APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
An Abstract of the History of the Fortress of Gwalior, from the Gwalior
Namah of °Heraman Ibn Kardhar Das the Munshi.
As this fortress* is one of the greatest curiosities in Hindustan, I may perhaps be
excused in giving some extracts from a book entitled the ^Gwalior Namah respecting its
history and governors.
The hill, it is said, was originally called ^Kumatat, and that its neighbourhood
abounded in wild beasts. Upon the hill a devotee named ’^GawalT Pa made his resi-
dence, just thirty-two years before the reign of Bikramajlt. Some time after this a
Zemindar named Suraj Sin, happening to come to this place while engaged in the chase,
applied to the devotee for water to drink, which was granted. Upon this and some
other occasions, the powers of these waters turned out to be so wonderfully beneficial,
that the Zemindar requested to be permitted to enlarge the well, and to build a fortress on
the hill, which was also granted. The Darvesh, after blessing the Zemindar, and giving
him a casket, which had the supernatural property of supplying him with gold, gave him
the name of Suraj Pal, adding, that as long as his descendants retained the name of
Pal, so long would they hold this fortress, and succeed in reducing their neighbours to
* For some good views of this fortress, see Colonel Fitzclarence’s Journey overland from
India ; and Bernier’s Voyage to Hindustan, in Pinkerton’s Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol.
viii. p. 64.
S 2
132
FORT OF GWALIOR.
their obedience. The consequence of which was, this Zemindar and his posterity became
the proprietors of all the neighbouring country : and, after him, the well ^ Suraj Kund
received its name.
After this King, eighty-four of his posterity reigned in the fortress of Gwalior ; the
fourth of whom, ‘ Bhlm Pal, built the pagoda called *BhIm Absar : the seventh
“ Bhuj Pal built, the pagoda called ^ Chatar Bhuj Rae at the top of the fortress : the
eighth, ^Padam Pal, built the pagoda of " LachhmT Narayan : the ninth, “Anang Pal,
skilled, as it should seem, in the chemical art, struck golden ashrafsof five tola in weight.
Nothing remarkable is recorded of the rest until we come to the last, who received the
name of “ Y ataj Karan, and who, conformable with the prophecy of the Hindu sage, lost
the government of the fort, together with that of the adjacent countries. The account of
this event is shortly this.
A neighbouring Raja, named Rhan Mai, had no son, and only one daughter ; this prince
therefore of the Pal family offered himself as her suitor, and was accepted. Before he
could return to Gwalior, he was adopted son and successor to the Raja Rhan Mai ; and,
as this Raja’s dominions were greater than his own, he was easily persuaded by his Vice-
roy, Ram Deo, whom he had left at Gwalior, to make over the government of the coun-
try and fortress to him.
Seven of Ram Deo’s successors 'held the fortress accordingly, until the time of the Sul-
tan Shams OddTn, who was originally a slave of Turkish extraction, belonging to the
Sultan Kotb OddTn Aipak. This king, when returning from an expedition to the Deccan,
saw, for the first time, this singularly strong fortress ; and, upon finding that none of its
governors had paid tribute to the Emperors of Dehli, swore upon the Koran that he
would subdue it ; which he soon after accomplished.
Upon this occasion, which happened A.H. 630, A.D. 1232, a mosque was erected in
the fort, and prayers offered up in the name of the Sultan. Some time after, the Sultan
surveying the place, found that it contained only two wells of water, and that the 'part at
which he had entered was rather weak ; he ordered a wall, therefore, to be built, joining it
to the hill ; and in the area he made eight wells, and nine badries ; all of which are still in
being. One of these wells is very famous for its waters, which are carried to a great
distance, and are found very useful to invalids.
After the Sultan had made all his arrangements he returned to Dehli, leaving the for-
tress in the hands of one “Bahadur Khan. From this time to that of the Sultan Ala
OddTn, no officer had been sent from Dehli to Gwalior ; some time after his accession,
however, it was given to two Rajputs of the *purgunna of DandarulT, as a reward for
faithful service. These men, however, being much envied by their neighbours, the Raj -
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FORT OF GWALIOR.
133
puts of Tunur, were at length invited to a feast, a,t a little distance from the fortress, and
killed by treacheiy. The fortress then fell into their hands ; and eight persons of that
tribe held it in succession. Several wells, pagodas, and bowers, were made by this race ;
the last of whom was Bikramajlt. The fortress then reverted to the Moslems.
From this time to the reign of Ibrahim, grandson of the Sultan Bhalul Ladl, the
fortress was held by Bikramajlt, upon paying tribute to the kings of Dehli. Ibrahim,
however, forced the power, not without considerable loss, out of the hands of Bikramajlt,
who being sent to the presence a prisoner, received the jagir of Shams Abad .j the govern-
ment of the fortress then fell into the hands of Aazam Humayun, Ibrahim’s general.
