The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  Gaolangi was obliged to decorate himself with weapons, and mounted his bull to do combat. Presenting himself before the prince, he again expressed his reluctance to fight him. Badiuz Zaman, however, could not be persuaded as he thought nothing of Gaolangi’s might. At last, Gaolangi dealt the first blow with his mace. Badiuz Zaman withstood it and gave Gaolangi two strikes. After Gaolangi had dealt the prince more blows and Badiuz Zaman had withstood them all, Gaolangi praised him highly and said, “His claim to fight me as an equal was justified.”

  Badiuz Zaman swung his mace and dealt such a mighty blow that Gaolangi’s bull was killed from its impact and sweat broke out from every pore on Gaolangi’s body. Badiuz Zaman dismounted and fought on foot with Gaolangi with maces, swords, and the lance until evening.

  In the meantime, Amir Hamza received tidings that Marzaban had caught Sa’ad by deceit and that Badiuz Zaman had followed him to Rakham in search of him. Amir said to Amar, “Until I have finished my campaign against Ahriman Sher-Gardaan, I will not leave this place. However, I wish you to go with utmost haste to gather news of my sons and companions.” Amar Ayyar set out like the wind and arrived in Rakham before long. There he witnessed Badiuz Zaman fighting with Gaolangi.

  When he saw Amar’s face, Gaolangi stopped the combat and tried to address Amar. But Amar jocularly said to him, “By the grace of God, you are too short, which is the reason I cannot hear you well. If I could sit on your shoulder, I would be able to entertain you with my words.” Amar leapt up and sat atop Gaolangi’s shoulder and said, “I have long received news of your valor but I am astonished that you deem it proper to fight Amir’s sons during his absence and martyr his champions.” Then Gaolangi gave him all the details.

  Amar persuaded Badiuz Zaman to leave the arena, and then himself went with Gaolangi to his fortress. He kept Amar as his guest for the night and said to him, “I wish to see your ayyari, for people have praised your talents to me in glowing terms.” Gaolangi sent for food and after sharing the meat and drink, Gaolangi said to Amar, “You have many great qualities, but one blemish. You shave your beard.” Amar replied, “You would do well to pay me seven hundred dirhams as the tribute for your own beard or else your beard will not remain on your good face for long!” Gaolangi said, “I will consider you a man only if you are able to shave my beard.” Amar replied, “Very well, I shall do so this very night!”

  Gaolangi gave leave to the nobles to retire and sat alone on the throne drinking wine, so that he might pass the night in a state of wakefulness and not be tricked by Amar.

  Amar saw Gaolangi sitting by himself drinking wine, and approached him in disguise and put a few mithcals of a drug in the king’s wine flagon with great cunning. Gaolangi had consumed a few cups when he suddenly fell unconscious from the throne. Amar quickly shaved one side of his face. Then he restored Gaolangi to consciousness, made him a respectful bow from afar, and asked him to look into the mirror. When Gaolangi did so, he saw half his face shaved and was deeply mortified. He praised Amar and said, “Indeed you are the Prince of the Ayyars of the World. Verily you are an ayyar without equal. But now you must find some way to restore my beard to my face as before or else I will suffer great humiliation before my nobles.” Amar shaved off the remainder of Gaolangi’s beard and took out a false beard from his zambil and put it on Gaolangi’s face and said, “This beard will stay on until you wash your face with warm water, and none will ever know it is false.”

  When Gaolangi looked in the mirror, he saw that his beard was as before. In the morning Gaolangi put seven hundred tomans inside a robe of honor and conferred them on Amar and then gave him leave to depart. Amar went to Badiuz Zaman and instructed him not to fight Gaolangi until Amir’s return. Then Amar headed back to Amir Hamza.

  After several days’ journey Amar reached Amir’s camp and gave him a detailed account. Amir was grieved to hear of the fate of Sar-Barahna Tapishi and Dewana Tapishi. The next morning Ahriman Sher-Gardaan struck the drums of war and went into the arena. Amir formed battle arrays and confronted him. Ahriman landed a mace blow on Amir, but he withstood it and said, “Deal me two more strikes!” After he had landed his third blow, Amir killed Ahriman’s steed with the very first blow he dealt. Then Amir dismounted Ashqar and faced his foe. They fought until evening when both armies returned to their camps. In this manner they fought for three days. On the fourth day Amir made his war cry and lifted Ahriman above his head. He spun him around over his head and slammed him on the ground. Then he called to Amar, “Tie him up!” While Amar took Ahriman from the battlefield, Amir drew his sword and attacked the enemy ranks. Those who sought quarter found reprieve and a new lease on life, and the rest were cut down by his relentless sword.

