| [[79]] When Sikandar,
in terror of the victorious army, fled to the hill-country of the Siwaliks,
and Dahmiri became the imperial camping-ground, news was continually being
brought that the intention of that ill-conditioned runagate was to draw
the army of fortune into the defiles and then give battle (lit.,
in these central ravines strenuously bind the waist of effort). H. M. the
Shahinshah did not give ear to these words and advanced according to proper
rules. Nasir-al-Mulk and a large body of brave and experienced men were
sent to harry and ravage the zamindars of the hills. These heroes soon,
with God's help, chastised many of the Rajahs of the hills and got much
booty. The evil-constituted hillmen, who with evil thoughts had joined
with Sikandar, separated from him, and a stone of dissension fell among
that ill-conditioned assemblage, and they fled without fighting. An order
was given for pursuing them and for, by vigorous action, getting possession
of the leader of the fugitives. A number of brave men made a rapid march
and reached a portion of his camp. Iskandar, when he heard of this pursuit,
fell into confusion and distress, and threw himself into the fort of Mankot
which he had formerly prepared in case an evil day should come upon him.
The alert and victorious soldiers plundered his camp, and reported to the
Court about his having retired to his fortress.
[[80]] The fortress of Mankot is composed of four strong forts which Selim Khan had constructed on adjoining hills at the time when he had marched out to extirpate the Gakkar tribe, and had returned frustrated. On each hill he built a fort composed of stone and mortar, and to the eye of a spectator the whole fortification looked like one fort. The site was very strong, and difficult of access by troops, and if access were atteined it was very difficult to lay hands on the garrison. It had an abundant supply of good water, and as much provisions as were wanted. To sum up, in a place which might be described as a fortress of the Creator, impregnable forts had been founded. Selim Khan's real object in building these great forts was that when the standards of H. M. Jahanbani Jinnat Ashiyani [=Humayun] should be directed towards India, there might be a place of refuge for the army of the Panjab. It passed into his evil mind that he would lay waste Lahore, and develop this place, and that he would collect a large army there so that he might with security defend this part of the country. The reason for laying waste Lahore was that as this is a very large city, and the residence of various traders and craftsmen who could easily supply a large army, and furnish them with arms, perhaps the victorious army of the family conjoined with eternity might come there and gather abundant reinforcements, and thus things might become irremediable. Before he could carry out these plans, he passed forth from the defiles of existence. [[81]] ... When the victorious forces arrived at the foot of the fortress, a large number of distinguished and courageous Afghans... came out of the fort. They held up their blood-dropping scimitars as standards in the place by the gate and moved about with arrogant steps. Adham Khan showed singular intrepidity and with lion-hearted courage entered alone among that band. By strength of arm he cast down several men of war and rolled them in dust and blood. Thereupon he returned with rapidity, and was exalted by shouts of Bravo. By this means the war-loving powerful men came out every day from their entrenchment and displayed their superiority. The adversary guarded the fort, and with their guns and muskets allowed no one to come close to the fort. ===========
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== Akbar-nama
vol. 2 == Abu'l-Fazl == Glossary
== fwp's main page ==