The Institutes of Akbar 337.3

337.3

Muhibb set out, accompanied by Mujahid Khan, a son of his daughter. Sa’id Khan (No. 25), Governor of Multan, had also received orders to assist Muhibb; but at Sultan Mahmud’s request, Muhibb came alone, accompanied by only a few hundred troopers. When he arrived at Bhakkar, Sultan Mahmud said that he had changed his mind: he might go and attack T’hat’hah without his assistance ; but he should do so from Jaisalmir, and not from Bhakkar. Muhibb, though he had only 200 troopers, resolved to punish Sultan Mahmud for his treachery, and prepared himself to attack Bhakkar. Mahmud had 10000 horse assembled near Fort Math’ilah (متهیله), Muhibb attacked them, dispersed them, and took soon after the fort itself. He then fitted out a larger corps, and moved to Bhakkar, where he again defeated Mahmud. The consequence of this victory was, that Mubarak Khan, Sultan Mahmud’s vazir, left his master and went with 1500 horse over to Muhibb. But as Mubarak’s son, Beg Oghli, was accused of having had criminal intercourse with a concubine of Sultan Mahmud, Muhibb wished to kill Beg Oghli. Mubarak, who had not expected this, now tried to get out of Muhibb’s power. Muhibb therefore killed Mubarak, and used the money which fell into his hands, to complete his preparations for the siege of Bhakkar.