I had intended to pass the night in the fort, and the next day to return to camp. As the buildings inside the fort had been built after the fashion of the Hindus, and the rooms were without air and with little space, they did not please me, nor was I disposed to stay there. I saw a bath house, which one of the servants of Dastam [146] Khan had built near the wall of the fort. A little garden and a lodging (nishiman) which overlooks (mushrif) the open space is not wanting in space and air, and there is no better place in the whole fort. [147] Dastam K. was one of the Amirs of the late King (Akbar), and from his early years had been brought up in his service. His connection with him was confidential and intimate. H.M. had entrusted this fort to him from his exceeding confidence in him.
After completing my inspection of the fort and houses, I ordered that they should bring before me the criminals who were confined in the fort, so that I might look into the case of each of them and give an order in accordance with justice. In brief, with the exception of affairs of murder, and of any person through whose release disturbance or calamity might ensue in the country, I freed them all, and to each one in accordance with his circumstances gave his expenses and dresses [148] of honour. On the eve of Tuesday, the 4th, I returned to the royal abode after a watch and three gharis had passed. On Sunday (properly Wednesday), the 5th, having marched nearly 5 koss, I halted on Thursday, the 6th. On this day the Khan-khanan presented his offering of jewels, ornamented vessels, cloth, and an elephant. Of these I chose whatever pleased me, and returned the rest. What was accepted of his offering was of the value of Rs. 150,000. On Friday, the 7th, I marched 5 koss. I had before this captured a saras with a falcon, but until now I had never seen the hunting of a durna [149] (crane). As my son Shah-Jahan had great pleasure in durna hunting with the falcon (shahin), and his falcons were well grown, at his request I rode out early in the morning, and caught one durna myself, whilst the falcon my son had on his wrist caught another. Certainly, of all good hunting amusements, this is the best. I was exceedingly pleased with it. Although the saras is large, it is lazy and heavy on the wing. The chase of the durna has no resemblance to it. I praise the heart and courage of the falcon that can seize such strong-bodied animals, and with the strength of his talons can subdue them. Hasan K., the chief huntsman of my son, was honoured with an elephant, a horse, and a dress of honour, as a reward for this exhibition of sport, and his son also received a horse and a dress of honour. On Saturday, the 8th, having marched 4 1/4 koss, I halted on Sunday, the 9th. On this day the Khan-khanan, the Commander-in-Chief, having raised the head of dignity through the gift of a special dress of honour, a jewelled waist-sword, and a private elephant with trappings, was reappointed to Khandesh and the Deccan. The mansab of that pillar of the kingdom, original and increase, was fixed at 7,000 personal and horse. As he did not get on with Lashkar K., at his request I assigned to `Abid K. the duty of Diwan-i-buyutat, [150] and having given him the mansab of 1,000 personal and 400 horse, as well as a horse, an elephant, and a dress of honour, sent him to that Subah. On the same day Khan Dauran arrived from Kabul, and had the good fortune to pay his respects, and presented as nazr 1,000 muhars and Rs. 1,000, as well as an offering of a pearl rosary, fifty horses, ten Persian male and female camels, and some hawks, and china, [151] and porcelain (?), and other things. On Monday, the 10th, I marched 3 1/4 koss, and on Tuesday, the 11th, 5 3/4 koss. On this day the Khan Dauran arranged his men before me, and passed in review a thousand Mughal cavalry, most of whom had Turki horses, and some `Iraq and some Mujannas [152] horses. Though his troopers had been mostly dispersed, some going into the service of Mahabat K. and remaining in that Subah, whilst a number left him at Lahore and went into different parts of the dominion, yet he could show this body of well-mounted men. Certainly the Khan Dauran for valour and generalship is one of the unique of the ages, but alas! I found he had become a decrepit old man, and his sight was very weak. He has two intelligent young sons, who are not wanting in reasonableness, but it will certainly be a great and difficult thing for them to show themselves his equals. On this day I gave him and his sons dresses of honour and swords. On Sunday, the 12th, traversing 3 1/2 koss, I alighted on the bank of the tank of Mandu.