8. Volume 4 — part 8

939. Humayun to eastward against Ben and Bayazid, Jaunpur

940. Humayun builds Dinpanah. — To Bhojpur, where Muhammad

941. Humayun to Kalpi and Gujarat via Eaisin and Sarangpur.

943. Again to Jaunpur, and then Chunar (Firishta) ; Dehli, accord-

ing to Elphinstone, meaning perhaps Agra.

945. Humayun takes Gaur, and remains there.

946. Chaunsa. — Action on the Ganges, in Safar. — Sher Shah again

acquires Bengal and Jaunpur. — Kutb Khan goes to Kalpi, where he is killed. Humayun at Agra.

947. Action at Kanauj, in Muharram. — Immediate flight from Agra

via Dehli and Eohtak to Lahore, where all brothers as- semble Eajab 1st, and leave Jnmada 2nd. 948.

949. Sher Shah to Bengal? Gwalior, Malwa.

950. Eaisin, Ajmir, Nagor, Maldeo. — As Muharram, 950, began

iu April, 1543, he may have gone down to Eaisin in the hot weather, then returned to Agra and had all next cold season for Eajputana.

951. Elphiustone says' Marwar in. this year. I have disproved him

952. Sher Shah dies, Eajab 1st, at Kalinjar. Much may perhaps

be settled by the Tabahdt-i Ahbari, Badduni, and the Tdrikh-i Alfi.

^ The First Chapter contains the history of the reign of Sher Shdh Sur. The Second relates the history of the reign of Isldm Shdh, son of Sher Shdh Sur. The Third Chapter concerns the history of the princes who were descended from Sher Shah, and who, subsequent to IsUm Khan, laid claim to the sovereignty, and struck coin and read the khutba in their own names ; and who dethroned the son of Islam Shah.

I, the humble sweeper of the threshold of the dweller in the palace the Second Alexander, the author of the history of the reigns of the Afghans — 'Abbas, son of Shaikh 'All Sarwdni — write by order of the Emperor Akbar.

I derive my information from trustworthy Afghans, skilled in the science of history and in rhetoric, who accompanied the king from the beginning of his fortunes to the end of his reign, and were employed in his confidential service. I have' written also what I have well ascertained from others. Whatever was opposed to the information thus acquired, and could not stand the touchstone of truth, I have rejected.

When Sultan Bahlol, of the family of S4hu-khail, of the tribe of Lodi Afghdn, possessed the throne of Dehli, there were many persons in the various kingdoms of Hind who. struck coin, and had the hhutha read in their own names, and who were hostile to him.

Sultan Mahmud bin Sultan Ibrahim Sharki possessed the throne of Jaunpur, Sultdn Mahmud Khilji reigned in M41w4, Sultdn Kutbu-d din in Gujardt, Sultan 'Alau-d din Ahmad Shah in the Dekhin, and Sultdn Zainu-1 'dbidin in Kashmir; but

1 [This passage is not in Sir H. Elliot's MS., in whicli the mention of Chapter III. comes immediately after the doxology.]

the names of the rulers of Bengal^ and Tatta are not known to me. The ruler of Multdn was Shaikh Yusuf, the spiritual successor of Shaikh Makhdum Bah4u-d din Zakariya Kuraishi. As long as Sultdn Bahlol remained within the great city of Dehli, the capital, no one of these Sultdns placed the foot of presumption in the plain of opposition.

Ecii Slhar Langah, Zamindar of Zdbiri,^ having expelled Shaikh Yusuf from the city of Multdn, himself assumed the kingdom, with the title of Sultdn Kutbu-d din. Shaikh Yiisuf came to Dehli and entreated the Sultan's aid. Sultdn Bahlol and his veteran army having accordingly set out for Multin, in company with Shaikh Yusuf, Sultdn Mahmud of Jaunpur came to Dehli and besieged it.

Sultan Bahlol was at Dipdlpiir when he heard the distressing intelligence of the siege of Dehli, and he said to his nobles and ministers : " The countries of Hind are broad and rich, and their kings are of Indian extraction. In my own land I have many kinsmen renowned for their valour and strength, who are pressed for a livelihood. Were they here they would be relieved from the contempt of poverty, and I could grasp Hind and destroy my enemies."

His chiefs replied: "* * * It is expedient under present cir- cumstances that His Majesty the Sultdn should send letters to the chiefs of the tribes in the Eoh country to this effect : ' Grod in his goodness has granted the kingdom of Dehli to the Afghans, but the other kings of Hind wish to expel them from the country. The honour of our women is concerned; the lands of Hind are broad and rich, and can afford mainten- ance to many. Come, then, to this country ; the name indeed of sovereignty shall remain with me, but whatever countries we may conquer shall be shared between us as brothei-s. Sultdn

' [The writer of Gen. Cunningham's MS. remarks that this is an extraordinary statement, considering that the author, in the course of his work, gives the history of the wars of Sher Sh&h and his sons with the kings of Bengal.]

Mahmtid of Jaunpiir is now besieging Dehll, where the families of the Afghans are. If you feel disposed to assist me, you must do so now, and with a large force.' " * * The king, approving of this advice, issnei farm dns to the chiefs of the various Afghan tribes. On receipt of the farmdns, the Afghans of Eoh came, as is their wont, like ants and locusts, to enter the king's service.

When they drew near to Dehli, a force was sent by Sultdn Mahmud Sliarki to give them battle. Fath Khan Hirawi, Sipah-s^Mr of Sultan Mahmud, had with him a large force, and elephants like mountains ; but the Afghans, in a moment, overthrew his army and levelled it with the dust. When Sultdn Mahmud heard of the death of Fath Kh4n, he fled without fighting; and of the countries of Hind a considerable portion fell on this occasion into the possession of Sultan Bahlol.

Kdlu Khdn, chief of the Mahmud-khail, of the family of Sahu-khail Bahloli, was wounded iu the engagement above mentioned, and Sultdn Bahlol sent him a present of money by way of recompense ; but he refused it, saying, " I did not come here to sell my wounds.'" At. the same time, many of the chiefs of name besought the king for leave to depart. The king entreated them to remain, but they said : — " We came on this occasion to succour and assist you, to save the reputation and honour of your women. Dismiss us now we entreat of you, here- after we will again return to your service." The king loaded them with presents of money and goods of a,ll kinds, beyond their utmost expectations, and provided them with everything they could possibly want. Such Afghans as chose to remain in his service he ennobled, and gave them jdgirs to their full content. Kalu Khdn, however, said : — " Your Majesty must excuse my declining to accept anything, as I did not come to this country from any worldly motives."

When the chiefs of the tribes of Eoh had gone, the king com- manded his nobles, saying : — " Every Afghan who comes to Hind from the country of Roh to enter my service, bring him to me. I will give him a jdgir more than proportioned to his

deserts, and such as shall content him 5 but if he for reasons of kindred or friendship prefers remaining in the service of any one of you, do you provide for him to his satisfaction ; for if I hear of one Afghan from Roh returning thither again for want of a livelihood or employment, I will resume the j'dgirs of that noble who may have refused to entertain him." When the Afghans of Roh heard of this, and saw the favour and affection of the king towards them, they began every day, every month, and every year, to arrive in Hind, and received jdgirs to their heart's content.

It was at the time of this bounty of Sultan Bahlol, that the grandfather of Sher Shah, by name Ibrahim Kh^n Sur,i with his son Hasan Khdn, the father of Sher Sh^h, came to Hindu- stan from Afghanistan, from a place which is called in the Afghdn tongue " Shargari," ^ but in the Multan tongue " Rohri." It is a ridge, a spur of the Sulaimin Mountains, about six or seven hos in length, situated on the banks of the Grumal. They entered into the service of Muhabbat Kh4n Sur, D4ud Sahii-khail, to whom Sultan Bahlol had given in jdglr the parganas of Haridna and Bahkala, etc., in the Panjab, and they settled in the pargana of Bajwara.

Sher Shah was born in the reign of Sultan Bahlol, and they named him Farid Khdn.^

After some time had elapsed, Ibrahim Khdn left Muhabbat Khan, and entered the service of Jamal Kh4n S4rang-khani, of Hisar-Firozah, who bestowed on him several villages in pargana Narnaul for the maintenance of forty horsemen. And Mian Hasan Khan, the father of Farid Khdn, entered the service of Masnad-i "dli 'Umar Kh4n Sarwani Kalkapur, who bore the title of Kh4n-i 'azam, and was a counsellor and

' The S(ir represent themselyes as descendants of Muhammad SiJr, one of the princes of the house of the Ghorians, who left his native country, and married a daughter of one of the Afgh&,n chiefs of Roh.

' The Idrikh-i Khdn Jahin Lodi (MS. p. 161) says he was born in Hisir- Firozah,

courtier of Sultan Bahlol. After the death of Masnad-i 'all Tatar Kh^n, Bahlol gave (the government of) L4hore to this 'Umar Kh4n, who held as jdgirs, in the sirkdr of Sirhind, Bhatnur, Shah4bad, and Paelpur ; and 'Umar Kh4n gave several villages in the pargana of Shah^bad as a jdgir to Hasan Khdn.

After some time, Farid Khdn said to his father Hasan Khan, " Take me before Masnad-i 'ali 'Umar Khdn, and say for me : 'Farid Kh4n wishes to serve you — order him on any duty of which he is capable.' " Hasan Khan declined compliance on ac- count of his tender age, recommending him tO' wait some time longer. Farid Khdn then spoke to his mother, and his mother said to Hasan Khan — "Since he desires to see the Masnad-i 'dli, take him with you — perhaps he may be pleased at the request of so young a boy, and give him something." Hasan Kh4n, to please Farid and his mother, took him with him before Masnad-i 'all 'Umar Khan, and said : — " Farid wishes to serve you." 'Umar Khan replied — " Farid is now a little boy; when he is fit for my service I will employ him. For the present I give him Balhu, a hamlet of the village of Mah4wali.^" Hasan Kh^n and Farid Khan were exceedingly delighted, and when Farid got home he said to his mother — " My father would not take me but at your request, and Masnad-i 'dli has given me a village in pargana Shdhdbdd."

Several years after this, Ibrahim Khan, the father of Hasan Khdn, died at Ndrnaul. Hasan Khan, when he heard of his father's death, left Sh4hab4d, and coming before 'Umar Khan, who was with Sultan Bahlol's army, requested leave of absence to condole with the members of his father's family and retainers, saying he would return with them, for that he would not quit 'Umar Khdn's service for any worldly advancement. 'Umar Khdn replied : " You are aware that I have already given you your share of the jdgirs which I possess, nor can I entertain more men. Your father's retainers now all look to you. You

will be able to obtain you father's jdgir, or even a larger one than your father's was. I am not so unjust to my own tribe as to keep you on a small jagir^ Such were the Afghdn nobles, and such their favour towards their own race and kindred, that if they saw their Afghans could elsewhere obtain more than they themselves were able to give, they at once sent thenj with recommendations in search of better employment.

Hasan Khan was well pleased, and the next day Masnad-i 'dli sent for Jamal Kh4n, and strongly recommending Hasan Khan to him, persuaded him to bestow on him his father's jdgir., with several villages in addition to it, and said, " Whatever kindness you show to Hasan Khdn, you will be doing a favour to me." Then giving Hasan Khan a horse and a dress of honour, he dis- missed him. After this, Hasan Khan did such service for Jamal Khdn as satisfied and pleased him.

After Sultdn Bahlol's death, Sikandar his son succeeded, and conquered Jaunpur from his brother Baibak, and conferred the subali on Jamal Khdn, and ordered him to keep up 12,000 horse, and to assign them/d^zrs. Jamdl Khan, who was much pleased with Hasan Kh5,n's good service, took him with him, and gave him in jdgir the parganas of Sahsaram, Hajipiir, and Tanda,'^ near Benares, to maintain 500 horsemen.

Hasan Khan had eight sons. Farfd Khdn and Niz4a> Khdn were born of one Afghan mother ; 'All and Ytisuf of another mother ; Khurram ^ and Shddi Khdn of a third ; Sulaimd,n and Ahmad of a fourth.

Hasan Khan did not care for or love the mother of Farid and Nizdm, but was very fond of his slave-girls, and was especially attached to the mother of Sulaiman and Ahmad ; and she gained such influence over Hasan Kh4n, that she entirely ruled him. Angry words often passed between Hasan and Farid.

' The other historians, as Nia'matu-lla, are more specific, and call it Kh&spijr Tinda, which is one of the parganas attached to the sirkdr of Jaunpiir.

^ Some copies, as well as the Makhzan-i Afghani, read Mudahir instead of Khurram, and make him own brother to Sulaim&u and Ahmad.

When he was assigaeij'dgirs, Midn Hasan showed little partiality to Farid, and did not give him a jdgir which contented him. Farid Kh4n, annoyed with his fether, went to Jam&l Khdn at Jaunpur. When Mian Hasan discovered that Farid had gone there, he wrote to Jam&l Khan thus : " Farid Khan, being an- noyed with me, has gone to you without sufficient cause. I trust in your kindness to appease him, and send him back; but if refusing to listen to you, he will not return, I trust you will keep him with you, for I wish him to be instructed in religious and polite learning."

Jamdl Khan sent for Farid, and advised him in every possible way to return to his father ; but he refused, and said, " If my father wants me back to instruct me in learning, there are in this city many learned men : I will study here." Jam41 Khan made no further objection. Farid employed himself in studying Arabic at Jaunplir. He also studied thoroughly the Kdfid,^ with the commentaries of K&zi Shahdbu-d din, and the biogra- phies of most of the kings of ancient times. He had got by heart the Sikandar-ndma, the OuUstdn, and Bostdn, etc., and was also reading the works of the philosophers. Subsequently, whenever, during his reign, learned men came to aSk him for a maintenance (madad-ma^dsh), he used to ask them about the Hdshia-i Sindia, and he still retained his liking for books of history and the lives of ancient kings.