Some time after this, Ibrahim suspecting the fidelity of his nobles, and thinking it par-
ticularly dangerous to retain Aazam Humayun, who had a large and powerful circle of
friends, had him suddenly put to death; upon which Selim Khan, son of the murdered
general, rebelled, and betook himself to the east of Hindustan ; but was taken and put
to death by Darya Khan, who had been appointed Governor of the province of Bahar.
Soon after, the LudI family fled to the Panj Ab, and presented themselves and their
services to 'Zahir Oddin Mohammed Baber, in Kabul ; here they represented the per-
turbed state of Hindustan, and formed a treaty with him, which ended in its final subju-
gation ; for soon after a battle took place, in which Ibrahim was slain, with Bikramajlt
fighting at his side. Khaja Rahim Dad, one of Baber’s servants, was now appointed to
the government of Gwalior, but in a little time got out of favour; when a Rajput named
Dahar Mankad, a Zemindar of that quarter, became Governor of the fortress.
Upon this occasion, -^Sheikh Mohammed Ghauth, a man of considerable influence,
represented to the king the gi'eat impropriety of an infidel’s holding this fortress, under a
sovereign who professed the true faith ; and Khaja Rahim Dad was restored to the
government ; which he held but a short time, and was succeeded by ^Abul Fafih, who held
it till the death of Baber.
When Mohammed Humayun succeeded to the throne, he took up his residence for
some time in the fortress of Gwalior ; and at that time built the ^Humayun temple, a
place commanding an extensive prospect, and enjoying the most wholesome air. He
then returned to his capital.
When * Shir Shah came to the throne, he took up his residence for some time at
Gwalior, and then built the ^Shlr temple, and also constructed a large tank in its
area.
After the death of Shir Shah, which happened at this place, his son ^Jalal Khan,
succeeded to the throne, and took the name of ™ Islam Shah. He also took up his
residence in this fortress, and in it he died.
During the next reign, which was. short and troublous, the possession of the fori; of
134
FORT OF GWALIOR.
Gwalior remained in the hands of "Bahbal, a slave of Shir Shtih, who held it until
Akbar came to the throne.
The Rajputs, however, desirous of regaining their ancient ascendancy in these parts,
with Ram Sah, a son of Bikramajit, assembled a large force and attacked the fortress.
Upon this occasion, " Kaya Khan, one of Akbar’s generals, was despatched to relieve
and take possession of it. When Kaya arrived at Gwalior, he was met by the
forces of ^'Ram Sah, and an obstinate battle of three days’ continuance ensued, but which
ended in favour of Akbar’s troops. After this Bahbal remained to be subdued, and the
fort to be taken, which after a short siege was completed. The seiwants of Akbar held
the fortress after this for fifty years.
AVhen Jahangir came to the throne, the government of Gwalior was put into the hands
of his sei-vants, who seem to have advised him to destroy the building termed the Skir
Mandar, to erect another in its place, and to name it the Jahangir Mandar, which is
said to be very beautiful.
When Shah Jahan succeeded to the empire, the government of Gwalior fell to the
lot of one of his greatest favourites and bravest generals, Muzaffir Khan, who, on this
occasion, received the title of Wala Khani Jahan • and in his hands it remained during a
space of nineteen years.
This Governor was a great encourager of good and learned men, and very remarkable
for his justice and liberality to all. He is said to have had an elephant so powerful and
courageous, that he would destroy whole ranks of the enemy at once ; which he did so
effectually upon a battle happening with the house of Ludl, that he was the principal
cause of the victory, and for which the Governor obtained the title of Khani Jahan.
On this and other accounts he had a statue of this elephant carved in stone, and set up
at the north gate of the fort. Near the same spot he erected and peopled a village ; and
this he called, after his former name, Muzaffir Pur. In the vicinity of this he planted
a garden, and here he made two wells, and erected some seats for the accommodation of
the inhabitants. A few trees of this garden still remain.
Besides this, be built a lofty mansion for himself, containing some large rooms of state,
with other apartments : in the court of which he made a deep tank, and in the front
of this court four gardens. In this mansion the Governors of the fort still reside.
It is also said, that during this man’s government, his son Mansur planted a garden on
the banks of the river ’Sun RTgh, which he called after his own name, and which still
is used as a promenade for the town ; he built too four walls of stone, in the middle
of which seats were constructed. He also built and peopled the village Mansur Pur,
which he called after his own name ; and this still remains.
After the expiration of nineteen years, Khani Jahan took a journey to Lahore, and
tliere died. Upon this occasion Sayyad Salar Khan, who had been his confidential
sei-vant, asked for, and obtained the government of the fort of Gwalior. He then resided
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FORT OF GWALIOR.
