1 JAHANGIR. 161
2 revolt against Jahdngir. The emperor on this marched against him from
3 Léhore. On the approach of the emperor, Shah Jahdn retired to the hills
4 of Mewat, and from thence to Talingana. He then repaired to Rdjmahal,
5 engaged the governor, and, defeating him in a pitched battle, took possession of
6 Bengal and Behar. He was, however, followed by the imperial commanders,
7 aud, having been deserted by his own troops, surrendered his last strong-
8 holds and made submission to the king.
9 The empress now became jealous of Mohdbat Khan, the chief com-
10 mander of the army, and the ablest general in the emperor’s service, whose
11 success in the-field and growing influence at court gave her cause for appre-
12 hension. In obedience to the summons from the court, he set out for the
13 imperial camp, then on its way to Kabul, attended by a body-guard of five
14 thousand Rdjputs, on whose fidelity he could safely rely. Jahdugir was on
15 this occasion accompanied by an immense retinue of troops and servants, to
16 the number of thirty thousand. Before his arrival in the camp, Mohdbat
17 Khan had betrothed his daughter to a young nobleman, namely Barkhurdar,
18 without waiting for the emperor’s permission, which it was customary for a
19 person of his rank to obtain. Mohdbat Khan sent the bridegroom to the
20 emperor to make his excuses. As the young nobleman entered the royal
21 camp, he was forced to dismount from his elephant. He was disrobed
22 and compelled to clothe himself in dirty rags) He was then cruelly
23 stripped and beaten with thorns, in the presence of the court, and con-
24 ducted bare-headed and backwards. on a sorry jade, through the camp, amid
25 the shouts of the whole army. The whole of his dowry was seized and
26 his property sequestrated. When Mohdbat himself approached the royal
27 camp, he was refused admission. Incensed at this treatment, Mohdbat
28 broke one morning into the tent where the emperor lay asleep. His maj-
29 esty awoke to find himself a prisoner and cut off from his troops across the
30 bridge-of-boats on the Jhelum, which was guarded by the Rdjput soldiers
31 of his captor. Recognising Mohdbat Khan, he exclaimed, “ Traitor, what
32 means this?” Mohdbat knelt before his sovereign with due humility, de-
33 clared that he meant no treason, aud that, being afraid of his own life, he had
34 thrown himself at his majesty’s fect. He then begged the emperor to
35 mount an elephant, that the people might see that he was safe. The em-
36 peror saw the necessity of complying with his request, and was conveyed to
37 the tents of his general, surrounded by a guard of Rajput soldiers. One of
38 Jahdngir’s personal attendants was allowed to mount with his master, and
39 a servant, with a bottle and goblet, so essential to Jahdngir’s existence, was
40 allowed to accompany him:
41 Nur Jahdn made a desperate attempt to recover her lord. The bridge-
42 of-boats on the Jhelum had been burnt by the R4jputs. She was therefore
43 compelled to cross the stream by a ford which was discovered lower down
44 the river. The ford was full of dangerous pools, aud her advance was
45 opposed by the Rajput troops. Nur Jahdn, on her elephant, was the
46 first to cross, and exposed herself in the thickest of the conflict. Her
47 elephant was surrounded by the valiant Rdéjputs, who showered their balls
48 and arrows round her howdah. The empress emptied four quivers of arrows
49 with her own hand. The infant daughter of Shahir Ydr in her lap received
50 a wound from an arrow, which was with difficulty extracted by the empress,
51 whose elephant, having received a wound on the trunk, was carried down
52 by the stream. After making several plunges into deep water, it succeeded
53 in reaching the shore. Nur Jahdn’s women came lamenting and shrieking
54 as they saw_her howdah stained, with blood and herself the mark for numer-
55 He suhwits to the
56 cniperor.
57 Breach between the
58 emperor aud Mohay ts
59 Chan.
60 Brutal treatment of
61 his sun-in-law by the
62 emperor,
63 t
64 Mohabat seizes on
65 the emperor's persoa,
66 1626.
67 Nur Jahan attacks
68 Mohabat’s camp.
69 Her spirited conduct.
70 ous arrows| SAQUEAPAGLIRGRbAEIQIaNKtrated into NemAhatbHeread® gmail.com