It happened after some years, that Hasan Khdn came to Jamdl Khdn, when all his kinsmen who were in Jaunpdr reproached him for having sent Farid away from his presence for the sake of a slave-girl j and they remarked that Farid Kh4n, young as he was, gave promise of future greatness ; that he bore the marks of excellence on his forehead, and that in all the tribe of Sur there was none who possessed learning, talent, wisdom, and prudence like him; and he had qualified himself so well, that if Hasan Khdn would entrust him with the charge of a pargana, he would discharge it excellently well, and perfectly

perform all his duties. Hasan Kh4n assented to what his kindred said, and replied, " Pacify him and bring him to me ; I will agree to whatever you say." His friends replied, " As you are generally in Jaunpur in attendance on Jam41 Khdn, it is advisable you should entrust the administration of your two parganas to Farid." Hasan Khan agreed to his kinsmen's . request. In great glee they came to Farid, and said, " Mian Hasan has agreed to everything we have said in your behalf, and has dissented from nothing. It behoves you also to assent to what we say to you." Farid Khan replied, " I will agree to anything you may say, nor will I ever draw back from it ; but as soon as Hasan Khan sees the face of the slave-girl, he will do whatever she tells him." His kinsmen rejoined : " Do you nevertheless agree ; if he departs from his agreement with us, we will remonstrate with him."

When Farid heard these words of his kinsmen, he said, " To please you I accept the management of the two districts. I will not fail to do my duty to the best of my power." Farid Khan, much pleased, accompanied his relatives to his father's presence. His father also was much gratified, and kept him for some months with him. Afterwards, Hasan Khan wished to send Farid to the parganas; but Farid representing to Hasan Khan that he wished first to speak with him, he obtained leave to do so, and thus began : " Many soldiers and subordinates, our kins- men, have jdgirs in these parganas. I shall devote myself to increase the prosperity of the district, and that depends on a just administration ; for it has been said by the learned : " * * * When Hasan Khdn heard his son's speech he was much gratified, and said : — " I will give you the power both to grant and to resume the soldier's jdgirs, and I will not reverse anything you may do." He accordingly sent Farid Khdn to his two parganas, with every mark of favour.

When he got to his jdgirs, he said : — " Let all the head men, (mukaddamdn) and the cultivators (muzdri'dn) on whose labour the prosperity of the district depends, and all the village ac-

countants fpatwdris), attend my presence. When they came, he summoned also the soldiery, and thus addressed them : — " My father (abu) has committed to me the power of appointing and dismissing you. I have set my heart on improving the pro- sperity of the district, in which object also your own interests are concerned ; and by this means I hope to establish my reputation." * * * When he had finished exhorting the soldiery, he turned to the peasantry, and said ; — " This day I give you your choice as to your mode of payment. Do whatever is most advantageous to your own interests in every possible way."

Some of the head-men asked for written agreements for a fixed money rent -j^ others preferred payment in kind {kismat-i ghalla). Accordingly he gave leases and took agreements, and fixed the payments for measuring the fields (Jaribdna), and the fees for the tax-collectors and measurers (muhassildnd) ; and he said to the Ghaudharis and head-men : — " I know well that the cultivation depends on the humble peasants, for if they be ill off they will produce nothing, but if prosperous they will produce much. I know the oppressions and exactions of which you have been guilty towards the cultivators ; and for this reason I have fixed the pay- ments for measurements, and the tax-gatherers' fees, — that if you exact from the cultivators more on this account than is fixed, it may not be credited to you in making up your accounts. Be it known to you, that I will lake the accounts of the fees in my own presence. Whatever dues are rightly taken I will sanction, and compel the cultivators to pay them ; and I will also collect the Government dues for the autumn harvest in the autumn, and for the spring harvest in the spring ; for balances of Government dues are the ruin of a pargana, and the cause of quarrels between the cultivators and the Government officers. It is right for a ruler to show leniency to the cultivators at the period of measurement, and to have a regard to the actual produce ; but when the time of payment comes he should show no leniency, but collect the revenue with all strictness. If he perceives the

' In two copies /aWi ; in one, patta-haluUyat,

cultivators are evading payment, he should so chastise them as to be an example to others not to act in the same way." He then said to the peasantry : — " Whatever matter you have to represent, bring it always yourselves to me. I will suffer no one to oppress you."

Having thus addressed them, he dismissed them with hono- rary dresses to carry on their cultivation. After dismissing the cultivators, he said to his father's officers : — " The cultivators are the source of prosperity. I have encouraged them and sent them away, and shall always watch over their condition, that no man may oppress and injure them j for if a ruler cannot protect humble peasantry from the lawless, it is tyranny to exact re- venue from them. There are certain zaminddrs who have been behaving contumaciously in these parganas, who have not pre- sented themselves at the G-overnor's court (mahkama-i- hakim), do not pay their full revenue, and harass the villages in their neighbourhood — how shall I overcome and destroy them?" They replied : — *' Most of the troops are with Mian Hasan ; wait a few days and they will return." Farid said, " I cannot have patience while they refuse to come to me, and continue to oppress and injure the people of God ; do you consider what I can contrive against these rebels, and how I may chastise them."

He ordered his father's nobles to saddle 200 horses, and to see how many soldiers there were in the pargana, and he sent for all the Afghans and men of his tribe who were without j'dgirs, and said to them, — -" I will give you subsistence and clothing till Mi4n Hasan returns. Whatever goods or money you may get from the plunder of these rebels is yours, nor will I ever require it of you ; and whoever among you may distinguish himself, for him I will procure a good j'dgir from Midn Hasan. I will my- self give you horses to ride on." When they heard this they were much pleased, and said they would not fail in doing their duty under his auspices. He put the men who had engaged to serve him in good humour by all sorts of favours, and by gifts of clothes, etc., and presented them also with a little money.

He then sent to tlie cultivators for horses, saying, " Bring your horses to me as a loan for a few days, as I particularly require them. When I return after finishing this business, I will give you back your horses." They willingly and cheerfully agreed to lend their horses, and from every village they brought one or two horses, and put on the saddles which they had ready in their houses, etc. Farid gave to every one of his soldiers who had not one of his own, a horse to ride, and hastened against the rebels, and plundered their villages, bringing away the women and children, cattle and property. To the soldiery he made over all the property and quadrupeds which came into their possession ; but the women and children and the peasantry he kept himself in confinement, and sent to the head-men, say- ing : — " Pay me my rights ; if not, I will sell your wives and children, and will not suflFer you to settle anywhere again. Wherever you may go, thither will I pursue you ; and to what- ever village you may go, I will command the head men to seize and make you over to me, or else I will attack them also." When the head-men heard these words, they sent to say: "Pardon our past ofiences, and if hereafter we do anything you do not approve, punish us in any way you choose." Farid Khdn sent to say in reply, " Give security, in order that if you offend and abscond, your security may be held respon- sible for your appearance." So the head-men, whose wives and families he had in confinement, paid what was due from them to Government, and gave security for their appearance, and so released their wives and families.

There were some zaminddrs who had committed all sorts of offences, such as theft and highway robbery, and refusing to pay revenue, never came to the Groyernor's presence, but were insolent from confidence in their numbers. Although these were often warned, they took no heed. Farid Kh4n collected his forces, and commanded that every one of his villagers who had a horse should come riding upon it, and that he who had not a horse should come on foot. And he took with him half his own

soldiers, and the other half he employed in collecting revenue and other local duties.

When the soldiers and peasantry were assembled, he marched towards the villages of the recusants, and at a distance of a kos threw up an earthen entrenchment ; and ordered them to cut down the neighbouring jungle. His horsemen he directed to patrol round the villages 5 to kill all the men they met, and to make prisoners of the women and children, to drive in the cattle, to permit no one to cultivate the fields, to destroy the crops already sown, and not to permit any one to bring anything in from the neighbouring parts, nor to allow any one of them to carry anything out of the village, and to watch them day and night ; and he every day repeated the order to his force to invest the village, and not to permit a soul to go out. His footmen he also ordered to cut down the jungle. When the jungle was all cut down, he marched from his former position, and made another entrenchment nearer the village, and occupied it. The rebels were humbled, and sent a representative saying, that if Farid Khan would pardon their fault, they would submit. Farid Khan replied that he would not accept their submis- sion, and that there could be nothing but hostility between him and them ; to whichever Grod might please, he would give the victory.

Although the rebels humbled themselves in every way, and offered to pay a large sum of money, yet Farid Kh4n would not accept the money, but said to his men : — " This is the way of these rebels : first they fight and oppose their rulers ; if they find him weak, they persist in their rebelliousness ; but if they see that he is strong, they come to him deceitfully and humble themselves, and agree to pay a sum of money, and so they persuade their ruler to leave them alone ; but as soon as they find an opportunity, they return to their evil ways. * * *

Early in the morning, Farid Khdn mounted and attacked the criminal zaminddrs, and put all the rebels to death, and making all their women and children prisoners, ordered his men to sell.

them or keep them as slaves ; and brought other people to the village and settled them there. "When the other rebels heard of the death, imprisonment, and ruin of these, they listened to wisdom, repented of their contumacy, and abstained from theft and robbery.

If any soldier or peasant had a complaint, Farid would examine it in person, and carefully investigate the cause, nor did he ever give way to carelessness or sloth.

In a very short time, both parganas became prosperous, and the soldiery and peasantry were alike contented. When Midn Hasan heard of this, he was much pleased ; and in all companies used to make mention of the prosperity of his parganas, the gallantry of hia son, and the subjection of the zaminddrs.

The fame of Farid's wisdom was noised abroad over the king- dom of Bihar, and all the nobles of that country who heard of it praised it. He gained a reputation among men, and satisfied and pleased all his friends and others, except a few enemies, such as the mother of Sulaiman.

When, after some time, Midn Hasan came to his home from attendance on Masnad-i '41i Mi^n Jamdl Khan, all the vassals and soldiery with one voice unanimously proclaimed their well- being, and he witnessed himself the prosperity of the country and replenishment of the treasury, and was extremely delighted with Farid. The dislike which he formerly entertained was dispelled, and he distinguished both brothers with all kinds of favours. " I am now old," he said, " nor can I bear the labour and trouble and thought of governing the parganas and the soldiery while I live ; do you manage them."

This speech displeased Sulaiman and his mother, and they made all kinds of lying and false complaints to Midn Hasan, and the money which Farid had, for his sister's wedding, given to Sulaimdn, they changed, and showed to Mi4n Hasan, declaring it was bad. Every day they complained and railed against Farid Khan, but Mi^n Hasan gave ear to none of them. Sulaiman and his mother perceived that Mldn Hasan was not

incensed against Farid by their lying complaints, but said to them, " It is not right that you should always rail at Farid. Except you two, there is not a person among my friends, soldiers, or vassals, who complains of him ; and I also am satisfied and grateful for his conduct and excellent behaviour, for both my parganas are prosperous."

When the mother of Sulaiman heard Midn Hasan thus speak, she was overcome with grief, and discontinued complaining to Mi4n Hasan, but from that day seldom held any intercourse with Mian Hasan. She publicly displayed her grief, and the love and the intimacy which Midn Hasan had previously enjoyed with her were interrupted. Mian Hasan perceived her great affliction, and one day said to her, " What is the cause of your grief? and what is the reason of your shunning me?" She replied, " I was once your humble slave, you distinguished me by your love and affection, and the rest of your family, from envy, are little affectionate towards me ; nor yet, to the best of my ability, have I failed in my duty to them. He (Farid) is your eldest son, and looks to succeed to your posi- tion, and if, during your life, you do not distinguish my sons as well as Farid, nor give them the management of a pargana, I will in your presence kill myself and my sons j for in your lifetime they should acquire property. Farid and your kindred, who are my enemies, after your death will insult and turn us out of the parganas. Therefore, it is better for us to die in your presence, than to survive dishonoured among our enemies."

Mian Hasan, bound in the chain of her love, and helpless from the force of his affection (from which to the lover there is no escape), was persuaded by her, and withdrew his fickle affec- tions from his eldest son, and sought to remove him from the country, and to place his other sons in his room. The mother of Sulaimdn said, " I hope much from your love, but your relatives will not permit you to take away the management of the parganas from Farid." Mian Hasan, who was entangled in the noose of her love, swore a solemn oath to her and appeased her.

After this Mi4n Hasan sought to discover some fault in Farid, and to remove him, and employed himself in examining his actions. Excessive aversion was kindled and angry words passed between Midn Hasan and Farid. When Farld dis- covered that Midn Hasan had promised the mother of Sulaimdn that he would give the management of both parganm to her sons, and had violated the promise which he had given to his kinsmen, Farid threw up the management of them, and sent to Mian Hasan, saying, " So long as I saw my father's affections and kindness turned towards me, I carried on the business of the parganas — now make anybody manager you like. Certain per- sons from envy and enmity have conveyed to your hearing reports which have grieved you. My father, inquire into them, as I shall show you how." * * *

Mid.n Hasan sent to Farid in reply, saying, " There is no reason that I should make inquiries ; for while I was even absent with the army, I understood the real state of the parganas, and that you doubled the prosperity of the country. And if you have appropriated anything, well and good. It is your own pro- perty, and it is no reproach. * * * Your degenerate brothers, Sulaiman and the rest, give me daily annoyance. I do not think they are able to manage the country. However much I advise, it makes no impression on them : they have taken away my rest and peace, and their mother is interfering perpetually in my affairs on behalf of her sons. I am obliged to permit Sulaiman and Ahmad to act for a short time as sMkkddrs of the parganas^ that I may be freed from this daily and nightly vexation." When Farid heard these words from his father, he said, " The two parganas are my father's, let him give their management to whomsoever he will."