  Amir’s companions said to Amar, “Amir would never kill Ahriman. You should kill him to avenge Rustam’s blood.” Amar immediately poured molten lead into Ahriman’s ears, and dealt with him thus. That blackguard was dispatched to Hell, and all felt relief at his death. When Amir returned and said to Amar, “Send for Ahriman and produce him before me,” Amar answered, “He was made to pay for Rustam’s blood with his life.” Upon hearing those words, Amir fell silent.

  The next day Amir Hamza said, “Dig a tunnel and blow up all the cannibals hiding in the fortress.” A tunnel was dug and filled with gunpowder,19 and Amar blew up the fort. Amir then marched out with his camp and arrived at Rakham within a few days.

  Upon hearing of Amir Hamza’s arrival, Gaolangi dressed Sa’ad in a robe of honor and sent him to Amir bearing gifts, and he also sent riches and provisions for Amir’s companions. Amir embraced Sa’ad and was greatly pleased to hear of the many kindnesses and favors Gaolangi had shown him.

  In the morning Gaolangi struck the drums of war and entered the arena, where he arranged his troops. Amir decorated himself with his arms and went into the arena as well. Observing Amir’s height and size, Gaolangi took him for a common warrior and said, “O warrior, I wish to fight Hamza, not you. Go back and send me Hamza.” Amir answered, “I am Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib.” Gaolangi said, “O Amir, I thought that you would be as tall and mighty as myself. How did you lay low the tall and mighty devs of Qaf?” Amir answered, “I may be weak of body but my Lord is all-powerful. Come forward and strike your blow now.” Gaolangi delivered three blows to Amir in succession, which caused sweat to break out of every pore of Amir’s body, but he held his ground manfully. Gaolangi marveled greatly at Amir’s might.

  Amir landed his eleven-hundred-maund mace on Gaolangi, the impact of which killed Gaolangi’s bull and rattled the king’s nerves. Gaolangi tried to hamstring Ashqar, but Amir quickly dismounted and faced his adversary. Gaolangi struck him two blows of his sword, which cut through four inches of Amir’s shield but also broke Gaolangi’s weapon, as his sword broke at the hilt. Gaolangi threw away the hilt and secured hold of Amir’s cummerbund. Amir took hold of Gaolangi’s belt and the two tested their strength in this way until evening. Then Gaolangi said, “O Amir, the night is made for resting. Relax yourself and give me leave to go. What shall come to pass in the morning will come to pass.” Amir replied, “I shall not turn back without a winner being decided in this fight.” Food was sent for the warriors from their respective kitchens, and they sat down to eat together. After they had had a few goblets of wine, torches were lit and they continued testing their strength.

  The narrator states that Amir and Gaolangi fought for twenty-one nights and days and remained at a stalemate. There was no strategem of war that they did not employ in their battle. Finally, on the twenty-second day, Amir Hamza said to Gaolangi, “We have exhausted all the maneuvers of our martial abilities. Now you should try to lift me from the ground, and I will try the same. The one who is lifted up must pay allegiance and submit to the other.” Gaolangi happily consented, and replied, “O Amir, I easily pull out great and tall trees from their roots. You certainly do not weigh more than those trees!” Amir replied, “We shall presently test your claim and see who is humiliated.”

 
Gaolangi exerted all his might and blood flowed from his fingers, nose, and ears. He grew near to fainting but was still unable to lift Amir up from the ground. Instead Amir sank up to his waist into the earth. Gaolangi said in a weakened voice, “O Amir, I have now completely exhausted all my strength.” Amir replied, “Be on your guard now, for I am about to make my war cry.” The king answered, “Cry all you wish! Make the surface of the earth tear open with your cries! I am not some little boy who will be frightened by it or feel any dread.” Amir then let out his cry of “God is great!” which shook the ground for a distance of sixteen kos. Amir lifted Gaolangi up, and after spinning him around above his head, put him lightly on the ground.

