRACTS.
[Text, vol. i. p. 69.] The Emperor Jahángír* died on the 28th Safar, A.H. 1037 (28th October, 1627), at the age of fifty-eight years and one month, solar reckoning. Prince Shahriyár, from his want of capacity and intelligence, had got the nickname of Ná-shudaní, “Good-for-nothing,” and was commonly known by that appellation. He now cast aside all honour and shame, and before Sháh Jahán had started (from the Dakhin), he re­pudiated his allegiance, and went off in hot haste to Lahore to advance his own interests. Núr Mahal, who had been the cause of much strife and contention, now clung to the vain idea of retaining the reins of government in her grasp, as she had held them during the reign of the late Emperor. She wrote to Ná-shudaní, advising him to collect as many men as he could, and hasten to her.
Yamínu-d daula Ásaf Khán and Irádat Khán, who always acted together, determined that, as Sháh Jahán was far away from Ágra, it was necessary to take some steps to prevent disturbances in the city, and to get possession of the princes Muhammad Dárá Shukoh, Muhammad Sháh Shujá’, and Muhammad Aurangzeb, who were in the female apartments with Núr Mahal. They therefore resolved that for some few days they would raise to the throne Bulákí, the son of Khusrú, who, by Núr Mahal’s contrivance, had been placed with Ná-shudaní, but who had been put under the charge of Irádat Khán by Jahángír when Ná-shudaní returned to Lahore from Kashmír.
* * So they placed Bulákí on horseback, and, with a party of men in whom they had full confidence, they commenced their march, taking care to keep one day ahead of Núr Mahal. * * As the young princes were not safe with Núr Mahal, they removed her from the royal palace, and took the young princes under their own charge; but when Bulákí had been raised to the throne, they were placed in charge of Sádik Khán.
Accession of Sháh Jahán.
[Text, vol. i. p. 82.] Sháh Jahán ascended the throne at Ágra on the 18th Jumáda-s sání, 1037 A.H. (6th Feb. 1628), with the title of Abú-l Muzaffar Shahábu-d dín Muhammad Sáhib Kirán-i sání.
Rebellion of Jajhár Singh.
[Text, vol. i. p. 238.] Jajhár Singh was son of Rájá Nar Singh Deo Bundela, who rose into notice by killing Shaikh Abú-l Fazl, the celebrated author of the Akbar-náma, when Jahángír was heir apparent. * In obedience to orders from the Emperor Akbar, the Shaikh was hastening to Court from the Dakhin with a small escort. Jahángír was jealous of the Shaikh’s de­votion to his father, and was apprehensive that his arrival would interfere with his own plans. * * So he incited Nar Singh Deo to kill him as he passed through his territory. This evil-minded man, from lust of gold, placed a large force of horse and foot in ambush, and fell upon the Shaikh. The followers of the Shaikh advised him to fly and escape, but he refused, and fell in the year 1011 A.H. (1602 A.D.). After the accession of Jahángír to the throne, Nar Singh Deo rose into favour and distinction through this wicked deed. But his evil nature was unable to bear his prosperity, and towards the end of the reign of Jahángír he became disaffected, and oppressed all the zamíndárs in his neighbourhood. * * He died three or four months before Jahángír, and was succeeded by his son Jajhár Singh. The wealth and property which Nar Singh Deo had amassed without labour and without trouble unsettled the mind of his worthless successor Jajhár, and at the accession of Sháh Jahán, * * he left the capital Ágra, and proceeded to Úndcha, his stronghold, where he set about raising forces, strengthening the forts, pro­viding munitions of war and closing the roads. A force was accordingly sent against him, under the command of Mahábat Khán Khán-khánán. [The Imperial forces converged upon Úndcha, and] Jajhár Singh, having no hope of escape, waited upon Khán-khánán and made his submission. Just at this time intelligence arrived that ‘Abdu-lla Khán had taken the fortress of Írich,* which had been in the possession of Jajhár Singh.

SECOND YEAR OF THE REIGN, 1038 A.H. (20TH DECEMBER,
1628 A.D.).
[Text, vol. i. p. 272.] The anniversary of the accession was on the 1st of Jumáda-s sání. After the death of Jahángír, and before the accession of Sháh Jahán, Khán-Jahán Lodí entered upon a dangerous and disloyal course. * * He formed an alliance with Nizámu-l Mulk, and gave up to him the Bálághát in the Dakhin,* the revenue of which amounted to fifty-five krors of dáms. But Sipahdár Khán, who held Ahmadnagar, bravely and loyally refused to surrender that city. Khán-Jahán sum