When Mi4n Hasan's relations heard that he had taken away the management of the two parganas from Farid^ and vcas in- tending to confer it on Sulaiman and Ahmad, and that Farid was preparing to go to A'gra to gain his livelihood (for in those days Agra was the capital city), they came to Mian Hasan, and

said : — " It is not right for you to take away the management of the parganas from this son, and give it to Sulaiman and Ahmad ; for Farid, by his care, has doubled their prosperity, and has so estabhshed his authority in thera, as no one ever before did, nor has he committed any fault for which he ought to be removed. It is not right to quarrel with such an able son in your old age ; especially in these times, when the authority of Sultdn Ibrdhim is shaken, and every Afghan of influence is aiming at power and independence."

Mian Hasan replied to his relatives, " I know it is not right to grieve Farid; but what can I do? for Sulaimdn and his mother have driven me into a strait, nor do they give me a moment's rest. * * * I am an old man, the time of my death is near at hand. I cannot break my promise. I give the manage- ment of the parganas to Sulaiman and Ahmad during my life. If they govern well, so that the parganas prosper, the people are happy and the soldiery content, well and good ; for then during my lifetime they will acquire a good name. For thus Farid has gained a name among men, and has gladdened my heart. Wheresoever he may go, he will be able to gain his own livelihood. But if they prove unfit, they will (at any rate) be for some time during my life laying up worldly goods. Of this I am certain, that after my death the government of the parganas will be conferred on Farid, who is deserving of it." * * *

When his kinsmen heard this reply of Midn Hasan, they said, " You send Farid away from you to please a slave-girl ! It is wrong in these times to stir up strife for a slave-girl's sake. For from the proceedings of the Lohdnis in Bihar, it appears that they will shortly throw off the king's yoke, and declare their independence. It has been said, 'it is wrong to place confidence in women,' " etc. * * * But in spite of what his rela- tives said, Mian Hasan, who was a captive in the bonds of his love for the slave-girl, did not assent to their representation.

When Farid entertained no longer any hope from Mi4n Hasan, he took leave of his friends, and set off for Agra, by way

of Kahnpur (Oawnpore), which pargana then belonged to the jdgir of 'Azim Humdyun Sarwani, who there maintained a large number of followers. Most of the Sarwanis were settled in that neighbourhood. When Farid reached K^hnptir, the Sar- wdnis who were connected by marriage with Midn Hasan enter- tained Farid. Among them, one Shaikh Isma'il was present. Farid asked who he was. The Sarw4nis at first said that he was a Sarw4ni; but afterwards that he was a Sur of Farid's own tribe, but that his mother was a Sarwani. Farid said to him, "Why did you not tell me you were a Sur?" Shaikh Isma'il said, "I did not tell you that I was a Sarwani, but if they said so, what fault is it of mine?" Farid said to Shaikh Isma'il, " Come with me." Shaikh Isma'il and Ibrdhim both accompanied Farid, and in the battle in which Farid defeated Kutb Shdh, King of Bengal, Isma'il greatly distin- guished himself. Habib Khan Kdkar, who was his sister's son and lived in his house, slew Kutb Shah with an arrow, and as Habib Khan was a follower of Shaikh Isma^il, the latter got the credit of having killed Kutb Shah. On that occasion, Farid gained the surname of Sher Sh4h, and he bestowed that of Shujd'at Khdn on Shaikh Isma'il. When Sher Shah Sur gained the kingdom of Hindustto, he bestowed the government of Mandti on him, and gave to Ibrahim Khan, who also at- tained to great consideration, the title of Sarmast Khdn.

It so happened that when Farid arrived at Agra, Daulat Khan, the son of Budhu (who had been brought up in 'Azim Humaytin Sarwani's house), held the command of 12,000 horse, and was in great favour with Sultdn Ibrahim. Farid Khan chose Daulat Khan for his patron, and did him such good service that Daulat Khan often said : " I am ashamed to look Farid Khdn in the face ; if he will only say what I can do for him, I will not fail to use my utmost endeavours to accomplish his desire, only let him say what he wants."

When Farid understood that Daulat Khan took an interest in his affairs, he wrote saying, " Mian Khan is old, and his senses

are failing him, and he is spell-bound and infatuated with a Hindu slave-girl. Whatever she tells him he does, and has permitted her to manage his districts, and she has trampled on all his relatives, and disgusted his soldiery and the people he rules. Both parganas are falling to ruin from the folly of this slave- woman. If the king will confer on me the two parganas, I and ray brother will, with 600 horse, serve him in any place or way he orders, in addition to the service Mian Hasan now renders. When Daulat Khdn heard his request, he encouraged him in every possible way, and said, "Be of good heart, for I will tell the king the truth about Mian Hasan, and will get the parganas taken from your father and given to you."

Daulat Kh4n, on representing the state of Mian Hasan's case to the king, said : — " Farid is the ablest of his sons, and has long managed the parganas. The soldiery and inhabitants are content with him. If the king will bestow on him the management of the two parganas, he and his brother will do whatever duty you may command with 500 horse." The king replied, "He is a bad man who complains against and accuses his own father." Daulat Khan informed Farid, and said: — "This reply came from the king's own mouth, but do not you be cast down. Grod willing, I will get for you the management of these two parganas, and will, moreover, watch over your interests." When Farid heard the matter, he was grieved, but to please Daulat Khan remained with him. He assisted Farid with money, and indeed gave him such a daily allowance as to enable him to accumulate somewhat.

After some time Mian Hasan died. On the third day after his death Sulaiman placed Mian Hasan's turban on his own head, and was sitting among his friends when Mian Nizam came, accompanied by his partisans, and took the turban from off Sulaiman's head, saying, " It does not become you, in the absence of your elder brother, who is celebrated for every excellent quality, and is on service with the king, to place the turban of Mian Hasan on your own head. Have a fear of God !

Have you no &hame before the people of the Lord, that you thus act in contravention of law and custom, and create a cause of contention ? During our father's life you acted ungenerously to Farid through your mother's influence ; on my father's account I could say nothing. Had it been otherwise, your strength and courage should have been tried ;. but now such conduct is no longer right. It behoves you tO' act to Farid in a very different manner from what you have in times past ; and abandon strife, for it is not good, to contend with your elder brother. Mian Hasan in his lifetime assigned separate jdgtrs to his sons ; be content with this, and resign your superiority ; for it is your elder brother's right. If you will not give up fighting, you will become dependent on others ; nor will any one speak well of you. Contention will only get you a bad name and ruin the parganas." Sulaiman said, " If my brother treats me-wi^th any kindness, I cannot choose but serve him."

After this Mian Niz^m wrote to "Farid, telling him of the death of Mian Hasan, and of the whole affair. When Farid got the news, he performed the usual mourning, and told Daulat Kh4n the posture of affairs as regarded Sulaiman. Daulat Khdn said, " Do not be anxious. Please God, the king will give you the government of the two parganas.'''' Daulat Khdn told the- king the news of Mian Hasan's death, and procuring farmdns. for the two parganas, gave them to Farid, and procured him also leave to goto \iiajdgir, that he might establish his posses- sion and authority over them, and console his family and followers ; after which he was again to present himself before th« king. When Farid arrived, all his relations and all the soldiery came out to meet him, and yielded obedience to the farmdn. Sulaiman, unable to oppose him, went away to Muhammad Khdn Siir Datid-Shdh-khail, governor of the pargana of Ohaundh, etc., who commanded 1500 horse. As there had been some little ill-feeling between this Muhammad Khan and Hasan Khdn, he desired nothing better than that the brothers should quarrel, and both become dependent on him. He said to Sulaiman,

"Have patience for a short while, for Farld]has got a royal farmdn for the government. But Sultan Ibrahim has maltreated the nobles of Sultan Bahlol and Sultan Sikandar, and they have all retired to their own districts, and remain there. And the Khdn-khan^n Yusuf-khail, who was governor of the Panj4b, etc., has sent his son Dilawar Khan to Kabul, to fetch the Emperor B4bar, and he is now coming back with the Mughals. There will be war between the two monarchs. If Sultdn Ibrahim prevails, you must go to him, and I will write to him on your behalf, and describe Farid as hostile to Midn Hasan, as well as yourself, and that Mian Hasan preferred you. Whatever as- sistance your fortune gives you, you will get; and if the Mughals conquer, I will by force take the parganas from Faiid, and give them to you." Sulaimdn replied, " I have taken refuge with you from fear of Farld. Because there is none like you in the tribe of Sur, I place myself in your hands." Shortly after Muhammad Kh4n sent his vakil to Farid with this message : " Listen to my advice, and have respect to my inter- ference. I come to mediate between you ; whichever of you declines my mediation will bring shame on his kindred." Farid Khan wrote in reply, " You are, indeed, very great and powerful, and the Daud-Sh&h-khail is the most exalted among the tribes of Sur ; the chieftaincy of the tribe is therefore yours of right. * * The truth is not hid from you, ray lord ; which is, that in my father's lifetime he was always disputing with me. Even after his death, I offered to give my three brothers a larger jdgir than had been assigned to them during my father's lifetime, and I said to Sulaiman, ' Let us put aside the ill-feeling that existed between us during our father's life, and let us pass the rest of our lives in amity and affection.'' * * * I send my brother Niz^m to bring him to me, and I will give him such 9^ jdgir as will satisfy him ; but let him put aside the desire of sharing as his portion in (the government of) my pargana; for while I live he shall never obtain this." When Muhammad Kh4n's vakil reported what Farid Kh4n had said and written, Muham-

mad Khan said to Sulaimdn, " Farid Khdn will not give you a share quietly. I will make him do so by force." * * *

Sulaiman was much delighted ; but the matter was reported to Farid Khdn, who consulted with his brother Nizdm and his other adherents, and said, " I must ally myself with some one who will be able to oppose Muhammad Khdn, and there is no one within reach except Bih4r Khan, son of Darya Kh^n Lohani. However, it is best to wait a little. If Sultan Ibrahim prevails, no one will be able to say a word against me ; for do I not hold the Sultan's farmdn ? And if (which God avert) the Mughals should defeat Sult4n Ibrahim, then indeed I must of necessity ally myself to Bihar Khan, and remain in his service." After some time news came that the two monarchs had joined battle on the field of Panipat, and that after a severe contest Sultdn Ibrdhim had been slain, and that the kingdom of Dehli had fallen into the hands of the Emperor Babar, in the year 932. * *

Farid Khan, being thus compelled, went to Bihar Khan, and entered into his service, and employed himself day and night in his business ; nor did he rest one moment from it, and from this good service he gained Bihdr Khdn's favour ; so that he had access to him in public and in private, and became one of his most intimate friends. In consequence of his excellent arrangements, he became celebrated throughout the country of Bihar. One day he went out hunting with Bihar Khan, and a tiger [sher) having been started, Farid Khan slew it. Bihdr Khan, who on the death of Sult4n Ibrahim had assumed the title of " Sultan Muhammad," and had caused coin to be struck, and the khutba to be read in his own name throughout the country of Bihdr, gave to Farid Khdn, on account of this gallant encounter, the title of " Sher Khan," and made him the deputy to his son Jaldl Khan.

He performed the duties of deputy for a long time, but at length went on leave to visit his own parganas, where he delayed for some time. On account of his long absence. Sultan Muhammad used to talk reproachfully of him, and said, " Sher

Khan promised to return very shortly, but has remained a long time away." Those were days of confusion, no man put entire confidence in another.

Muhammad Khdn Sur cam« to Sultan Muhammad and spoke detractingly of Sher Kh5,n, saying, "He sees some probability of the advent of Sultan Mahmud, the son of Sultan Sikandar, to whom many of the nobles and Afghans have given in their adhesion. If Your Majesty commands me, I will contrive to bring Farid Khan here without any stir. His brother Sulaiman is an able young man, to whom Hasan Khan during his life- time made over the management of both his parganas, when he banished Sher Khan from his districts, who even formerly preferred an accusation against his own father, and of whom the Sultan said, ' This is a bad man who complains even against his own father.' When Hasan Khan died, Farid Kh4n, through his patron Daulat Khan, obtained a grant of both parganas from Sultan Ibrahim. Sulaiman was also desirous of going to Sultan Ibrahim, to show the recommendatory letter which Mian Hasan when dying had written to the Sultdn. But disturbances arose, and he was unable to go, and has now come to you to complain of his brother. If Your Majesty will confer these parganas on Sulaiman, Farid Khdn will very quickly come unto your presence again. It is now long since that Sulaimdn, flying from him, sought refuge with me ; and if he attains his rights, he will ever be your obliged servant." Sultan Muhammad replied, " He has done me much good service, how can I give away his jdgirs to another, and that for a trifling fault, and without inquiry ? However, to please you they shall both bring their cause before you. Both are similarly related to you — do you favour neither, that the right may be established, and the dust of the enmity which exists between them may be allayed."

Muhammad Khdn, when he was dismissed, returned to his own jdgir, and sent Shadi Khan, his confidential servant, to Farid Khdn with a message to this effect : — " It is not right for you to take possession of both parganas and to disinherit your

brothers, and lay the foundation of strife among your own kindred. I have sent Shadi Khan to you, and I hope you will take heed to what he will say to you. Tour brothers have now been a long time with me, and the laws and customs of the Afghans are no secret to you."