135
in it for two years : after this his brother governed the fort, and he himself was appointed
to the government of the provinces. This brother, named Sayyad Aalam, held the fort for
five years, during which time he made and beautified a garden near the Sarai of ® Meher
Ali ; and in the ground known by the name of KIsu Pur, he built and peopled the village
Shah Kunj. It is said, that at that time the foundations of the gates of the fort, called
“^Badal Kadda and “Hiata PUil, had become much decayed, and that he repaired them,
covering the gates with iron, and so firmly nailing them, that the rush of an elephant
would not make the least impression on them.
Soon after this, he was put out of office for some crime which had better not be men-
tioned (as our author tells us), and was succeeded by ^Loharhasp Khan, son of Muhabat
Khan, who appointed ^ Karshasp Khan his lieutenant ; but after two years took up his
residence himself in the fortress. He is said to have been a brave and liberal man, chari-
table to the poor, and most anxious for information, both from travellers and others. He
erected a court of justice without the gate called Badal Kaddah, and close to the northern
wall of the fort, in which, on certain days, he administered justice to the people. . The
kettle-drum of royalty, which formerly was placed at the gate termed Haita Pul, he
removed to the east of the fort, and nearer to the city, where it still remains. He com-
menced the removal of the ^ Shah Kunj- to the east of the fort, but left the work un-
finished. He also erected a lofty state-room in the “ArwahT, and made two wells of
exceeding good water in its court-yard. After the space of six years, however, he was sent
on an expedition into the Deccan, from which he returned with success. He then pre-
sented himself before the Emperor m Dehli, who appointed him to the government of
the Subah of Kabul. Upon this occasion, his lieutenant at Gwalior was a person named
Akhairaj, an officer in whom he placed great confidence. This happened A. H. 1067 ;
A.D. 1656.
During the sickness of the reigning king, which happened at this time, and the troubles
which arose on account of the rebellion of Darah ShikSh and his brothers, we hear
scarcely any thing of the fortress of Gwalior ; because, perhaps, it happened to lie almost
entirely out of the scene of action ; it remained, however, for some time in the hands of
Akhairaj ; but as he had the imprudence to close it on one occasion against the royal
standard, it was at length given to * Obaid Allah Khan ; and soon after this, several of
the rebels falling into the king’s power, were put into confinement in the fortress, and
there kept.
In the next year, i. e. A. H. 1068, A. D. 1657, Darah Shikoh was carried prisoner to
Dehli, and there lost his life; and upon this, his son, ^Sipehar Shikoh, with several of
his friends, were all placed in the fortress of Gwalior, in the custody of Obaid Allah
Khan. The fort was now closely guarded, and no stranger permitted to enter it
136
FORT OF GWALIOR.
About this time a great scarcity took place, probably in consequence of the preceding
wars, when Obaid Allah Khan made a provision, for the first time, for the pious, for
travellers, and the poor ; this was given in the court-house built by the fonner Governor,
where Mohammed, a Sherif and Mansabdar, presided. Soon after, several other of the
rebels, namely, Mohammed Sultan, Soleiman Shikoh, and several nobles, their friends,
fell into the hands of the Emperor, and were consigned to the Governor of Gwahor, who
now was Muatamid Khan, Obaid Allah having been commanded to give up the foilxess
to him. Soleiman Shikoh, however, soon after died ; and Morad Bakhsh, one of the
nobles, was put to death by the law of retaliation. The graves of both are on the top of
the fort.
The first two years of the government of Muatamid Khan in the fortress of Gwalior,
were marked with the utmost liberality and regard to public good ; particularly so, as a
great scarcity prevailed during this time. He also erected a lofty hall for the transaction
of public business, adjoining the Shah Jahan Mandar, as also a bath which was a great
public convenience. A wall too, which had long ago been commenced, stretching out before
the gate termed Badal Kadda, and which had been intended to obstruct a ready egress
from the fort, was completed by him ; to which he added another, somewhat higher than
the gateway, and joining the walls of the castle. A sixth gateway, leading from the fort
to the plain, was also constructed by him ; and this received the name Aalamglr. Upon
both angles of the wall he likewise erected a lofty tower, and over the gates of each of
these, a ^ChhaterT. On the left side of the gate Badal Kadda, a large hall of justice
was also built, in which the business of state was ever after to be transacted ; from all of
which, the appearance and strength of the fort were greatly augmented. The inscription
then written on the AalamgTrT gate, was this :
L"^b ^
In the happy times of Aalamglr,
From whose bounty time was blest,
Muatamid Khan from his lofty mind.
Opened a door of prosperity upon the face of the fortress.
