English
When that elephant came in front of Shujait Khan, the latter spurring his horse struck it with a spear on its trunk, and with great agility drawing the sword from his waist, inflicted two successive cats on its head ; and when he came in collision with the elephant, he drew his dagger, and inflicted on it two more cuts. The elephant, from its great ferocity, not recking of these cats, with great fury rushed up, and flung down both the rider and the horse. Shewing agility, Shujait dismounted from his horse, and stood erect on the ground. At this juncture, Shujait’s groom 6trnck the trunk of the elephant with a double- edged sword, and inflicted a serious cut, causing the elephant to fall on its knees. Shujait KTjan, with the help of his groom, threw down the rider of the elephant, and with a dagger inflicted another cut on its trunk. The elephant roaring fiercely fled after this cut, and moving some paces fell down. Shuja’it Khan’s horse sprang up unhurt, and the Khan mounted it again. In the mean¬ time, another elephant attacking the Imperial standard-bearer threw him down with the standard. >on of Muazzam Khin (a former Governor of Bengal) joined tho Imperialists, and panned ‘Osman. See also Iqbatnamah, pp. 61 to 64. 1 The anthor’s remark is nnjost and ungraceful. The Afghans undor 'Osmin were fighting for their homes and hearths, and did not deserve this opprobrious expression. * The Tuzuk calls the elephant " Gajpati,’* Iqbalnamah fp. 62) “ Bakhtah.” ® Hia name was §haiMj Kabir-i-Ohishti. and his title was Shaikh Shujait Khan Bustam-i-Zaman. Ue was a relative of Islim Khan. Governor of Bengal and served nnder the latter in Bengal, and commanded the Imperialists iu the fightings with ‘Osman, the Lohani Afghan. (See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p 520, apd the Ttuuk, and the Afatuir and Iqbalnnmah, p. 64). lie was subsequently appointed Governor of Ih'har. 23 178 Rjjnjiiii Khan shouted out, “ Take care, behave like a man, I am alive, and will soon advance to yonr rescue.” A number of troops who were round the standard-bearer took courage, inflicted serious cuts on the elephant which fled, and placed the standard- bearer on the horse again. At this time, when the battle was lingering towards its close, and many had fallen, and many being wounded were unable to move their limbs, the Imperial fortune blazed forth, and a cannon-ball hit ‘Osman Khan on the forehead, and levelled him straight on his horse. Though he realised that he could not survive this wound, still he heroically encouraged his soldiers to fight on. And when he read signs of defeat in the fore¬ head of his fate, pulling back the rein of his adversity, with the last breathings of a dying man, he reached Bengal. And the triumph¬ ant Imperialists following him up to his camp, halted. ‘Osman 1 expired at midnight. Wali Khan, his brother, and Mamriz Khan, his son, leaving behind the tents and the armaments, and removing his corpse, fled to their tent. Shujait Khan on hearing of this, thought of following up the enemy, but his ad¬ visers opposed the pursuit that day, on the ground that the troops were tired, the killed had to be buried, and the wounded dressed. In the meantime, Mu'taqad Khan, who was afterwards honoured with the title of Lashkar Khan, ‘Abdus-Salam Khan, 6on of ‘Abdul Mu'azzam Khan.* and other officers of the Emperor arrived with a fresh re-infoicement of-300 cavalry and 400 mus- 1 Khwnjah ‘Osman, according to the Makhzan-i-Afghani, was the second son of Miyan ’Isa KhSn Lol.ani, who after the death of Qutb Khan was the leader of the Afghans in Orissa and South Bengal. ‘Osman succeeded his brother Sulaimas, who had ‘ reigned ’ for some time, had killed in a ficht Himat Singh, son of Rajah Mon Singh, and had held lands near the Brahma¬ putra. and subdned the Rajahs of the adjacent countries. ‘Osman succeeded him, and received from Man Singh lands in Orissa and Satgaon and later in Eastern Bengal, with a revenue of 5 or 6 lacs per year. His residence is described to have been at “ Kohistan Dacca,” the “ Vilayet-T-Dacca ®>'d Dacca itself. The battle between ‘Osman and the Imperialist General, Shujoi\ took placo at a distanco <Jf 100 kos from Dacca on 9th Muharram. 1021 (or 2nd March, 1612 A.C.) Stewart places the battle on the banks of the Subarnarika in Orissa, which is improbable. ‘Osmin’s brother, Wali, on submission, received a title with a jagir, and was made a commander of one thousand. According to the Uaasir he was murdered. See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 520, Makhzon- i-Afghani and Iqbalnfimah, p. 61. i lie was a Snhadar of Delhi. See Bloch. Tr. Ain, Vol. I, P- 493. 