When Sh^di came to Sher Khan, and delivered at full length Muhammad Khdn's message, Sher Kh4n replied : — " Do you, Shddl Khan, tell the Khan from me, that this is not the Eoh country that I should share equally with my brothers. The country of India is completely at the disposal of the king, nor has any one else any share in it, nor is there any regard to elder or younger, or to kindred. Sikandar Lodi thus decided : ' If any noble dies, whatever money or other effects he may leave should be divided among his heirs according to the laws of inheritance ; but his office and his jdgirs and his military retinue let him confer on whichever of the sons he thinks most able ; and in these no one else has a right to share, nor is any remedy open to them.' Whatever goods and money my father left, Sulaimdn with my brothers appropriated before he sought refuge with you. Hitherto, out of regard for my relationship to you, I have said nothing ; but whenever he may quit you, I shall reclaim my share of my patrimonial inheritance from him. The jdgir and office were conferred on me by Sultdn Ibrahim ; in them no one has any share. But I said to my brothers, ' TlYie jdgirs which you enjoyed in my father's lifetime I will continue, nay increase to you ; but no one can participate in my office.' It does not become you to say, ' Give up Tdnda and Malhu to Sulaiman.' I will not willingly yield them. If you take them by force, and give them to him, it is in your power to do so. I have not another word to say,"

When Shadi returned from Sher Khan, and reported the whole affair to Muhammad Khan, he was much enraged, and said to Shddi, " Take all my forces with you, seize parganas Tdnda, and Malhu, and make them over to Sulaimdn and Ahmad. If he resists you, fight him with all your might ; and if you defeat

and put him to flight, make over both parganas to Sulaim&n, and, leaving your army to assist him, return to me, lest when he sees Sulaimdn with few followers he will attack him."

When this news reached Sher Kh4n, he wrote to Sukha, his slave (father of Khawas Khdn), the shikMdr of T4nda and Malhu, near Benares, and with whom the greater part of Sher Khan's forces were, apprising him that Sulaimdn, accompanied by Shddi Khan, was advancing against him, and directing him not to yield up Tanda and Malhu without resistance. When the army of Muhammad Xh4n approached, Sukha came out of the city to meet it. In the engagement which followed, Sukha was slain, and his army were defeated and fled to Sher Khan, at Sahsardm, nor did they even rally there.

Some persons advised Sher Khan to go to Sultan Muhammad, but he did not agree to this, saying, " These are uncertain times, the Sultdn will not quarrel with Muhammad Khan for my sake. He will endeavour to bring about some compromise; but it is not my interest to enter into a compromise." Midn Nizam Khan said, " If it be not your interest to make a compromise, I think it will be best to go to Patna ; thence, through the inter- vention of some proper person, to procure an interview with Sultan Junaid Birlas, at jS^gra, and to offer to enter his service. Perhaps this might afford an opportunity not only of vengeance on Muhammad Khdn, but even of driving him out of Chaundh." Sher Khan agreed to this, and went to Patna, and sent an agent to Sultan Junaid, at ^gra, saying, "If Sultdn Junaid will give me his parole, and promise not to molest me, I will come and wait upon him, and serve him loyally with all my heart and soul." Sultan Junaid agreeing to this, Sher Khdn came to him, bringing with him a very large present. Sultdn Junaid was much pleased, and gave him the aid of a large force to recover his parganas. Muhammad Khdn and Sulaimdn, unable to resist, fled to the hill of Rohtds, and Sher Khan got possession not only of his own parganas, but also of Chaundh and of several parganas which had formerly appertained to the crown. To many of the Afghans

and his kindred who had fled to the mountains, he wrote, pro- mising to double their former j'dgirs, and said, " The honour of our women is one (to us all) ; I have accomplished my revenge, and have regained xaj parganas." Consequent on the acquisi- tion of these parganas, many Afghans came to him. When he perceived that many of the Afghans were collecting round him, he became at ease ; gaining confidence, he dismissed the army which Sultan Junaid had sent to his aid with very handsome presents. Sher Khan then wrote to Muhammad Khan Sur, the former ruler of Chaundh, who had fled to the hills, to this effect : " Do not let any fear find its way to your heart, but make your mind quite easy, and come and take possession of your pargana. I have acquired several parganas which formerly paid revenue to Sultdn Ibrdhim, and do not covet the possessions of my kindred. This is a time of sedition and misfortunes. Every Afghdn who has any forces is coveting my government and country, and it therefore behoves those who have the means in such a time to collect for their aid and assistance soldiery of their own tribe, so as to preserve their own dominion, and even gain fresh territory. This, therefore, is the wisest course; let us put away our former envy and hatred, and in place of it let us plant the young tree of love and kindness in our hearts, that it may bring forth the fruit of friendship ; and this may be the means of our collecting our friends, and so of attaining high station and dignity." On receiving Sher Khan's letter, Muham- mad Khan came down from the hills, and again took possession of his own parganas of Chaundh, etc. ; and he and Sher Khan forgave each other their previous enmity ; and Muhammad Khdn thus came under obligations to Sher Khdn.

Sher Khan, being relieved from all apprehension as regarded Muhammad Khdn, went to Sultan Junaid BirlAs, at Agra, and thence accompanied him to the presence of the Emperor Bdbar ; was admitted to his Court, was present during the affair of Chanderi, and remained for some time amongst the Mughals, and acquainted himself with their military arrangements, their

modes of governing, and the character of their nobles. He often said among the Afghans, " If luck aided me, and fortune stood my friend, I could easily oust the Mughals from Hindustan." When people heard him speak thus, they ridiculed him, and used to say behind his back, "What vain boasting is this of Sher Khdn's ; he talks about a thing far beyond his power."

I, 'Abbas, the writer of the adventures of Sher Khan, have heard from the mouth of Shaikh Muhammad my own uncle, whose age was nearly eighty years, the following story : " I was at the battle of Oh^nderi, with the force of the victorious Emperor Babar, the second Faridun, and in attendance on the Khdn Khandn Yusuf-khail, who brought the Emperor Babar from Kdbul, and Shaikh Ibrdhim Sarwani said to me, ' Come to Sher Khan's quarters, and hear his impossible boastings, which all men are laughing at.' And accordingly we rode over to Sher Khan's quarters. In the course of conversation. Shaikh Ibrdhim said : ' It is impossible that the empire should again fall into the hands of the Afghans, and the Mughals be expelled from the country.' Sher Khdn replied: 'Shaikh Muhammad, be you witness now between Shaikh Ibrahim and myself, that if luck and fortune favour me, I will very shortly expel the Mughals from Hind, for the Mughals are not superior to the Afghans in battle or single combat; but the Afghans have let the empire of Hind slip from their hands, on account of their internal dissensions. Since I have been amongst the Mughals, and know their conduct in action, I see that they have no order or discipline, and that their kings, from pride of birth and station, do not personally superintend the government, but leave all the affairs and business of the State to their nobles and ministers, in whose sayings and doings they put perfect con- fidence. These grandees act on corrupt motives in every case, whether it be that of a soldier's, or a cultivator's, or a rebellious zdminddr's. Whoever has money, whether loyal or disloyal, can get his business settled as he likes by paying for it; but if a man has no money, although he may have displayed his

loyalty on a hundred occasions, or be a veteran soldier, lie will never gain his end. From this lust of gold they make no distinction between friend and foe, and if fortune extends a hand to me, the Shaikh shall soon see and hear how I will bring the Afghans under my control, and never permit them again to become divided.' "

After eome time, Sher Khan waited upon the Emperor one day at an entertainment, when it happened that they placed before him a solid dish, which he did not know the customary mode of «ating. So he cut it into small pieces with his dagger, and putting them into his spoon easily disposed of them. The Emperor Bdbar remarked this, and wondered at Sher Khan's ingenuity, and said to Khalifa, his minister, who was at his elbow, "Keep an eye on Sher Khan; he is a clever man, and the marks of royalty are visible on his forehead. I have seen many Afghan nobles, greater men than he, but they never made any impression on me ; but as soon as I saw this man, it entered into my mind that he ought to be arrested, for I find in him the qualities of greatness and the marks of mightiness." When Sultan Junaid took his leave, he had recommended Sher Khan strongly to the minister.^ Sher Kh4n had also made him a very handsome present. So he replied to the Emperor : " Sher Khan is without blame, and does not command a su£B.cient force to become a cause of uneasiness to Your Majesty. If you arrest him, the Afghdns who are present with you will all become suspicious, nor will any other Afghan trust your faith and promises, and hence will arise disunion." The Emperor was silenced; but Sher KhAn sagaciously perceived that the Emperor had spoken something concerning him.

When Sher Kh4n got to his own quarters, he said to his men : " The Emperor to-day looked much at me, and said something to the minister ; and cast evil glances towards me. This is not a fit place for me to remain — I shall go away." Mounting at once,

' Mir Khalifa was the elder brother of Sult&n Junaid.

he left the army. Shortly afterwards the king missed Sher Khan from among the courtiers, and sent for him. The man who was despatched in search of him came to his quarters, but Sher Khan was gone. The Emperor said to the wazir, " If you had not hindered me, I would have arrested him at once ; he is about to do something, God only icnows what ! "

When Sher Khan reached his j'dgir after leaving the army, he sent a handsome present to Sultdn Junaid, and wrote to say, "I was necessitated to quit the king without taking leave. If I had asked for leave, he would not have given it to me. I was compelled to come to my jdgir, for my brother Nizam wrote to say that Muhammad Khan and Sulaimdn had re- presented to Sultan Muhammad that I had alUed myself with the Mughals, by whose aid I had seized their parganas, and they offered, if ordered, to retake these districts. Sultan Mu- hammad, however, gave them no answer. When I heard this news, it was impossible for me to remain where I was. I am His Majesty's grateful servant ; I will do whatever he desires."

After this, Sher Khan took counsel with his brother Nizam and others, saying, " I have no longer any confidence in the Mughals, or they in me; I must go to Sultan Muhammad Khan." He decided on this plan, and when he came to Sult4n Muhammad, in Bihar, the latter was much delighted, for he had had experience of his great talent. He entrusted his son Jalal Khdn to him, and said : " I make you my son's lieutenant. Do you instruct him with all your care, for he is of tender age." Sher Kh4n was much pleased, and took great pains in the dis- charge of his office. When Sultdn Muhammad died, his son Jalal Khan succeeded him, whose mother's name was Dudti, a concubine ; and being himself very young, his mother Dudu ruled the kingdom, and she made Sher Khan her deputy in the Government of Bihdr and its dependencies. After the death of Diidu, Sher Khdn also discharged the duties of the State as deputy for JaUl Khdn.

An intimate friendship sprang up between Sher Khan and

Maklidum 'X\a,m, ruler of Hajipur, a noble in tlie service of the King of Gaur and Bengal. The King of Bengal became displeased ■with Makhdum '^lam ; for he (the king), having conceived a design of conquering Bihar from the AfghS,ns, despatched Kutb Khan with a large force for that purpose. Sher Khdn earnestly and repeatedly remonstrated. * * * Nevertheless, Kutb Khd,n gave no heed to his remonstrances. Sher Kh4n therefore said to his Afghans, " With the Mughals on one side and the army of Bengal on the other, we have no resource save in our own bravery." The Afgh&ns replied, " Be of good cheer, for we will fight to the utmost ; we will never yield the field until we either conquer or die, nor will we be ungrateful to those we have served so long." Sher Khan having prepared for a sturdy resistance, met the enemy. A severe action ensued, in which the Bengal army was defeated. In that engagement Shaikh Isma'il much distin- guished himself, and Kutb Khan and Habib Kh4n Kakar were with him. Kutb Khan, leader of the Bengal army, was struck by an arrow, and falling off his horse, expired. Shaikh Isma'il gained the victory, and Sher Khdn bestowed on him the title of Shuj^'at Khdn.^ Of the treasure, horses, elephants, etc. which fell into his hands, Sher Khan did not give any part to the Lohdnis, and so he became a man of wealth.

The Lohdnis were much angered at this, and hostile feelings sprang up between them and Sher Khan ; but they did not openly manifest them. Now Makhdum 'Alam had not assisted Kutb Khan, and as this misfortune had befallen the latter, the King of Bengal sent an army against Makhdum 'A'lam. I, who am the author of the Tichfa Akhar Shdhi, reckon among my ances- tors 'Abbas Khan. Very many sons of 'Abbas Khan were in Sher Khdn's service ; (of these) he gave to Mian Hasnu the title of Darya Kh4n. Among the Khan's nobles, none were equal to him, and he had married Sher Khan's own sister. This Darya Khan died in the beginning of Sher Shah's reign. My

^ The Tdrikh-i Khdn-JaMn Lodi says that when he was appointed governor of MSlwa, the people called him " Shujlwal Khin."

object in this detail is as follows : Since a connexion exists between Sher Shah and myself, I am thus better acquainted with his history, which I have learnt from my ancestors. To be brief, Sher Kh^n was prevented by the hostility of the Lohdnis from assisting in person Makhddm 'i^lam, but he sent Miiin Hasnii Khdn to his assistance. Makhdum '^lam made over all his property and worldly possessions to Sher Khdn, saying, " If I am victorious, I will reclaim my property; if not, better you should have it than any other." Makhdum 'i^Iam was killed in battle, but Miin Hasnu Khan returned alive, and Makhdum 'iiilam's property fell to Sher Kkdn.

The enmity between Sher Khan and the Lohanis increased daily, until the latter at last plotted to kill Sher Khan, and they thus took counsel among themselves, saying, " Sher Khan waits every day upon JaMl Khan with a very small retinue; let us pretend that Jaldl Kh^n is ill. Sher Khan will go inside the palace to inquire after him. When he is returning, and has passed through one gate, and before he reaches the other, let us kill him, while thus inclosed between the two gates of Jaldl Khan's palace."

