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m or ‘ Bathing Room * was a luxury in Mughal days: it was fitted up elegantly with cooling apparatus and on sultry days, the Mughal Emperors and the Mughal Omara passed much time in it, transacting bus- iness.. Thus, ' Ghusalkhana’ gradually came- to signify a ‘Private Chamber, or a ‘ khasUiana/ f . * The nuthor of the Riyai has borrowed the account from the Iqbalnama - i-Jah*ngiri (see pp. 256-257, Faso. 3), hut in his attempt to condense it, he has rendered his account slip-shod and confused. The author of the Iqbalnamah- i-Jahangiri, named Mn’tamid I^an, was Jahangir's Bakhshi at the time, an was an eye-witness of what occurred. From the account that he gives, i appears tint the Emperor was' returning at the time to Hmd^jrom Kabul, that he had hi. camp pitched the bank, of the nr Ehh.t^ Jhelam), h. t he was alone there with some cohere, ..oh ss Ghaib Mir Mansur Badakhshi, Jaweher Khun the Eunuch, Pirn . S.dmat Khin the E.n.ch, Baland Khin, “d ^.a- and three or fo.r others, that all the rest of the Irnpena office™“ , 0 dant. ioclnding Asif Khan the Prime Mm,.tor, hadleft *"* be the eastern banks of the river Seizing, therefore, this opport y. 205 In short as the Imperial army had pone towards Thatab, Mahabet Khan was ordered to join it there. In the meantime, Prince Parviz died. As Sharif Khan 1 had entrenched himself in the fort o* Thatah, Shah Jahan’a army marched back to the Dakhin. Mahabet 10>an after reaching Thatah sent letters to §hah Jahan, avowing his loyalty, and Shah Jahan being conciliated, Mahabet Kljaq entered the former’s service. In consequence, the Subah of Bengal was transferred from Khanahzad Khan, son of. Mahabet Khan, to Mnkkaram Khan, 8 son of Muazzam Khan, and the Province of Khan, leaving some Rajput troops to guard the bridge, marched np to tho Imperial tent with a large number of Eajpnt cavalry. At tho time, tho Emperor was reposing in the Khaakhana. Mahabet Khan fearlessly broke open the door, and entered it with about 500 Raj pot cavalry, and paid obeisance to the Emperor. The Emperor coming out of the tent, seated himself on the Imperial Palanquin, which had lain in front of the tent- Mihabet Khan came quite close to the palanqain, and addressed the Emperor as follows: 41 Fearing that through the vindictiveness and malioe of Asif Khan, I should be disgraced, tortured and killed, I have dared to take tLis daring step of personally throwing myself on the Imperial protection. 8ire if I deserve to be killed and punished, kill and punish me indoor Imperial preaenoe” (p. 266, Fasc. 3, Iqbalnamah). In the meantime, Mahabet Khan's Rajput cavalry surrounded the Imperial tent from all sides. Then Mahal r-t Khan told the Emperor that that was the usual time for the Emperor to go out hunting, and asked the Emperor to mount a horse. Tho Emperor mount- ed a horse, and went out some distance and then leaving the horse mounted nn elephant. Mahabet Khin in hunting dress accompanied the Emperor and led the latter-to his own camp. Finding that Nur Jahan Begam had been left behind, he led back the Emperor to the Imperial tent, but in the mean- time Nur Jahan had gone across the river and had joined her brother, Asif Khin and was busy concerting measures to rescue the Emperor. After some days, by adoption of an ingenious and a bold stratagem—when the efforts of all the Imperial offioers had failed—Nur Jahan succeeded in rescuing her Royal Consort, and in banishing Mihabet Khan, who waa sent in disgrace to Thatah. (See p. 276, Fasc. 3, Iqbalnamah i-Jahtmgirt) Mahabet Khau subsequently joined Shah Jahan in the Dakhin. 1 In the Iqbalnamah, “ Sharifu-l-Mulk” it appears that Prince ghih Jahsn had gone from the Dakhin to invade the provinoe of Thatah. Then gharifn-l-Mulk, on behalf of Prince ghahriynr, held the Fort of Thatah with 4,000 cavalry and 10,0o0 infantry. On hearing the news, the Emperor Jahangir sent an Imperial army to repel §fc*h Jahan's invasion, and Mihabet Kh in. waa sent on the same errand, ghih Jahan was obliged to raise the siege, and to march bat* to the Dakhin vid Gujrat (See /gboZtwwnk and also UaaMiT-ul-Uvuira, Pars, text, Fasc. 9, pp. 281*282). . . * Mukkaram Khan was a son of Shaikh Bnyasid Muaonm Khin. grand* 206 Patna was entrusted ta_Mirza Rustam Safavi. 