Muntakhab al-tawarikh 20.3.1

20.3.1

From this point the account differs, the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri says that they journeyed up the river for ten days among the mountains till they came to an old bridge built of hewn stone, &c. Our text on the other hand states that they crossed the old bridge immediately on reaching the river after which they journeyed for ten days in the mountains, &c. Badaoni's statement has more prima facie probability, the statements of the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri moreover are somewhat confused and contradictory. Neither author mentions how long the cavalry force took to reach Bardhan. It seems fairly certain from Badaoni's account that the city of Bardhan was on the near side of the river and that the crossing of the river was impracticable at that point, how far it was from Kamrud, where Badaoni says they crossed by the bridge, does not appear. which was a fort of great strength: the garrison of that fort who were descendants of Gushtasp (that fort too one of the buildings erected by Gushtasp) came forth to fight, and fought so bravely till nightfall that many men were lost on the side of Muhammad Bakhtyar. He pitched his camp on that very spot, and coming down received tidings that five farsangs beyond this city there was another city from which 50,000 Turks all warlike and ready for battle would come to the relief of their city. The following day Muhammad Bakhtyar not thinking it advisable to remain there, and not being able to oppose them, turned back and came to the head of the bridge.