Some of the Loh^nis, who were friends and connexions of Sher Khan, having heard of these machinations, told Sher Khdn, who, before receiving the news, had, by his own penetra- tion, discovered from the actions and motions of the Lohanis that they meditated some injury to himself. As he was a wise man he said nothing of the matter, but privately took precaution for his own safety ; and all the land and pro- perty he had recently acquired he expended in enlisting fresh retainers, to whom he gave Jdgirs and maintenance to their heart's content ; but to the Lohdnis he gave nothing. When he perceived that he had got so large a number of new soldiers collected together that the Lohdnis could not injure him or prevail against him in battle, he proclaimed the enmity of the Lohdnis, and said to Jalal Kh4n, "You well know that the King of Bengal has the design to send an army

and seize to-morrow, if not to-day, the kingdom of Bih^r. The Lohanis for three or four descents have enjoyed Jdgirs, and live at their ease ; nay, they even now covet all the newly acquired land. But I, who am your well-wisher, think it fit to entertain fresh men with the money and districts newly acquired ; so that your power may be strengthened, and that when the enemy (i.e., the King of Bengal) sees our large force, he may abandon his designs on the kingdom. On this account the Lohanis are dissatisfied with me, and complain of me, and are plotting to do me injury, and out of envy and hatred make all kinds of false complaints and accusations to you against me. If you believe me loyalj uphold that which I have in all loyalty done, and dissuade the Lohanis from their hostility to me, nor listen to what they say. You know that the Lohanis are a much stronger and more powerful tribe than the Surs ; and the custom of the Afghans is, that if any man has four kinsmen more than another, he thinks little of killing or dishonouring his neighbour. These are troublous times ; are you not anxious, and on your guard ? For myself, I know the Lohanis are plotting my death. From to-day I shall come to you with every precaution. Excuse me from coming inside of the palace, or, if it be indispensable that I should go within, permit me to enter it with a strong guard.''

Jalal Khan and the Lohdnis perceived that Sher Khdn had found them out in their designs, and that their plots had failed ; so Jalal Khan said to Sher Khan, "What power have the Lohanis that they should regard you with an evil eye ? All the Afghan race know that the Lohanis are a foul-mouthed people, and are without caution or prudence, and that their tongues are not under their control. They speak whatever comes to their lips, but they do not act upon it. Come to me, accompanied by your followers, in any manner that may reassure you, and permit no fear or anxiety to find a place in your mind. I will agree to whatever you do."

Thus assuring Sher Khdn in every way, Jalal Khan dismissed him. But after that, the Lohanis and Sher Khdn distrusted each

other, and there sprang up two parties ; those of the Lohdnis who had given intelHgence to Sher Kh4n sided with him, and thus the Lohanis themselves became disunited. As enmity- had arisen among them, a considerable number of the Lohanis bound themselves by vows and oaths to Sher Khdn, who said to them, " I cannot choose but serve Jaldl Khan loyally ; his father and his mother both showed me kindness ; when he was very young, I was appointed to educate him, and I did not fail to use my best endeavours in his education, as he well knows." * * * The Lohanis who had joined themselves to Sher Shdh re- plied: "The counsel which your heart has approved is very good ; for between them and ourselves there has arisen deadly enmity : it is not fitting we should be in the same place." * * * Sher Khan said to the friendly Lohanis, " The scheme which I have devised for my own protection and the good of Jalal Khan is as follows ; I shall say to Jalal Khan thus : ' You have two matters in hand, one to oppose your enemy, the King of Bengal ; the other, the preservation of the internal peace of the country, and the collection of revenue from the cultivators.' " * * * The Lohanis answered : " You have now a large force with you; there is no necessity for retaining men who are seditious and ill-disposed. Say simply to Jal41 Khan that he ought to send them away, and should give their jdgirs to other soldiers." Sher Khan replied : " My object is my own safety; out of regard for one's own life, it is not good to confirm the hostility of one's enemies." * * * AH present assented, and afterwards Sher Khdn wrote to Jal41 Khan in the following terms : " When Sultan Muhammad exalted me to Your Majesty's deputyship, this was displeasing to the envious Lohdnis. After Sultdn Muhammad's death, your mother employed me in the administration of the kingdom. The envy of the Lohanis increased, and they constantly complained of me, both openly and secretly ; but as ray skirts were free from the contamination of dishonesty, how much soever they searched my conduct, they could find in my acts no opening through

which they might effect my removal from the office of deputy. * * The Mughals who conquered the country from Sultdn Ihrdhim did not do so by the sword, but through the quarrels which the Afghans had among themselves; It has become known to me from a great many sources that the Lohdnis wish to assassinate me, and day and night employ themselves in contriving how to get me out of the way, and presume on the greater number of their tribe? And you also have two objects : one to oppose your enemy, the ruler of Bengal ; the other, to preserve the kingdom against internal enemies, and to collect the revenues. Since your army is split into two parties, opposed to each other, it is impossible to keep them both in one place ; therefore, which- ever of the two it pleases you keep with yourself, send the other to their jdgirs. I have spoken because it was incumbent on me. A man's life is dear to him, he will not part with it for nothing."

When Jaldl Khdn was informed of this representation, he said to Sher Khdn's mhil : " Tell Sher Khan that he has right on his side. * * * Let him wait a little, for I have powerful enemies : this sedition must be repressed by degrees. I will distinguish the truth from what is false." When Sher Khan was informed of the reply to his letters, he again sent his vakil to Jaldl Khdn's presence to say, "What Your Majesty has said is true. * * * Whatever you do, I will obey you ; nor will I transgress your orders.

After this, Jaldl Khan sent for the Lohanls who sought to kill Sher Khan, and showed them Sher Khan's letters, and said : " Certain of the Lohanis who were aware of your designs went to Sher Khdn and informed him, and have joined themselves to him, and they have sworn and vowed, whatever good or ill be- tide, never to separate from each other. What is to be done ? " The Lohdnis who sided with Jaldl Khan^ replied: "We did

' This expression would seem to imply that Jal&l Khin was privy to their plot. As both private and public virtue were strangers to the hearts of these Afgh&n nobles, we have no reason to hesitate about the perfidy of any of them, especially as Jalil Khin was himself a Loh^ni. Indeed, Nia'matu-Ua, in both his works, distinctly says that the scheme to out off Sher Khin was devised by the LohS,nis in co-operation with Jal&l Khan. See Dorn, p. 96.

not in the least care that Sher Kh4n has become acquainted with our designs ; but it has fallen out ill that so large a number of our brethren should have sided with him, and that disunion should have fallen on the tribe of Lohanis. * * * Do you send Sher Khan to his Jdgirs, and station him there; and do you, with a cheerful and confident mind, go to the King of Bengal, and getting a Jdgir for yourself in Bengal, make over the kingdom of Bihdr to him as a present, before any one else has attempted to seize it." The advice of the Lohanis pleased Jalal Khan, who, instantly sending for Sher Khdn, said : " The Lohdnis, who, on account of your loyalty to me, bear enmity against you, will, please God, receive their deserts and punishment. Do you remain to oppose the Mughals, and also administer the afi'airs of the kingdom. I will go to attack the King of Bengal." Sher Khan assented, and Jalal Khdn, bestowing a horse and dress of honour upon him, sent him off at once.^ When Sher Khdn had reached his Jdgir at Sahsardm, Jalal Khan went over to the King of Bengal, who attached to his person a division of the army under Ibrdhim Khan, son of Kutb Shdh. As soon as Sher Khan heard that Jaldl Khan had gone over to the King of Bengal, he was much pleased, and said : " Now the kingdom of Bihar has fallen into my hands. I felt certain that the army of the King of Bengal would assuredly come to attempt the conquest of Bihar, and as enmity existed in the army of Jalal Khdn between the Lohanis and myself, I feared lest the enemy should be vic- torious, for the surest means of defeat are divisions in your own army. Now that the Lohanis are gone to Bengal, there are no quarrels in my army, and if there be no divisions among the Afghans, how can the Bengal army compare with them in the day of battle? Even the Mughals cannot equal them. Please God, when I have dispersed the Bengal army, you will

' The object of all this is not yery evident ; but Nia'matu-Ua says it was a sort of stratagem, by which it was devised to bring back the Beng&,lis as auxiliaries for the expulsion of Sher Kh&.n from Bih&r. The whole counsel is worthy of the children who suggested and assented to it. See Dorn, p. 97.

soon see, if I survive, how I ■will expel the Mughals from Hindustan." i After this, Sher Khdn began to strengthen him- self, and enlist more men. Wherever there were any Afghdns he sent to them, and gave them any money they asked. Having collected a very large force, and made every preparation, and having gained the good will of his whole army, he placed the country of Bihdr in his rear, and proceeded against the army of the King of Bengal, fortifying his position with an earthen circumvallation.

The King of Bengal had appointed Ibrahim Khdn the leader of his army, and despatched him to conquer the kingdom of Bihdr.* Ibrahim Kh^n had under him a large Bengal army, and many elephants, and a park of artillery (dtish-bdzi) . In the excess of his pride he altogether despised the array of Sher Khan. Sher Khan, keeping under the shelter of his entrench- ments, skirmished every day ; and in spite of all their endeavours, the army of Ibrahim could not inflict any injury on his forces, on account of the earthen embankments. The Afghdns behaved with great gallantry, and repelled the endeavours of Ibrahim Khdn's army to penetrate their entrenchments. Every time the latter attacked, they were compelled to return unsuccessful ; but neither army gained any solid advantage over the other. Ibrahim Khdn, who was very confident in the prowess of the Bengalis, thought that in the day of battle the Afghans would be no match for them ; whereas it was only from his superior numbers, his elephants, and his artillery, that he had up to that time maintained his ground against them : so he wrote to his sovereign to request reinforcements, saying that Sher Kh5,n had taken up a fortified position, and that he was unable to dislodge him with his present force.

' Nia'matu-Ua tells us that one night ahont this time, while •wandering in the idzdr of BihSr, — "in which excursions he used secretly to deposit gold and clothes on the cushions of the sleeping who were oppressed hy indigence,"' — a dwrwesh un- expectedly raised his head and exclaimed, " God be praised !. the Emperor of Dehll has come." "Which words Sher Kh&n regarded as a divine inspiration. — Dora p. 98.

' Nia'matu-lla {ibid.) calls him erroneously Ibr&him Sh&h, King of Bengal.

When Sher Khkn heard that Ibrdhim Kh&n had sent for reinforcements, he called his Afghans together and said: "I have for some time abstained from meeting the Bengalis in the open field, and have kept myself sheltered under entrenchments, and I have brought out only a few men to fight with them, and for this reason, lest they should be discouraged by the large numbers of the enemy. Now I am convinced that the Bengalis are much inferior to the Afghans in war. I have remained within en- trenchments for some time without any general engagement, in order that the comparative prowess of the two nations might be manifested, and the presumption of the Bengalis be abated, while the Afghans might be no longer discouraged by the disparity of forces. I will now engage in open battle, for without a general engagement we cannot destroy and disperse our enemies. Praise be to God ! whenever such an engagement occurs between Afghans and Bengalis, the Afghans must prevail. It is im- possible that the Bengalis can stand against them. At present this is my purpose. To-morrow morning, if you concur with me, hoping in the mercy of the Protector, and trusting on this text, 'By God's command the lesser number overcomes the greater,' I will engage the enemy in open battle, for it behoves us not to delay or be backward in this matter, as reinforcements will soon reach them." The Afghans replied: "That which your noble mind has determined is extremely right." * * *

When Sher Khan saw the Afghans were in good heart to engage the Bengalis, and that Ibrahim Blh4n was daily ponder- ing how much longer Sher Khdn would yet remain in his entrenchments, and was anxious for an engagement, as he so presumed on the number of his forces that he had encamped them all round Sher Khdn's entrenchment, and had not thrown up any works to protect them, he determined to give him battle ; and to send his vakil to tell Ibrahim Khdn that it behoved him to be prepared the following morning, as he intended to come out of his entrenchments for that purpose. When Sher Khdn told the message to his friends, it pleased them, and he sent his

vakil to Ibrahim Khan, saying, " You have often said to me, ' Come out of your entrenchments, and let us meet in battle on the open field that we may test each other's prowess.' I have purposely remained patiently in my entrenchments for a time, hoping that peace might be concluded with you; but if you will agree to no peace, to-morrow morning put your army in array and come out, so that we may meet in open battle." Ibr5,him Khan replied to the mhil, " Say to Sher Khan, 'Have all your forces present on the field of battle early to-morrow morning.'" When Sher Khan heard this reply, he was much delighted, and told the intelligence to his men. IbrAhim Khdn also told Path Kh4n to give orders that his men should be ready and present on the morrow.

When one watch of the night was yet remaining, Sher Kh4n arrayed his forces, and brought them out of their entrenchments ; and after the morning prayers, he himself came out, and said to his chiefs, " In the enemy's army there are many elephants and guns, and a great force of infantry ; we must fight them in such a manner that they shall not be able to preserve their original order." The Bengali cavalry should be drawn away from their guns and infantry, and the horses intermingled with the elephants, so that their array may be disordered. I have thought of a stra- tagem by which to defeat the Bengalis. I will draw up the greater part of my forces behind the cover of that height which we see, but will retain for the attack a small number of experienced and veteran horse. Now, they will fight exactly in the same manner as they did on the former occasion, without any expectation of defeat. I will bring up my selected division, who, after dis- charging one flight of arrows into the Bengali army, shall retreat. Ibrahim Khan still bears in mind the old feud regarding the death of his father, and is presumptuous on account of his superior force. He will think the Afghans are beginning to fly ; and, becoming eager, he will leave his artillery and foot in the rear, and press on with all expedition himself, and disorder and confiision wiU find their way into his order of battle, I will

then bring out my force which had been concealed behind the eminence, who will attack the enemy. The Bengali cavalry, deprived of the support of their artillery and infantry, are by themselves unable to cope with the Afghan horse. I hope, by the favour of God, that their force will be routed and put to flight." All the Afghans expressed their approbation of Sher Kh&n's plan of battle, and were much delighted, and observed there could be no better possible scheme devised.

