Khán to let Ghází Khán accompany him in the expedition. Whatever expostulations of this nature they employed, in order to dissuade 'Alim Khán from prosecuting his plan, were all ineffectual. He sent his son Shír Khán to confer with Daulat Khán and Ghází Khán, and the parties themselves afterwards met. Dilawar Khán, who had been in confinement very recently, and who had escaped from custody and come to Lahore only two or three months before, was likewise associated with them. Mahmúd Khán Khán-Jahán, to whom the custody of Lahore had been intrusted, was also pressed into their measures. In a word, it was in the end definitively arranged among them, that Daulat Khán, and Ghází Khán should take under their orders all the Begs who had been left in Hindustán, and should, at the same time themselves assume the government of all the adjacent territories; while Dilawar Khán and Hájí Khán were to accompany 'Alim Khán, and occupy the whole of the country about Dehlí and Agra, and in that neighbourhood. Ismail Jilwání, and a number of other amirs, waited on 'Alim Khán, and acknowledged him. He now proceeded towards Dehli without delay by forced marches. On reaching Indarí, Sulaimán Shaikh-záda came and likewise joined him. The numbers of the confederate army now amounted to 30,000 or 40,000 men. They laid siege to Dehlí, but were unable either to take the place by storm or to reduce it by famine.

Sultán Ibráhím, as soon as he heard that they had collected an army, and invaded his dominions, led his troops to oppose them. Having notice of his march as he approached, they raised the siege and advanced to meet him. The confederates concurred in opinion, that if the battle was fought in the daytime, the Afgháns, from regard to their reputation with their countrymen, would not flee; but that if the attack was made by night, the night is dark, and no one seeing another, each chief would shift for himself. Resolving, therefore, to attempt a night surprise,

1 That is, in the Panjab or near Lahore.

2 ["Alwani."-Jagh.]

they mounted to proceed against the enemy, who were six kos off. Twice did they mount their horses at noon, and continue mounted till the second or third watch of the night, without going either back or forward, not being able to come to a resolution, or agree among themselves. The third time they set out for their surprise, when only one watch of the night remained. Their plan was merely for the party to set fire to the tents and pavilions, and to attempt nothing further. They accordingly advanced and set fire to the tents during the last watch of the night, at the same time shouting the war-cry. Jalál Khán Jaghat, and several other amirs, came over and acknowledged ’Alim Khán. Sultán Ibráhím, attended by a body of men, composed of his own tribe and family, did not move from the royal pavilion, but continued steady in the same place till morning. By this time, the troops who accompanied 'Alim Khán were dispersed, being busy plundering and pillaging. Sultán Ibráhím's troops perceived that the enemy were not in great force, and immediately moved forward from the station which they had kept, though very few in number, and having only a single elephant; but no sooner had the elephant come up than 'Alim Khán's men took to flight, without attempting to keep their ground. In the course of his flight 'Alim Khán crossed over to the Doáb side of the river, and again recrossed it towards Panipat, on reaching which place he contrived by a stratagem to get three or four lacs from Mián Sulaimán, and went on his way. Ismá'il Jilwání, Bábin, and Jalál Khán, the eldest son of 'Alim Khán, separating from him, betook themselves to the Doáb. A small part of the army which 'Alim Khán had collected, such as Saifu-d dín, Daryá Khán, Mahmúd Khán Khán-Jahán, Shaikh Jamál Farmúli, and some others, deserted before the battle and joined Ibráhím. 'Alim Khán and Dilawar Khán, with Hájí Khán, after passing Sirhind,3 heard of my

1 £750 or £1000; but perhaps they were lacs of rupees.

2 Probably a rich shroff, or banker.

3 [Here spelt in the old way, "Síhrind."]

2

approach, and that I had taken Milwat; whereupon Dilawar Khán, who had always been attached to my interests, and had been detained three or four months in prison on my account, separated from the others, came on by way of Sultánpúr and Kochí, and waited upon me in the neighbourhood of Milwat, three or four days after the taking of that town. 'Alim Khán and Hájí Khán having passed the river Satlet, at length reached Kinkúta, the name of a strong castle in the hills between Dún and the plain, and threw themselves into it. One of my detachments, consisting of Afgháns and Hazáras, happening to come up, blockaded them, and had nearly succeeded in taking the castle, strong as it was, being only prevented by the approach of night. These noblemen then made an attempt to leave it, but some of their horses having fallen in the gateway, they could not get out. Some elephants that were along with them were pushed forward, and trampled upon and killed a number of the horses. Although unable to escape on horseback, they left the place during a dark night on foot, and after incredible sufferings, joined Ghází Khán, who, in the course of his flight, finding that he could not get refuge in Milwat, had directed his course towards the hills, where they met. Ghází Khán did not give 'Alim Khán a very friendly reception, which induced him to wait on me, below Dún in the neighbourhood of Palhúr,2 where he came and tendered me his allegiance. While I was at Sialkot, some of the troops whom I had left in Lahore arrived to inform me that they would all be up by the morning.

