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82
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THE KOH-I-NUR.
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"
Sultan Sekandar had made Agra his residence during several years while
he was endeavoring to reduce Gvvalior. That stronghold was at length
gained by capitulation in the reign of Ibrahim : Shemsabad being given
in exchange to Bikermajet the Hindoo who was Rajah' of Gwalior for more
than a hundred years.* In the battle of Paniput he was sent to Hell.
[Incisive Mohammedan expression which signifies the death of an
unbeliever.] When Humayun arrived (at Agra) Bikermajet's people
attempted to escape, but were taken by the parties which Humayun had
placed upon the watch and put in custody. Humayun did not permit them
to be plundered. Of their own free will they presented to Humayun a pesh kesh (tribute) consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones. Among these was one famous diamond which had been acquired by the Sultan Ala-ed-din."
We
may reasonably doubt how much of free will there was in the gift from a
defeated Hindoo prince to his Afghan conqueror. Let us question this as
we may, there is little doubt as to what diamond it was, although Baber
gives it no name. The Sultan Ala-ed-din, to whom the imperial
memoir-writer here refers, flourished a couple of centuries previously,
and it is gener-
* Baber's meaning is obscure; probably he should have said " wfwse family were rajahs, etc."
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