After this was agreed upon, Sher Khan drew out, as described above, a picked force, and explained to them that they were to act as had been determined ; and the rest of his force he drew up behind the shelter of the rising ground. When the army of Ibrahim Khdn was descried, the horsemen, according to their instructions, coming up to the Bengali army, discharged one volley of arrows, and then turned about. The Bengdli cavalry, supposing the Afghans were flying, broke their ranks, just as Sher Khan had anticipated, and pursued the Afghans. Accord- ingly, as soon as Sher Kh4n perceived that the Bengali cavalry had advanced, and. left their infantry and artillery in the rear, he appeared at the head of his force which had been lying in ambuscade, and advanced. The Bengalis were panic-struck, and the Afghans who had fled returned, and, joining the rest, they all ■stirrup to stirrup, after the manner of the Afghdns, fell upon the hostile array. The Bengalis, however, rallied, and stood their ground, and the two armies became closely engaged. After warriors of note had fallen in the contest, the sun of victory rose in favour of Sher Kh4n from the horizon of the East, and the Bengali army was defeated. Ibrahim Khdn exerted himself much, and said to the Bengalis, " Turn and exert yourselves, for the army of the Afghans is small. What face can we show to the king?" But it was no use. * * * Ibrahim Kh^n again said to his men: "What face can I show to the king? * * * I will either be victorious or die." He exerted himself much ; but as his (term of) life had arrived, he was killed.

Jaldl Khdn fled to the King of Bengal. The whole of the

treasure, elephants, and train of artillery (top-hhdnd) fell into the hands of Sher Khan, who was thus supplied with munitions of war, and hecame master of the kingdom of Bihar, and of much other territory beside. Since God, the most holy and omnipotent, had pre-ordained from all eternity to give the kingdom of Hind to Sher Khan, and that the people of the Lord should live in ease and comfort under the shadow of his justice, and that he should be a zealous and just ruler, his wealth daily increased, and the whole country gradually came into his possession. He employed himself in the improvement of his provinces, so that, in a short time, they much surpassed their previous condition, and reached to perfection ; — for this reason, that he personally superintended every business ; nor did he show favour to any oppressor, even though of his own relations or dependents; and if any one entered his service, he said to him from the first : " The stipend and maintenance which I may agree to give you, I will pay you in full, and not diminish them a single /a^zis; but you shall not oppress or quarrel with any one. If you do, I will visit you with such a punish- ment as shall be an example to others." In a short season he acquired a good reputation among the people of God, and it was everywhere known that Sher Khan paid his troops regularly, and neither oppressed any one himself, nor suffered others to do so.

I, the author of this history of Sher Kh4n, 'Abbds Khdn bin Shaikh 'Ali Sarwdni, have heard from my kindred and connexions, who were great nobles and companions of Sher Kh^n, that he got possession of the fort of Chunar in the following manner. Sultdn Ibrahim Lodi had entrusted the fort of Chundr to T4j Khan Sdrang-khdni, and the royal treasures were deposited in the fort. Now this Taj Khan was altogether a slave to his love for his wife Lad Malika, who was a woman of great sagacity and wisdom ; and Taj Khan had made three Turkoman brothers his lieutenants, by name Mir Ahmad, Is'hak, and Mir Dad; they were own brothers, experienced, talented, and wise men. As they perceived that Taj Khdn was com-

pletely under the control of his wife, they of course ingratiated themselves with her, and promised and swore to Ld,d Malika that they would not oppose her, and would be faithfiil to her.

Juki Malika had no sons, but T4j Khdn had several sons by other wives. On account of his affection for Lad Malika, he did not give a fitting maintenance to his sons, and their mothers did not even receive a sufficiency of daily food. Although the sons often remonstrated, it was of no avail. Hence they con- tinually laid up the seeds of enmity and hate against L4d Malika. One night Tdj Khdn's eldest son wounded Ldd Malika with a sabre, but not severely. Her servants complained to T4j Khan, who drew his sword, and ran out to kill his son. He perceiving that his father was about to kill him for the sake of his wife, struck his father with his sabre, and escaped out of the house. Tdj Khdn died of the wound.

The sons of Tdj Khdn, although but young, were on bad terms with the greater part of his troops ; but L4d Malika, being a clever woman, by the liberality and benevolence of her conduct, had ingratiated herself with them during Taj Khdn's lifetime, and after his death also they adhered to her. A few ill-disposed persons adhered to Tdj Khan's sons ; but they daily quarrelled, and disputed among themselves over the treasure, and showed themselves so incapable, that their followers became disgusted with them. Sher Khan therefore sent secretly to Mir Ahmad, saying, " Send Mir Dad to me, for I have a message for you which I will send through him." Mir Ahmad sent Mir Dad to Sher Khdn, who said to him, " Tell Mir Ahmad that I am ready to confer great benefits on him." Mir Ahmad, when he heard this, said to his brothers, "Ldd Malika possesses talent for government, yet she is but a woman ; and there are many who covet the fort and the treasure in it. Ldd Malika will not be able to hold the fort, therefore it is best that I should surren- der the fort to Sher Khdn, and so lay him under an obligation to myself; it will be to our advantage." The brothers approved of Mir Ahmad's counsel, and went to Ldd Malika, and showing

to her Sher Khan's letters, said, " We obey you, whatever you order us that we will do." She replied, "You are to me as father and brothers ; do what you like, I will agree to whatever you say." They said, " If you will not be angry we will say what we consider to be most to your advantage." She replied, " Fear not ; speak without hesitation the purpose you entertain." Mir Ahmad said, " Even if there should be no disturbance in the fort, still you would be unable to hold it, for you are a woman and have no sons, and there are many persons who seek to gain possession of it. It is a royal possession, and until some one assumes the sovereignty, it will be best to give the fort over to Sher Khan. You shall marry him, and thus find an asylum, and so no one shall deprive you of the fort and royal treasures." Lad Malika said, " Send your brother Mir Dad to Sher Khan in order to arrange with him that I shall give up the fort ; but on one condition, that he shall deprive of his ears and nose that miserable son who murdered his father, that he may be a warning to others."

When Mir D4d came to Sher Khdn, he made him agree that he would not hurt or injure Ldd Malika or the mother of the three brothers. Sher Khdn received him with all honour and hospitality, and using every endeavour to assure him, and making the utmost protestations of friendship and good feeling, said, " If Ldd Malika gives me up the fort and will marry me, I shall be for ever indebted to your kindness." And Sher Khdn thus having employed himself in captivating the bud of his heart by kindness, Mir D4d said, "It is not fit to surrender the fort except to the king; but since I have come to you, you have shown me such kindness and goodwill, and have displayed such hospitality, that I have considered nothing but how, in return for this, to get the fort into your power. I will not fail to use my best exertions to this end. My hope in God is, that L^d Malika will not dissent from what I say ; but when the business is performed to your heart's content, do not so act as to disgrace me." Sher Khdn swearing everything he wished, assured him

and said, " "While I live I will never cause you grief. * * * Mir Dad recommended that they should start at once, and Sher Khan mounting with all haste set off. Mir Ddd went on before and gave intelligence that Sher Khdn was coming, and urged them not to delay giving up the fort, and got Lkd Malika and his brothers to consent. So Mir Dad was sent back to bring in Sher Khkn quickly, and to take possession of the fort before the sons of Taj Khan should be aware of their designs.

As soon as Mir D4d had come to Sher Khan, and had told him that it was agreed to give him up the fort and treasure, and that he should marry L&d Malika, and when he had admitted him at once into the fort, they immediately proceeded to celebrate the marriage between Lad Malika and Sher Kh4n. She gave him a present consisting of 150 of the most exceedingly valuable jewels, and seven tiians of pearls, and 150 mans of gold, and many other articles and ornaments.^ Sher Khan subsequently got into his power and possession the parganas near the fort of Chunar ; and after this, he strengthened his resources still further by inheriting sixty mans of gold from Guhar Kus4in, widow of Nasir Khdn.^ His power was now firmly established, as he was master of a fort and of much of the treasure of the kingdom, and had collected a large force, both horse and foot. After this Sultdn Mahmud, the son of Sultdn Sikandar, whom Hasan Khdn Mewdtti and the E4na Sdnga^ and certain Afghans had set up as king, engaged the second Jamshid the Emperor Babar in an action near Sikri, in which Hasan Khdn, son of 'Adil Khdn Mewdtti, and the Edja of Dungarpiir, Edwal by name,

' Ahmad T&dglir gives a different enumeration (MS., p. 262), but gives the total value at nine lacs of rupees.

^ Dr. Dom, History of the Afghdns, p. 101, says, " 600 mam of pure gold, besides many other rarities of various descriptions." This is not borne out by the Persian originals, which all read only "sixty," instead of "600." [Gen. Cunningham's MS. agrees with the translation. Literally it says, " Afterwards Guhar KushMn, the wife (widow) of Nasir Kh^n, died, and sixty mans of her gold came into the hands of Sher Sh&h." But Sir H. Elliot's MS. says, "After this he married Guhar Kush'afn, the widow, and sixty mans, etc., etc.]

were slain, and Sultdn Mahmud and the E4na Sangd being defeated fled to Ohitor. Sultdn Mahmud remained for a season in that neighbourhood, and afterwards came towards Patna. Masnad 'Xli 'Azam Khan Humdyun S4ni (whose son-in-law Sultan Mahmud was), Masnad 'Kli tsk Khdn, son of Haibat Khdn, the son of Masnad 'Jili 'Umar Khan Kalkapuria,i who had formerly been governor of Lahore, and Ibrdhim Khan, son of Ahmad KhS,n, son of Mub^riz Khdn Yusuf-khail, and Midn Babin, son of Midn Atta S4hu-khail, governor of Sirhind, and Mian B^yazid Farmuli, had at that time assembled themselves together and threw obstacles in the way of the Mughals. Midn Babin and Mian B^yazid were the leaders of a large force, and had very often fought against the Mughals, and had obtained a great name for their valour. These nobles invited Sultdn Mahmud to Patna, and made him king. When Sultdn Mahmud came with these nobles unto Bihar, Sher Khdn found it impossible to oflFer any resistance, as they possessed so considerable a force, and he himself was not held in sufficient repute among the Afghans to admit of such an attempt. He was therefore necessitated to present himself before Sultdn Mahmud. The Afghans portioned out among themselves the kingdom of Bihdr,^ but the king said to him, " When I get possession of Jaunpiir, I will give to you the kingdom of Bihdr which you conquered after defeating the army of the King of Bengal. Be not at all uneasy, as Sultan Sikandar bestowed the kingdom of Bihdr upon Darya Kh4n, so will I bestow it on you." Sher Khan requested a farmdn to this effect, and Sultan Mahmud assented, and ordered one to be executed, and so Sher Khan received a farmdn for the king- dom of Bih^r from the king ; and having taken several months' leave, returned to his Jdgir to prepare his forces.

When Sultan Mahmud had equipped his army, he marched towards Jaunpiir, and issued a mandate directing Sher Kh4n

' Nia'matu-lla adds, " except Sahsar^m, which was the old Jdgir of Sher Kh^." — Dorn, p. 101.

to join him immediately. On the receipt of this order, Sher Khdn wrote back in reply, that he would come as soon as he could complete the arrangements about his force. When the nobles about the king knew the purport of Sher Khdn's reply, they represented that Sher Kh4n was in confederacy with the Mughals, and was merely finessing and making pretences, and that the king ought not to trust what he wrote or said, but to compel him to accompany the army. 'Azam Humdyun Sarwani said : " It will be easy to bring Sher Kh^n along with us. Put your mind at ease. Let us march in the direction of his jdgir, and go wherever Sher Khdn may be. As punishment for his delay, let us exact from him a large and handsome reception, and then let us compel him to join us." Sultan Mahmud and his nobles were greatly pleased at 'Azam Humdyun's advice, and praised his sagacity. They proceeded by regular marches to Sahsaram, where Sher Khan then was. Sher Khdn hearing that Sultan Mahmud was come with all his followers, and would compel him to join them, whether he would or no, was much vexed, and said to his friends, " The plan I had devised has not succeeded. Of the nobles who are with the king, two — the one named 'Azam Humayun, and the other 'fsd Khan Sarwani — are clever and wise men, and have much experience in pubKc affairs. They have joined this army for the honour of the Afghans and from regard to their kindred; albeit, they are aware that the army will do no good, for the nobles who are in it are not at unity among themselves, and without unity they can accomphsh nothing. * * * J can no longer excuse myself, I must go along with the army. Do you tell your troops to prepare for marching with all haste, while I go out to meet the king and his army my- self, and put them in good humour, make my own excuses, and bring them with me ; for my guests are my own kin, and do you make all preparations for entertaining them." Sher Khdn then went out to welcome the king, and having prepared rich enter- tainments of divers kinds, sent them to the quarters of the various nobles and chiefs, who were his friends, according to

their rank ; and also gave large presents and a magnificent entertainment to Sultdn Mahmud, so that all parties were pleased and delighted with him.

Sher Khan requested Sultdn Mahmud to halt a few days, while he equipped his forces. Sultan Mahmud acceded to this request, and after a halt of some days, Sher Khan having made his preparations, marched in company with Sultan Mahmud. When they approached Jaunpur, the Mughals who were there abandoned the place and fled. Sultdn Mahmud delayed some days at Jaunpur, but sent on his army in ad\ance and occupied Lucknow and other districts.