179 keteers. Shujait Khan taking this corps with him, chased the enemy. Wali Khan despairing sent the following message : “ The root of this insurrection was ‘Osman; he has met with his deserts, we are all loyal. If we receive assurance of safety, we would make our submission and would seud the elephants of ‘Osman, in the shape of tribute.” Shujait Khan and Mu'taqad Khan, shewing chivalry, arranged terms of peace. The following day, Wali Khan and Mamriz Khan, with all their brothers and connexions, came to meet Shujait Khan, and presented forty- nine elephants as tribute. Shujait and Mu'taqad Khan, taking charge of them, moved ’Victorious and triumphant to Islam Khan to Jahangimagar (Dacca). Islam Khan sent a despatch contain¬ ing news of the victory to the Emperor at Akbarabad (Agra). On the 16th of the month of Muharram 1021 A.H., this despatch reached the Emperor, and was perused. In recognition of this good service, Islam Khan was raised to the mansab of a Shashhazari, and Shujait Khan had his mansab raised, and received the title of Rustam-i-Zaman; whilst all other Im¬ perialists who bad loyally and gallantly co-opcrated in the extirpation of ‘Osman Khan, received similarly befitting mansabs. The insurrection of ‘Osman Khan lasted eight years, and in the 7th year of the Emperor’s accession, corresponding to 1022 A.H., his subjugation was accomplished. In the 8th year of the Emperor’s accession, Islam Khan led an expedition against the Mags, who were brutes in human form. Islam Khan sent to the Emperor, in charge of iiis son, Hoshang Khan, a number of the Mags that were captured, and in the same year (1022 A.II.) Islam Khan died iu Bengal. Thereupon, the Governorship of that country was entrusted to his brother, Qasim Khan. -o- NIZAMAT OF QASIM MAN. After the Governorship of Bengal was conferred on Qasim Ehan, brother of Islam Khan, he ruled five years and a few months, when the Assamese making an incursion into the conquered Imperial domains, captured and decoyed Syed Abu Bakr. 1 Qasim Khan failed to make a sifting enquiry into this Ho was Commandant of a Mughal out-post on the Assam frontier at Jamdhara, under Jahangir. (Seo Afamyirnamah, p. 680). 180 affair, and was therefore superceded, and Ibrahim Khan Fateh Jang was appointed Nazim in his place. o NIZIMAT OF IBRAHIM KHAN, AND THE ARRIVAL OF PRINCE SHAH JAHAN IN BENGAL. Ibrahim Khan Fateh Jang, 1 in the year 1027 A.H., corres¬ ponding to the 13th year of the Emperor’s accession, received the Viceroyalty of Bengal and Orissa. He appointed his nephew, Ahmad Beg Khan 8 to be Governor of Orissa, whilst he himself resided at Jahangirnagar (Dacca), and devoted himself to the work of administration. As during his incumbency, several grave affairs came to pass, these will be briefly narrated. In the 17th year of the Emperor’s accession, corresponding to 1031 A.II., news reached Emperor Jahangir to the effect that the King of Persia was aiming to wrest the fort of Qandahar. 0 In conse¬ quence thereof, Zainnl-'Abidin, the Pay-Master General of the Ahadi* troops, communicated an order to Prince Shah Jab an at Burhanpur, directing the latter to march quickly to the Imperial presence with troops, artillery and elephants. The Prince march¬ ing from Burhanpur 6 reached Mando, 6 sent a message to the I He was the youngest son of Mirza Ghins Beg, and a brother of Empress Nur Jahan. (See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 512). 8 See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 512. He was a eon of Mubammad Sharif, eldest son of Ghias Beg, father of Empress Nur Jahan. 8 In the 15th year, when the Persians threatened Qandahar, Khan aa was appointed by Jahangir Governor of Multan. In the 17th.year. U* A kbar, king of Persia, took Qandahar, after a siege of forty (lays. was called to court for consultation, and it was decided that Fr.nco K_ (Shah Jahan) should be placed at the head of the expeditionary force to re c7nquer Qandahar. In the meantime, Shah Jahan rebel.ed and ***££** to Qandahar was not undertaken. See Bloch. lr., Am. Vol. , ^ 4 They were a body of troops intermediate between o g non-Regulars and Auxiliaries. They were created under Akbar See Bboh. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 249, for a full description of Ahadi troops. Zamu - ? - - ■-5; Sirlcftr Mando, included in the Sibat, of Malwah. (See J.rratt Tr. Vol. II, p. 206). \ 6 \ Emperor to the effect that as tlio rainy season had approached, lif* would mako Mando his rainy-season quai-ter, and would afterwards wait on the Emperor. He also asked for pargannah Dholpur 1 being added to his jagir, and set Daria Khan 2 Afghan to take charge of it. But before the arrival of' the Prince’s letter, the Emperor had negotiated the marriage of Prince Shahryar with a daughter of Nur Malial 3 by Shcr Afghan, 4 and at Nur Mahal’s request the aforesaid Pargannah had been bestowed on Shaharyar, and Sharifu-l-Mulk, servant of Priuce Shaharyar, had taken possession of the fort of Dholpur. Soon after, Daria Khan arrived and wanted to forcibly take possession of the fort. From both sides, the fire of conflict kindled. As luck would have it, an arrow hit Sharifu-l-Mulk on the eye, and blinded him.