  Then Amir said to Amar, “Tie him up quickly, for he might find a chance to escape.” Gaolangi said, “O Amir, why do you wish to secure me with ropes when I am tied up now by devotion to you?” Amir said, “If that is the case, then convert to the True Faith.” Gaolangi sincerely recited the Act of Faith that very moment. Amir embraced him and told everyone the auspicious news of his conversion to the True Faith. Gaolangi took Amir, along with his sons and friends, to his own city, where they remained busy in celebrations for forty days.

  OF AMIR’S DEPARTURE FOR BAKHTAR, AND OF HIS KILLING KING KAKH BAKHTAR

  The narrator records that after the festivities were over, Amir asked Gaolangi, “Which other city lies beyond your own?” He answered, “It is the city of Bakhtar, which is ruled by King Kakh Bakhtar, a cannibal who is one hundred and sixty yards tall. Whenever he advances on my city, fear of him drives me to take refuge in the mountains with my sons. He is a magician himself and has sorcerers among his companions.” Amir answered, “I am the mortal foe of sorcerers, cannibals, and infidels, and was born to crush their vanity into dust. Until I have annihilated them, I will find no rest.” Gaolangi appointed his elder son, Rel Gaolangi, as his heir and accompanied Amir Hamza.

  They arrived within Bakhtar’s borders, and Amir wrote a missive to Kakh Bakhtar that read: “O Kakh Bakhtar, present yourself before me and convert to the True Faith and pay allegiance to me. Otherwise, I will kill you with impunity and visit such a terrible fate upon you that the birds of the air and the beasts of the ground will lament your fortune.”

  Amar Ayyar arrived at Kakh Bakhtar’s court with the letter. After reading just a few lines, Kakh Bakhtar’s face turned crimson with rage and he ordered that the messenger be arrested. Amar put on his cap of invisibility and before leaving the court, removed the crown from Kakh Bakhtar’s head by knocking it off.

  Kakh Bakhtar declared, “I shall exact retribution for that messenger’s actions on his master in the arena, and shall kill Hamza at once.”

  When it was morning and Kakh Bakhtar took his place in the arena after striking the drums of war and leading his army into battle, Amir armed himself and went into the battlefield as well. Kakh Bakhtar said to Amir, “O weakling, I did not challenge you. It is Hamza whom I seek.” Amir answered, “Hamza is my name.” The king said, “How did you conquer the world with that weak body? Is it because you are a sorcerer?” Amir answered, “I hold magic and sorcerers to be accursed. My God is all-powerful and mighty, who returns me triumphant and victorious from battle. Now deal me the blow you have!” Kakh Bakhtar swung his mace and struck Amir, who moved aside. The mace landed on the ground instead, causing a huge tract of land to sink upon impact and water to burst forth from the ground. Kakh Bakhtar landed a second blow, and Amir foiled that also. When he struck his mace a third time, Amir received it on his shield. When it was Amir’s turn to strike, he laid the king low with a thrust of his sword. Kakh Bakhtar rolled on the ground like a slaughtered beast and died. His army fell upon Amir, who plied his sword with both hands against them. When only a few of them remained standing, they ran off and took refuge in the castle. Following Amir’s orders, Amar blew up the castle by digging a tunnel underneath it and filling it up with gunpowder. All the cannibals became the fodder of the fires of doom.

  Thereafter, Amir headed for the city ruled by a giant named Ara’sh and arrived there in triumph from his campaign against Kakh Bakhtar. Ara’sh emerged from his fort upon hearing of Amir’s arrival. Amir saw that he was a massively built giant who was one hundred and eighty yards tall. He hurled his mace at Amir, but Amir jumped aside and the blow landed on the ground, creating a crater with its impact. As Ara’sh reached to pick up his mace and strike him a second time, Amir struck him with his sword. Amir had cut Ara’sh in two, and the giant forthwith gave up his life. Upon witnessing that incident, Ara’sh’s army took refuge in the fort and was rendered helpless and powerless. Amar blew up that fort as well with gunpowder after digging a tunnel underneath. Ara’sh’s lands and dominions were all destroyed, and the cannibals were all killed and found quarters in Hell.