On hearing this intelligence, the Emperor Humdyun set off from i^gra^ for Lucknow, whither Sultan Mahmud arrived also from Jaunpur. The two armies met near Lucknow, and daily skirmishes ensued. Warriors on either side came out and en- gaged one another. Sher Khdn perceiving that there was no unanimity among the Afghans, but that every one acted as he thought best, wrote to Hindu Beg, and said, " The Mughals raised me from the dust. These people have brought me with them by force ; but in the day of battle I will not fight, and will go off the field without engaging. Tell the Emperor Humdytin the true state of my case, and that I will serve him in the day of battle, and will cause the defeat of this army." When Hindu Beg showed Sher Khdn's letter to the Emperor, the latter ordered him to write to Sher Khan, " Be at your ease as to your accompanying these people ; act as you have written ; if you do, it will be for your advancement." After some days had elapsed, the two armies joined in a general engagement, and Sher Khdn drew off his forces at the critical moment of the battle, and retreated without engaging. This caused Sultan Mahmud's

' I concur with ElpMnstone [History of India, toI. ii., 128), in considering this march to have commenced in Safar, 944 h. (July, 1537 a.d.) He says the Tdrikh-i Sher Shdhi says 942. Which one P Not this. Firishta and Khiki ShlrSzi say 943 . but there is impossibility in the former date, and great improbability in the latter. All the AfghSji histories of tha period are Tery deficient and contradictory in their dates.

defeat. Ibrahim Khdn Yusuf-khail made desperate exertions, and showed great gallantry in that engagement, nor did he quit his post while life remained; he repulsed every Mughal force which was opposed to him ; but was at last slain. As Mian Bdyazid had drunk more wine than than he could bear, and had got drunk and careless, he also was slain in that battle. Sultan Mahmud and the other chiefs being defeated, fled to the king- dom of Bihdr. The Sultan had neither money nor territory to entertain a force of his own, and his nobles who had placed him on the throne were most of them killed in the battle at Lucknow, while the few who remained were from their quarrels dispersed. Sultan Mahmud was greatly given to dancing women, and passed most of his time in amusing himself; and as he had no power to oppose the Mughals, he abdicated his royalty, and went and settled himself in the province of Patna, and never again attempted the throne. He died in a.h. 949.^

When Humayun had overcome Sultdn Mahmud, and had put the greater number of his opponents to death, he sent Hindu Beg to take Chunar from Sher Khan, but Sher Khdn declined to give it up to him. When he heard this, Humayun com- manded his victorious standards to be set in motion towards Chunar. Sher Khan leaving Jalal Khan (who after the death of Sher Khan succeeded him under the,title of Islam Shdh), and another Jal41 Khan, son of Jalti, in Chun4r, withdrew with his family and followers to the hills of Nahrkunda.* The army of Humdyun besieged Chun4r, and daily fighting ensued, in which both Jalal Khans displayed valour great beyond description, and from their gallantry gained great renown. Sher Khdn's custom was to despatch spies to all the neighbouring countries, in order to inquire into their actual condition.

Sher Khan knew that the Emperor Humayun would be unable to delay long in those parts ; for his spies brought him word that

• The Tdrikh-i Khdn Jahdn (MS. p. 165) says that he died in Orissa in 94i h. The Tdrikh-i Ddiidi (MS. p. 211) says in Orissa in 949 H. 9 [Var. " Bahrkunda."]

Bahadur Shah, the King of Grujarat had conquered the kingdom of Mandu, and was meditating the seizure of Dehli, and would shortly declare war. Humdyun also having received this intelli- gence, Sher Khdu sent his vakil to him and wrote, saying : "I am your slave, and the client of Junaid Birlas. Moreover, the good service which I did at the battle of Lucknow is known to you, and as you must entrust the fort of Chunar to some one, make it over to me, and I will send my son Kutb Khan to accompany you in this expedition. Do you lay aside all anxiety as regards these parts ; for if either I or any other Afghdn do any act unbefitting or disloyal, you have my son with you ; inflict on him such reprisals as may be a warning to others."

When Sher Khan's emissary represented this to the Emperor Humdyun, he replied : " I will give Chunar to Sher Khan, but on this condition, that he sends Jalal Khan with me." Sher Khan sent word in reply, " In the love and estimation of their father and mother, all sons are alike. Jal41 Khdn is not superior to Kutb Khan, but I have many opponents and I have vowed that I will not permit one to get a footing in the country, lest afterwards the Emperor should be compelled to war with him." Just at this time news arrived that Mirza Muhammad Zaman,^ who had been sentenced to imprisonment in the fort of Bayana, had regained his liberty by producing a iorgei farmdn for his release, and had created a disturbance in the country ; and also that Bahadur Shdh of Gujardt was intending to march on Dehli. So Humdytin said to Sher Khan's agent, that as Sher Khan was a loyal man, he would agree to this proposal, and that if he would send Kutb Khan, he would leave the fort of Chunar with Sher Khdn. Sher Khan was delighted, and sent Kutb Khdn his son, and 'tsk Khan his chamberlain, to the Emperor, who set off for ^Lgra, and employed himself in suppressing the rebellion of

'' He was grandson of Sult&n Husain Mirz&, and endeavoured to supplant Hum&yiin on the throne of India by two different schemes of assassination. After various other treacheries and machinations, he was again reconciled to Hum&ydn, and was killed at the battle of Chaunsa in 946 h., which was lost chiefly through his supineness and neglect.

Sultan Bahdiiur.i Sher Kh4n took advantage of thia oppor- tunity, and did not leave one enemy of his remaining throughout the kingdom of Bihdr. He also began to patronize all Afghans. Many of them, who had assumed the garb of religious mendi- cants on account of their misfortunes, he relieved, and enlisted as soldiers ; and some who refused to enlist, and preferred a life of mendicancy, he put to death, and declared he would kill every Afghan who refused to be a soldier. He was also very carefiil of his Afghans in action, that their lives might not be uselessly sacrificed. When the Afghans heard that Sher Khan was eagerly desirous of patronizing their race, they entered into his service from all directions.

Sultan Bahddur being defeated, went towards Surat, and the whole of the Afghans who were in his service, whether chiefs or common soldiers, came to Sher Khdn. Several powerful chiefs, who had at first scorned to enter Sher Khan's service, when they saw his power day by day increasing, put aside their pride, and volunteered to serve under him. Accordingly 'Azam Humayun Sarwdnf, and Masnad 'A'li 'Is4 Khdn son of Masnad 'All Haibat Khan Sahii-khail, and Midn Babin Sdhu-khail, Kutb Kh^n Mochi-khail, Ma'ruf Farmuli, and 'Azam Humdyun, eldest son of Sult4n 'Alam Khdn Sahu-khail, and in short every Afghan of high rank joined him, and he assumed the title of Hazrat 'Ali.

Bibi Fath Malika was exceedingly wealthy; she was the daughter of Mian Kala Pah^r^ Farmuli, sister's son to Sultan Bahlol. This Mian Muhammad was a very prudent man; he entertained but few soldiers, and gave his chief attention to the accumulation of wealth. Sultan Bahlol gave him in jdgir the whole sarkdr of Oudh, and several parganas besides. He in- herited also wealth from his father. During; the reigns of Sultdns Bahlol, Sikandar, and Ibrahim, his jdgirs were never

' Nearly all the other authorities inform us that Kuth KhEin effected his escape from Hum&ytin's camp, Ahmad TidgSr (MS. p. 264) says that he succeeded in doing this at Ajmlr.

disturbed, and during all this time he gave his attention to nothing else except the accumulation of wealth. I have heard from persons of veracity that he had amassed three hundred mans of red hard ^ gold, and he did not purchase any other but golden jewelry. He had no child save Fath Malika, and he married her to a lad named Shaikh Mustafa.

When Mian Muhammad died, towards the end of the reign of Sult4n Ibrdhim, he left one boy of uncertain parentage, who was called Mian Nia'mu. His parentage was for this cause uncertain, as Mi^n Xala Pah4r had bestowed one of his concubines on a servant. When the girl had been some time in the servant's house, she bore a male child, whom she declared to be the offspring of Mi4n Muhammad Kala Pahar. When MiAn Mu- hammad heard this, he took the girl away from his servant, and brought her into his own house, and acknowledged the child as his own son. The child grew up an able man. Sultdn Ibrahim made Shaikh Mustafa, the husband of Fath Malika, and who was also her father's brother's son, the successor to Mian Mu- hammad K4Ici Pahar ; but gave a small portion of Kald, Pahar's treasury to Mian Nia'mu, and also bestowed one or two par- ganas of the sarkdr of Oudh mjdgir on him ; but the greater portion of KalA Pahdr's treasure came into the possession of Fath Malika.

This Mustafa, during the time of Sultan Ibrahim and after- wards, distinguished himself in action.^ I have heard from various relators of history, that during the lifetime of Sultan Ibrdhim, Mian Mustafa and Midn MaVuf Farmuli quarrelled regarding some territory, and fought about it. It was Midn Mustafa's custom, when about to engage, to prepare sundry mans of sweetmeats in commemoration of his father Midn Muhammad, and distribute them to fakirs. This done, he used to set off to fight. Mian Ma'ruf employed himself in reading prayers and supplications.

' This word appears variously, " Mahi," "jdsM," and "chdslii." 2 He will be found mentioned under that reign.

When Midn Mustafa died, he left a young daughter, by- name Mihr Sultan. Fath Malika, being a very able woman, had educated Mian Bdyazid, a younger brother of Mustafa. She said to him, " Do you look to the soldiery, I will provide money." Midn Bdyazid with this money collected a very large force, and greatly distinguished himself, gaining several victories over the troops of the Emperor Babar ; so that the names of Midn Babin and Mi4n Bayazid became famous ; but since the death of Bayazid has been already described, there is no need for repeating the story here. When he was slain, Fath Malika was in Bihdr, and collecting a number of men to protect the treasure, she proceeded to the hills adjoining Bihdr, intending to go to Patna j for the Raja of Patna had shown great favour to the more wealthy Afghans. When Bayazid was killed, and Sultdn Mahmud had given up striving for the Empire, the R4ja of Patna considered that the fortune of the Afghdn connexion was on the decline, and stretched out the hand of oppression against the possessions of the Afghdns to whom he had given shelter. Fath Malika, on hearing this news, abandoned her intention of going to Patna. When Sher Khdn heard that the Bibi, from this apprehension, had abandoned her design of going to Patna, he was much delighted, and conceived the intention of getting Fath Malika, by means of some pretence or stratagem, into his own clutches, lest she should go into the territories of some other potentate, and the treasure should thus slip out of his grasp, which would have grieved him to all eternity. So he sent his vahil to the Bibi, and wrote to this effect : " The nobles and grandees of Sultans Bahlol and Sikandar have come into these parts, and have honoured me by taking shelter with me, and are collected together for the honour of the Afghans. Your servant also has girt up his loins in this cause and design, and you have strong claims on the consideration of the Afghan race, first because you are of the family of Shaikh Muhammad ; secondly, there is your connexion with a descendant of Sultan Bahlol. What fault has your servant committed, that you delay

in visiting his country ? There is no trusting the promises of the unbelievers of these parts ; and (which God forbid !) if any injury should occur to your people among these hills in which you now are, it would be an eternal disgrace to me. -Men would say, 'Because she could not trust Sher Khin, she would not enter his country.' " When the mldl came to Fath Malika, and she heard what Sher Kh4n wrote, she wrote in reply, that if he would make a covenant with her, and confirm it by oaths, she would come to him. To this Sher Khan agreed, and she sent a trustworthy man to Sher Khdn, in whose presence he swore, and pledged himself by the most solemn oaths. Bibi Fath Malika being fully assured, came to Sher Khdn, and remained some time with him.

When Nasib Shah, the ruler of Bengal, died, the nobles of Bengal made Sultan Mahmud his successor ; but he was not able to manage the kingdom, and it fell into disorder. Sher Khan conceived the desire of seizing the kingdom of Bengal, and took from the BIbi 300 mans, of gold to equip his army ; and gave her two parganas for her support {madad-ma'dsh), besides leaving her some ready money for her immediate expenses.'^ But Jalal Khdn having, against the Bibi's consent, wished to espouse her daughter Mihr Sultan,. Sher Khan, on hearing of it,. forbade Jalal Khan ; and she married her daughter to one Sultan- Sikandar, a relation of her own. This Sikandar proved very unworthy. During Mihr Sultan's life he lived in comfort ; and in the reign of the Emperor Akbar, in the year 975 a.h., Mihr Sultan, on her way to the pargana of Kayat, in the direction of Sind, died in the house of Muzaffar Khdn. Sher Khan

1 Dr. Dom (p. 105) says she had placed her " district under the protection of the Mughals. At this Sher Kh&n was so enraged, that he seized upon her whole wealth and effects. * » * This treasure is said to have consisted of 600 mans of pure gold, besides specie and other valuables." This is not at all in accordance with any original MS. I have seen, which simply says : " Having escaped the violence of the Mughals, she sought refuge in this kingdom. * * * They say, that amongst her property were sixty inans of red gold besides silver and valuables." Here the deliberate treachery of this belauded king is not attempted to be accounted for, as it is in Dr. Dorn's translation. The Tdrikh-i Khdn Jahdn (MS. p. 174) has 300 mam.

having equipped his army with this money, attacked the king- dom of Bengal, and got possession of all of it on this side Ghari (Sikri-gali),

When the Emperor Humayun came back from Gujarat, the Khdn-khanan Yusuf-khail (who brought the Emperor Babar from Kabul to Hindustan) said to him: "It is not wise to neglect Sher Khan, for he is rebelliously inclined, and well understands all matters pertaining to government ; moreover, all the Afghans are collected round him." The Emperor Humdylin, relying on the vastness of his forces, and on the pride of Empire, took no heed of Sher Kh4n, and remaining the rainy season at iiigra, sent Hindu Beg to Jaunpiir, with directions to write a full and true report regarding Sher Khan.

