Muntakhab al-tawarikh 64.8

64.8

and the greater part of that country, what with scarcity of rain, and shortness of grain, and desolation, and what with the constant struggle and turmoil, and two years continual anarchy and terror, was utterly ruined, the peasantry and tenants disappeared, and lawless crowds attacked the cities of the Muslims. Among the strange incidents of the year 962 H., during the time of the war between Sikandar and Ibrahim, was the fire which occurred in the fort of Agra. The following is a short account of this incident. During the time when Agra was emptied of the troops of ‘Adli, one of the Amirs of Ghazi Khan Sur entered the fort of Agra and took up his abode there, to make certain preparations and to take charge of the supplies; while he was engaged in inspecting the rooms of the warehouses, he happened to go early one morning into one of the rooms, and was going round it carrying an open lamp, a spark from which fell in one of the rooms which was full of gun-powder. In the twinkling of an eye an explosion occurred, and the flames shot up to the sky, attended with a violent shock; which led the people of the city to imagine that the judgment day had arrived, and starting from their sleep they began repeating the formula of Tauhīd (Declaration of Unity), and Taubah (Repentance), and Istighfār (seeking for pardon).