Muntakhab al-tawarikh 12.5

12.5

[Mu'ínu-d dín Khán Farankhudí, governor of Sambal, with a large party, and several other amírs and jágírdárs of the neighbourhood, who had taken refuge in the fort, when they heard at midnight the roll of the drums of Husain Khan, they thought the Mirza was upon them, and were quite overpowered by fear. But when the cry arose that Husain Khan had come to their assistance, they came out joyfully to meet him. Next day we went to the abode of Shaikh Fathu-lla Tarbati, one of the vicars of Shaikhu-l Islam Fathpuri, and there held a council. It was then considered advisable that all the amirs of the neighbourhood of Dehli who had turned out against the Mirza should go with Tolak Khan Korchi and * * to the pargana of Ahar on the Ganges, and there wait for us; then, after the junction of the forces, further operations might be decided on. Husain Khan exclaimed, "Good God! The Mirza came here with a small party of horse, and although your numbers more than doubled his, you took refuge in the fort of Sambal; and now twenty or thirty amirs and old soldiers with a large force are so dismayed that you want to shelter yourselves in the fort of Ahar, which is a mere rat's hole. This will encourage the Mirza to make further attacks upon the Imperial territories. Now there are two courses open, one of which we must follow. You must cross the Ganges, and, under the cover of that old fort, must intercept the Mirza, and prevent his getting over the Ganges.