  OF AMIR’S DEPARTURE FOR NESTAN, AND OF HIS KILLING KING SANG ANDAZ KHUNKHVAR NESTAN

  The transcriber has recorded that after routing Ara’sh, Amir asked Gaolangi, “What other city lies ahead?” He answered, “It is called the city of Nestan. The name of its ruler is Sang Andaz Khunkhvar Nestan. He is one hundred and ninety yards tall and his eyes glow like burning ovens. The passage that leads to his city is so narrow that two men cannot pass through it walking shoulder to shoulder. The path is surrounded by flames that emit heat so profusely that they make even mountains melt away like wax.”

  Amir paid no heed to his remarks and headed for Nestan. When he arrived there, his army was unable to bear the violence of the temperature and its incendiary power, and his men began dying from excessive heat. Amir took out the rope given him by the holy Khizr and threw it across the fiery passage. He asked his companions to advance holding its end and not let the least doubt enter their hearts. The narrator reports that nearly every man in Amir’s army was burnt alive. Only one champion riding a camel and three hundred soldiers were able to ford that river of fire by holding the rope’s end. The rest headed instead to the Land of Eternal Peace.

  After much toil and trouble, when Amir arrived at the city, Sang Andaz Khunkhvar Nestan came out of the city with his army and brought his entire force to do battle. Amir saw that each of his soldiers had a bag full of stones tied to his neck. When they saw Amir, they started hurling them at him. Many of the three hundred men who had accompanied Amir this far were now stoned to death. Amir felt helpless finding himself in that unenviable plight. He drew his sword and assaulted the enemy ranks like a lion attacks a herd of goats. Amir plied his sword with both hands and started beheading his foes. Such a large number of Khunkhvar’s warriors were killed that a veritable river of blood issued from the battlefield.

  In the end, Sang Andaz Khunkhvar Nestan came forward and dealt Amir a blow of his sword, which Amir parried. When the king reached for his mace, Amir leapt forward and dealt him a powerful blow of his sword, which severed both his legs at the thigh. The king’s stumps of legs fell to the ground. Then Amir dealt him a second blow of his sword and dispatched him to Hell. The king’s men who had shut themselves into the fortress were burned when it was torched.

  Amir now announced, “I once heard from Buzurjmehr that I would leave Zulmat20 with only seventy companions and would vanquish all my enemies. Now there are seventy-one men with me. It remains to be seen who is the one to die next and whose name will be erased from the register of the living.”

  Then Amir Hamza said to Gaolangi, “O friend, tell me which city comes next as we advance from here.” Gaolangi replied, “A few days’ journey from here lies the land of Ardabil, which is ruled by two brothers, Ardabil Peel-Dandan and Marzaban Peel-Dandan. Farther ahead lie the tilisms of Zardhasht Jadu, where you will find everything a marvel to behold.”

  Amir headed for Ardabil and arrived at his destination within a few days. Ardabil Peel-Dandan and Marzaban Peel-Dandan led out their armies to do battle with him. Amir armed himself and went into combat with them. Ardabil Peel-Dandan attacked Amir without loss of time and tried to mangle him with his teeth. Amir drew his sword and struck a blow that
sent Ardabil’s head flying from his neck like a harvested ear of corn.

  Seeing his brother dead, Marzaban Peel-Dandan rushed at Amir, who cooled his ardor with a single fatal blow and sent him to feed on the fires of Hell. After putting their army to the sword, Amir headed onward and arrived at the tilism created by the sorcerer Zardhasht. There Amir saw an enclosure without an entrance. It contained a dome from which emanated music and the sound of singing. Amir said to Gaolangi, “It seems that there are people within who sing and play this music that is so enticing and pleasant.” Gaolangi answered, “There is no question of a human presence here. These tilisms are known to ring with such sounds.” Amir said to him, “You are the tallest among us. Pray see what is going on inside and discover what is taking place.” As Gaolangi looked over the wall of the enclosure, he cried out and jumped over to the other side as if he were unable to hold himself back. When Landhoor went and looked, he burst into uncontrollable laughter and jumped over as well. The same thing happened to others. In the end, only Amir and Amar were left standing there. Amar said, “If you were to order me, I would cover my face with a cloth and look inside to see what it is that makes everyone jump in without self-control.” Amir replied, “Very well, but do so very carefully.” Amar said, “I reason there is some beautiful woman inside the enclosure whose sight made our friends forgetful of themselves from love. I do not have amorous inclinations to become lovesick and forget myself in desire.” Amar climbed the wall and, like his companions before him, burst into laughter and jumped over.