When Sher Khdn heard that the Emperor Humayun intended himself marching towards Bihar, he sent magnificent presents to Hindu Beg, governor of Jaunpur, and gained his goodwill. At the same time Sher Khan wrote thus : " From what I promised I have not departed. I have not invaded the Emperor's country. Kindly write to the Emperor ; and assuring him of my loyalty, dissuade him from marching in this direction ; for I am his ■servant and well-wisher." When Hindu beheld Sher Khan's presents, he approved of them, and was well pleased, and he said to the valdl, " So long as I live, let your mind be easy. No one shall injure you." And in the presence of Sher Khdn's vakil, •Bindu Beg wrote a letter to the Emperor Humdyun, saying: " Sher Khan is a loyal servant of Your Majesty, and strikes coin and reads the hhutha in your name, and has not trans- gressed the boundaries of Your Majesty's territory, or done anything since your departure which could be any cause of annoyance to you." The Emperor, on receipt of Hindu Beg's letter, deferred his journey that year. Sher Khan, meanwhile, detached Jaldl Khan, Khawds Khan senior, and other chiefs, to conquer Bengal and the city of Gaur. On their entering Bengal, Sultan Mahraud, unable to oppose them, retired to the fort of Gaur. The Afghans, having made themselves masters

of the surrounding country, invested and besieged that fortress, before which daily skirmishes took place.

The following year the Emperor marched towards Bih4r and Bengal. When he arrived near Ohunar, he consulted his nobles whether he should first take Ohunar, or march towards Gaur, which the son of Sher Kh4n was besieging, but had not yet taken. All his Mughal nobles advised that he should first take Ohunar, and then march on Gaur, and it was so determined ; but when Humdyun asked the Khdn-khanan Yusuf-khail for his opinion, he (having previously heard that the Mughal nobles had agreed it was advisable first to take Ohunar) said, "It is a. coansel of the young to take Ohundr first ; the counsel of the aged is, that as there is much treasure in Gaur, it is advisable to take Gaur first ^ after that the capture of Ohunar is an easy matter." The Emperor replied : " I am young, and prefer the counsel of the young. I will not leave the fort of Obundr in my rear." The author has heard from the Khdn-khdn^'s com- panions, that when he returned to his quarters, he observed :. " The luck of Sher Khdn is- great, that the Mughals do not go to Gaur. Before they take this fort, the Afghans will have conquered Gaur, and all its treasures will fall into their hands."

Sher Khdn left Ghdzi Sur and Bulaki,i who was the com- mandant of Ohundr, in that fortress, and removed his family and those of his Afgh^ followers to the fortress of Bahrkunda ; but as he had many families with him, that fort could not hold them all. There existed a friendly connexion between Sher Khan and the R4j.a of the fort of Rohtas, and Churdman, the Eaja's ndib, was on particular terms of intimate friendship and alliance with Sher Khdn. This Ohiiraman was a Brahman, and was a person of the highest rank, and had formerly shown kindness to the family of Mi4n Nizam, own brother to Sher Khdn, and procured them shelter in the fort of Eohtds ; and when all danger had gone by, the family again quitted the fort,

1 In other MSS. "-Sultan Sarw&ni," and " SuU&n Baroll."

and made it over to the Bik^L On the present occasion, Sher Khdn wrote that he was in great straits, and that if the Edj4 would give him the loan of the fort for a short time, he would be obliged to him all his days, and that when all danger was past, he would again restore the fort. Chiiraman replied, "Be of good cheer, I will manage it, so that the E4j4 shall knd you the fort." When Ohurdman went to the Rdja, he said, "Sher Khdn has asked for the loan of Rohtas for his family. He is your neighbour. This is my advice, it is an opportunity to show kindness ; you should admit his family." The 'Rkjk agreed.

When Sher Khan sent his family from Eahrkunda, the Rija retracted his promise, and said, " When I admitted Mian Nizam into the fort, they had but a small force. I was the stronger. Now they have the larger force, and I a small one. If I admit them into the fort, and they will not restore it, I cannot take it from them by force." Churiman wrote to Sher Khdn, saying: " Certain persons, my enemies, have given very evil counsel to the Rajd, and persuaded him to violate his promise, and to decline giving you the fort." Sher Khdn, on receiving this news, was much grieved and anxious, and he wrote to the Raja, and said : " On the faith of your promise, I have brought ray family from Eahrkunda. If the Emperor Humayiin hears this news, he will send his army, and all the families of the Afghans will be taken and enslaved. This misfortune will rest on your head." Sher Khdn also gave to Ohiirdman a bribe of six mans of gold, and said : " Persuade in any way you can the ESja to give me the loan of this fort for a few days, for my family ; but if he will not give it, then I will go and make my peace with the Emperor Humayun, and will revenge myself on everything belonging to the Raja." Churaman said, " Be of good heart, I will procure admittance for your women and children." So Churaman then went to the R4j^, and said : " It is not becoming your dignity to break your promise. Sher Khan, on the strength of it, has brought his family from the fort of Eahrkunda. If the Emperor hears that his family is not in safety, he will attack

and destroy them, and the blame will rest on my shoulders. Moreover, if Sher Khan be in extremities, he will make peace with the Emperor, and will attack you, and you are not strong enough to oppose him. Why do you thus heedlessly provoke his hostility, and throw your kingdom into confusion ? I am a Brdhman, and since Sher Kh&n came here relying on my word, if his family be slain, the blame will rest on me. If you do not admit him into the fort, I will take poison and die at your door." When the Raja saw Ohuraman thus determined, he agreed to admit the family of Sher Khdn into the fort. Sher Khdn had not heard of the permission, when he received intelli- gence that Khawds Kh4n senior had been drowned in the ditch of the fort of Gaur, and that the fort of Ohundr had surrendered to the Emperor Humdyun.'- He became very depressed and anxious, and bestowing on the younger brother of KhawS,s Khdn, whose name was Musdhib Khan, the sur- name of Khawas Kh^n, detached him with urgent instructions, that since Chundr had fallen, and that the Emperor HumS,yun would in a few days march towards Bengal, he was to press the siege of Gaur with all possible despatch.

Khawds Khan arrived at Gaur, and said to JaUl Khdn, " My orders from the king ^ are to take the fort of Gaur without delay, as the Emperor is coming up in our rear." Jal41 Khdn said : "Wait yet to-day." But Khawds Khdn replied, "I cannot disobey my orders ; we must at once make the attack." Jalal Khdn said : " Be it so ! go to your post." Khawds Khdn, taking his leave of Jaldl Khan, came to his brother's post, and encouraged his brother's force, saying, "My orders are these : The instant I arrive to use every endeavour to take the fort and not in any way to delay." He directed the heralds

' Respecting the capture of CBunir, and the cruelties perpetrated on the garrison by the Mughals, see the history of Hum&yfln. It is passed oyer very cursorily by all the Afgha.n writers, while the TimtiriaQB expatiate upon it. Elphinstone's date of IStb Sha'b&n, 944 (8th January, 1S38), for the commencement of the siege, is the most probable one.

2 This title is now first applied to Sher Kh^ in the MSS.

to command the army to prepare themselves with all haste, as there was no time to lose ; and arming himself, he sent to Jalal Khan to say, " I am ready with my whole force in obedience to the orders of Sher Khan, and only wait for you. Do you array yourselves also ; it is not good to delay. By God's grace we will be victorious." Jald.1 Khan, Shuj^'at Kh4n, and the rest were displeased, but, nevertheless, got ready. Khawds Khdn personally displayed such energy and gallantry, that he succeeded in mastering the fortress even before Jaldl Khdn arrived. From that day his valour became celebrated, and after that he conquered wherever he went, so that in all Sher Khan's army there was none like him for intrepidity as well as liberality. Gaur having fallen, Jalal Khdn sent an account of the victory to his father, and attributed it to Khawds Khan. On hearing the news, Sher Khan was exceedingly delighted ; and Ohiiraman also came to him, and said that the Rajd had consented to give him the fort of Eohtds, into which he might bring his women and children. Sher Khdn brought his women and children near to the fort, and expressed his devoted friendship for and obliga- tion to the Bikjk, and gave him much money and goods of various kinds, saying : " If ever I am again prosperous, I will not consider myself absolved from my obligations to you." The 'Rijk was much delighted, and said, "The fort of Eohtas is yours, order in your family." Sher Khdn had given orders to his men that none should go out who once went in ; after this, Sher Khdn himself went in and examined the fort. He thanked God, and said : " The fort of Chundr is no fort in comparison with this ; as that has gone out of my possession, this has come into it. I was not so pleased at the conquest of Gaur as (I am) at getting possession of Eohtds." And he said to the guards of the fort, " You had best go to the Rdjd, and say, ' You cannot remain in the same place with the Afghans, or it will be the worse for you.'" And he ordered his own men, if the guards did not obey the order to leave the fort, to eject them by force. Sher Khan's men were all prepared, as, when they told the guards

what Sher Khkn had said, and these refused, they turned them out hy force of arms. So Sher Khan placed his own guards and sentries in every part of the fort, and took the greatest precau- tion for its safe custody, and drove the Rdja away from the fort. In the manner thus described he got possession of the fort of Bohtas.

The commonly received report that Sher Khan put Afghdns into doHs, and sent them into the fort as women, is altogether erroneous and false.^ For I, the writer of this history, Tuh/a-i Ahbar Shdhi, the son of Shaikh 'iiili, have inquired of several chiefs and nobles who were with Sher Khdn in the affair. For example, I inquired of the chief of great nobles Muzaffar Khdn, and nephew of Masnad 'K\i ''tsk Khan, and of Shaikh Muhammad, son of Midn Bdyazid Sarwdnl, and several others who were present on the occasion ; and they said, " It is needful you should hear from us the history of your ancestors, for you are connected with Sultan Bahlol, Sultdn Sikandar, Sher Shah, and Salim Shdh. Take heed to our words, for after a lapse of many days, frequent errors and mistakes arise. We will tell you what we heard and saw." I said to Khan-'azam Muzaffar Khdn, son of Jalal Khan, the son of Haibat Khdn, " It is commonly said that Sher Khdn took Rohtds by introducing the Afghans

1 Our author is siiiotly followed by the MaTchzan-i Afghdnl ; but the Tdrikfi-i KMn-Jahdn adheres to the doli story. It says (MS. p. 168) that there were 1200 litters, in each of which were two Afghans armed, except in some, of the foremost, in which there were old women. After the examination of some of the leading litters, Sher Kh&,n sent a message to the RS.J&, to represent that the ESJi having now satisfied himself there were only women in the litters, and as it was highly indecorous to expose them to the gaze of the sentries, the search ought to be discontinued. The ESjS, readily assented, and when the litters had all been introduced, and discharged their burdens, the Afghans seized possession of the gates, and admitted Sher Shih who was ready with his army outside, awaiting the successful result of his stratagem. Ahmad TS.dg&r (MS. p. 266) says that there were 300 litters, with two soldiers in each, and four Bohillas as bearers, that they killed the E&jS., and then made a general massacre of the garrison. Firishta also accredits (vol. ii. p. 115) the doli story, and calls the E&ja, Hari Krishn EM, and says he escaped with a few followers by a private passage. By the Timdriau authors the seizure of EohtS^ by treachery is spoken of with an indignation which they seldom bestowed upon their patrons for deeds of a much more heinous nature. — See Dorn, p. 109.

in covered litters, and you contradict this story. I do not know whom to believe." He replied: "You know I was with the followers of Masnad 'K\i 'tak Khan, and my family was in Eohtds, while I accompanied Sher Khdn to the hills." When Sher Khdn got possession of Rohtds, he left there his women and children, with his eldest son 'A'dil Khdn, and Kutb Kh4n ; and he himself went to the hills of Bahrkunda, and wandered about from place to place.^

After the Emperor HumSyun had got possession of Chundr, he halted in Benares, and sent an envoy to Sher Khan, having it in view to get possession of the country of Bihar. Sher Kh4n knew he had this design, and said to the envoy, " I have captured the fort of Ganr, and have collected about me a very large force of Afghans. If the Emperor will abandon all design upon Bengal, I will surrender Bihar to him, and make it over to whomsoever he will depute, and will agree to the same boundaries of Bengal as existed in Sult4n Sikandar's time ; and I will send all the ensigns of royalty — as the umbrella throne, etc. — to the Emperor, and will yearly send him ten lacs of rupees from Bengal. But let the Emperor return towards ^gra." The envoy came back to Humdyun, and reported what Sher Khdn had said. The Emperor, on hearing about Bihdr, became exceedingly glad, and agreed to what Sher Khan proposed, and gave a horse, and a peculiarly splendid khil'at to the envoy for delivery to Sher Shah ; and directed him to say to Sher Shdh that his proposals were accepted, and that he should not delay to put them in execution. The vakil came to Sher Shah, and gave him the horse and dress, and told him what the Emperor had said, Sher Khdn was mucb delighted, and said, "I will fulfil the terms agreed upon, and will pray day

1 Ahmad Ykdg&r (MS. pp. 170-6) mentions an expedition against the ESji of JTi&rkand, in order to secure possession of a favourite white elephant, called " Syto Chaudar," which had the "peculiarity of never thromng dust upon its head." Thia was duly ohtained, along with other plunder, and brought to Sher Sh&h, who chose to consider it as an omen that he should one day ohtain the Empire of DehU. [It is odd that a tehite elephant should have been called sydm, i.e. Hack,']