1 It is said that on the day the patent transferring the §ubahdari of Bengal from Khanahzad Khan to Nawab Mukarrara Khan was drawn up at ShahJahnnabad (Delhi), Shah Neamatullah 2 Firuzpuri composing a Qasidah (an Ode) in praise of Khanahzad Khan, transmitted it to the latter, and in this Qasidah, there was one liue which was indicative of Khanahzad’s supercession, and that line was this :— tt tty j* Jr* Translation : I am in love with thee, O budding rose, like a nightingale, Thy cypress, however, is a new spring and a sight to others. .When Khanahzad Khan perused the above lines, he antici¬ pated his supercession, and made preparations to pack up. And after one month the Imperial order of recall was received by him. son of Shaikh Salim Qhishti of Fatihpar Sikri. Jahangir conferred on Shni)^ Bayazid the title of Muajgam Khan and made him $ubadar of Delhi. Mua**am Khan’s son, Mukkaram Khan, was a son-in-law of Islam Khan I, JahaDgirs Viceroy in Bengal, and rendered important services under th- ’atter. He conquered Kuch Hijo (a portion of Kuch Behar) and captured its zemindar or Rajah, Parichat (Padshahnamah 11, 64 ), and for some time remained as Governor of Kuch Hajo. Later, he was appointed Governor of Orissa, and conquered Khurdah (South Orissa) and annexed it to the Delhi Empire. In the sixteenth year, he came to court, and was made SuWar of Delhi. In the 21st year, he was sent to Beng - Governor in the place of Khanahzxd Khan, Mahabet Khan’s son. (See pp.286, 287, 291, Fasc. 3, Iqlalnamah-x- Jahangiri, and also Moasir-ul-Umara). A gale upset his boat, and he was drowned in the river with all his companions. t See n. ante. The author of the Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri mentions that M.rza Rustam Safavi was appointed by Jahangir $ubadr of Vilayet-i-Behar and Patna, m the 21st year of the Emperor’s reign. (See p. 280, Fasc. 3, Pers. tcx , Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, and also Maatir-ul-Umara). * Later on in the text, he is described as a Saint, in whom Pnneo khah Bhuja had great faith. 207 NEZAMAT OF NAWAB MUKKARAM KHAN. In the 21st year of the Emperor’s accession, corresponding to 1030 A.H., Mukkaram Khan was appointed to the Nezamat of the Suhali of Bengal. Many months had not elapsed, when by chance, au Imperial firmau came to his address. The Khan in order to receive it, advanced. 1 As the time for afternoon prayer had arrived, he ordered his servants to moor his ooat towards the bank, so that he might turn to business, after finishing prayer. The boatmen attempted to take the barge towards the bank. At this time, a strong wind blew, and sent the boat adrift. A severe gale coupled with a storm-wave, caused the boat to sink. Mukkaram {Chan with his companions and associates was drowned, and not a single man escaped. 8 -o- NEZAMAT OF NAWAB FIDAI KHAN. 5 When news of Mukkram Khan being drowned reached the Emperor in the 22ud year of the Emperor’s accession l This incident illustrates the solemn personality of the ‘ Great Mughal ’ in those days, and the ceremonial homage paid fyim by his officers. The practice of advancing several miles to receive imperial orders and firmans, existed throughout the Mughal regime. s Sec similar account in Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, Fasc. 3, Pors. text, p 287. * “ Fidai Khan ” and “ Jdn Nisar Kh.iu ” or “ Janbaz Khan ” were his titles, his name being Mirza Hedaitullah. He should not be confounded with Mir Zarif who also received the title of Fidai Khan.” When Mir Zarif received this title of Fidui Khan, Mirza Hedaitullah who held the same title from before, received the now title of “ Jan Kisir Khan ” from Shah Jahiin the Emperor. In the beginning, in the reign of Emperor Jahangir, Mirza Hedait- nllah was “ Mir Bahr-i-Nawarah ” or Admiral of the Imperal Fleet, and being patronised by Mahabet Khan, he advanced rapidly in influence. In the quarrel between Mahabet Khan and Emperor Jahangir, he took sides with his patron, Mahabet Khan, and subsequently fled to Rohtas. On return in the *>2nd year of Jahangw’s reign, he was appointed Viceroy of Bengal, in succession to Mukkaram Khan, who had been drowned, the arrangement entered into being that he should yearly remit from Bengal, in the shape of presents, five iocs for the Emperor and five lacs of rupees for the Empress Nur Jahin (no doubt, over and above the Minim] Imperial revenues). In Shih Jabin’e reign, hewn, moiled from Bengal and received Jannpnr i„ <i,ai (or and aubeeqnently pointed Paajdir of Gorakpur. Ho then helped Abdultah Sjin, Governor of 208 corresponding to 1036 A.H., Nawab Fidai Khfin was appointed Viceroy of the $ubah of Bengal. Since at that period, besides rare silkstuffs of this country, and elephants and aloes-wood and amber¬ gris and other presents and gifts, no specie used to be presented to the Emperor, at this time, contrary to the former practice, it was settled that every year five lacs of rnpees as present to the Emperor and five lacs of rupees as present to Nur Jahan Begam—in all ten lacs of rupees should be remitted to the Imperial Exchequer. 1 When on the 27th 8 of the month of Safar 1037 A.H., Emperor Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir, whilst returning from Kashmir, died at Rajor, his son Abul Muzzafar Shahabuddin Shah Jahan (who was then in the Dakhin) marched out, and through the noble exertions of A?af Jah A?af Khan 8 (after destroying and extirpating his brothers) ascended the Imperial throne at Delhi. Then the Sub&h of Bengal was transferred from Fidai Khan to Qasim Khnu. Behnr, in the conquest of Bhojpur or Ujjain.