Note 155 — The Thirteenth New Year’s Feast

On Thursday, the 13th, I made a halt. ʿAbdu-l-ʿAzīz K., having come from Bangas͟h, had the good fortune to kiss the threshold. Ikrām K., who was in charge of the faujdāri of Fatḥpūr and the neighbourhood, was honoured with waiting on me. K͟hwāja Ibrāhīm K., Bak͟hs͟hī of the Deccan, was exalted with the title of ʿAqīdat K. Mīr Ḥājj, who is one of the auxiliaries attached to that Subah, and one of the brave young officers, was promoted to the title of S͟harza (tiger-whelp) K., and received a standard. On Friday, the 14th, I marched 5¼ koss. On Saturday, the 15th, having marched 3 koss, I halted in the neighbourhood of Bayānā.155 There I hastened with the ladies to see the spectacle of the top of the fort. Muḥammad, the Bak͟hs͟hī of Humāyūn, who was entrusted with the charge of the fort, had built a fine house overlooking the plain, of great height and with fine air. The tomb of S͟haik͟h Bahlūl is also in that neighbourhood, and is not wanting in excellence. The S͟haik͟h was the elder brother of S͟haik͟h Muḥammad G͟haus̤, and was much versed in the science of incantations by names (of God). Humāyūn had great affection for him, and the most perfect reliance on him. When he conquered the province of Bengal, he took up his abode there for some time. Mīrzā Hindāl, by his order, had remained156 at Agra. A body of avaricious servants (qulluq-chiyān), whose character was mischievous and seditious, taking to the way of faithlessness, came from Bengal to the Mīrzā, and, working upon his base nature (shaking the chain of his vile heart), led the Mīrzā on the road of rebellion and ingratitude for favours, and of irrecognition of duty. The thoughtless Mīrzā had the k͟hut̤ba recited in his own name (proclaimed himself king), and openly raised the standard of rebellion and strife. When the royal ear heard what had taken place from the reports of those who were loyal, he sent S͟haik͟h Bahlūl to admonish the Mīrzā, and to turn him back from his vain purpose, and to establish his feet on the highroad of sincerity and concord. As these wretches had made the flavour of royalty sweet to the Mīrzā’s palate, he became imbued with futile ideas, and would not be loyal. At the instigation of these seditious people he made S͟haik͟h Bahlūl a martyr with the sword of recklessness at the Chārbāg͟h (garden) which H.M. Bābar had made on the bank of the Jumna. As Muḥammad Bak͟hs͟hī was a disciple of the S͟haik͟h, he carried the body into the fort of Bayānā, and buried it there.