Next morning I marched, and halted at Parsarúr, where Muhammad 'Ali Jang-Jang, Khwaja Husain, and some others,3 accordingly came and waited on me. As the enemy's camp was on the banks of the Ráví, towards Lahore, I sent out Bújkah with his party to reconnoitre and bring in intelligence. About the end of the third watch of the night they came back with information that the enemy, immediately on getting notice of 2 ["Bilúr" in the Jaghatai.]

1 [Satlej.]

3 These noblemen had been left with a body of troops to defend the Panjab.

their approach, had fled away in consternation, every man shifting for himself.

On the following morning, leaving Sháh Mír Husain, and some other officers, to guard the camp and baggage, I separated from them, and pushed on with all possible speed. We reached Kalanúr about the middle of afternoon prayers and halted. Muhammad Sultán Mirza, 'Adil Sultán, and the other amirs, came here and waited on me.

Marching before daybreak from Kalanúr, we discovered on the road certain traces that Ghází Khán and the fugitives were not far off. Muhammadí and Ahmadí, with several of the Begs about my person, whom I had recently at Kábul promoted to the rank of Beg, were detached to pursue the fugitives without halting. Their orders were, that, if they could overtake the flying enemy, it was well; but, if not, they should carefully guard every approach and issue of the fort of Milwat, that the garrison might not be able to effect their escape. Ghází Khán was the object that I principally aimed at in these instructions. Having sent forward this detachment under the Begs, we crossed the river Biyah opposite to Kanwahín, and there halted. From thence, after three marches, we encamped in the mouth of the valley in which lies the fort of Milwat. The Begs, who had arrived before us, and the amirs of Hindustán, were directed to encamp and lay siege to the fort. Ismá'il Khán, who was Daulat Khán’s grandson (being the son of ’Alí Khán, Daulat Khán’s eldest son), having arrived in our quarters, was sent into the fort to offer terms of capitulation, and with a message in which we mingled promises and threats. On Friday I made the camp advance, and take ground half a kos nearer. I myself went out, reconnoitered the fort, and after having assigned to the right and left wing, and to the centre, their respective stations, returned back to the camp.

Daulat Khán now sent a person to inform me that Ghází

1 Kalanúr lies half-way between the Ráví and Biyah.

2 ["At half a kos from the place."-Jagh.]

Khán had escaped and fled to the hills; but that if I would excuse his own offences, he would come as a slave and deliver up the place. I therefore sent Khwaja Mír Mírán to confirm him in his resolution, and to bring him out. His son, 'Ali Khán, accompanied that officer. In order to expose the rudeness and stupidity of the old man, I directed him to take care that Daulat Khán should come out with the same two swords hung round his neck, which he had hung by his side to meet me in combat. When matters had come this length he still contrived frivolous pretexts for delay, but was at length brought out. I ordered the two swords to be taken from his neck. When he came to offer me obeisance, he affected delays in bowing; I directed them to push his leg and make him bow. I then made him sit down before me, and desired a man who understood the Hindustání language to explain to him what I said, sentence by sentence, in order to re-assure him; and to tell him "I called you Father; I showed you more respect and could have desired or expected. reverence than you The countries held by Tátár Khán, to the amount of three krors, I bestowed on you. What evil have I ever done you, that you should come in this style against me?" It was settled that he and his family should retain their authority in their own tribes and possession of their villages, but that all the rest of their property should be sequestrated.

*

I

'Abdu-l 'Aziz and *** with several other of the Begs about my person were directed to enter the fort, and to take possession of and secure their treasures and all their property. examined Ghází Khán's library, and found in it a number of valuable books. *** There was also a number of theological books, but I did not, on the whole, find so many books of value as, from their appearance, I had expected.

I stayed in the fort all night, and next morning returned to the camp. We had been mistaken in imagining that Ghází Khán

1 [Instead of this, the Jaghatai says, "The free disposal of the people of their houses, and of their families."]