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296
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1886.
absence from the city in the Kartah garden, self in the lair of a wild beast to escape from removed the planking of the bridge, and pre- the extortions of Kamrân, and had remained pared for hostilities. On this the Wazir Yar there, till by the decree of fate, his presence Muhammad Khan entered the city with nume- was revealed by means of a fox, He had to rous troops, and first sent Najů Khân Barukzâi pay a fine of fifty thousand rupees ! to negotiate with Kâmrân, but he remained The cow escaped the butcher's grasp ! obstinate, and was therefore beleaguered in the To deserta fled, unseen by human eyes; fort of Ikhtiaru'ddin, the eastern tower of A lion broke her with a blow. which was undermined and blown into the air, Thus fate crowns each escape from death! nfter a siege of fifty days. This event greatly | By such wicked acts as these he estranged disheartened Kamran, whose sons the Wazir from himself his subjects and his troops; nay, had also by this time got into his possession as his profligacy was the capse of the extinction of hostages, so that he surrendered and was sent to the Saddozâi dynasty, which had lasted ninetyKûsân under the pretence of being presented six years, for "Verily Allah will not change with the place in jagir. At the instigation of His grace which is in men, until they change the Wazir, he was followed there by Sardar Tåj the disposition in their souls."as Muhammad Dasta'lküzi, who despatched him in. After him Yar Muhammad continued to the same year to the regions of non-existence. govern Hirât for eleven years, and his son His body is interred in the Raura Bagh. Said Muhammad Khân was Hâkim of Hirat
His reign lasted twelve years. He is said to for four years more, until by the machinations have been of short stature with a pock-marked of 'Isa Khân Bardaránt and other Amirs, the face, of cruel temper and tyrannical humour." Shahzâdah Muhammad Yûsaf was raised to the Many instances of his injustice are on record, but governorship of Hiråt. He slew S'aid" we shall content ourselves with the mention of Muhammad Khan in the Hijrî years 1271. only two or three of them. One is that, whilst 1 The detailed, narrative of the events last HAkim of Qandahår, he got up in the middle mentioned is as follows:-When the Wazir of the night, mounted his horse, and taking up conducted the government of Hirat after the a position in the Shikárpúr bázár, turned the murder of the Shahzâdah KÂmrân, he invited people who were conveying a bride to her most of the Alakzâi Amirs from Qandahår, and husband's house, to his own mansion; and conferred high appointments upon them to such then, after dishonouring her, sent her on a degree, that shepherds and farmers were Wherefore all the people cried to heaven for made Baglarbêgis and Qularaqasis. In the vengeance against him, and the locality bears following year he marched with a strong army to this day the name of Kafir Dehnah. Kamran to panish the inhabitants of Ghûr, and having spent most of his time in hunting antelopes, but devastated the districts as far as Kurzutizli, chased also any other game when he roamed which is on the frontiers of Zamîndâwar, he about the deserts. One day his runners had returned to Hirât. The year afterwards he pursued a fox to a cave, but instead of reduced Karimdâd Khân Hazarah, who had entering it, the fox preferred to surrender and desired to be independent; but again appointed and be captured. Kamrån, in order to him Hakim, after he had paid the revenues ascertain the cause of this, had the mouth of which were due. As soon as the winter was over the cave enlarged by his people, who succeeded he marched with a powerful army to subjugate after digging for an hour, in palling out & Maimanah, but had to return to Hirât on man, who stated that he had taken refuge in account of some dissensions. But in the next the cave from fear of the sawars of Kimrân. year he sent Hashim Khân Alakzai Baglarbėgi The Padshah then kept the man in close with a strong force to subjugate Maimanah, and confinement, and it was discovered that he was to uproot the power of Hikmat Khan, who * wealthy merchant, who had concealed him. was captured, but nevertheless reappointed
* In the character and person of ShAh Kamran there was little that was estimable or attractive ; there was still less in the person of his Wazir. Kaye, Vol. I. p. 208.
15 Qurdn, ch. xiii. v. 12.
** This name is afterwards spelled Sayyid, but I retain the first spelling throughout.
^ Began 24th September 1554.
