"thereby. Such was the end of the kings and nobles of "Gujrát, as will be here explained. Fate having decreed "the destruction of the government, its servants, by "disregarding all sacred ties in the midst of rebellions, "went to war among each other; so, under the sem“blance of friendship, they openly committed acts of "hostility, until at length those parties being set aside, "the powers and seals of this kingdom were transferred "to the hands of the illustrious descendant of Timur, "Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar." "Now" says Nizamuddin Ahmad, "that His "Majesty's mind was quite set at rest by the suppression "of rebels, and the reduction of their lofty forts, he "turned his attention to the conquest of Gujrát." While the various imperial commanders,* some being Hindús, some Muhammadans, went on in advance towards 20th Çafar 980 H. marching by 15 Rabí'u-l awwal. Gujrát with their contingents, Akbar left Síkri on 2nd July 1572, and Sangánír, arrived at Ajmír on the 26th, where he performed his customary devotions. From Ajmír the Khán Kalán, (commander-in-chief) Mír Muhammad Khán Atka advanced with 10,000 horse, the Emperor following later to Nágor, the rendezvous of his forces. From Nágor his march lay by Mirt'ha and Sirohi to Nahrwála (Patan). On the way there were several skirmishes with isolated bodies of Rájpúts. The commander-inchief had been commissioned to bring about an accommodation with the Rájah of Sirohí and when dismissing the Rájpút envoys, had been treacherously stabbed by one of their party. To avenge this crime, * Chalmers II, 2-79; Nízámuddín Ahmad, Elliot V, 339, 370; Firishtah. Briggs II, 235 et seq. and IV, 155 et seq.; 'Alí Mu., Bird 301–348. Sirohi was attacked after the Emperor's junction with the advanced force. In the fight which ensued, many of its inhabitants made expiation with their lives, the slaughter being especially great near the temple of Síva. From Sirohí, Rái Rái Singh, son of the Rájah of Bíkánír was sent in force to keep open the road to Gujrát and to make sure of his countrymen, the Rájpúts of Jodhpúr, a movement which prevented all serious opposition. Before the army reached Patan, Mán Singh was detached to capture Sher Khán Fúládí who, with other local grandees, had quitted Ahmadábád at the news of the Emperor's approach, but he was able to overtake the baggage only of the fugitives and returned to the camp laden with booty. The revenues of Patan were assigned for the maintenance of 'Abdurráhim, the son of Akbar's once beloved guardian, Bairám Khán but, on account of his youth, Sayyid Ahmad Khán of Bárha was appointed to assist him. 'Abdurrahim was now 17 years old and was amongst the special favourites of Akbar, by whom he had been reared and educated with the utmost care and who, on account of his sense and knowledge, had bestowed on him the title of Mírzá Khán. It is recorded that while at Pațan,* Akbar caused 'Abdurrahím to repeat again to him the details of his father's murder. At Chotánah, on the way to Ahmadábád, word was brought to Akbar that Muzaffar Sháh, the king of Gujrát, † had fled with Sher Khán Fúládí but that, being terrified by the close pursuit of the imperialists, he had left him and was now wandering *Blochmann 1. c., 334. † According to the Mírat Sikanderí, Muzaffar Sháh was the first to do homage to Akbar. See Bird 1. c. 338 and also Tabaquáti-Akbarí; Abul Fazl (Chalmers II, 6.) is the authority for the narrative as given in the text aimlessly in the neighbourhood of Chotánah. Several officers were thereupon told off to track the missing king and bring him to the Emperor. His royal umbrella and canopy were soon found, at the edge of a cornfield, and a short search sufficed to disclose Muzaffar, lying hidden in the corn. Such an enemy could not be dangerous; the Emperor pitied the unfortunate youth, received him kindly and sent him as his guest to Agrah. By the removal of the puppet king, Akbar became virtual ruler of Gujrát and the chiefs dared no longer delay their homage. Such of them as betook themselves without reserve to the royal camp were received with the utmost friendliness but amongst the earliest was not numbered the wily I'timád Khán, although he had been the first Gujrátí to make advances to the Emperor and although it was he who had invited Akbar to seize the abandoned province. Timorous suspicion is wont to be paired with craft. At the last moment he hesitated to make his submission. On 14th November, Sháh Fakhruddín Músawi and Hakim 'Ainul-Mulk reported that "he had set out "to join the camp. During the march from Cotanah to "the next stage, I'timád Khán arrived in the near neighbourhood and Khwajah Jahán and Mír Abú Turáb "were despatched to meet and conduct him to the royal presence where he was received by Akbar on his ele phant. Other chiefs now came in ** and while all ແ were encouraged with the words of hope, I'timádKhár "and some of the grandees were permitted to ride in the "immediate cortêge of the royal person. "A considerable 7th Rajab. * Chalmers II, 6. Trs. number of Gujrátís joined the camp at Suteekh and some mischievous persons spread a report that the Emperor had given orders for their quarter to be looted. A mob of loose followers, such as hang on the skirts of an army, gathered together and in the ensuing tumult the baggage of Akbar's new adherents was pillaged. This outrage, committed in his immediate neighbourhood, roused Akbar to furious anger; he caused the offenders to be apprehended by the camp superintendents and trampled to death by elephants. The stolen property was restored to its owners. When justice had been thus satisfied, he mounted a throne and held a ceremonious darbár at which everyone, high and low, found admission and friendly reception. He thus showed his new subjects that he was bringing them a government of order and security and not an unbridled reign of terror.* 20th November 1572. "On the 14th Rajab" says Abul Fazl, "he reached "Ahmadábád where everyone, thank"ful that the imperial. arrival had "delivered him from sublunary distresses, hastened "around him to express his gratitude and Ahmadábád "itself, containing 380 districts, each district equal to "a city, reflected back upon his Majesty the heavenly "radiance which he bestowed." The khutbah was read in Akbar's name and the command of the town, together with a stretch of land on the right bank of the river Mahindrí, was given to Mírzá 'Aziz Kokah. The districts of Broach, Chámpánír and Súrat which were still in the hands of the Mírzás, were assigned to various Gujrátí chiefs, supervision over *Bird 1. c. 310. whom was given to I'timád Khán, This parvenu, at once feared and hated by the rest of the nobles, was well fitted by his merciless severity to curb unruly spirits; to him and the others Gujrátí jágírdárs command was given to ensure the immediate pacification of the country by proceeding energetically against the Mírzás. 2nd Sha'bán 980 H. On Monday, 8th December 1572, the Emperor went to Kambhayat (Kambay)* in order to visit the sea-coast before returning to his capital. Half-way thither came the news, anticipated by those who had warned him of the duplicity of the Gujrátís, that I'timád Khán and his associates were wavering in their fidelity and irresolute; and moreover that one of the latter, Ikhtiyárul Mulk had already deserted. Thereupon Shábáz Khán, a man of noted energy, was sent to bring the traitors as prisoners to Kambay where they were eventually left under trustworthy supervision. Kambay which is now ruined and impoverished, was, in the time of Akbar, a wealthy port and trading town; its merchants, men from Asia Minor, Damascus, Persia and Transoxania welcomed the Emperor with enthusiasm for they saw in his coming a guarantee for peace and tranquillity. From Kambay, he made his first trip to sea, spending several hours in a sailing-boat with much pleasure. On 18th December he left the city and moved towards Barodah from the neighbourhood of which place he sent a division under the Khán-i-'Alam and several welltried officers against Súrat, the fort which was then the 12th Sha’bán. * It lies in 22° 23′ N. L. and 72° 45′ E. L., on the gulf which bears its name and between the rivers Mahí and Sáharmatí. Briggs 169. |