Hatif said, on the year of its date,
“ Let the place long remain the residence of plenty.”
The sum of the letters, according to the Abjad, found in the last line of these verses
will ajve the date of the Hejira in which this event took place, which is A.H. 1071,
A.D. 1660.
The Mandui, looking towards the city eastward, and commenced by Muhabat Khan,
was completed by this Governor, and called Awrang Kunj Abad. He also constructed
FORT OF GWALIOR.
137
the shops which run in both directions, and in which the business of the city and naarkets
is carried on. Over this place he constructed a high wall which joins the fort, and which
received the name of ®“The fort, the asylum of the city.” Encompassing this is the
•^Nuri Kunj Abad, also erected by him for the reception and support of the pious. He
also repaired, and very much strengthened, the court of the Kachharl : and, as the inhabi-
tants of this part were very much in want of water, he obtained leave from the court to
construct three stone cisterns, with seats, gates, and whatever else was necessary to pro-
mote the convenience and pleasure of the people : all of which he completed ; and the
following is the inscription which was placed over one of the gates at this time.
^
During the reign of the great prince Aalamgir,
From whose justice the world is peopled,
Muatamid Khan erected a strong building,
From the water of which the sick are healed.
By wisdom, says Hatif, I sought the year of its erection ;
It is a fountain of light, (i. e. the sum of the letters in the four last words,
which is, A.H. 1073 — A.D. 1662.)
The tank, which stood in the way to the fort, and was situated near the Bhairun Pul,
gro-wing old, was by the heavy rains which fell about this time utterly destroyed ; and the
stones of which it had bfeen built were carried to some distance. This Governor thoroughly
repaired it j and the idol-temple standing near it, which had originally belonged to GawalT
Pa, and was now much frequented by the Hindoos, he converted into a mosque for the use
of strangers and travellers. The following is the inscription which was then fixed upon it :
^ Li) W ,
L V tij
Li).??" jy
In the reign of the great prince Aalamgir,
Like the full shining moon, the enlightener of the world.
Praise to God, that this happy place,
, j\jT ^
T
. jUj
138
FORT OF GWALIOR.
Was by Muatamid Khan completed, as an alms.
It was the idol-temple of the vile Gawall.
He made it a mosque like a mansion of Paradise.
The Khan of enlightened heart, nay light (itself) from head to foot.
Displayed the divine light like that of mid-day.
He closed the idol-temple :
Exclamations (of surprise), rose from earth to heaven.
When the light put far away the abode of darkness,
Hatif said, let the light be a blessing.
N.B. The sum of the letters composing the three last words, counted according to the Abjad,
(see Sir William Jones’s Persian Grammar, p. 14, edit. 9), amounts to 1075, and this gives the year
of the Hejira in which this took place — A.D. 1664.
He also repaired and deepened a tank in the grounds called the Khabutar Khana, or
Pigeon-house ; and to this he gave the name of Nuri Sakir. Another tank, too, situated
on the top of the fort, and near the Shah Jahan Mandar, which had grown so much out
of repair as to lose its water, notwithstanding its having been cut out of the solid rock, he
thoroughly repaired, and enclosed with a wall firmly built with brick and mortar, so that
not a drop of its water was lost. To each of these last a copy of verses was attached,
giving the date of the repairs, and the name of the Khan ; which I do not think it worth
while to copy out and translate.
The same Governor, it is said, so adorned and planted the ^ArwahT, which appeared
like a girdle about the mount, that it presented fountains, tanks, a ‘ chabuterah, grapes,
melons, and other fruits ; such, that many of the fruits were, on account of their superla-
tive excellence, frequently sent to the Presence at Dehli. The melons were occasionally
so large, that some of them exceeded fourteen of the ser of Shah Jahan Abad, in weight.
Besides this, a mosque was erected in the * Chok Bazar, with three immensely high
towers and some minarets, having also a tank of water with other fountains always
filled with water, and surrounded with seats for the convenience of ablution. Before this
is an area with a very high gate, on the top of which is a ^ Bankla, and on both sides two
beautifully constructed halls. Another tank was also made, and named after his son,
^ Jamali Sarur, which was surrounded by stone walls, and provided with seats.
In the year 1078 of the Hejira, A. D. 1667, an order came from the court, command-
ing Muatamid Khan to give up the fort, together with the prisoners it contained, which
were then three, to Khidmatgar Khan, and to proceed to the Presence, in order to receive
the government of Akberabad. With this the Khan complied, and proceeded to Shah
Jahan Abad, where he was loaded with favours, and dismissed to his station. And, as
the writer of this history, Heraman Ibn Kardhar Das, the Munshl, was a servant of
Muatamid Khan, his account of Gwalior closes with the removal of his master from
that place.
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HINDUSTAN.
139