The Institutes of Akbar 256.3

256.3

He had at last to ask for reinforcements, and Akbar sent to him Rájah Bír Bar and Hakím Abul Fath with some troops. Zain Khán asked them to attack the Afgháns, whilst he would occupy the conquered districts, or he would attack the enemies, and they should hold the district. But Bír Bar and Hakím Abul Fath, who were no friends of Zain Khán, proposed that they should attack the Yúsufzaís together, and then go back. Z. Kh. said, it would not do to return without better results from a country which had cost so many sacrifices; else, the best thing they could do, was to return the same way they had come. But to this they would not listen, and returned by another road (over کراکر). Z. Kh. paid no attention to their insubordination and joined them, chiefly because he was afraid they would denounce him at Court. As soon as the Afgháns saw the Imperialists returning, they attacked them in every narrow valley. On passing the Girewah Balandrí (گریوه بلاندری), Z. Kh. who commanded the rear chundáwal), was so severely attacked, that he had to face them. Arrows and stones were showered from all sides on the Imperialists, the soldiers got bewildered, and the horses ran into the train of elephants. Many lives were lost. Z. Kh., unable to prevent a rout, rushed among the Afghans seeking death, when Janish Bahadur (No. 235) got hold of the reins of his horse, and led him by force out of the mêlée.